During the event, we also watched a video that highlighted the many ways C&A employees give back to the community. Working at a place that encourages this is an added bonus to being a member of the C&A team.
C&A employees have opportunities to give back year round but especially around the Holidays.

Some of the organizations that benefited from our employees contributions last year were: The Food Bank for the Heartland, Lydia House, Cooper Village, and Open Door Mission just to name a few. Seeing your co-workers giving back and creating strong ties in the community gives you some insight into what they are passionate about outside of work.

We recently kicked off our annual United Way Campaign and a company wide food drive benefiting the Food Bank of the Heartland. In the Human Resources and Benefits Departments we also typically help out with the Salvation Army’s intake for their Holiday programs as well as donating to Ted E. Bear Hollow.

Suffice to say, the giving spirit is alive here at C&A. And it’s great to be a part of it.

Show that you have a serious interest in the company and you can’t wait to learn more about the position.  This passion will become infectious and interviewers will appreciate the time you have spent in learning about the company.  If you Google “interviewing techniques” you will see that the number one tip is doing your research.

In today’s economy, HR recruiters have a multitude of candidates applying for one job.  Just doing your research alone will give you a competitive advantage over other candidates.  Make yourself stand out.  Be genuine about your interest in the company and the position.  If you have a voicemail from a recruiter wanting to talk to you about your resume submission, do your research before calling back. 

Here are some other interview tips that will help prepare you for a successful interview:

Prepare questions and answers

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Dress for success
• Make eye contact
• Shake hands at first greeting
• Show how you can benefit the company
• Follow up after the interview

So remember, you can never know too much about an organization.  Interviewers are always impressed when candidates have shown they have done their research and can ask informed, intelligent questions about the organization and the position. 

Simply put, you do your research and you will already be one step ahead of the game! 

Good luck!

About Melissa Gunset:
Melissa began her career with C&A Industries in July of 2008 as a corporate recruiter and is now an Executive Recruiter with Aureus Group, a division of C&A.   Melissa has a BS in marketing from Northern Illinois University. She is a Chicago native who recently relocated to Omaha, and she spends her free time with her husband and daughter.

Steve Wilson, account manager with Aureus Group, took advantage of the opportunity to not only enjoy the nice summer weather, but get some physical exercise and brought his family to enjoy the day with him. Steve shared a little about their day on the course.

Why did you decide to do the Corporate Cycling Challenge?
Bike riding is something that we enjoy doing as a family. This is a great ride and the day ended up being perfect weather for riding.

How many times have you completed the Corporate Cycling Challenge?
This is the fourth consecutive year that we have participated in the cycling challenge. My wife and two daughters, Jillian, 9 and Paige, 12, plus my brother and sister-in-law and their child joined us. My wife and youngest daughter completed the 10 mile, and my oldest daughter and I tackled the 25 mile course.

What type of training did you do for this event?
We usually ride about two times per week. The training definitely helps. We wanted to make sure that our daughters were prepared and able to complete the course, so we were very good about tracking progress. My oldest daughter and I trained and rode up to 23 miles to train, and my youngest daughter wanted to make sure she knew what she was getting into so she worked up to the 10.5 miles. She started the year on a bike with training wheels and couldn’t even ride a mile. With preparation and encouragement, she was able to complete the 10-mile course.

Is there any thing that you would do differently next time?
My oldest daughter and I are going to plan on doing the longest, 42-mile ride next year. I think with the proper training and preparation we will be able to complete it. Also, we are all going to invest in gel seats for our bikes. It would go a long way in making the ride more comfortable.

Did you set goals for the ride?
Basically, our goal was for everyone to finish the ride. We weren’t worried about coming in at a certain time – we just wanted to have fun and complete the course. After we all crossed the finish line, we always go to Louie M’s for burgers – everyone enjoys that!