Provisional Accounting Blog

Unlike many people, you used to be excited to go to work on Monday mornings. Your job made you feel fulfilled and inspired — but things have changed. You now dread the drive to work, because you just don’t want to be there.

You’re probably thinking about looking for new accounting jobs near Spokane, but hold off for a bit. Before taking drastic measures, use these tips to try to reignite your passion for the job.

Four Ways to Get Your Enthusiasm for Your Job Back

Seek Purpose

Your work contributes to overall company goals. However, it’s easy to lose sight of this when completing a seemingly endless amount of mundane tasks each day. Get inspired by reminding yourself what you’re helping the company achieve. This will help you realize what you’re doing is really important.

Ask Your Boss for a New Challenge

If you’ve been in the same job for awhile now, you’ve probably mastered all key responsibilities associated with it. Essentially working on autopilot can make you feel like a robot, so talk to your boss. Let them know you’re comfortable with all your current duties and would like to challenge yourself with a new project. They’ll likely be more than happy to oblige, and you’ll look like a real go-getter.

Revamp Your Routine

When you think about it, you pretty much do the same exact things every day. Having a routine is nice — to an extent — but it can get pretty boring. Switch things up a bit to breath fresh life into your day — i.e., take a different route to work, try a new coffee shop, or take your lunch break at a different time. Seemingly little changes can make a world of difference.

Get to the Root of the Problem

It’s possible the trouble you’re having with your job all leads back to one issue. Think back to the last time you can remember being truly happy at work and try to remember what changed that. If you’re able to identify the problem, you can work to make adjustments for the better.

Ready to find a new accounting job that makes you excited to go to work every Monday morning?

Provisional Accounting wants to connect you with top Spokane and Seattle employers searching for talent like you! Contact us today to find your next temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire opportunity.

Throughout your career, you’ve had several Spokane accounting jobs. They’ve all been different in their own rights, with one common denominator — muscle stiffness.

It might seem like sitting at a desk all day is easy on the body, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Most offices don’t have an ideal ergonomic setup, so it’s important to stretch your muscles throughout the day.

Chances are, you can’t stop and take a midday yoga class, but thankfully, there are plenty of quick and easy stretching moves that can be done at your desk. Here are three stretches you can do throughout the day to help you stay relaxed and fit.

1. Triceps Stretch

Sitting at your desk typing all day can leave your arms feeling tense. Combat this by engaging in triceps stretches throughout the day.

Raise one arm and bend it in a manner that positions your hand reaching toward the opposite side. Use your other hand to pull your elbow toward your head. Hold this stretch for a few seconds, then repeat it on the other side.

2. Seated Spinal Rotation

Sitting in a desk chair all day can take a toll on your body. Ease the stiffness by taking regular breaks for a seated spinal rotation.

Remain in your desk chair and cross your arms over your chest. Grip your shoulders and turn your upper body at the waist from left to right, going as far as you can comfortably do so. When completed properly, you should feel tension throughout your lower back, as your muscles stretch.

3. Hand Air Circles

Spending the bulk of your day typing is part of the job, but it can leave your hands feeling cramped. Minimize the pain by stopping frequently to do air circles with your hands.

Stretch both hands out in front of you and clench your fists. Make circles in the air in one direction first, then the other. When finished, shake your hands out.

Ready to find a fulfilling new accounting or finance job? Provisional Accounting wants to help you land your perfect fit! Contact us today to connect with top local employers looking to fill temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire positions with talent like you.

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!

You really enjoy your job, but it’s no longer a challenge. You’re ready to take on more responsibility, and you’re hoping to do this at your current company — instead of having to start searching for new Spokane accounting jobs.

Now you just have to convince your boss you’re ready to take on a heftier workload. Making yourself indispensable is the key to success. Here’s how to do it.

4 Ways to Prove You’re Ready for More Responsibility

Exceed Expectations

Doing the bare minimum to get by might demonstrate your ability to do your job, but it won’t convince your boss to put more tasks on your plate. To get to the next level, make a habit of going the extra mile. Add extra details into assignments, turn work in early, anticipate issues that could arise, and do anything you can to make your boss look good.

Solve Problems

Anyone can run to their boss with a problem, but truly valuable employees find a solution. Make it clear you can handle more than you’re currently doing by putting your problem-solving skills on display. Whether the issue is confined to a task you’re assigned to or something faced by the entire team, roll up your sleeves and get to work on it. Don’t stop until the matter is resolved.

Lend a Helping Hand

Since you’ve mastered your own job duties, you have plenty of time to spare. Instead of browsing the Internet or playing solitaire, offer to assist a colleague who is overworked or struggling with an assignment. Acts of kindness have a way of getting back to management, and this one really highlights your leadership skills.

Be Easy to Manage

Your boss won’t be eager to give you more responsibility if you constantly cause them headaches — no matter how talented you are. Make yourself a delightful employee by having a positive attitude, getting along with everyone, and following the rules. When your manager asks you to complete a task, do it without complaining or asking why.

Ready to start the next chapter of your accounting or finance career? Provisional Accounting wants to help you find the right temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire opportunity in Spokane or Seattle. Contact us today to learn more!

If you’re planning on hiring accountants in Spokane, now is also a great time to also start thinking about ways to team boost productivity and morale. Happy employees work harder and enjoy longer tenures with their employers, so this is an investment definitely worth making.

Your team spends at least 40 hours per week at the office, so if the current space is a bit drab or otherwise uninviting, it’s no wonder they’re feeling a bit lethargic. Here’s a few relatively easy ways to make changes for the better.

4 Subtle Ways to Increase Morale and Productivity

Encourage Workstation Makeovers

Your employees spend most of the day at their desks, so their own little part of the building should be place that makes them feel inspired. However, if they’re surrounded by fluorescent lighting and drab cubicle walls, it’s easy to understand why morale isn’t so high.

Change this by encouraging them to upgrade their work areas. If possible, give each person a small budget to purchase items that reflect their personal style — i.e., a lamp, rug, art work, plant. Make it extra fun by turning the initiative into a contest.

Clean the Clutter

If your office is in a state of disarray, it’s time to give it a cleanup. Boxes lining the hallways and papers strewn everywhere are distracting and can make it difficult to find anything. Getting rid of these items or putting them in storage will create a more professional vibe. Being more organized will also promote efficiency, as it will make it much easier to find things.

Make Alternative Workspaces

Being stuck in the same spot all day can cause employees to become restless. Convert unused spaces around the office into areas where people can bring their laptops and work. A simple change of scenery can help them get inspired and feel like they’re having a bit of an adventure.

Create a Relaxation Area

Your employees are only human. No matter how much they enjoy their jobs, they can only work nonstop for so long, before they need a break. Give them a great place to recharge by transforming a vacant corner, storage closet, or office into a relaxation area. Take a vote to find out what the team would like from the space — i.e., a fun area to play games or a relaxing place of Zen — and decorate it accordingly.

Need to hire new accounting or finance talent? Provisional Accounting is here to guide your search. Contact us today to find the best fit for your Spokane or Seattle company every time!

If taking breaks is frowned upon by your current employer, it might be time to search for new  accounting jobs in Spokane. Anything but lazy, working several organized and structured breaks into your day offers several mental and physical health benefits.

Planning regular breaks in advance allows you to recharge faster and choose activities that are most conducive to your success. Here’s a look at what you have to gain by incorporating a few into your day.

5 Reasons to Take Breaks at Work

Increase Productivity

No matter how passionate you are about your work, you can only go nonstop for so long before your energy levels decline. Breaks refresh your mind, allowing you to return to work feeling recharged and ready to tackle any obstacle in your path.

Reduce Stress

Sitting at your desk all day in front of a mountain of work or a particularly challenging project can easily make you feel anxious. Stepping away for lunch or even a quick walk around the block allows you to relax and put things in prospective. By the time you get back to your desk, you’ll enjoy a renewed sense of calm that will help you feel like brand new person.

Improve Concentration

It’s hard to accomplish anything when you’re mind is too exhausted to focus. Trying to make yourself work uninterrupted all day is noble, but you won’t succeed. Eventually, you’ll burnout and likely lose your ability to concentrate for the rest of the day. Taking structured breaks gives your brain a much-needed time out, so you can return to the task at hand clear-headed.

Boost Creativity

Coming up with inventive ideas can be challenging enough when you’re feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but good luck with that if your brain is fried. Working a few organized breaks into your day can help you feel more inspired, because you’re never at the point where you’re running on empty.

Bond With Your Peers

Sitting at your desk all day with your head down will make you feel isolated from your co-workers. Chances are, they’re taking plenty of breaks, and many include chatting at the watercooler, group lunches, and quick walks to the local coffee shop together. During this time, they’re able to form relationships that make working together easier and more fun. Don’t be the odd one out, because you won’t allow yourself a break.

Ready to find a fulfilling new accounting job? Provisional Accounting is here to guide your search for the right temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire position in Spokane or Seattle. Contact us today to learn more!

Many accounting jobs near Spokane offer a fantastic work-life balance, but your current position doesn’t provide that. Lately, you’ve been spending more time at the office than at home, and even during the few off-hours you have, you often find yourself working.

All work and no play doesn’t make for a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Here’s some advice to help you find a happy medium.

Five Tips to Achieve a Better Work-Life Balance

Set Specific Work Hours

There is only so many hours in the day, and you’re spending most of yours working. Dial it back by setting a specific work schedule, and actually following it. Let your boss and colleagues know this period of time is when you’ll be in the office and available to them. Take it a step further by blocking your calendar off, so meetings can’t be scheduled during your personal time.

Create Boundaries

Technology has made it possible to work from anywhere, which is both amazing and incredibly stressful. Since you can connect to the office 24/7, you’re likely expected to take calls and respond to emails during all waking hours. It’s time to put a stop to this behavior because it isn’t healthy. If you decide to respond to work inquires at all during your off-hours, set specific conditions, share them with your co-workers, and stick to your word.

Use All Your Vacation Time

Chances are, you haven’t made a dent in your earned vacation time for years. You earned these days, so it’s time to take advantage of what’s rightfully yours. There’s always going to be a pile of work on your desk or a huge project on the horizon, so stop stressing about being out of the office and enjoy your life already. Time away from work will allow you to relax and recharge, so you can return with a renewed passion for your job.

Work More Efficiently

Take a good look at how you spend each workday. It’s possible poor time management is at least partially to blame for your long hours. Perhaps you’re spending longer than necessary on certain tasks, attending meetings you don’t really need to be at or are constantly distracted by your colleagues. When you’re able to identify the issue(s), you can make the necessary adjustments to get that valuable time back in your day.

Learn to Say No

You’re a hard-working employee who aims to please, but you’re only one person. It’s great to help people out when you can, but if you’re already stretched too thin, politely explain you’re too busy to take on anything new and hold your ground. If you let them, some people will walk all over you, so carefully guard your free time.

Searching for a New Job that Offers a Better Work-Life Balance?

Provisional Accounting is here to help you find the right fit. Contact us today to find a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire position that allows you to have a personal life.

When you’re gainfully employed, searching for Spokane accounting job opportunities is simultaneously exciting and nerve-wracking. You’re eager to see what the future has in store, but you’re anxious that your current employer will discover your intent to leave the company.

Losing your job — and the paycheck that comes with it — before you find a new one isn’t an option, so discretion is the key to success. Use these tips to keep your search under wraps.

Five Ways to Discretely Look for a New Job

Don’t Search at Work

You might think you can get away with searching the Internet for jobs on your lunch break, but that’s playing with fire. Someone might see your computer screen, or unbeknownst to you, it’s possible your boss monitors your search history. Do yourself a favor and leave your job search at home.

Keep Your Resume Off Job Boards

Many candidates post their resume to job boards as part of the search process, but this isn’t exactly a covert move. These boards are public, so your current employer could come across your resume. It’d be pretty be hard to explain your way out of that one, so just don’t do it.

Work With a Recruiter

Taking on a staffing partner is an excellent way to maintain a confidential search. Simply tell your recruiter you need to practice discretion, and they’ll exercise caution every step of the way. This is an incredibly common request, so staffing agencies are experts at protecting candidates’ privacy.

Try to Schedule Interviews During Off-Hours

Job interviews can be tricky when you’re currently employed. If you take a few hours off work for an appointment once or twice, your boss probably won’t think anything about it. However, you’ll likely raise eyebrows if this becomes a regular occurrence. Therefore, it’s best to try to schedule job interviews before or after work. This might not always be possible, but try to use this practice as a general rule of thumb.

Choose References Wisely

It’s common sense that you should never ask your current boss or colleagues to serve as a reference. However, you also need to be mindful when asking co-workers from your past. Don’t ask anyone who has close contacts at your current company or with a gossipy nature, as they might not be so discrete about serving as a reference.

Ready to Take the Next Steps in Your Accounting Career?

Provisional Accounting wants to help you get ahead. Contact us today to find temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, and direct-hire opportunities with top Spokane and Seattle employers!

Fantastic accounting careers in Spokane are built on relationships. Of course, these days, many business contacts are made digitally. This is great, as it allows you to meet more people, but it can also cause lead to a network filled with virtual strangers.

Technically speaking, you can do all your networking online. However, you won’t be able to establish the same quality relationships you share with contacts you’ve actually met in person.

Therefore, it’s important to keep attending networking mixers and job fairs and continue making lunch dates to touch base with connections you haven’t seen in a while. If you’re still hesitant to take this route, here are a few reasons to invest the time and energy into it.

Four Benefits of Face-to-Face Networking

Put a Face to a Name

It’s much easier for people to remember you — and vice versa — when they’re able to put a face to a name. This increases the chances they’ll remember you if they hear about a job you might be interested in.

Build a Stronger Connection

Building relationships through online chat or email is difficult. Conversations are typically brief and centered on certain topics, so it’s hard to really get to know the other person. On the other hand, when chatting face-to-face, it’s much easier to get a fun banter going. Shifting the discussion a bit away from business allows the two of you to really bond.

Let Your Personality Shine

When networking online, it’s hard to relay your true personality. This puts you at a disadvantage because potential employers and contacts who could help you get ahead don’t get to see the real you. Face-to-face networking is much more valuable because anyone who meets you is obviously going to like you.

Avoid Digital Misunderstandings

Non-verbal cues add just as much — or possibly even more — to a conversation as words alone. Since they aren’t a factor in online networking, it’s easy for misinterpretations to occur. This can cause you to inadvertently offend the other person, because your point was lost in translation.

Searching for a New Accounting Job in Spokane?

Provisional Accounting wants to help. Contact us today to find a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire position that checks all your boxes.

Asking for a raise requires a lot of courage, so it’s beyond frustrating when your request is declined. Right now, you’re probably thinking about applying to other accounting jobs in Spokane — and that might be a good idea — but don’t act before carefully mapping your next move.

The last thing you want is to react poorly and quickly regret your behavior. Here’s some advice to help you navigate the situation like a consummate professional.

Four Actions to Take When You Don’t Get the Raise You Deserved

Maintain Your Cool

It’s only natural to be upset when you find out you’re not getting a raise you feel was earned. Your first instinct might be to quit your job and storm out of your boss’s office, but having a temper tantrum won’t solve anything. Instead, remain level-headed and really listen to your boss’s reason for not granting the raise.

Even if you decide to pursue other opportunities, avoid doing anything to get fired in the meantime. When you’re feeling dejected, it’s easy to adopt a bad attitude and allow your work ethic to slip, but don’t stoop to this level.

Ponder Your Boss’s Reasoning

Raise requests are refused for many different reasons, so consider your unique situation. Being flat out denied a pay increase isn’t the same thing as not getting one because there isn’t room in the budget right now. If your boss gave you a timeline of when a raise could happen or noted a few things they’d like you to work on before having the conversation again, feel confident it’s within your reach.

However, if your manager says you’re already at the top of your pay grade or denies your request, but refuses to explain why, it’s probably not in the cards. There’s a huge difference between a raise that’s attainable in the near future and one that’s likely never going to happen.

Consider a Counter Offer

For most people, money is the most important part of a compensation package, but it’s not the only element. If your boss echoes the sentiment that you deserve a raise, but simply doesn’t have the funds to make it happen for the time being, ask for something else. You might be able to score another perk, such as an extra week of vacation or the ability to work from home once per week. It’s not extra money in the bank, but it will improve your quality of life.

Focus on the Future

Money isn’t the only part of a job that matters, but it’s hard to feel appreciated when you’re not happy with your salary. If you don’t think you’ll ever get the raise or don’t agree with the reason it wasn’t granted, it’s probably time to move on. Start looking for a new job, while enjoying the security of being gainfully employed until you find the right fit.

Ready to find a new accounting or finance job where you’ll be fairly compensated? Provisional Accounting is here to assist. Contact us today to find a top Spokane employer ready to fill a temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire position with your name on it!