Provisional Accounting Blog

Landing an interview for a job you really want can feel simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. You’re thrilled you were selected to interview for the position and desperately want to impress the hiring manager, but you became a nervous wreck the second you received the invitation.

There’s a lot of talented professionals looking to advance their accounting careers in Spokane, and you’re one of them. Here’s some advice to help ease your anxiety, so you’re able to show the interviewer you’re the best person for the job.

Four Tips to Avoid Interview Anxiety

Spend Plenty of Time Preparing

It’s hard to be nervous when you know you’re truly ready for the interview. Achieve this by fully researching the company — i.e., carefully reviewing its website, blog, and social media presence — the interviewer, and the job itself. Devise clever answers to common interview questions and ask someone you trust to rehearse them with you. Since the tables will turn at some point in the interview, write a list of thoughtful questions to ask the hiring manger in case you draw a blank on the big day.

Don’t Leave Anything Until the Last Minute

A last-minute catastrophe will likely send your anxiety through the roof, so take control of issues that are 100% avoidable. For example, instead of assuming your interview attire is clean and fits, try it on several days in advance. Seemingly little things, such as taking a practice drive to the company to gauge traffic around the time of your interview and checking out the parking situation — even if you’re familiar with the area — can make a world of difference.  

Make Time for a Healthy Stress-Relieving Activity

Combat stress on the day of your interview by making time for a healthy activity that will calm your nerves. This is different for everyone but might include meditation, exercise, or spending time with loved ones. After engaging in this pastime, you’ll feel relaxed, energized, and ready to take on anything that comes your way.

Practice Positive Thinking

When you’re nervous, it’s easy for your mind to fill with negative thoughts, but that won’t get you hired. Combat your anxiety by visualizing yourself in the job. If you can see it, you can believe it. Going into the interview with confidence will help you put your best self forward, and other candidates will have a very hard time competing with that.

Searching for a new accounting job in Spokane or Seattle? Provisional Accounting can help you find the right temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire position for your skills and interests. Contact us today to get started!

For the first time, you’re managing a few remote employees. Considering the surging popularity of work from home jobs, the next time you’re hiring accountants in Spokane, it’s probably not a stretch to think you might add even more remote positions to your team.

The fact that technology has advanced to this point is pretty amazing. Of course, it also brings new challenges, including helping remote workers fit in with everyone else. The key to success is making sure they don’t feel isolated. Here’s how to do it.

Three Ways to Help Remote Employees Feel Like Part of the Team

Place a Heavy Emphasis on Teamwork

Employees don’t have to be in the same office, state, or even time zone to work together. Take advantage of this by assigning remote staffers to work on teams or in larger groups when possible. This will help them build relationships and really get to know one another. Despite being physically apart from the others, they’ll feel a sense of comradery when they’re able to complete projects with their peers, instead of always having to work independently.

Make Communication a Top Priority

When employees are scattered across different locations, messages tend to get lost in translation. This can lead to miscommunications that cause conflict and hurt feelings. Avoid this by keeping remote employees in constant contact with the team. For example, you might consider a policy that requires them to video call into all meetings and stay signed in to a common chat application — i.e., Slack — throughout the workday. The face-to-face video calls can help keep everyone on the same page, while the more informal chats will allow them to enjoy standard office banter.

Treat Them Like Everyone Else

When possible, make remote employees feel included by adhering to the same policies and giving them the same or equal incentives as everyone else. For example, if you offer free coffee in the breakroom, sign them up for a subscription service where the same brand of ground coffee is delivered in bulk to their doorstep on a monthly basis. Sometimes it’s the little things that make people feel valued and appreciated.

Searching for talented accounting or finance professionals to join your team? Provisional Accounting is here to help you find the best fit. Contact us today to discuss a partnership!

Searching for Spokane accounting job opportunities can be a process filled with ups and downs. It’s exciting to score an interview for a job you’re really interested in, but discouraging when you’re not hired.

When you receive a rejection call or email, your first instinct might not be the most professional reaction, so think before you speak. Here are a few guidelines to help you handle the situation the right way.

Four Tips to Handle Job Search Rejection

Be Polite

Receiving disappointing news can make it hard to mind your manners, but you don’t have a choice. Being anything but gracious about the company’s decision is unprofessional, so force yourself to take the high road. Thank the hiring manager for the opportunity and for keeping you in the loop on their decision. Let them know you’d like to be considered for any future openings on the team.

Find Out When Went Wrong

Some of the best interview advice comes from jobs you didn’t get. Ask the hiring manager if they would be willing to share any feedback from your interview. Any constructive criticism you can get will help you learn and grow for your next interview. This is a great way to turn a disappointing situation into something incredibly useful.

Don’t Overanalyze

Reflecting on what you did well and what you could’ve done better throughout the job interview process is helpful to an extent, but don’t allow it to consume you. Obsessing over the situation won’t change the outcome so, take your lessons learned and move on. Wallowing won’t help you find a new job any faster.

Focus on the Positive

Every job interview you go on is an opportunity to refine your technique. This means you’ll be even more polished the next time around. Clearly, this job wasn’t right for you anyway, which means your ideal fit is still out there, waiting for you to find it. Get excited, because you have a very bright future on the horizon.

Need a little help landing your dream job? Provisional Accounting is here to assist every step of the way. Contact us today to find a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire opportunity with a top Spokane or Seattle employer.

Hiring accountants in Spokane is a big job, and you need the support of your team. However, summer is the most relaxed season of the year, which can make coming into the office the last thing employees want to do.

Since people have visions of sunshine and pool days dancing through their heads, making work extra fun is the best way to increase morale. Here are four budget-friendly activities to engage and inspire your staff this summer.

Company Picnic

Nothing celebrates summer better than a barbecue. Organize a family-friendly gathering on a weekend at a local park, the boss’s house, or even on the lawn of your office building. Save money by making the menu potluck or ordering pizza. Make the picnic fun for everyone by planning a variety of games — i.e., potato sack races, horseshoe, volleyball, cornhole, limbo — for people of all ages. This is a great way for employees to bond on a personal level, in a relaxed setting.

Volunteer Together

Boost employees’ spirits by giving back to a great cause. Take a vote to choose a local charity to volunteer for, then close the office for the day — or a few hours, if that’s all you can spare — and enjoy helping others as a team. Doing something so selfless together will make employees feel great and bring them closer together. They’ll also gain a greater appreciation for you as their employer because working for a company that cares is something really special.

Themed Day(s)

Just about everyone enjoys the opportunity to wear a fun costume, so take advantage of this. Plan a themed day — or make it a series — and encourage employees to come to work dressed to impress. Hang decorations around the office, play music that aligns with the occasion — at least at lunchtime — and give an award to the best dressed. This is a fun way to add some pizazz to an otherwise standard workday.

Ice Cream Social

Considering it’s the unofficial food of summer, there’s no better time to treat employees to ice cream. Buy several different flavors and toppings, and serve it up during the afternoon hours. This fun and a delicious break will make people feel valued while giving them some downtime to enjoy non-work conversation with their colleagues.

If you need to hire new accounting or finance talent for your Spokane or Seattle team, Provisional Accounting wants to help. We take pride in connecting leading local employers like you with top talent, so get in touch today to learn more!