3 Strategies to Making Your New Hire’s First Day Easier

February 25th, 2016

It’s beyond exciting to know that another talented, energetic person who blends right into your company culture will soon be joining your team. You want them to feel appreciated from day one, so it’s important to adequately prepare for their arrival, to make their introduction to the company is a positive one.

Everyone is a bundle of nerves when starting a brand new job, so as the boss, it’s up to you to make the transition as easy as possible. Learn what you can do to help ensure their first day is a very positive experience.

3 Ways to Make Your New Hire’s First Day Easier

Prepare Their Workspace and Systems Access

Starting a new job is overwhelming enough without having to figure out how to get the tools you need to actually do any work. Make sure the person’s workstation is completely set up before they arrive — including requesting usernames and passwords for any applications they’ll need. Knowing you took the time to prepare for their arrival will make them feel welcome and reaffirm their decision to accept the job offer.

Introduce Them to the Team

Walking into a room where everyone knows each other and you don’t know anyone is intimidating for even the most outgoing person. Ease your new employee’s nerves by personally introducing them to every member of your team and anyone else they’ll be working with. If possible, organize a group lunch where they can spend a little time with their new colleagues in a more relaxed setting outside the office.

Present Them with an Introductory Plan

When you’re brand new to the job, you spend a lot of time second-guessing yourself. Figuring out exactly what you should be doing and if your performance is up to par can be very stressful. Alleviate this issue by presenting your new employee with a detailed 30-60-90 day plan on their first day, outlining how you would like them to spend their first three months at the company. This puts you on the same page from the start, so you can both manage your expectations.

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Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing is a locally owned and operated employment firm that really knows the local market. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!

Your Mobile Device is the Secret to Being Less Busy (And More Productive)

February 18th, 2016

Looking for a job is a full-time commitment. If you’re currently employed — or even if you’re not — you’re probably having trouble finding enough hours in the day to do it all. Thankfully, your smartphone can help you manage. There are a number of great apps for job seekers that can help you accomplish more each day, with time to spare.

5 Must-Have Apps for Job Seekers

If you don’t already have these apps on your phone, download them immediately, and watch your productivity levels soar.

Pocket Resume

Enjoy the ability to create a perfectly polished resume directly from your smartphone. Pocket Resume uses a PDF rendering technology that produces a beautiful layout and design for your document, so all you have to do is add the information. When your resume is conveniently stored on your smartphone, it’s easier than ever to make updates and send it out to prospective employers. Download the Pocket Resume app for iPhone or Blackberry.

Carded

Every time you attend a networking event, you leave with at least a few business cards. The Carded app makes it easy to keep track of your new connections by allowing you to scan them in your phone, add them your contacts, create a separate business contact list and more. Download the Carded app for Android.

Good Job

When you’re applying for jobs every day, it can be difficult to keep the details of each position straight. Good Job helps organize every aspect of your job search, including which positions you’ve submitted your resume to, upcoming interviews, and follow-up correspondence you need to send. Download the Good Job app for iPhone.

Interview Questions and Answers

Researching top interview questions and answers can be incredibly time-consuming. The Interview Questions and Answers app presents you with the 40 most important interview questions for 14 different fields — including finance — allowing you to easily fit interview preparation into your busy schedule.

Sunrise

Keeping track of calendars on different platforms can be nearly impossible, but Sunrise ensures you don’t miss a beat. This calendar app is compatible with Google Calendar, Exchange, and iCloud and syncs with apps like Facebook, Evernote, and Foursquare to put all your important dates in one easy-to-access spot. Download the Sunrise app for Android or iPhone.

Contact premier Spokane staffing service, Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing, to gain access to top accounting positions at some of the best companies in the Greater Seattle area. We offer temporary/contract, temp-to-hire, and direct hire opportunities.

Understanding the Difference Between a Good Hire…and a Great Hire

February 11th, 2016

When you needed to fill a position on your team yesterday, it’s always tempting to hire the first qualified candidate who walks into your office. While this strategy will probably be effective in the short-term, it won’t bring you long-term success.

It’s important to look at the big picture when making hiring decisions. Someone who is a match on paper may be a good hire who is capable of getting the job done, but your company deserves someone who is truly great. Don’t stop looking until you’ve found the best possible fit for the company.

5 Characteristics of a Great Hire

Passion

If an employee isn’t passionate about their job, they’re not going to do outstanding work. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to earn a solid paycheck for producing great results, but if money is a candidate’s primary motivator, their heart isn’t in the right place.

Self-Starter

You don’t have time for hand-holding at your company. Choose a candidate who is confident enough in their own abilities to explore new ideas and take initiative. These innovators may not get it right every time, but they won’t stop until they put your company on the map.

Great Cultural Fit

A person may have the most impressive resume that’s ever come across your desk, but if they don’t fit into your company culture, they won’t add value to the organization. Hiring someone whose personality clashes with the rest of your team will likely create a work environment that no one enjoys.

Creative

The business world isn’t always black or white, so you want to choose a team member who welcomes the opportunity to develop inventive solutions. Find a creative thinker you can count on to tackle even the most complex issues and you’ll never have to settle for a mediocre resolution again.

Ambitious

If a person isn’t interested in advancing their own career, they’re not going to care about taking your company to the next level either. Choose a person who is clearly driven to keep learning and expanding their skillset, because your company will benefit from this quest for continued growth.

Partner with Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing to make every hire a great one. Our temporary/contract and direct-hire candidates are subject to an extensive background screening, so you can be certain we’ll deliver nothing but the highest quality employees.Contact our team of recruiters today.

Are You Taking Compliments Well? Or Overreacting About Someone’s Praises?

February 4th, 2016

If you’re like most people, you work hard each day because you want to be good at your job — not because you’re waiting for someone to compliment your efforts. However, it’s always great to be called out when you’ve exceeded expectations or simply excel in a certain area.

Receiving praise from others is an immediate ego boost. It makes you feel special and provides you with the self-assurance of knowing that other people think you’re talented. While you should definitely feel proud of these kind remarks, it’s also important not to let them go to your head. Don’t let another person’s applauses make you lose sight of who you are and what you want from your career.

How to Gracefully Accept a Compliment

Use these four tips to respond in an elegant manner when someone sings your praises:

Show Gratitude

When someone pays you a compliment, “thank you” is the first thing you should say. This is a simple way to show your sincere appreciation for the kind words. People are never obliged to give you praise, so you should always appreciate it — no matter how accomplished you are.

Take Responsibility

Playing down an achievement and pretending it’s nothing is a common response to praise. If you’re guilty of this, it’s time to stop this reaction immediately! You’re a talented person who should never sell yourself short. Also, rejecting the compliment is insulting to the giver and makes them feel uncomfortable.

Acknowledge Your Team

If your team played a role in the accolades you received, be sure to recognize their efforts. You don’t want to be known as the person who does some of the work and takes all of the credit. Plus, sharing the praise with others makes you appear humble and shows how much you respect your colleagues.

Send the Right Nonverbal Cues

The body language you display when receiving a compliment can send an even stronger message than your words, so be cognizant of that. When thanking someone for their flattering remarks, look them directly in the eyes, uncross your arms and smile. This lets them know that you’re truly grateful for the kind words and really value their opinion.

Searching for a challenging and fulfilling new accounting job?

Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. We offer more professional accounting job opportunities than any other Northwest staffing agency!