2018 - Page 2 of 4

The Job You Interviewed for Wasn’t What You Expected, But You Have No Other Leads. What Do You Do?

There are many reasons to consider taking a job that is different from what you expected. Perhaps your unemployment is almost gone or your family is relocating and you need a job. Whatever your circumstances, you need to decide whether to take the job or hold out for a different opportunity altogether.

Evaluate How to Proceed

To determine whether to take the role, ask yourself some questions. For instance, “What new information has caused my interest in this opportunity to decline? How much has my interest waned?” And, “Does the new information compromise my core wants and needs?” Also, “Is there information I do not know that may change my mind? What is it?” Plus, “Do any aspects of this opportunity still appeal to me? What are they?” If more information is needed, stay in the running and wait for another interview. Write down the questions you need answered to make a better decision.

Take the Job If the Pros Outweigh the Cons

If the pros outweigh the cons, then take the job. For instance, the hours may be long, but the company will look great on your resume. Or, you may not be interested in one duty, but there are five you do enjoy. Perhaps the role is not very exciting, but your potential colleagues are amazing and an advanced position could be your dream job.

Decline the Job If You Truly Are Not Interested

If you are less than inspired by the role, then let the hiring manager know as soon as possible. Chances are remote that you will change your mind. Contact the hiring manager by phone or email. Be specific about your reasons for withdrawal and emphasize your gratitude for the interview. For instance, “Sarah, I want to thank you for the opportunity to interview for the Auditor role at Firm A. As I learned more about the position and organization, it was clear that I am not a good fit with company culture. I appreciate getting to know you and hope you find the right candidate soon. Best regards, Rebekah Freiberg”.

Work With a Top Employment Agency in Chicago

Work with Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a top employment agency in Chicago!

Technology: Use These Tech Tools to Minimize the Time Spent on Mundane Tasks

No matter your industry or size of your company, technology plays a large role in daily operations. Choosing the right technology for your needs can streamline processes and increase productivity. Consider taking advantage of these tech tools to handle mundane tasks.

Social Media Tools

Use social media tools such as Hootsuite, Buffer, or CoSchedule to interact with employees, job candidates, and customers. For instance, create a platform for scheduling, monitoring, and responding to social conversations. Also, immediately address customer questions and concerns to resolve issues and build brand loyalty. Plus, receive analytics to assist with creating your short- and long-term social strategy for growth.

Email Marketing

Use email marketing platforms like MailChimp, Constant Contact, or ActiveCampaign to personalize your process for moving prospects through your customer funnel. For instance, implement a platform to directly connect with customers and track campaign performance. Also, integrate your platform with third-party services to increase your effectiveness.

Workflow Automation

Implement workflow automation tools such as OnTask, Integrify, or monday.com to streamline operational tasks. For instance, workflow software can increase productivity, speed up processes, and improve accuracy on procedures such as contract management, vendor communication, recruiting, onboarding, and processing invoices. Also, workflow automation supports your ability to grow and scale your business. After you implement flexible internal processes, employees at all levels can use the procedures in any department.

Internal Communication Tools

Take advantage of internal communication tools like GChat, Microsoft’s Teams, or Slack. For instance, many email providers or software companies offer tools for answering quick questions, participating in group chats, sharing documents, or making calls through the internet. Many of these tools are successfully used at companies of all sizes, industries, and employee demographics.

Internet of Things

Incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) into daily tasks. For instance, involve a voice-activated intelligent work assistant in preparing a conference room, beginning and ending a meeting, and a seemingly endless variety of other skills. Also, use sensor performance and other monitoring technology to control utility costs, track inventory and other assets, and improve processes.

Artificial Intelligence

Make artificial intelligence a part of your business processes. Gain insight into customer purchasing behavior by collecting data and determining usual patterns and trends to more effectively market your products/services. For instance, use social media behavior and app location to share ads relevant to your local customers in real time.

Blockchain

Add blockchain technology to your business processes. Blockchain is an open access shared ledger that records transactions between parties and allows users to agree on its contents. New information is added in blocks, creating a chain. Because the ledger is verified by miners, it ensures accuracy and creates an audit trail. Past records can be viewed but not altered without the majority’s consent. Because blockchain is an excellent accounting tool, accountants spend less time on bookkeeping, reconciliations, and other mundane tasks and more time on interpreting the information and making decisions.

Increase Efficiency With a Leading Schaumburg Employment Agency

Contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a leading Schaumburg employment agency to increase efficiency.

3 Morning Activities That Are Guaranteed to Boost Your Productivity

How you spend your morning helps determine how productive you are throughout the day. When your morning begins with energy-producing activities, you are better able to decrease your stress level. Incorporate these three activities into each morning to increase your productivity throughout the day.

1. Meditate

Quieting your mind stimulates creativity, contemplation, and being in touch with yourself. Meditation also helps you relax, keeps your stress level down, and improves your focus and memory. You are better equipped to think more efficiently and effectively. Start by setting aside five minutes each morning and working up to 30 minutes. Sit up or lie down, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. When your mind wanders, refocus on your breathing. If you have trouble keeping still, look for a guided mediation online. Follow the instructions while focusing on your breathing. With practice, you will gain peace of mind and accomplish more throughout the day.

2. Eat Breakfast

Since your body gets energy from turning food into glucose, you need to start each day with a healthy meal. Plus, your metabolism is better earlier in the day, meaning your body can more easily turn the calories you eat into energy to use throughout the morning. Aim for eating within two hours of waking up so that you can capitalize on your energy stores before starting work. Include protein and healthy carbohydrates such as fruit or whole grains. Avoid donuts and other sugar-laden foods that will not sustain you.

3. Exercise

Exercise improves circulation and releases endorphins that increase well-being and minimize pain and discomfort. Whether doing yoga at home, participating in a spin class or running around the neighborhood, you will lower your stress level and maintain energy throughout the day. Completing your exercise routine in the morning ensures it gets done while allowing time to complete your work. Plus, because exercise helps you clear your mind, you are better able to focus and make good decisions about work projects, problems and more.

Find Your Next Accounting or Finance Role Through Casey Accounting & Finance Resources

Contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a staffing leader in Chicago!

Are You Taking Too Long to Contact Potential Candidates? Are They Losing Interest?

If you have a slow hiring process, top candidates most likely will lose interest in working for you. Candidates who move fast want to work in a fast-paced culture where quick decisions are made. Keeping job vacancies harms production, revenue, and employee morale. As a result, you want to speed up your hiring process to bring aboard the most in-demand talent.

Common Reasons for Delayed Hiring

Your hiring process may be delayed for various reasons. For instance, there may be more job openings than candidates to fill them, especially when labor markets tighten. Or, candidates’ resumes may remain untouched in a hiring manager’s inbox. Additionally, hiring managers may be unclear on what they need in a candidate until they see it.

Why Delayed Hiring Hurts Your Business

Delayed hiring hurts your business for multiple reasons. For instance, you will lose the majority of top candidates in the late stages of your recruitment process because they typically will have multiple offers and will be more inclined to accept one. You will have to hire a lower-quality candidate at a potentially higher salary to fill the role. Also, the longer you keep a role vacant, the more productivity and revenue you lose. Further, a company image of being slow at making hiring decisions implies that making other business decisions will be slow, as well. Strong contributors will not want to work for your company.

Steps to Speed Up the Hiring Process

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to speed up the hiring process. For instance, benchmark your hiring efficiency according to where your jobs are located, your company’s size, level of the position, the measure of local talent supply and demand, and other pertinent variables. Because some roles will be harder than others, put time-to-fill in the right context. If a more-thorough hiring process for a specific role will result in a higher-quality hire, accept the longer timeframe. Also, engage in workforce planning. Allocate recruiting resources in line with your business needs so that hiring managers can see where and when demand will be greatest, and plan accordingly. Additionally, keep your pipeline active so you have available candidates when a position opens. Use candidate relationship management (CRM) tools to keep track of interested candidates. Further, keep your scheduled interview times as much as possible. Set a plan for interview guides, assessment criteria, and how feedback gets submitted to whom. More structure leads to a better candidate experience and better hire.

Find Qualified Candidates Through a Chicago Staffing Leader

Find qualified candidates through Casey Finance & Accounting, staffing leader in the Chicago area!

2018 Mid-Year Accounting and Finance Salary Survey Available!

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources has compiled updated salary data for the fields of accounting and finance. Having passed the middle portion of 2018, having the most up-to-date information is vital!

With compensation trends changing on a monthly basis, both sides can benefit from having this information during job negotiations.

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources can help financial professionals who want to learn more about what salary expectations should be. We have compiled our salary survey list with updated facts and figures including job descriptions for more than 110 accounting and finance positions for the Chicago metropolitan area.

Email us today at FinancialSalarySurvey@caseyresources.com and we will be happy to share this with you. In the “YOUR MESSAGE” section, please enter “2018 Mid-Year Accounting & Finance Salary Survey”. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

5 Buzzwords You Should Incorporate into Your Interview

The words you use during an interview convey an impression of you and your abilities. You want that impression to show you are the most qualified candidate and should be offered the job. Be sure to incorporate these five buzzwords into your next interview.

1. Responsibility

Mention a few key responsibilities you held that are essential to the role. Share stories of how you contributed to other employers and helped them move forward. Mention specific examples of your knowledge, work ethic, and accomplishments that will transfer to your next position. Use the responsibilities listed in the job posting as a basis for your answer. Include statistics in your answer. For example, “I understand customer service is a key part of this role. I spent three years working in a high-volume call center, answering customer calls and finding solutions. I am adept at deescalating situations and making customers happy.”

2. Passion

Demonstrate why you are passionate about the position. The interviewer wants to know you will come to work each day because you care about what you do, and will perform beyond your job description. Mention specific reasons you are excited about the role. Perhaps you enjoyed performing those tasks in the past, enjoy thinking about how your work will affect your target audience, or how you can improve your skills. Maybe you see things through to completion and finish your work on time. For example, you reorganized a presentation at the last minute because the client changed their direction. Or, you still finished a project when the office computers were down.

3. Leadership

Discuss your greatest examples of leadership. Talk about how you led teams and projects and took ownership of your results and accomplishments. For example, show how you encourage top employee performance through recognition and rewards and assigning new responsibilities for professional growth. Mention how you delegate responsibilities to enhance employee skills and increase value to the organization. Discuss how you openly give and receive constructive feedback so individual and team performance improve.

4.Collaboration

Provide examples of how you collaborate with teammates. Working in teams promotes innovation by sharing and developing ideas to move the organization forward. The interviewer will be especially impressed if you collaborated with employees in another department. For example, mention how you ensure everyone understands their role in completing a project and what the timeline is for each task. And, discuss how you stay on task and help others follow suit. Plus, share how you ask for help and assist your teammates when needed.

5. Results

Explain the measurable results you achieved that relate to the position. The interviewer wants to see specifically how you benefitted a previous employer, and how you may benefit your next one. Provide statistics with your answer. For instance, “I increased sales by 25 percent in three months.”

Set Up an Interview With Casey Accounting and Finance

For help with finding your next role, set up an interview with Casey Accounting and Finance! Contact our top Chicago recruiters today.

Generation Z – Are You Ready?!

Who Are They

Generation Z is now entering the workforce with the oldest of the group (born in 1996) just starting to graduate college. Gen Z is the most diverse group of any generation in the U.S. — 55% are Caucasian, 24% are Hispanic, 14% are African-American and 4% are Asian.

What They Believe In

Gen Z wants to be respected, appreciated, have organizations that support their growth and to have a clear understanding outlining the plan for their career. With strong technical skills and creativity, their focus is on jobs that are less automatable. Gen Z believes in fairness and equality for all genders, races, and orientation. They care about: 1) having impact, 2) workplace cultural values, and 3) growth opportunities. Gen Zers are entrepreneurship minded, will learn new skills on their own, but appreciates interpersonal communication mentorship.

Attracting Gen Z

83% welcome you to connect with them before graduation to build a relationship.
Hire base on ability, not pedigree
Have a job landing page with video
Use an engaging application form
Have a 1 click apply – expects ease in applying for positions
Important to look at time to hire and reduce this
Have an authentic website using live photos and videos (not stock photos) of your team showing how your company is making a difference.
Make your application like a video game.
Show how your employees can achieve THEIR goals at your company
8-second filter: Connect with Gen Z with images and videos versus a long LinkedIn InMail
Offer Micro-Internships

Where to find Gen Z talent online

Generation Z are digital natives and have been using the internet for 15 years. They put their stories out on Snapchat and Instagram, and are brand managers from an early age.

Digital Marketing

Handshake
HackerRank
Have an online presence on social media using online videos.
Top 8 social media sites from 2017 where Generation Z spends their time:

Facebook – 90%

YouTube – 71%

Snapchat – 71%

Instagram – 69%

LinkedIn – 49% (this number is decreasing)

Twitter 41%

Pinterest – 37%

Google – 27%

Generation Z is open-minded and adaptable. They are a generation of highly-educated, technologically-savvy, innovative thinkers. They look for solutions on their own. They set out to make things on their own.

Simple Employee Incentive Ideas for The Summer Months

Summer months at the office can be challenging. Most employees are either on vacation or thinking about what outdoor activities they wish they were participating in. Because motivation and productivity are important, you need to provide additional incentives for employees to stay focused and complete their projects.

1. Work Outdoors

Allow employees to work and hold meetings outside. Being in natural light improves communication, reduces stress, and lowers blood pressure. Plus, enjoying fresh air and sunshine increases productivity and employee morale.

2. Offer a Flexible Schedule

Give flexibility in work hours. Perhaps your employees can come in late or work remotely one day each week or work a half day on Fridays. Having greater control over their work schedule means employees have more time to enjoy the outdoors.

3. Implement Casual Dress Day

Offer Casual Dress Day on Fridays. Let employees wear t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops to the office. You may even suggest themed dress days, such as Hawaiian Day, to add to the fun. Your employees will feel more relaxed and complete more tasks.

4. Set Up a Company Event

Set up an outdoor company event. You might arrange a barbeque, golf outing, theme park visit, or baseball game. Perhaps you could host Summer Friday gatherings where employees can mingle and recharge. Maybe host a company party at the office or a manager’s home. In any case, your employees will appreciate the camaraderie and be more motivated to return to work on Monday.

5. Provide Additional Recognition

Give extra recognition to employees who cover for colleagues away from the office. For instance, give the employee a hand-written thank-you note expressing your appreciation for temporarily taking over. Or, have a conversation to express thanks for going above and beyond to help out. Or provide the employee with a gift card to their favorite restaurant to further show your gratitude. Enter those employees in a drawing to win an additional paid day off or tickets to a summer concert, movie, or sporting event.

6. Reward Perfect Attendance

Give rewards for each summer month that an employee has perfect attendance. You may set a price point and offer a gift card to the restaurant, store, or other destination of the employee’s choice. They will be more inclined to show up for work each day and perform their best.

7. Arrange a Company Team for a Charity Event

Organize a company team to participate in a local charity event. There are a variety of walk/runs in major cities every summer. In addition to being a proud corporate sponsor, your employees may be given a day off to help set up and/or run or participate in the event. You build the cohesiveness of your team while supporting the local community.

Get Help with Filling Your Finance and Accounting Jobs in Chicago, IL

When you need to find summer staff, reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a top employment agency in Chicago!

Staffing Firm Arlington Resources Named To Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies To Work For®

Rolling Meadows, Illinois and Pleasanton, Calif. – June 8, 2018 – Arlington Resources, Inc. (www.arlingtonresources.com), an industry leader in the recruitment of Human Resources Professionals for direct hire and contract replacements, announced today they have been named to “Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®” in the category of Small Business. Only companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach can receive this accolade. Arlington Resources will be among the selected companies to be honored on Friday, July 27, 2018 at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace.

An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry, based on key measures in various categories. They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance; and the Best of the Best Small Business, Medium Business and Large Business. Winners are pooled by the size of their company. Employers with up to 100 employees are classified as Small Business; employers with 101-300 employees are classified as Medium Business; and employers with more than 301 employees are classified as Large Business.

Patricia Casey, president of the Arlington Resources division of the Cornerstone Staffing Solutions family of companies commented, “The management team at Arlington Resources has built a work culture where our employees care for each other and our community. It’s truly an honor to work with these talented men and women who are passionate, spirited and committed to Arlington’s guiding principles. Their responses to the survey support our approach to creating a loyal workplace environment where people love to work.”

Recognition on Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® validates Arlington Resources as a company whose best practices not only improve the work environment for its employees but also epitomize high levels of service excellence delivered to the employers and temporary workers Arlington Resources works with daily. The company has also been recognized for its commitment to improving their local community by encouraging employees to actively participate in activities throughout the neighborhoods they live and work in. Earlier this year, the agency received its fifth consecutive Inavero Best of Staffing® Talent Award as well as Inavero Best of Staffing® – Talent Satisfaction for its third consecutive year. The company received its second consecutive placement on Forbes America’s Best Recruiting Firms in 2018, and Arlington has been listed on the Inc. 5000 list five times.

About Arlington Resources, Inc.

Arlington Resources was founded in 1997 by Patricia Casey. The companies offer a “boutique style” approach to recruiting, talent selection and staffing of Human Resources, and Accounting and Finance Professionals to the greater Chicago area. As a nationally accredited, best in class recruitment firm, the staff is well networked in the HR community, tenured and industry certified: Society of Human Resources Management, the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, the Society of Human Resources Professionals, the Northwest Human Resources Council, the Illinois Search and Staffing Association and the National Association of Personnel Services. The company has been awarded Inavero’s Best of Staffing® acknowledgement for Client Satisfaction in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as Best of Staffing® – Talent Satisfaction for 2016, 2017 and 2018. The company has been named to Forbes America’s Best Recruiting Firms in 2017 and 2018. Arlington has also been listed on the Inc. 5000 list five times. Visit Arlington at www.arlingtonresources.com.

More About Cornerstone Staffing

Cornerstone Staffing Solutions is among the largest staffing firms in America and received Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Client Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Since 2003, Cornerstone has grown from a neighborhood staffing provider to a national firm that employs thousands of people at hundreds of companies from coast to coast. The Cornerstone family of companies also includes Dallas, Texas-based Rightstone (www.rightstone.com), and Chicago, Illinois-based Arlington Resources, Inc. (www.arlingtonresources.com) and Casey Accounting & Finance Resources (www.caseyresources.com). Providing candidate searching and job placement for administrative, industrial, technical, sales and transportation positions, Cornerstone truly is where talent and jobs meet. Visit Cornerstone at: http://www.cornerstone-staffing.com.

More About The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. It is presented annually in several markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, and Chicago, in addition to a national program. For more information, visit http://www.thebestandbrightest.com/.

Yay or Nay: Applying for a Job You’re Technically Underqualified For

Like most people, you have probably come across an amazing job opening and were disappointed to learn that you were underqualified. Perhaps the posting called for ten years’ experience, and you had only two, or for someone who managed a team of at least 50 when you managed just 15. The question is, how do you determine whether to apply for the role or look for another one?

Yay: You Have Transferable Skills

If you can demonstrate that you have transferable skills, then apply. Employers are more focused on hiring potential than an exact match. Highlight your transferable skills, knowledge, and experience in your cover letter so that the hiring manager knows you understand the position and what they are looking for. And, write a memo that outlines what you believe the main challenges of the role are and how you would handle them. Mention your awards, achievement of performance standards, upward career advancement, and professional certifications to show you are a high-level professional. Provide examples of how you blend with company culture. You just might be called in for an interview.

Yay: You Have an Employee Referral

If you know an employee who will refer you, then apply. Since referred candidates tend to have similar interests as the employee, blend with company culture, and remain loyal to the organization longer, they are hired more often than non-referrals. If you do not have a connection with the business, then create one. For instance, if the hiring manager is speaking at an upcoming event, then plan to participate and introduce yourself. Or, if the company founder was featured in a recent article, reach out with a comment or question. Cultivating relationships will give you an in with the organization.

Yay: You Can Demonstrate Motivation

If you can clearly show that you are motivated to excel in the role, then apply. Unlike technical skills, motivation cannot be taught. Highlighting a plan to gain the required skills through hard work, dedication, and willingness to learn increases your chances of being offered an interview. For instance, show that you are open to taking a class or engaging in on-the-job training. And, mention examples of how your flexibility and desire to learn benefitted previous employers and can add value to your next one. Or, offer to work for free on a temporary basis so that the hiring manager can see that you are an asset to the company and should be brought aboard full-time.

Nay: You Are New to the Workforce or Changing Careers

If you are just entering the workforce or switching careers, then do not apply. You lack the skills and experience necessary to fulfill the job responsibilities. Applying would be a waste of time for both you and the hiring manager.

Apply with a Leading Chicago Staffing Firm

Apply for work through Casey Finance and Accounting Resources, a leading Chicago employment agency!

Yearly Archives: 2018