2016 - Casey

3 Ways to Make Employee Reviews Less Stressful

Employee reviews or performance reviews can be stressful on a manager, especially if they haven’t worked directly with the employee for a significant period of time or are new to the position. Employee reviews are necessary for improving productivity and ensuring your good employees stay for the long-term. However, there are some things you can do to make review time a smooth, simple, and productive process.

Here are three ways to make employee reviews less stressful.

1. Conduct ongoing reviews.

Instead of just doing one annual review, consider conducing ongoing reviews so that you are addressing key areas of concern as they happen. Conducting ongoing reviews also opens up the line of communication and makes it easier to correct problems as they occur. You also can pass along compliments and share good information at these consistent meetings. Waiting an extended period of time to address a problem with an employee isn’t successful for anyone.

2. Ask the employee for feedback.

Very few managers will take the lead on asking for a critique of their own management style or behavior from an employee. However, this type of information can be very valuable because it can help you determine whether you and the employee can get along and what needs to be improved. Don’t be afraid to ask the employee what they like and dislike about your relationship so that you can both focus on improving things. Constructive criticism makes you a better leader, makes the department better and makes the company better.

3. Create an action plan together.

You’ll have both positive and negative points to share during an employee review. Be prepared to list everything out and work through the items together. The goal is to create an action plan to turn as many negatives into a positive. Get a verbal agreement or consensus on next steps so that you can work towards a better relationship and help the employee perform better at their job.

If you need help finding the right candidates for an open position, consider working with an award-winning financial staffing firm. Talk to the team at Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to connect with high-quality financial candidates.

Community Announcement!

Aspire will be accepting donations of gloves, hats, scarves, and nonperishable food items for the months of January and February. These items are placed in the “giving box” located in front of the office for our community members in need. If you would like to donate just simply drop off items in the box.

News Section

In this news section, we will be providing you with updates on many things with regards to our company, so please be sure to check back here often to get the latest on what’s going on at Aspire Employment.

What Are the Best Ways to Deal with Co-Workers Who Annoy You?

You may try hard to get along with everyone at the office but there will always be at least one co-worker who you can’t stand to work with. The good news is you’re not alone. Many people end up working at jobs where they can’t stand a co-worker’s work habits or have difficulty communicating with certain people. While you might not be able to change jobs to get away from these people, there are some things you can do to make your days at the office more manageable. Here are some of the best ways to deal with co-workers who annoy you.

Ask Yourself What Really Ticks You Off

Sometimes it’s just a personality trait, quirk, or even way of speaking that makes you feel annoyed. Maybe that person reminds you of somebody you dislike or didn’t get along with in the past. It could be something as simple as this but you simply aren’t aware of it when you interact with this person. When you identify where these feelings are coming from, it may be easier to deal with that annoying co-worker. Taking a step back to determine what is causing your frustration makes it easier to find a resolution.

Don’t Be in Reactive Mode

If you find yourself spending a good portion of your day getting irritated by something a co-worker says or does, you may be stuck in reactive mode. Some self-awareness will make you realize that you have a knee-jerk reaction to this person. If you can make an effort to recognize a trigger and simply not react right away, your days at work may be a lot more tolerable. As soon as you hear that trigger, remember they probably aren’t pressing your buttons on purpose and it’s just part of who they are. (You may be doing the same thing to someone else!)

Be Comfortable with Not Liking Everybody

You don’t have to be best friends with everyone at the office but you do need to find ways to simply get along. Get comfortable with the idea that you are not supposed to like everybody — and they aren’t supposed to like you, either. You can maintain a professional relationship even if you don’t personally like someone. Just keep a friendly distance and stay focused on your work and more positive relationships.

Is it time to change jobs because of annoying co-workers? Consider working with an award-winning financial staffing firm like Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to find a job and workplace that is the right fit for you.

The 6 “R’s” in Recruiting!

Finding great candidates is every recruiter’s dream come true! A great employee helps a company grow and be successful. Being aware of The 6 “R’s” in Recruiting will put you ahead of the rest of the organizations vying for the top candidates and victory will be yours!

Reviews

What is being said about your organization on social media sites such as Glassdoor and Facebook? When a Google search is done of your company, what reviews are showing up and how many stars appear? Managing your brand and responding to good and bad reviews will put you in a good light with candidates. Candidates want to see good reviews and positive experiences when applying to work at an organization.

Responsive Design Websites

Are your recruiting applications and communications available on a mobile platform? Constantly using smartphones, candidates are looking for new opportunities. Will they be able to find yours? Post short videos about your jobs on YouTube and incorporate a link from Google Maps so candidates can find you.

Referrals

Great referral programs bring in high-caliber candidates to your organization. Need we say more!

Reduce your Hiring Time

Speed is important. Candidates lose interest when the hiring process is dragged out. Take a look at how long it takes to hire a candidate from start to finish and see where you can tighten your process.

References

Get it right and check their references. Automated reference checking programs increase the response rate and accuracy of the reference checks.

Recruiting Firm

Working with a highly regarded staffing and recruiting firm can help significantly in finding great candidates quickly! Let Casey Accounting & Finance Resources find top financial staff for you!

What Can You Do to Incorporate Contract Workers into Your Corporate Culture?

Hiring contractors is a great way to fill open positions quickly and secure some high-quality employees for various projects. However, contract workers are often faced with the challenge of getting settled into an organization that also has many full-time workers. Since contract workers may only be with the company for few months or a year, they may not feel like they are part of the team and full-time workers may treat them differently.

Use the following tips to incorporate contract workers into your corporate culture.

Make an Effort to Make Workers Feel Welcome

Take the time to meet contractors on the first day to learn more about them. Introduce them to the team and take them out to lunch. You want to treat your workers like they are employees so they can get settled in quickly. Encourage some casual conversation to ease the anxiety some contractors may feel during their first few days. Announce the new contractors before they arrive so employees are aware who they will be working with in the near future.

Introduce Contractors in Person

Even if many of your contractors work remotely or offsite, it’s important that you introduce contractors in person. A face-to-face meeting or introduction can help get workers acclimated with each other and encourage workers to develop a good working relationship.

Outline Responsibilities

The induction process needs to help contractors understand their role in full, and also the responsibilities of their colleagues and team. Take the time to outline these responsibilities or host a meeting so the new recruits are well aware of their job duties.

Encourage an Atmosphere of Collaboration

You want your contractors to be able to contribute value even though they are only with you in the short term. Make sure they are equipped with the tools they need to get the job done and have access to resources and employee contacts who they may be collaborating with on various projects.

Encouraging contract workers to be a part of the organization will involve extra effort to make your workers feel welcome, and outlining responsibilities so everybody understands their role. If you need help finding high-quality financial candidates for contract positions, consider working with an award-winning financial staffing agency and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources.

What Does the Financial Recruiter Want to See on Your Resume?

When you’re applying for accounting and finance jobs in the area, you’ll need to make sure you highlight all of your skills and certifications clearly in your resume. Many financial recruiters review resumes in great detail and even use programs to find certain keywords and phrases. If you aren’t including these words in your resume and making a strong case about your experience, you may get overlooked.

Here are three factors a financial recruiter wants to see on your resume.

Tech Skills

Many accountants, financial analysts and other financial professionals use the latest software programs and computer systems to manage data. You need to be up-to-date on the latest software programs and earn any relevant certifications. Consider taking online courses to catch up if you have been out of the workforce for a while. Make sure to list your tech skills and skill levels so the employer has an accurate idea of your exact capabilities.

Soft Skills

Many people don’t think accounting and finance jobs require many soft skills since the bulk of time spent at the office will be in front of a computer and managing data. However, today’s most successful accounting and finance professionals have good interpersonal skills and solid knowledge about the business world. Make sure you’re listing examples of leadership skills, a customer service background, and your ability to solve problems or stay organized under pressure.

Certifications

Any certifications, diplomas or other awards need to be listed on your resume. Make sure to highlight any notable events surrounding these awards, such as a company president’s award, so that you stand out from the crowd.

Making sure a recruiter sees examples of skills and certifications on your resume is a priority, but you also need to make sure you’re including any specific details about how your skills made an impact on the organization. If you have any data or statistics former companies have shared with you about a project you worked on where you were able to apply yourself, make sure to disclose that on your resume or cover letter.

Need help with your job search? Consider working with one of the top accounting and finance staffing agencies and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. This award-winning team of financial recruiters has your dream job waiting.

A Season of Thanks! What We Are Grateful For!

As Thanksgiving is upon us, we reflect on how fortunate we are and what we are grateful for in our everyday lives as we work to place our great candidates in outstanding jobs with great companies!

I am grateful for the CUBS world series! Go CUBS Go! And to work for a great family oriented company that has allowed me to purchase World Series gear! Erika

I am grateful for being able to assist candidates in finding their dream job and making an impact in their life! Jessica

I would like to give thanks to all the amazing people I get to work with! This is by far the best company I have worked for and I can’t wait to see where the next year brings us! Elizabeth

I am grateful for my health and for the passion that I have to live a healthy lifestyle. Cheryl

I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with such wonderful people: co-workers, clients and candidates! I’m also grateful for my old horse that still likes to go out on trail rides. Freedom is a wonderful thing! Denise

I am grateful for having found my calling with such a great team and how positively it impacts me, my clients, my candidates, and my family. Noori

I’m thankful for the clients and candidates who’ve trusted me to help them. Pete

I’m thankful for having the opportunity to experience the world of staffing. I work with a great group of people who have taken the time to guide and teach me in this industry. This opportunity has given me the chance to see how rewarding staffing truly is. Erin

I am grateful to be part of a team that is so passionate about what they do, as well as, supporting each other. Renee

I’m grateful for the relationships I have been able to build with both my clients and candidates. The trust someone places in you when looking for a new career is something we take very seriously and I’m grateful that many people have put that trust in me this year. Adam

I am thankful for my freezer because it keeps my frozen pizzas preserved day in and day out. Jake

I’m grateful for the organization that I work at. It allows me the freedom and independence to utilize my own unique means of developing meaningful relationships with my clients, prospects and candidates. I am also grateful for both my partnering director and myself to have been on this ride for over 20+ years together. Eileen

I am grateful to be a part of Arlington Resources and work with amazing people! Brooke

I am grateful to be able to maintain a strong work/life balance. Health and happiness to all this upcoming holiday season! Rob

The Cubs, our social committee, and our wonderful team have made 2016 one of the best years ever! I am grateful to have such meaningful work, a great team that makes it happen every day, and being able to help others along the way. Happy Thanksgiving! Patty

Why Blind Interviewing Helps Your Organization

When you’re looking for the ideal candidate for your organization, you may be able to find the most suitable match with a blind interview. Many organizations are using this approach to have job seekers audition for a job without knowing anything about the individual’s educational background, age, gender or other factors. The test is to see how well the individual can perform at the job and whether they have the level of talent the interviewer is looking for. Here are some ways blind interviewing can help your organization:

Helps With Diversity

In fields that tend to not be so diverse, blind interviewing can help to create a more diverse work environment. You may end up hiring people of a variety of ethnicities, age groups and genders who are extremely talented and get along well with each other because of it.

Eliminates Bias

Many people don’t realize they have a psychological bias when they are looking at names on a resume or schools that a potential candidate has attended. You may be guilty of this without knowing it; blind interviewing eliminates the possibility you are making a biased decision.

Gauge Phone Skills Easily

Since you may not be conducting a face-to-face interview with these candidates, the phone interview will reveal whether the individual has good verbal skills and can speak confidently over the phone.

Gauge Written Skills

If the job involves writing or even composing persuasive emails, you will be able to gauge the candidates writing and communication skills with a writing test or upon requesting a short essay. This can be helpful for determining whether the candidate has a strong enough skill set to manage writing assignments on the job and whether they can convey their ideas effectively.

If you are searching for highly qualified candidates, reach out to a leading Chicago finance recruiter and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. We can provide job placement services to make the hiring process that much easier.

4 Skills Every Candidate Needs in Every Industry

If you’re putting yourself out there on the job hunt and want to secure a position sooner rather than later, make sure your prospective employer can identify some key skills and attributes that will make you the perfect candidate for the position. Whether you’re exploring an accounting career or working in finance, your future employer needs someone who is not only a hard worker but also has certain traits that will help them succeed with the company for the long term.

Here are four skills every candidate needs in every industry:

1. Communication

Even though your role may be fairly independent, you may be required to work with other departments, lead a team and collaborate with other staff members on certain projects. Having strong written, verbal and listening skills is critical for your success in any position. You need to be able to relay information concisely and respond to other people’s communications effectively.

2. Empathy and Emotional Awareness

Being able to understand your own emotions, and being aware of the emotions of others is a skill that can be developed. Some people have more emotional awareness than others, and this trait is important in both work and social situations. Being able to relate to someone and looking at their point of view can make it easier to get along.

3. Accountability

Being accountable for your actions is critical in a workplace environment. You need to admit fault and work on finding an effective remedy. Knowing what you are accountable for and who you are accountable to is important in any position. If you are in a management position, you need to enforce accountability among your team members.

4. Teamwork

Working as a team means always contributing your fair share and also making sure you are not taking all the credit for a job well done. Do your best work and bring others up so they can do the same at every opportunity.

When you’re searching for accounting jobs or need some help to take your career to the next level, talk to the professionals at a leading Chicago accounting recruiting firm. Casey Accounting & Finance Resources provides career tools, including assessments and professional resume reviews, to help you find your ideal job. Contact us today!

Yearly Archives: 2016