Financial Recruiters In Chicago Archives - Page 3 of 4

What Can You Do to Overcome the Skills Gap in Tax Employees?

According to the 2016 American Staffing Association’s Skills Gap Index, one of the hardest positions to fill is that of a tax preparer. With baby boomers retiring and millennials not stepping into tax preparation roles, it’s increasingly challenging finding workers to fill those positions. Fortunately, there are steps companies can take to find qualified candidates. Here are three ways you can overcome the skills gap in tax employees.

Change Position Duties

Because these workers have specialized skills, let them focus more on completing tasks only they can perform and assigning additional responsibilities to other accountants. When tax preparers have more time to focus on areas they excel in, they’re more likely to want to work for your company, stay engaged in their tasks, produce higher quality output and remain with your organization longer.

Train Candidates

Focus more on attitude and aptitude than on experience when searching for candidates. This is especially important when considering recent graduates with little job experience. They’ll be eager to add to their skill sets, quick to adapt and more likely to work for less pay in exchange for on-the-job training. You may also cross-train or promote employees within your organization who express an interest in becoming tax preparers. Because your staff members already know their co-workers and have inside knowledge of your company, more time would be focused on training than on acclimating to your workplace. Your employees would be more productive in a shorter amount of time and begin benefitting your organization sooner.

Provide Increased Income

Research what the current salary range is in your area, then offer a bit more than average. Consider what skills and experience each candidate has to offer, how many employees you have to pay and what laws affect their income before deciding on final numbers. In addition, think about future bonuses and raises you may have to offer to stay competitive. Furthermore, consider the cost of benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans with company match and PTO. Think about perks such as a flexible schedule, working remotely and participating in an employee wellness program. All of these factors will affect how competitive your compensation package is.

Work With a Top Accounting Recruiter in Chicago

For help with filling your accounting roles, reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources and partner with a top accounting recruiter in Chicago.

The Most Important Part of Your Job Negotiation

Job negotiations take much time and effort. You have to be prepared to ask for what you want and know what you won’t settle for. Because the process can be daunting, it’s important you have a plan in place before your interview. Here are four parts of your job negotiation you’ll want to focus on.

Research

Uncover all you can about the company and its typical salaries and benefits options for your department and role. Find facts and statistics you can use in your favor to build a case for getting what you want. Have set goals for receiving what you desire. Plan ways in which you may fill your needs and how you may respond to a counteroffer. Ensure you know which areas you’re set on and which are flexible. Showing you performed solid research increases your chances of receiving a more attractive offer.

Salary

Go online to research the current range for your position in both your industry and geographic area. Talk with local recruiters to see what numbers they give you. When you’re ready to negotiate, start with the top number in your salary range. The interviewer will probably negotiate you down, so leave plenty of room to find an agreeable number. Justify your request by pointing out specific ways you increased revenue or decreased expenses for previous employers and how you may do the same for your new employer. Ensure you know what salary is too low to fit your needs. If that amount becomes the final offer, be willing to walk away.

Benefits

If you agree to a lower salary, try making up for the value with benefits and perks. For example, you may obtain health insurance, gain a matching contribution for your retirement plan or secure a signing bonus. You might be able to gain additional vacation days, have a flexible schedule, or work remotely. Perhaps you’ll obtain opportunities for growth and promotion, support for ongoing education or reimbursement for tuition.

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Because you have more power when the interviewer sees where you’re coming from, ensure you do all you can to help them understand your position. For example, give concrete reasons why you’re worth the salary you’re requesting, including quantifiable ways you helped prior employers and can do the same for your new employer. Show you sincerely want to work for the organization and that it’s worth the extra effort negotiating with you. Point out the options you have as leverage and under which conditions you’d be willing to leave those options and accept an offer. Understand the interviewer’s concerns, such as a salary cap, so you can agree on an offer that suits everyone’s interests.

Partner With a Top Finance Recruiter in Chicago

For help securing your next accounting or finance position, contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to work with a top finance recruiter in Chicago!

How Can a Staffing Agency or a Recruiter Help Your Workforce Stay Agile?

There are many benefits to having a flexible workforce. Having someone else screen, interview, hire, pay and let employees move to other opportunities frees up time and money that may be invested in other areas of your business. Fortunately, a staffing agency or recruiter may help with hiring and managing your workers. Here are four ways a staffing agency or recruiter can help your workforce stay agile.

Bring in Talent When Needed

You specify the number of workers needed, the timeframe and hourly rate target, and the agency or recruiter handles the rest. If the agency or recruiter doesn’t have the best candidate for the position, they’ll recruit for the role, review applications, conduct interviews and background checks, and hire the best person. The temporary worker becomes an employee of the staffing agency or recruiter, completes their job duties for your company and receives a paycheck and benefits from the agency or recruiter until the worker is no longer needed at your company.

Quickly Fill Roles

The agency or recruiter uses various sourcing techniques to prescreen and qualify candidates. An agency representative or recruiter will learn all they can about your company’s industry, daily operations, physical workspace and equipment for the open position, responsibilities and expectations for the role, potential career paths within the organization, and other pertinent information that candidates will want to know. Likewise, the agency representative or recruiter will tell you what skills and experience each candidate possesses so you know how they may benefit your company.

Develop a Relationship With Hiring Managers

Developing a relationship with your hiring managers will expedite future hiring needs. When meeting with an agency representative or recruiter, your hiring manager should let them know what skills, experience and qualities they’re looking for in a candidate; what the salary range is; whether anything went wrong with the last hire for the role; and how the new worker may perform better than the last. The agency representative or recruiter will discuss whether the manager’s expectations are in line with the current market or how they may be altered to become more achievable.

Increase Business Without Hiring Full Time

Because expanding your company costs money, and labor is one of your greatest expenses, hiring temporary workers will control your labor costs and free up funds for growing your company. Also, when a temporary worker is no longer needed, you may either let them move on to their next opportunity, or if the staffing agency or recruiter agrees, hire them on full time for your organization.

Partner With a Top Financial Staffing Agency

These are four ways a staffing agency or recruiter can help your workforce stay agile. For assistance with your accounting and finance staffing needs, contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to work with a leading financial recruiter in Chicago!

Arlington/Casey Resources Named on Forbes 2017 Lists of America’s Best Recruitment Firms

Chicago-land staffing firm, Arlington Resources, ranked No. 120 on America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms

Rolling Meadows, Illinois (May 12, 2017) — Award-winning staffing firm Arlington Resources has been ranked No. 120 on Forbes 2017 list of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms.

Patricia Casey, Arlington Resources President and CEO, stated, “We are honored and proud to be recognized on Forbes 2017 list of Best Professional Recruitment Firms. We are inspired to do our part in making the world a better place, and we continue to make a difference in the lives of our candidates and clients every day. This recognition is very uplifting to our team as we continue to be dedicated to maximizing the potential of our greatest asset: our employees. By doing so, we are focused on delivering quality customer service and committed to recruiting an outstanding workforce for our clients.”

Methodology

For the top lists of “America’s Best Recruiting Firms” Statista and Forbes divided the broad field of recruitment firms into two main categories:

Executive Search (specialized on permanent placement of executive positions with at least USD 100,000 income per year)

Professional Search (specialized on permanent placement of professional and specialist positions up to USD 100,000 income per year).

The top lists in these two categories are based on three online surveys among:

18,000 external recruiters (peer review)
3,000 candidates/employees (with experience with recruitment firms within the last three years)
500 HR-managers (as clients of recruitment firms within the last three years)

The surveys took place between 6th December 2016 and the 7th February 2017 with invitations sent by e-mail including a personalized link. Each interviewee could name up to ten recruitment firms per category, either with the help of a long list with more than 4,000 recruitment firms (auto-fill option) or as a free nomination.

To learn more about the Forbes Lists of America’s Best Recruiting Firms 2017, click here.

To learn more about Arlington Resources, click here.

About Arlington Resources:

Arlington Resources specializes in the placement of Human Resources Professionals for direct placement, temporary services and human resources consulting. Since 1997, Arlington Resources, Inc. has successfully partnered with companies of all sizes from start-up to Fortune 100. With our specialization of filling Human Resources Jobs in Chicago IL, the Arlington Resources team has established relationships with the highest caliber of professionals in the field.

Arlington Resources will recruit and provide the HR staff you need today. As a trusted staffing firm, we reduce your time spent on recruiting, evaluating, screening and interviewing employees. Our staffing consultants provide innovative and creative solutions, so we can exceed our clients’ expectations to help achieve their talent management goals and objectives. All of our consultants abide by high ethical standards, and our goal is to provide exceptional value while easing your workload, saving you time and increasing profitability.

Media Contact:

Jake Joyce, Arlington Resources, Inc.

224-232-5883

jacobjoyce@arlingtonresources.com

Why You Should Treat the Interviewer Like a Client in Your Next Job Search

During your next job search, you’ll want to do all you can to increase your chances of being hired. Part of your plan should include personally and professionally impressing the interviewer. For this reason, it’s important you find ways to treat the interviewer like you would a client.

The Interviewer Will Admire Your Knowledge

Researching the company before your interview will help you discuss why you want to work there. Peruse the website to determine the company’s history, location, size, mission and values. Read the annual report and listen to the most recent quarterly earnings conference call to find out about new products, company risks and current revenue status. Check out blog posts to see what topics the company is interested in. Also, visit LinkedIn to determine what type of news the company finds important. Check out Facebook and Twitter to find out the tone of the company, how engaged it is with its customers and how it responds to complaints. In addition, Google the organization and read what news comes up. You’ll be able to speak factually about the company and show you’re the best candidate for the position.

The Interviewer Will Be Engaged in Your Conversation

The more you engage the interviewer in conversation, the greater the potential they’ll want to work with you. If you go on LinkedIn and check out each interviewer’s profile, you can determine their background, position within the company and what personal and professional interests you have in common. Ensure each interviewer can see you viewed their profile so they know you’re proactively doing research. During your interview, use the interviewer’s name whenever possible. Maintain eye contact. Be alert and smile when appropriate. Let the interviewer lead. Ensure you listen more than you speak. Provide well-thought-out answers. Subtly mirror the interviewer’s posture, speech pattern or tone of voice to show you’re engaged in what they’re saying.

Your Follow Up Will Be Appreciated

Following up with the interviewer shows you appreciate their time and are interested in the position. Before leaving your interview, ask when you should expect to hear back about the role. Within 24 hours, send an email or handwritten card thanking each interviewer for meeting with you. Bring up a few topics that were discussed. Show your excitement about the position and how the company may benefit from hiring you. Be sure you check your spelling, grammar and punctuation to show you communicate clearly and pay attention to detail.

If you haven’t heard anything within the stated timeline, follow up with the interviewer by phone or email. If you don’t hear back within a few days, follow up again. If you still don’t hear anything, move to your next opportunity.

Work With a Top Financial Recruiter in Chicago

Treating the interviewer like a client builds rapport and shows you’re genuinely interested in working for their company. For help securing your next accounting or finance role, reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to work with an award-winning financial recruiter in Chicago!

How Can You Find a Job As an Unemployed but Qualified Worker?

Even though you’re a qualified worker, you may be unemployed due to circumstances beyond your control. Perhaps you were downsized or let go for having a difference of opinion with a supervisor about a new product or service being offered. Even though finding a job may be difficult, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of being called in for an interview. Follow these guidelines for finding a job when you’re unemployed but qualified.

Use Social Media

Because networking is one of the most effective ways to find a job, use social media to discover opportunities. For example, reach out to your Facebook friends and let them know you’re seeking a position. On your profile, specify what role you’re looking for and what your skills and experience are. People are typically open to helping others, so odds are you’ll find job leads. Also, use LinkedIn to connect with colleagues, supervisor, and executives you’ve worked with, as well as hiring managers at companies you’d like to work for. Join professional groups in your industry, as well. You’ll most likely get in touch with someone who can alert you to a job opening and potentially help you secure an interview. In addition, follow companies you want to work for on LinkedIn and Twitter. You’ll be notified when those companies have openings.

Showcase Your Skills

During your job search, continue showcasing and building your skills. For example, you may work with an interview coach to enhance your techniques. Also, you may volunteer with a nonprofit organization whose mission you’re passionate about. Be sure to list on your resume the experiences and skills you picked up, such as fundraising, email marketing or managing events. Potential employers want to know what you were participating in while searching for your next job.

Enlist a Recruiter

Consider working with a recruiter who specializes in your field. Determine what preferences they have for submitting your cover letter and resume. Most recruiters prefer a specific format submitted through email. If you update your resume, let the recruiter know. Follow through by doing what you say you’ll do to enhance your search process. Stay in touch weekly with the recruiter, but don’t become bothersome. Show gratitude for the recruiter’s role in your job search. Remain connected for the next time you need help securing a role.

Continue Developing

Continue personal and professional development when securing your next job. For example, take on temporary assignments or consulting work to show employers what skills you possess and how employers may benefit. Those assignments may lead to permanent work. Consider attending a class related to your industry. Participate in professional associations. If you want to change careers, volunteer in your desired field so you gain insight into whether it truly fits your interests and needs.

Work with a Top Accounting Recruiter in Chicago

If you are struggling to find a job, work with an award-winning accounting staffing agency in Chicago and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources today!

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Big Data to Make Employee Decisions

Big data may be helpful in making decisions about your employees. However, predictive analytics shouldn’t be the only foundation on which you base your judgments. Here are three mistakes to avoid when using big data to make decisions about your employees.

Being Secretive with Healthcare Data

If your company uses healthcare data to make better healthcare decisions, be transparent about it with all of your employees. Because many companies use outside firms to predict health risks in their employees, your workers may be concerned that you’re using the data to predict which employees may become sick or pregnant or develop serious health conditions, then terminate those workers to save on healthcare costs. Therefore, it’s important you show your employees that you respectfully use HR analytics in ways that comply with HIPPA and all privacy and HR laws. For example, you may point out that HR analytics help evaluate your healthcare costs and wellness programs to determine their effectiveness, find out whether there are gaps in healthcare coverage or employee benefits, and uncover ways to improve your programs. You may also compare employee and company data to industry data to offer the best, most cost-effective healthcare coverage and benefits to your employees.

Using Predictive Performance Analytics to Make All Decisions

You may use predictive performance analytics to help make decisions about employees, but you should incorporate human input as well. For example, you may use predictive analytics to help manage and train employees, assess future hiring needs and create a pipeline of talent, yet you should still gain supervisors’ and HR’s input on exactly how to proceed with each employee. Also, you may use predictive analytics to determine which employees get promoted or fired, yet you should gather input on individual performance from supervisors and HR before making a final decision. This will help you avoid wrongful termination lawsuits and other issues.

Focusing on Details Rather Than the Big Picture

Use big data as a guide for making decisions about your employees while focusing on the big picture. Ensure you don’t use only one piece of data for hiring or firing and that your actions are honest and legal. For example, if your analytics show that employees who live closer to the office are more likely to work for the company longer, avoid using that information to terminate employment for workers who live farther away. Rather, form your hiring and firing decisions based on individual performance and what’s best for your company.

Work with a Top Financial Recruiter in Chicago

Use big data along with supervisors’ and HR’s input to help make better decisions about your employees. For help filling your accounting and finance roles, contact the financial staffing experts at Casey Accounting & Finance Resources!

Applying Through a Job Post on Facebook? Be Careful!

In February 2017, Facebook launched a new jobs feature on its website. Employers may post jobs for free on their Facebook pages, and candidates may apply using Facebook’s interface. Employers may view candidates’ profiles and communicate with them through Messenger. Although this sounds like an excellent setup, there are drawbacks to consider.

Is Your Profile Public?

If you apply for a job through Facebook, your profile must be made public for employers to view your information. This poses serious privacy issues, especially if you wish to keep your personal information and pictures hidden from employers. You most likely don’t want to be judged for what you do in your off hours, which is exactly what may happen if you make your profile public. You most likely want to reveal a little bit about yourself at a time, rather than have everything out in the open all at once.

A related issue is that the more information you share about your education and work experience through a job application, the more details Facebook will add to your profile. This provides Facebook additional information about you that you may not want to disclose to the company.

Do You Want Your Information Private?

Applying for a job through Facebook may give employers even more access to your profile, letting them perform a deeper background check on you. This may be of concern if you don’t maintain the level of professionalism on your Facebook page that you would in front of an employer. Like most people, you probably post stories and pictures about topics and experiences that interest you the most. These may be appropriate for family and friends to know about, but not necessarily for employers. For example, posting inappropriate words, information, or pictures; speaking poorly about former employers, coworkers, or clients; and lying about qualifications are typical reasons employers don’t hire candidates based on their social media profiles. You may not want to go back and erase your favorite memories from your profile to avoid having employers discover them and potentially not hire you.

Are You Comfortable Drawing Attention to Your Profile?

Job applications through Facebook may raise legal and ethical concerns. For example, when Facebook draws information from your profile to fill out your application, it includes your profile picture. This increases your chances of being illegally discriminated against based on your race. Also, if your profile shows you’re involved with a religious organization or a specific political cause, employers may decide not to hire you based on that information as well.

Work with an Award-Winning Financial Recruiter in Chicago

If you’re uncomfortable applying for jobs through Facebook, you do have other options. Reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources today and work with a top financial recruiter in Chicago!

What Does Your LinkedIn Profile Say About You?

If you’re busy on the job hunt, don’t overlook the impact your LinkedIn profile has on a prospective employer. Your LinkedIn profile may be one of the first things your employer looks at when they are trying to find out more about you. Many employers will simply do a Google search of your name or check out your profile on LinkedIn to see your work history and get a better idea of who you are — beyond your resume. This is why it’s even more important to make sure your LinkedIn profile contains key information your employer is looking for and also presents you in the best possible light. Here are some things your LinkedIn profile needs:

Attractive Presentation of Accomplishments

You want to highlight your accomplishments, but avoid being boastful. Make sure to talk about all of your accomplishments in a professional way. For example, you could talk about how you led your team to secure a large contract with a big client instead of simply talking about how you won a large contract. Be detailed and sincere when sharing information about your awards and accomplishments.

Make Use of the Open Candidate Feature

If you’ve been worried your current employer will see you making new connections or showing interest in other jobs, you can make use of this feature for that extra level of privacy. LinkedIn rolled out this feature in late 2016 to make it easier for candidates to connect with recruiters or potential employers without a current employer noticing. This also helps recruiters choose from a larger pool of available and qualified candidates.

You can post recommendations from former employers and clients on your LinkedIn profile for public viewing. This can improve your reputation and help future clients or employers make an informed decision about hiring you. Recommendations are just like star ratings and reviews for businesses — the more positive recommendations you have to share, the more attractive your profile becomes to a potential employer.

Partner With a Leading Financial Staffing Agency in Chicago

Taking some time to update and revise your LinkedIn profile will help your job search. Take the next step and work with an award-winning financial staffing agency in Chicago and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. Work with our great team of financial recruiters today to advance your career!

How Will TED Talks Help Your Career in 2017?

If you want to improve your career prospects in 2017 or simply invest in your career this upcoming year, don’t overlook the value of watching TED talks. TED speakers come from all walks of life to share unique perspectives and insights about their industry, life, spirituality and everything in between. Whether you need some motivation to get your career on track or want to develop some leadership skills, tune in to a few TED talks to boost your career opportunities this year.

Finding Work You Love

If you’re still trying to find your dream job or figure out what career path you want to explore in the upcoming years, maybe it’s time to rediscover your passion. If your job has become a source of misery and you’re trying to find meaningful work, watch this TED talk by Scott Dinsmore: How to find work you love.

Getting Back Into the Workforce

If you’ve decided to return to the workforce after a few years of being a stay-at-home parent, traveling or any other reason, you’ll need to develop some skills to re-enter the workforce and secure your ideal job. In some cases, an internship may be a necessary step towards career success — especially if you’ve been out of work for some time. You’ll want to watch Carol Cohen’s TED talk: How to get back to work after a career break for some tips.

Feeling Good About Your Work

Are you satisfied with your job or role? Do you wish you had more motivation and desire to work harder? If you’ve been wondering how to find meaning in your work or are just curious about how we find a sense of purpose in our work, tune in to this TED talk by behavioral economist Dan Ariely: What makes us feel good about our work?.

The new year is the perfect time to take stock of your career, map out some goals and determine where you want to go next. If you need help finding your dream job, consider working with an award-winning accounting recruiter. Casey Accounting & Finance Resources can help you get your career back on track.