Provisional Accounting Blog

If you’re having trouble finding all-star employees, it’s time to head back to the basics. Anything but luck of the draw, choosing the best candidate for the job is a process. Taking shortcuts might allow you to fill the position faster, but probably won’t result in a great hire.

As experts in the field, the accounting recruiters at Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing know a thing or two about choosing the right person for the job. Follow these tips to adjust your strategy.

Five Fundamentals of Hiring All-Star Employees

Hire for Cultural Fit

It’s easy to get sidetracked by the candidate with the flashiest resume, but that alone doesn’t make someone a great fit for your company. If the person doesn’t have a personality that meshes well with your team, they won’t last long — and in the interim, they’ll throw your whole dynamic off-kilter.

Check References

Calling a candidate’s references is an extra step that adds time onto the hiring process, but you can’t afford to skip it. Speaking with people the candidate has worked closely with in the past — e.g., former managers, colleagues, clients — can provide a first-hand glimpse at what they’d be like as part of your team. Find out about the person’s strengths, weaknesses, and if the reference would hire them again — when speaking with former managers — to decide if they’re right for your organization.

Don’t Overlook Red Flags

You don’t want to nitpick a candidate’s every move, but some offenses are worth noting. For example, if a candidate shows up late to a job interview, this is likely an indicator they don’t value punctuality. Similarly, if a candidate’s resume has a spelling error, don’t expect them to submit flawless work, if hired.

Make the Hiring Process a Group Effort

Every hiring decision you make effects the entire team, so you shouldn’t be the only one doing the interviewing. It’s okay to screen resumes yourself, but when you bring candidates in for an interview, include a portion for immediate team members to join in. They might pick up on things you won’t and this will give you the chance to see how the person interacts with the group.

Partner With a Recruiter

Staffing professionals fill open positions for a living, so partner with a local firm to make your search a success. Recruiters know exactly what to look for in the right candidate and they’re often the only way to connect with passive talent only looking to make a career move for the right opportunity. Many will even guarantee their placements, so if things don’t work out, they’ll find another candidate free of charge.

Finding all-star accounting and finance talent is no easy task, so allow Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing to assist. Whether you need temporary, temp-to-hire, or direct-hire talent for your Seattle area company, we won’t stop searching until we find the right fit for your team. Contact us today to get started!

Healthy employees are happier and more productive, which can make your business more profitable. If your team spent much of the first half of 2017 sick, injured, or otherwise unwell, it’s time to help improve their well-being.

Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing — one of the top Seattle temp agencies for accountants — wants to emphasize the positive impact you can have on the health of your employees. Even if you have a wellness program, sometimes people need an extra little push.

While traditionally put in place at the beginning of a new year, resolutions can be made any time. It’s not too late for your staffers to end 2017 on a healthy note, so get to work by instituting a fun contest everyone can get behind.

Five Challenges to Help Your Team Get Healthier

Literally a healthy competition, these activities can encourage your staffers to take better care of themselves. Encourage people to join in by choosing a challenge everyone can safely complete and offering an enticing reward. Do note, you can’t require or pressure any employee to participate, because doing so is unethical.

Steps Challenge

Give each employee a pedometer and have them track their steps for a month. It’s up to you whether you want to divide them into teams or make it an individual challenge. Prepare to see a surge in people taking lunchtime walks and opting for the stairs instead of the elevator.

Weight Loss Challenge

Encourage employees to start exercising and making better nutritional choices by dividing them into teams for a weight loss challenge. Within the group, people will cheer each other on and many will likely come up with activities to complete together to move toward their goal.

Take Control of Your Health Challenge

Many people don’t go to the doctor unless they’re feeling sick, but preventative care is essential to healthy living. Challenge your team to go to the doctor for a physical exam by the end of the year. If necessary, grant time off work for the visit. Reward those who make and keep an appointment.

Race to the Finish Line Challenge

Pay the registration fees for your employees to enter a local race — e.g., 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon. Encourage them to train together at lunch or after work, so everyone can reach their goal of crossing the finish line.

Calorie Counting Challenge

To a degree, you are what you eat, so urge your team to keep track of what they’re putting in their bodies. Give employees a point for every day they record all their food and drink intake, because mindless eating can really pack on the pounds.

Need assistance finding a dynamic accounting or finance professional for your Seattle area company? Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing has you covered. Contact us today to make a plan!

Some people are naturally good listeners, while others require a bit of fine-tuning. If you fall into the latter category, you can turn this around by making a few key adjustments.

In life and business — especially when looking for a new job — the ability to listen to others is priceless. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who constantly interrupts, appears disinterested, or frequently asks them to repeat what they just said.

Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing — one of the leading temp accounting employment agencies in Seattle — wants to help you become a better listener. Use these tips to master this invaluable skill that can help further your career.

Four Ways to Improve Your Listening Skills

Turn Your Devices Off

It’s hard to focus on the other person if you’re watching television or on your phone. When someone is talking to you, give them the respect they deserve by switching your devices off. You can’t truly concentrate on two things at once, so get your priorities in order.

Stop Planning Your Replies

When listening, it’s only natural to want to share your questions, comments, and concerns, but they’ll be plenty of time for that later. Practice active listening by concentrating solely on what the other person is saying, instead of your thoughts on the matter. You’ll have plenty of time to mull their words over when they’re finished speaking, so don’t miss key details by launching your mind into overdrive.

Envision Yourself on the Other Side of the Conversation

Trying to talk to someone who just won’t listen is irritating and impolite. You probably mean no disrespect, but it certainly doesn’t come off that way to the other person. Even if you’re not that interested in the conversation, display empathy by listening patiently. If the situation was reversed, you’d want the same consideration.

Take Notes

If appropriate — e.g., at a meeting or a conference — stay focused by taking notes. This can help organize your thoughts and provide you with a constructive activity that shows you’re listening. This can be very helpful if your mind tends to wander when you don’t have the floor.

Searching for a new accounting or finance job in the Seattle area? Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing wants to help you land a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire opportunity with one of the region’s top employers. Contact us today to start your search!

You’ve landed an interview for a job you’re really excited about, and that’s fantastic! The hiring manager almost certainly received dozens of applications, but you stood out as a top prospect. Now it’s time to keep up the good work by making a great impression at the job interview.

To prepare, you’ll have your best suit dry cleaned, prepare responses to common interview questions and let your references know to be expecting a call. This is all great, but Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing — one of the leading agencies for accounting jobs in Seattle — wants you to also put the following practical interview advice in motion.

4 Often-Overlooked Interview Tips

Test Drive Your Route

You might already know how to get to the interview site, and if you don’t, your GPS will lead the way. However, unless you’re intimately familiar with the area, it’s best to take a test drive. If possible, make a trip to the office at the same time of day as your interview, but if not, at least map the traffic during those hours so you know what to expect. Figure out where you’ll park, so you know exactly where to go on the big day, as being late won’t impress anyone.

Be Kind to Everyone

Clearly, you wouldn’t dream of being rude to your interviewer, but they’re not the only person who matters. The manner in which you treat everyone from the security guard to the administrative assistant matters. No one wants to hire a candidate who isn’t kind to everyone, so keep that in mind with every interaction.

Prepare a List of Questions

The interviewer will have plenty of questions for you, and they’ll expect the same in return. Candidates truly interested in the opportunity will want to know as much as possible about the position, the company, and the culture, so show your genuine interest in the position. If you don’t have any substantial questions to ask, the interviewer will assume you’re not truly passionate about the job.

Remember to Smile

Being nervous on a job interview is normal and perfectly understandable. When you’re uneasy in a situation, smiling probably isn’t your first reaction, so remind yourself to put one on your face. This makes you appear approachable and enthusiastic about the job. Displaying a stoic expression will make the interviewer wonder if you’re really excited about the position.

Need a little help finding the right accounting or finance opportunity for your skills and interests?

Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing is here to assist. Contact us today to gain access to exclusive openings with top Seattle area employers!