Chicago Finance Headhunters Archives

What Employers Can Do to Better Support Their Working Parents

Employers always are looking for ways to support their employees. This improves productivity, performance, and retention.

One key area of support is for working parents. Because most employees have families, they make up a significant part of the workforce.

Working parents often deal with issues that affect their professional performance. Examples include taking time off to care for a sick child and needing to finish work early to handle family responsibilities.

As a result, employers who provide accommodations for working parents are more attractive to employees and job seekers. Taking small steps can result in a substantial impact on your organization with little impact on the bottom line.

Choose among these methods to provide support for your working parents.

Talk About Working Parents’ Needs

Find out more about what your working parents want help with most. You may want to begin with a survey to understand their issues, concerns, and suggestions for help. Then, you can use this information to begin discussions between working parents and management about methods to increase support.

You may want to identify a specific issue that many working parents face. Then, you could encourage managers to speak with their employees for more details. The managers could meet with HR and leadership to share feedback and discuss implementation methods.

Create a Parents’ Network

Encourage working parents to share ideas, provide support, and organize family-friendly activities. This may include creating an email chain for parents to swap out gently used children’s clothing. Or, parents might provide tips to ease the stress of raising children while working full-time.

Having this network helps fill working parents’ wants and needs by connecting them with the right individuals at the right time. You may want to create a dedicated intranet page or Slack channel to encourage working parents to join the network.

Provide Flexibility

Offer employees a flexible schedule and options for how they work. Examples include working remotely, hybrid, flextime, part-time, or having a compressed workweek.

You may want to make accommodations for when working parents’ children start school or change their childcare routines. This reduces the stress of fitting in work around childcare. It also increases productivity and retention.

Looking for Additional Advice?

Working parents appreciate help supporting their personal and professional needs. Talking about and accommodating working parents’ needs, creating a working parents’ network, and providing flexibility are effective methods to provide this support. This increases employee engagement, productivity, and performance. It also increases employee attraction and retention.

For additional advice to better support your team’s working parents, reach out to the professionals at Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. Contact us today.

Will a Hire Based on AI Last Longer Than a Human-Selected Hire?

In many cases, employees hired based on artificial intelligence (AI) last longer than employees hired on human-made decisions. Implementing AI in the hiring process can increase efficiency and lead to higher performing employees. However, there are issues with AI that need to be resolved before it becomes more heavily relied upon in the recruiting process.

Resume Sorting

Employers feed a system teaching sets and information, including resumes, performance reviews, work product and career paths, for top candidates competing for an open position. AI sifts through the information to match specific criteria, such as location and previous job title, ranks the information based on other desired traits and background information, and presents the information to a recruiter. Because poorly matched candidates are quickly eliminated, an employer can more efficiently meet with highly ranked candidates and decrease the time needed to hire.

Answering Candidate Questions

Chatbots can provide job seekers unadvertised information they need to know to determine whether they may be a good fit for both the company and a role. Chatbots can let candidates know whether their resume is still being considered, rather than the candidate not being responded to at all. Chatbots can reduce bias and unconscious discrimination in the interview process by objectively ranking information rather than making decisions based on an interviewer’s intuition.

Leveraging Video Technology

AI can be leveraged into video technology to evaluate a screening interview. An employer can analyze whether a candidate was comfortable during the interview, honest in what they said and gave quality answers to interview questions. The evaluation should be used with other methods to increase efficiency in the hiring process.

Customizing Algorithms

Each business needs to input specific skills, traits and expertise necessary to excel in a role. Unfortunately, most companies use the wrong algorithms, which contributes to a lack of diversity and inclusion and puts the company at a disadvantage. For example, because many companies include Ivy League degrees, employment with globally recognized companies and specific demographics and traits in their algorithms, a substantial number of highly qualified candidates are automatically eliminated from the hiring process. Also, because a significant number of employers want candidates with those characteristics, employers have a harder time hiring them, end up paying more to bring the on, and may not receive the results they want.

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Your New Job Is Boring. What Changed? What Can You Do?

After a few weeks at your new job, you may find yourself disinterested in your tasks. Because you need to be engaged in your work to feel job satisfaction, you may decide to look for something else. However, you may end up in the same situation elsewhere. Therefore, you need to uncover what changed in your job and what you can do to improve it.

Alter Your Surroundings

It may be another office, a coffee shop or other location where you can complete your work. A change in scenery may help you focus. You may even decide to go for a quick walk to clear your head and see things in new ways.

Look at Your Tasks From a New Angle

Objectively look at your tasks as though you were an outsider. See how you can make things interesting. For example, work on a different task first. Make your calls in the morning. Take your break at different times. Wait three hours to check your email.

Meet Colleagues

Walk in the break room at various times and introduce yourself to employees in other departments. Talk with different co-workers at company functions. Make plans to participate in activities outside the office. You’ll be more engaged in your work knowing you have friends nearby.

Actively Learn

Attend seminars and conferences to find out more about your industry. Take a class related to your field. Ask if you can cross-train in another department and fill in when needed. Go for a promotion so you have additional responsibilities that keep you busy and engaged.

Talk With Your Boss

Let your boss know what the issue is and how you may improve it. Perhaps you need additional tasks, a new project or a more challenging workload. Focus on what the company needs and how you may contribute. You may be able to find a solution to a recurring problem or help colleagues complete a project. Mention your performance with your current workload, what you have learned and accomplished, and why you are the best employee for taking on additional assignments.

Partner With a Staffing Agency

You will be tested on various skills to determine where your interests and expertise are. You will add to your experience level and discover what your true passion is. By working in a temporary position, you can determine how well you fit with company culture and whether you would be happy being offered a permanent role. If you are dissatisfied with a position, you can easily move to a new one.

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Your Top Brand Ambassadors Are Your Internal Employees

Employee brand ambassadors bring your company much credibility. Having individuals with firsthand insight into your organization promote your business adds transparency and relatability to your brand.

What a Brand Ambassador Is

A brand ambassador is an individual who tried and loves your products/services enough to say amazing things about them. The ambassador has expertise in your market and appeals to almost everyone. An authentic brand ambassador is highly credible because they promote products/services based on the value and benefits they receive. The ambassador may be called on in various situations to share their experiences with others, such as in advertising campaigns and pitching stories to reporters as a means of building a company’s brand.

Benefits of Employees as Brand Ambassadors

An employee brand ambassador helps humanize your brand. An effective ambassador brings a strong media following and solidifies your reputation. A top ambassador promotes your brand through word of mouth both online and in person to increase sales. The more employee brand ambassadors you have, the more followers you gain, and the greater your reach. This increases the size of your customer base.

How to Encourage Employees to Be Brand Ambassadors

Get to know each employee’s values, strengths and aspirations. If your business is new, let your employees try your products/services for free. They will enjoy the perk and raise awareness for your business. Teach your employees how to create and build connections with prospects and customers inside and outside the company. Encourage your ambassadors to develop marketing ideas and gather feedback from customers. Ask them to post about your products/services, talk about your company whenever possible and attend trade shows to promote your business.

How to Promote Brand Ambassador Online Reviews

Encourage your employee brand ambassadors to write online reviews. Share the message you want to convey to job candidates. Include the top qualities you want ambassadors to focus on when writing about what it is like working for your company. Ask your employee brand ambassadors to post photos from company events, lunch with colleagues or other events that communicate a positive work environment. Request that ambassadors post videos sharing their stories in their own words that convey your mission and company culture.

How to Measure a Brand Ambassador’s Effectiveness

Look at how many individuals view their posts and engage with their content. Study sales numbers before and after your brand ambassador started work to see whether sales are coming from the market segments the ambassador should be targeting.

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What Can You Do to Show Past Success in Your Accounting Career?

When searching for your next accounting position, you want to demonstrate ways you provided value for previous employers and how you can do so for your next employer. You will set yourself apart from the competition and come closer to landing your new role.

Give Statistics on Your Accomplishments

Your key performance indicators (KPIs) are what show how you add value to an organization. For example, to measure your timeliness, focus on time to process invoices/transactions/payments, percent of financial reports submitted on time or days to close the books and sign off the month/year. To measure your quality, focus on your percent of accuracy in transactions/payments, percent of collection rate of outstanding amounts or percent of audit recommendations implemented. General measurements may include your percent of tasks finalized on time, percent of internal procedures updated or percent of processes optimized.

Demonstrate Your Commitment to Professional Development

Employers want to know you value keeping current with changes in the accounting industry, learning new skills and taking the initiative to help both your career and the company. For example, show you use the most current accounting software to ensure the organization’s financial operations are both easily done and compliant with all laws and regulations. Subscribe to professional blogs and publications to stay updated on accounting trends. Continuously learn about new accounting techniques and changing guidelines and business laws from the FASB and updated tax forms and rates from the IRS. Remain aware of new accounting techniques in financial institutions, including fee structures and account offerings, that impact how companies manage their liquid capital and investments. Participate in professional associations such as the AICPA, IMA or IIA for self-study courses, live web events, group study options, conferences, and training modules to stay current on regulations, GAAP and IFRS policies.

Provide Recommendation Letters

Potential employers will gain more insight into your background and capabilities than they would by calling a former employer’s HR department. Ask two former managers and two former colleagues to create an endorsement for your skills and experience. Have them include their title and a brief background to show they were in a position to determine your good fit with the organization. Request the writers include the number of years you worked for the company, specific examples of your accomplishments, and your credentials and awards. Ask the writers to mention your professional qualifications and which traits and skills make you qualified for the role you want. Have the writers show that you were a valuable contributor and left on good terms.

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What Does the Reversal of the Joint Employer Standard Mean?

During the Obama Administration in 2015, under the Joint Employment Standard, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) determined that companies were joint employers if both exercised direct and immediate control over essential employment terms. As a result, the NLRB ruled that Browning-Ferris Industries of California was a joint employer for workers employed by staffing firm Leadpoint Business Services at Browning-Ferris’s recycling site.

Reason for the Reversal

In December 2017, under the Trump Administration, the NLRB reversed the Joint Employment Standard due to a case involving two construction companies. Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors fired five employees and Brandt Construction fired two employees after they stopped work due to concerns over wages, benefits, and safety. An administrative law judge ruled that Hy-Brand and Brandt were joint employers. Although the NLRB agreed with the judge, it disagreed with how he reached his decision. For this reason, the NLRB began a discussion about the 2015 Joint Employment Standard. They concluded by rewriting the test for determining whether multiple companies are joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

How the Reversal Affects Joint Employment

In pending and future cases, companies will be considered joint employers if one company directly and immediately exercises control over essential employment terms of another company’s employees. Therefore, when you work with a staffing agency, you must be extremely clear on your relationships with their employees, especially if you exercise control over the agency’s employees. If you are considered a joint employer, you may become liable for paying wages, employment taxes, unemployment insurance, and other expenses.

Questions to Consider About Joint Employment

As an employer who works with staffing agencies, you need to determine whether joint employment exists with the agency. For example, does one company own all or part of the other? Are there overlapping officers, directors, executives or managers? Do the companies share control over hiring, firing, payroll, advertising, overhead costs or other operations? Are operations intermingled, such as having one administrative operation for both companies? Does one company supervise the work of the other? Do the companies treat the employees as a pool of employees available to both of them? Do the companies share clients or customers? Are there agreements between the companies?

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The LinkedIn Strategy That Helps Your Job Search in 2018

Although you probably use LinkedIn to stay in touch with friends and colleagues, you are missing out by not using it to find your next job. Learning to properly connect with influential leaders in your industry may help you land your next position.

Cultivate Relationships

Comment on posts you find especially engaging. Share insightful content that may be of interest to others. Participate in LinkedIn Group discussions. Notice the individuals you commonly interact with. Determine their job titles and whether they may be able to help with your job search. Ask individuals to connect with you through LinkedIn. Start sharing resources such as articles and case studies that may be of interest to them. Send a short message acknowledging birthdays, work anniversaries, new jobs and other special occasions. When you see articles about a connection’s company or content the person wrote, like, comment on and share the information. Provide endorsements for your connections’ skills. If someone endorses your skills, send a quick message of thanks.

Send an InMail

Research the individual, the company they work for and their role. Find out the person’s interests and commonalities you share. Explain why you want to connect and what benefit the individual may receive. Include a personal interest you both share to make a memorable connection. Let the person know you would like to speak to them about a specific topic, such as a post they wrote or an article involving their company. Ensure your message is clear and concise.

Follow Up

Find the person’s email address and ask to set up a time to talk about their job and the company they work for. Mention you are looking for a job and are very interested in learning more about the employer. If your contact is not in a position to hire you, ask whether they will connect you with the hiring manager. After being introduced, mention to the hiring manager your top skills and experience and how you can benefit the company. Have your LinkedIn profile or resume available when you ask about potential job openings. Be ready to answer questions about your work or to schedule an interview.

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Take a Step Back and Create a Strong Process to Improve Your Talent Strategy

One of your company’s biggest focal points is finding top talent. When you have the best professionals working for you, your business stays competitive. Therefore, you want to always be improving on your recruiting strategies. Here are some tips for creating a strong process to improve your talent strategy.

Create Clear Job Descriptions

Ask your co-workers what the nature of the position is and what qualifications are required. If an employee is working in a similar role, ask for their input as well. Update past job descriptions so they contain current information. When you use the descriptions to write job postings, you’ll know the key responsibilities required for the position, with whom the employee works and to whom they report, and how the employee can advance in the organization. Because candidates understand what qualifications you’re looking for, what their performance should look like, what the company’s management structure is and how the candidate may be promoted, you’ll be able to find the quality candidates you’re looking for.

Profile Your Ideal Candidate

Determine which skills and experience your ideal candidate has. This includes four to six easily observable characteristics that most skilled professionals in the same position share. The characteristics may be viewed from a candidate’s resume, application or screening interview and must be logically connected to being successful on the job. Ensure each characteristic is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-related (SMART).

Craft Your Pitch to Top Talent

The best candidates have a multitude of opportunities available to them. Therefore, you need to point out what you have to offer candidates that your competition does not. Ensure your pitch is personalized, concise, compelling and transparent. For example, include why your product/service is unique, who your target audience is and how you plan to reach that audience. Mention your quantitative goals such as revenue, profitability and number of employees for the next five and 10 years. In addition, bring up how your company can further a candidate’s career planning through additional training, mentorship and other professional development. State what your company culture is like and why employees enjoy working for you.

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Our Top Financial Job Search Tips from 2017

As we head into the new year, you should be setting goals for what you want to accomplish in the next 12 months. One of your goals may be to find a new accounting or finance job. Here are our top financial job search tips from 2017.

Monitor Your LinkedIn Profile

Because a hiring manager will likely view your LinkedIn profile when you apply for a position, you want to present yourself in a highly professional manner. For example, mention your accomplishments, such as how you helped your team secure a substantial account with a big client. Participate in LinkedIn Groups to interact with other professionals in your field and show you’re a thought leader. In addition, use Open Candidate to connect with hiring managers and recruiters without your current employer finding out.

Highlight Your Accounting Skills and Accomplishments

List your technical skills, including proficiency in SAP, Oracle, Sage and other high-level software that set you apart from the competition. Also, mention the accomplishments you achieved in previous positions, such as taking on more responsibility and creating desired results. Ensure you quantify your success to show how strong your performance was. Mention how well you prepare an income statement, balance sheet, statement of retained earnings, statement of cash flow and other financial statements. Furthermore, explain how you pay attention to detail when performing financial analysis.

Find Work When You Are Unemployed

There are many methods of finding work when you’re unemployed. Use social media for networking. Update your Facebook profile to show what type of role you’re looking for and what your skills and experience are, then reach out to your friends and ask if they know of any openings. Use LinkedIn to connect with former colleagues, supervisors and executives you worked with and hiring managers at companies that interest you. Follow companies you’d like to work for on LinkedIn and Twitter so you can be notified when they have job openings. Continue building your skill set. Volunteer with a nonprofit organization that provides services you’re passionate about. Include the fundraising, email marketing, event management or other skills you gained on your resume. In addition, continue personal and professional development. Take on temporary and contract projects that enhance your skills and may lead to full-time work. Participate in a class or professional association related to your field. Furthermore, work with a recruiter who specializes in your industry. Contact them to see how they’d like to receive your cover letter and resume. Appropriately prepare for your interview. Follow up weekly without becoming bothersome. Show gratitude for the recruiter’s assistance.

Partner With a Leading Financial Staffing Agency in Chicago

While updating your resume and LinkedIn profile will help you find a job for the new year, take the next step and work with an award-winning financial staffing agency in Chicago. Contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources!

Short-Term and Long-Term Goals Will Improve Your Employee Experience

Your employee experience involves feeling connected to co-workers at all levels, finding meaning in the work, having an impact on the organization, and receiving specific, real-time appreciation for one’s contributions. Because these issues are interrelated, they all have an impact on your company’s success. Therefore, you want to do all you can to ensure your employees are satisfied in all areas. Here are some tips for setting short- and long-term goals to improve your employee experience.

Incorporate Feedback into Company Culture

Create short-and long-term goals for incorporating regular feedback into company culture. Giving and accepting feedback in real time is much more effective than the traditional completion of an annual survey. Therefore, you need to encourage leaders to request and accept feedback and employees to follow specific criteria to most effectively provide feedback. Ask about the effectiveness of your onboarding process and how it may be improved. Also, ask about an employee’s experience in having their work performance evaluated and how the process could be better.

Create Employee Insight Teams

Set short- and long-term goals for creating dedicated employee insight teams. The teams must possess the skills and systems necessary to collect, analyze and act on employee experience data. Also, leaders must be trained to interpret the data reports, discuss the feedback with their teams and prioritize areas that need action.

Set Up Employee Systems

Ensure each leader has a current list of their employees. Also, provide methods of communication between leaders and employees through phones or the internet.

Implement Ongoing Initiatives

Ensure that your goals involve ongoing initiatives, rather than one-time programs. Shifts in improving your employee experience need to become permanent elements of operating your company. However, incorporate your goals for one initiative at a time, rather than all at once. The first version of your employee experience program will need to improve over time. Therefore, focus your efforts on one initiative until you’re satisfied with your results. You can always take a look at it again after implementing your goals for other initiatives.

Measure Business Impact

Set long- and short-term goals to measure your impact on reaching business goals. For example, HR professionals need to create feedback programs to identify, measure and interpret employee experiences and use feedback to improve their HR processes. Also, leaders need to accept and act on positive and negative feedback. In addition, employees need to provide honest feedback without concern for adverse consequences.

Contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources

To secure top financial professionals, contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources and work with an award-winning financial recruiter in Chicago!