2016 - Page 4 of 4

Adjust Your Mindset to Find Success in Networking

Most people think of “What’s in it for me” when they think about networking, especially when it has something to do with finding a job. This is a natural thought, because the end result needs to be a job and a means to survive. However, a mindset shift of “How can I help others” will really have more long-term positive effects than the short-term focus of yourself.

Here’s how to develop a positive mindset about networking, and greater success with the job search process.

1. Think about what you can offer to someone else.

It’s easy to engage in networking activity with the thought of only getting something out of it. But if you go to a networking event or start networking with others online, it will become very transparent if this is your only goal. Instead, go to a networking mode with the thought that you would like to find ways to serve other. Think about the value that you have, and how you can help others rather than take from them.

2. Consider all the connections you have and how they can help others.

Also consider the connections that you have within your social, professional, and educational networks. Chances are, there are people who may complement each other and are worth introducing to each other. Use your networks in a more positive way and you can expect that others will think of you when they have someone to refer. This can work in your favor during a job search.

3. Develop a professional brand that’s above your immediate needs.

It’s easy to go about developing a personal brand that is only about your career or your passions. But this does not necessarily serve you as a job seeker. Instead, think about ways that you can develop a brand that appeals to others and their needs. This is a similar approach that sales professionals use when trying to attract prospects – you must speak their language in order to be effective as a networker.

4. Get outside of your comfort zone about networking – try new methods.

Networking is not just about sitting at a computer behind social profiles. It’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone and attending local networking events, business mixers, and industry conferences. It’s about volunteering in your community and giving something back. Learn to develop a strong pitch for yourself and again think about how you can serve others. The people that you meet will be happy to learn about you, if you put yourself out there.

At Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, we focus on your area of expertise to find the right job opening for your skill set. Contact our award-winning team today to partner with top financial recruiters in Chicago.

Recent Job Placements from Casey Accounting & Finance Resources

Currently, Casey Accounting & Finance Resources is placing 1 out of 3.2 candidates who interviewed for a position. That’s a great ratio for a staffing agency and is part of the reason we have great relationships with accounting and finance companies located in the Chicago area and were recently honored with a Best of Staffing Award® from Inavero.

Check out some of our most recent placements below, and if you’re interested, contact our great team of HR recruiters today!

CASEY ACCOUNTING & FINANCE RESOURCES placements include the following:

Director of Finance-Mt. Prospect, IL
Staff Accountant-Northbrook, IL
Credit Analyst-Glendale Heights, IL
Collections-Temporary-Maywood, IL
Payroll Manager-Schiller Park, IL
Sr. Accountant-Temporary-Mundelein, IL
Payroll-Temporary-Chicago, IL
Payroll-Temporary-Rolling Meadows, IL
A/P Clerk-Temporary-Rolling Meadows, IL
Accounting Clerk-Temporary-Chicago, IL
Senior Director of Finance-Schaumburg, IL
A/P Clerk-Temporary-Cicero, IL
Accounting Clerk-Temporary-Chicago, IL
Payroll Specialist-Temporary-Schiller Park, IL
Accounting Clerk-Temporary-Chicago, IL
Senior Accountant-McHenry, IL
Billing Analyst-Deerfield, IL
Staff Accountant-Chicago, IL
Staff Accountant-Temporary-Lincolnshire, IL
Accountant-Bartlett, IL
Senior Accountant-Mount Prospect, IL
Accounting Clerk-Temporary, Elgin, IL
A/P Clerk-Temporary-Mount Prospect, IL
Payroll Specialist-Temporary-Elk Grove Village, IL
A/R Specialist- Schaumburg, IL
Staff Accountant-Chicago, IL
Accountant-Temporary-Chicago, IL
Credit/Collections-Temporary-Wood Dale, IL
A/P Clerk-Temporary-Hoffman Estates, IL
Senior Accountant-Schaumburg, IL
Staff Accountant-Temporary -Elk Grove Village, IL
Accounting Manager-Chicago, IL
Accounting Clerk-Temporary-Hoffman Estates, IL
A/R Clerk-Carol Stream, IL
Senior A/R Specialist-Schaumburg, IL
A/R Clerk-Temporary-Evanston, IL
A/R Clerk-Temporary-Schaumburg, IL
Staff Accountant-Temporary-Chicago, IL

Is a New Graduate the Right Option for Your Job Opening?

Another crop of new college graduates will be wrapping up celebrations and entering the job market in the coming months with high hopes of landing great careers in the Chicago region. Is your company in the right position to offer a new graduate their first full-time job after college? How can you know that hiring a brand new college graduate vs. a seasoned professional is the right thing to do? If you do hire a new grad, what can you expect?

A survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), revealed that employers are planning to hire almost 10 percent more college grads this year than last year. Recruitment and hiring of new college grads is up for a number of reasons, including:

College graduates have learned the most recent skills in technology and business advancement
New college graduates are eager to prove themselves to employers, especially millennials and Generation Z
Today’s college graduates are better prepared for the workforce due to post-recession changes in the educational system

Hiring college graduates adds an influx of energy and excitement to your workforce. They are excited to start their first “real” job and get their career going in the right direction. Having a balance of college graduates with your seasoned employees can help your business grow.

The traits you should be looking for when offering employment opportunities to new college graduates are:

Strong interpersonal communication skills using multiple mediums and technology. College students have grown up with electronic communication. It’s important to evaluate their written and verbal communication since not everything can be done through email (or text messaging!)
The ability to work well with other generations in the workforce, especially older employees. Younger employees may think they possess all the answers, but developing a balance of respect for each generation can result in great gains for the company.
Above-average work ethic and dedication to long-term success in the company. A lot of employers believe they can teach a number of skills but don’t want to develop a new employee’s work ethic. Getting a long-term commitment would be the best of both worlds, but it’s difficult to expect younger employees to pledge the first 10, 20 or 30 years of their career to the first job.

While new grads will be limited in their work experience, they will be able to show a progression of these traits through their college projects and any practicum. Behavioral interview questions can still be beneficial despite their lack of career experience. The teamwork concepts developed in college provide ample opportunity for experience in a number of situations that can be transferred to the professional sector.

To partner with a three-time recipient of Inavero’s Best of Staffing® awards, contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources today and find out how a top staffing agency in Chicago can help with all of your accounting and financial employment needs.

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, Inc. Wins INAVERO’S 2016 BEST OF STAFFING® Client and Talent Awards

Rolling Meadows, IL – February 18, 2016 – Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a leading staffing organization specializing in the placement of Accounting & Finance Professionals announced today they have won Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and job seekers. Presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, Inavero’s Best of Staffing winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based completely on the ratings given to them by their clients and the employees they’ve helped find jobs. On average, clients of winning agencies are nearly three times more likely to be completely satisfied and talent of winning agencies are 50 percent more likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies. Award winners make up less than two percent of all staffing agencies in the U.S. and Canada who earned the Best of Staffing Award for service excellence.

Focused on providing Accounting & Finance Professionals, Casey Accounting & Finance Resources is pleased to be able to provide outstanding services to their clients and candidates.

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources claims an Invaero® Best of Staffing Award for the third consecutive season.

“We are honored to achieve this milestone for our business and winning both awards – Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Client and Talent! Our team works hard to make our services the best for our clients and candidates, and I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish together for the Accounting and Finance community! Currently 1 out of every 2.5 candidates interviewed by our clients is hired, providing a great resource of outstanding talent with a quick response rate.” Casey Accounting & Finance Resources President and CEO, Patricia Casey said.

“Leaders of growing companies are more committed than ever to staying flexible in this stable yet volatile market making staffing firms the most viable employment partnership,” said Inavero’s CEO Eric Gregg. “Finding the best staffing partner with a proven commitment to service excellence can be really tough. BestofStaffing.com is the place to find the winning agencies that place talent with the skills you need in your city or state. We are very proud of the 2016 award winners.”

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, Inc.
Casey Accounting & Finance Resources is a nationally accredited, best in class recruitment firm specializing in the placement of Accounting & Finance Resources talent for both temporary placement and direct hire. Our dedicated staff is well networked in the Accounting & Finance community, tenured and industry certified. With our strong relationships, referrals and sourcing skills, we can quickly locate top talent to add to your team. In addition to our outstanding recruiting practices, we are committed to community service and philanthropy. Our people are our greatest asset!

About Inavero
Inavero administers more staffing agency client and talent satisfaction surveys than any other firm in the world. Inavero’s team reports on over 1.2 million satisfaction surveys from staffing agency clients and talent each year and the company serves as the American Staffing Association’s exclusive service quality partner.

About Inavero’s Best of Staffing
Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based completely on the ratings given to them by their clients and job candidates. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on BestofStaffing.com – an online resource for hiring professionals and job seekers to find the best staffing agencies to call when they are in need.

How Teamwork Helps All Aspects of Your Career

Whether you are currently employed or seeking a new job, being a team player can be to your advantage. Why? People skills are often in short supply as more employees lean on technology and interact less in the workplace. Being a great communicator and collaborator can take you far in your career. The ability to relate to many different types of people and situations, using your best skills to support a team effort is something you should work on throughout your career.

Here are some reasons why teamwork helps you in all aspects of your career development.

Teamwork helps you see things from other perspectives

When you open yourself up to working with others in a team setting, you benefit by learning perspectives and experiences. This aids in your development and ability to expand your horizons. It can also help you become better at your job as you learn new ways of handling tasks and seeing things from alternative views.

Teamwork will help you get a better career

At your current job, teamwork develops relationships and leads to increased production. When you’re looking for a new job, people will help you out and you can show examples of when you were a great team member.

Teamwork skills require being more personable

If you struggle with shyness or fear around other people, making an effort to be active on a team can help you come out of your shell. Make the choice to be an active participant and use your talents to contribute to the success of each project. You will earn the respect of your peers and develop more personality.

Teamwork can connect you with the right people and opportunities

In life, being part of a team can bring you closer to the type of career and the challenge of new experiences you need to grow. You can build closer connections with your peers, mentors, and even clients and vendors you work with. Using teamwork principles, you will be viewed as someone that others can rely on to get things done.

Teamwork is the hallmark of a future leader

When you learn how to be a team player, you are also developing the skills you can use as a future leader in your industry. Learning to get along with others, bringing out the best in them, and sharing in successes are the traits that all good leaders possess. Think in these terms as you work on team-building skills and attitudes.

Work with a Leader Among Chicago Recruiters

At Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, we value teamwork among all of our employees. We will focus on your area of expertise and place top financial job candidates with the best financial companies in Chicago and the surrounding area. Contact our award-winning financial recruiters to get started!

Why Listening Makes You a Better Leader

Today, a leader must be an excellent communicator. They must be able to delegate effortlessly, motivate the team, and must be good at both verbal and written communications. But communication is a two-way street. Leaders also need to be active, patient and responsive listeners. While being outspoken and communicating clearly are two of the many attributes necessary for one to become a leader, it is listening that makes one a better leader.

How listening can make anyone a better leader

In the workplace, a leader is expected to address problems and initiate improvements. Certain problems will be obvious and a leader must be able to identify them. But, many problems are not so obvious. The only way a leader can get to know those issues is if they listen to the team or any particular member of the team. People should be able to come up to a leader with their problems and a leader must not spurn them.

Many leaders fail to actually hear what others have to say. They shrug at what is being shared or reported to them. They pretend to listen and forget what has been said soon after. They don’t even offer an audience and even if they listen. They can discard the issues at their whims and fancies. Such approaches are unbecoming of a leader.

The first step in being a better leader is to take the time to listen to others, and reflect back what is being said to clarify matters. A leader who listens is respected by their team members. Listening to anyone would make that person feel that they are important, what they say or have to say is being heard and that their thoughts, situations or their role in the team are valuable.

Steps to be a better listener include:

When listening to another person, imagine that they are the only other person in the room and be fully engaged in what they are saying.
Be open minded and put yourself in their shoes. You might not agree with what the person is saying, but give them a chance to fully articulate their thoughts. People will appreciate that you are making an effort to understand and hear what they are saying.
Repeat back the key points you are hearing and ask for clarification of anything you did not understand or may have missed.
Establish what follow up there will be, if any, so the person is clear on what will happen after the conversation is finished.
Remember, conversations are just the beginning step to implementing great ideas!

Listening is a skill that comes with time and practice. Leaders need to talk but they don’t need to talk to hear their own voice. A leader can always learn from others, from advice or suggestions from the team members and the act of listening itself can open up a treasure trove of informational and helpful exchanges. Remember, it only takes one person to suggest an idea for significant change to affect the organization.

As a leader, it’s up to you to become a better listener so you can improve your skills and earn the respect of your subordinates.

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources is dedicated to locating top talent for your accounting and finance positions. Contact a leading recruiter for finance careers today to get started!

Make Small Talk Your Strength by Shifting the Conversation Here

In the ‘information age,’ communication is the key to a successful office career. While lucid communication has always been a desirable attribute in a professional, especially for those in delegating and leadership or management roles, it has become much more quintessential today. Why? Companies are seeking professionals who are adept and comfortable in all forms of communication, including making small talk that leads to better working relationships.

How to improve the conversation by shifting the focus to small talk

When developing communication skills, it’s important to first focus on mutual interests demonstrated in initial small talk. Take the attention off “me” and put it on “we,” so that you can discuss a topic that you and your colleagues enjoy. It’s effective when relating to co-workers, talking with subordinates or managers, and building rapport with clients.

To be viewed as a true office professional, it’s important to establish or showcase your prowess in communication. That can be achieved by speaking decisively, confidently and in a manner that is understandable, convincing and engaging. Since communication is a two-way process and both or all parties must feel engaged, it is quite possible that what you talk about might not entice the other person enough. That is where small talk becomes your strength. Whether it is your interview or your first interactions with your fellow colleagues, small talk can give you the impetus you need.

What does small talk have to do with things?

In many ways, small talk is considered a normal part of any job. Unfortunately, there are some people who don’t like such conversations. When you speak about topics that matter to you and the other person, you can easily guide the conversation. At a more basic level, you get to establish a connection that will work in your favor. Small talk is also necessary if you wish to switch the topic of a conversation or you simply wish to steer the whole correspondence in a certain manner. Use open-ended questions to get the conversation going and invite people to tell stories instead of one word responses. Here are some conversation starters at the office:

What do you enjoy most about your weekend?
What is the most interesting thing that happened at work today?
If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you like to be?
What is the best way to accomplish our target for the week?

As Dale Carnegie stated, “Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely.”

Using small talk during an interview to improve your career

Communicating better and more lucidly will become easy when you master the strength of small talk, especially on topics of mutual interest. For example, while being interviewed for a job, a candidate can use small talk to build a common ground with interviewers and appear to have the right personality for the job. This will present a candidate as having a confident, interesting and asserting personality. Use these tips during an interview:

Don’t ramble on. Keep small talk interesting and brief
Realize the interviewer is asking questions initially to see how easily you can engage in conversation
Answer the questions you are asked
Look at the interviewer and look interested in the conversation
Listen more than you talk

These are attributes that any company in any industry would want to have in its employees.

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a winner of Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Client Award for the second consecutive year, focuses directly on your area of expertise. Contact us today to work with a leader in finance recruitment.

2016 Salary Survey

Happy New Year! 2016 is upon us, and with that, there are updates to salaries in finance and accounting. The compensation trends change every year and with the fluctuating economy, you need to be on top of your game when negotiating salary numbers.

Looking to learn more about what salary expectations should be? Casey Accounting and Finance Resources can help! We have compiled our salary survey list with updated facts and figures including job descriptions for Finance and Accounting positions for the Chicago metropolitan area.

Contact us today and we will be happy to share this with you. In the “YOUR MESSAGE” section, please enter “2016 Finance Salary Survey”. Best wishes to you in 2016!

Be a Better Teammate – How a Positive Attitude Affects You and Those Around You

Be a Better Teammate – How a Positive Attitude Affects You and Those Around You
by Gregg Gregory

Many people believe that, with a positive attitude and positive thinking, you can do anything, including be a better teammate. I have an amazingly positive attitude, but if you needed surgery tomorrow, would you really want me to perform that surgery? Of course not.

While I do possess a positive, can-do, attitude, I don’t possess the skills to perform any kind of surgery. I believe that, with positive thinking, you can do everything (that you do) better than with negative thinking.

After a long week of travel and crossing the country twice in just eight days, an exhausted Jose was going through airport security late one night when an airport security woman said, “Hi, how are you?” Now let’s be clear, when the average person says, “Hi, how are you?” they really don’t care and are not even listening to your response.

Jose, being almost always in a positive frame of mind, quickly said to the security woman, “I am having an awesome evening and I am getting better.” In a very raspy and sarcastic tone of voice the security woman said, “Well somebody’s in a good mood.” Jose responded, “Why would you ever choose to be in a bad mood?” The woman looked like a deer caught in headlights and responded genuinely saying, “You know, you are right, and thank you for reminding me it is my choice. Have a great evening.”

Did Jose change the attitude of the woman? No. All he did was to provide an open atmosphere where the woman could freely and comfortably make a decision to change her attitude. Jose walked around the corner and watched for several minutes as the woman greeted the next few passengers with an entirely different and positive attitude. This, in turn, had a positive effect on the passengers as well. The real question is: how long did the attitude of the woman stay in a positive state? Quite probably until a passenger with a very strong negative attitude came by and yelled at her.

Bottom line, nearly 90% of the people you meet can be affected by the attitude you present at any given time, so why not impact the world in a positive way?

Here are five things to remember about having a positive attitude:

The average person comes in contact with 10 different people a day, either on the phone or in person. This means that your positive attitude not only impacts the 10 you come into contact with, but it can impact up to two or more generations down the line. If you are positive to the 10 people you come in contact with, and they do the same for just one more generation, that means that your positive attitude impacted 100 people. What if that carried out just one more generation? You have now impacted 1,000 people with your positive attitude. Unfortunately, a negative interaction works the same way.
Your attitude drives your work behavior. If you are positive, you will do your work faster and at a higher quality than if you have a negative attitude. Think back through the last three or four days. What kind of attitude did you have when you got to work? Now how was your production for that day? Do you see any correlation?
Remember, your attitude is not just in your words, it is demonstrated in the way you stand, your facial expressions as well as the tonality of your voice. Non-verbal cues can be even more devastating than the words you selected.
Your attitude has a dramatic impact on your health. This does not mean that positive people will never get sick or have problems. It does mean that they usually use their attitude to get through the problems more quickly. The same applies to laughter. How often do you get a gut wrenching belly laugh? How do you feel after such a laugh?
Remember, like the airport security officer, your attitude is your choice. When you feel like you are headed in the wrong direction, do one of the following:

Think about a time when things were clicking just right.
Call a friend and let them pick you up.
Make a change in what you are doing at that moment to something you know will help create positive energy.

The bottom line is, when you are thinking positively you will be more effective in every aspect of your life and, in many cases, the endorphins released can reduce pain and anxiety, which perpetuates a greater positive attitude.

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A diverse, twenty-year background in real estate, mortgage banking, event planning, and production, as well as radio and television broadcasting, created a perfect storm that put Gregg Gregory where he is today. Gregg works hard to ensure that different personalities can work together successfully to accomplish your organization’s mission, goals, and objectives. To learn more about Gregg’s powerful teambuilding programs and events, visit www.Teamsrock.com or call 301-564-0908

Yearly Archives: 2016