Consultant Salary Figures for Finance and Accounting

Consultant Salary Figures for Finance and AccountingConsultant Salary Figures for Finance and AccountingAre you considering a career as a financial consultant? Leaving a full-time position isnt an easy decision to make. However, senior-level consulting comes with benefits of its own, including a consultant salary that usually matches or exceeds that of a similar full-time position.Trends suggest we may be entering a golden age for consultant jobs. Organizations are increasingly relying on interim professionals and consultants to supplement in-house staff during busy periods, fill gaps caused by employee turnover, evaluate workers for potential full-time hires, and spearhead strategic financial initiatives for projects such as systems conversions.Cash in on your skillsAs an in-demand, specialized interim professional, you can expect to earn a competitive consultant salary, especially if you work with a specialized staffing agency. Salaries for skilled accounting and business consultan ts are on the rise. This is especially true for senior-level finance professionals experienced in risk, compliance and technical accounting, or with expertise in reporting, financial analysis and internal auditing.Business systems consultants - such as business systems analysts - are also highly sought, as many organizations look to maximize efficiencies while monitoring costs. Many of these businesses seek to hire consultants with a financial or accounting background and expertise in enterprise resource planning (ERP) packages and corresponding software and applications.For advanced-level accounting, finance and business systems roles, a masters degree in business administration often goes hand-in-hand with a higher pay rate.Know what to expectBelow is a list of midpoint salaries for a number of senior-level positions in the United States. More detailed information is featured in the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals. (Note Additional experien ce and in-demand certifications typically boost the amount of compensation for a senior-level consultant.)Chief financial officer $196,750Vice president of finance $180,250Director of finance $148,750Corporate controller $173,750Senior IT auditor $92,500Budget analyst $81,500Business analyst $88,500Business intelligence analyst $93,750Financial analyst $82,500Financial reporting $82,000General accountant $$77,750Cost accountant $78,750Tax accountant $87,250Your consultant salary will correlate to the size of the organization you work with, as well as your overall experience, certifications and graduate degrees. You can use the Robert Half Salary Calculator to refine the salary ranges for your local area and specific consulting position.With organizations looking to hire skilled consultants to help support key initiatives, its a good time to launch your consulting career. And whether you decide to pursue the consulting path on your own or work through a reputable staffing firm, youll likely find opportunities to earn just as much as - and perhaps, even mora - than you would in a full-time position.This post has been updated to reflect more current information. Tags

The 5 best jobs for ambiverts

The 5 best jobs for ambivertsThe 5 best jobs for ambivertsKnowing your personality helps when trying to find a satisfying job. While some people easily identify themselves as introverts or extroverts, others possess tendencies toward both sides. If youre among this group,commonly called ambiverts, recognizing this dual nature can be critical to career happiness.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSince ambiverts get their energy from both extroverted and introverted activities, the key is tofind balance between the twothat feels natural for them, says professional career advisor Melissa McClung, owner ofLBD Careers, LLC(and herself an ambivert). I personally find my balance by combining training and consultation (extroverted) with strategic planning and social media management (introversion).Fortunately, there are many jobs and careers for ambiverts that make use of their interestin g place on theintrovert-extrovert continuum. Heres a look at five jobs for ambiverts that tap into their diverse needs and strengths.Best Jobs for AmbivertsParalegalWhy might a career as a paralegal prove intriguing to ambiverts? Activities such as interviewing witnesses, collaborating with lawyers, and serving as a principal point of contact for clients require comfort around people. However, conducting legal research, drawing up and proofreading documents, and assembling material for meetings indulges an ambiverts solitary, focused side.Public Relations ManagerFor ambiverts who enjoy mixing up which face to put on, PR offers quite a bit of diversity. Traveling to unfamiliar places, attending networking events, and boldly promoting clients appeals to extroverts. Thoughtful strategizing, crafting promotional material, and writing reports are more up an introverts alley.SalespersonThink extroverts make the best salespeople? Studies showambiverts actually lead the packin performance. While their extroverted side enables comfort around new people and sufficient assertiveness to seal the deal, their introverted nature makes them good listeners who pick up on customer desires and potential barriers to finalizing the sale.Likewise, ambiverts understand both extroverted and introverted customers. This empathy allows an ambivert salesperson to adjust behavior accordingly to come off as neither pushy nor boring, making it a great job for ambiverts.TeacherStanding up in front of a classroom and engaging with students certainly corresponds with an ambiverts social side. However, teaching involves plenty of solitary, thoughtful tasks as well, such as planning out lessons and grading papers. Virtual instructor positions appeal to some ambiverts. Such jobs still involve interacting with learners but in a less socially overwhelming environment.Virtual AssistantBecoming a virtual assistant can fit the bill for administrative professionals who enjoy interacting with others but not in the bustle of an office. The remote setting provides introvert-friendly quietness and solitude perfect for focusing, while tasks requiring interaction with executives, vendors, and customers allow ambiverts their people-fix.Whether you identify as an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, FlexJobs has you covered. Withflexible and remote job listings in more than 50 categories, somethings bound to strike the perfect chord with your individual personalityThis article first appeared on FlexJobs.com.

United States Military Engineering

United States Military EngineeringUnited States Military EngineeringHaving tossed together a brief history of the Seabees and the Army Corps of Engineers, we thought that we could expand that a bit, and briefly cover Military Engineering in general, then split out to the branches of service.We went about it backward doing individual branches first, then the general overview. Military Engineering is pretty much any engineering activity undertaken, regardless of component or service, where the intent/goal/plan is to shape the physical operating environment in support of maneuvers of the force as a whole rephrased, its the practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and communications. The heritage of military engineering reaches back to the earliest beginnings of organized armies - on the battlefields of ancient Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome, skilled military engineers laid the groundwork for the role of their mod ern descendants. The Ancient Romans are considered to perhaps be the first civilization to have a dedicated force of military engineering specialists.Military engineering is the oldest of the engineering skills and was the precursor of the profession of civil engineering. Three Main Tasks of Military Engineering Combat engineering - engineering on the battlefield.Strategic support - providing service in communication zones such as the construction of airfields and the improvement and upgrade of ports, roads, and railways communication.Ancillary support - provision and distribution of maps as well as the disposal of unexploded warheads. The prevalence of military engineering in the United States dates back to the American Revolutionary War when engineers would carry out tasks in the Army. During the war, engineers would map terrain to and build fortifications to protect troops from opposing forces. These first military engineers became the Army Corps of Engineers. Military engin eers are responsible for protecting the troops either by using fortifications or by designing new technology and weaponry.Military engineers construct and repair bases, airfields, roads, bridges, and hospitals as well as clearing routes, harbors, and ports. Military engineers constructed airfields for heavy bombers, launch facilities for intercontinental ballistic missiles, and radar installations to increase communication. They also built many of the facilities for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Originally in the United States history of warfare, the Army claimed engineers exclusively, but as the Armed Forces branches expanded to the sea and sky, the need for military engineering in all branches increased. Accordingly, as each branch of the United States military expanded, technology was invented or adapted to fit their respective needs. Offices of Military Engineering The United States Air Forces military engineering needs are provided by several off ices Air Force Civil Engineer Support AgencyRapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) These squadrons are the United States Air Forces heavy-construction units. Their capabilities are similar to those of the U.S. Navy Seabees and U.S. Army heavy-construction organizations.There is even an Airborne RED HORSE.Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force (Prime BEEF) As the name states, this is a rapidly deployable, specialized civil engineer unit of the United States Air Force. The United States Armys military engineering needs are provided by the Army Corps of Engineers.The United States Coast Guards military engineering needs are provided by their Engineering and Logistics Directorate.The United States Navys military engineering needs are provided by the Construction Battalion Corps (better known as the Seabees) and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). The CEC is a staff corps of the United States Navy. CEC officers are professional engineers and architects, ac quisitions specialists and Seabee Combat Warfare Officers. They are responsible for executing and managing the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Navys shore facilities. The United States Marines military engineering needs are provided by the Marine Corps Combat Engineer Battalions. A Related Note Out of the experiences of the US Military in WWI, there was concern that the collective knowledge and the cooperation between the public and private sectors that proved vital to combat success would be lost a valid concern, considering how the military was demobilized (or downsized) after the conclusion of the war. In 1919, Maj. Gen. William M. Black, USA, the Armys Chief of Engineers, appointed a nine-officer board to consider the formation of an association of engineers that would preserve and expand upon connections formed in war and promote the advancement of engineering and its related professions.Out of this formed The Society of Ameri can Military Engineers (SAME), the premier professional military engineering association in the United States, which unites architecture, engineering, construction (A/E/C), facility management and environmental entities and individuals in the public and private sectors to prepare for- and overcome- natural and manmade disasters, and to improve security at home and abroad.

CCAR and OER NSPS Self-Assessment - Budget Officer, YA-560-2

CCAR and OER NSPS Self-Assessment - Budget Officer, YA-560-2CCAR and OER NSPS Self-Assessment - Budget Officer, YA-560-2CCAR and OER NSPS Self-Assessment Budget Officer, YA-560-2TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR SELF-ASSESSMENTS WITH CCAR or OERWe have been asked to create a self-assessment sample in both the CCAR and OER formats. Many Army Civilian agencies are using the OER format for self-assessments. Both CCAR and OER are great because the structure recommends additional information in the self-assessment examples. Nancy Segal has written this JO and self-assessment sample for you to use as a template. The NSPS book has about 80 more sample JOs and at least 24 Self-Assessment Accomplishments for you to study while you are writing in our Job Objective and Self-Assessment Library.ASSESSMENTS WITH MORE DETAILS Some people write just one or two sentences for each accomplishment and that may bedrngnis be enough for the raters to understand the scope of the accomplishment (context), what you did to achieve it (efforts or actions), what obstacles you overcame (challenge), and what happened (results). If you dont give background information or detail, they may notlage understand the example. The more background on the value of your performance to your mission, the better you will be rated.RECOMMENDED WRITE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH ONE OF THE FORMATS CCAR or OERITS OKAY TO WRITE ONE EXAMPLE, IF IT IS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTThis Sample Job Objective in this newsletter will have only ONE Accomplishment, because it is a MAJOR Accomplishment for the year and clearly demonstrate how she exceeded her job objective this year. This works for MAJOR accomplishments. Otherwise, you can write two accomplishments that will average 1,000 characters.The CCAR format is the original format recommended Context, Challenge, Action, Results. Most of the samples in the NSPS book are in the CCAR format. They can be changed to OER easily. If you would like to use our Free CCAR Self-Assessment Builde r, it could help you focus on your writing add more details and background on the accomplishment. Then, you can edit back to 1,000 or 1,500 characters.Supervisors/ Raters, Pay Pool Staff might appreciate the acronyms for easier reading CCAR or OER in the paragraphs. They will have a lot of assessments to read and understand about your performance this year.Count your characters You can write one, two, or three accomplishments in the 2,000 character space in the PAA 3.0.Make sure you check your self-assessments against the Expected and Enhanced Benchmarks. You can see the benchmarks and keywords from the descriptions at our very popular and free NSPS Keyword Tree. 30,000 DOD employees have accessed the Keyword Tree for writing self-assessments.Good luck with your writing. If you want to see more JOs and self-assessments, the new book, Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment, 2nd edition has many more examples.You can see the Job Objective Library Table of Contents here. You can also prac tice your self-assessment writing by using the PAA 3.0 Fillable form. Then copy and paste the entire document into My Biz when it is all completed. The PAA fillable form is available here.You can order the 2nd Edition of the book here both print book (shipping end of this week), or eBook, available immediately++++++++++SAMPLE JOB OBJECTIVE IN SMART AND SELF-ASSESSMENT IN CCAR or OERhintergrund Information Michelle Milton Budget Officer, YA-560-2 ++++++++JOB OBJECTIVESSMART FORMAT SPECIFIC, MEASURES, ALIGNED, REALISTIC, TIMED.If your JOs are not in SMART this year, just wait until next year rewrite them in SMART for your next performance year. Its easier to write accomplishments against the SMART JO format Job Objective 1 BUDGET GUIDANCES Budget guidance developed for supported organizations.M Guidance from HQ interpreted accurately and applied appropriately for Command. Instructions to supported organizations are clear, concise and timely disseminated and contain examples of ex pected submissions at least one follow up to each supported organization is made within 10 days of their receipt of instructions. Questions about instructions are acknowledged within 24 hours of receipt and responded to within 72 hours.A Ensures that budget funds for mission accomplishment are appropriately requested and adequately documented.R Assumes guidance received from HQ .T Guidance drafted and submitted to supervisor within 21 of receipt from HQ other timeframes as indicated.Contributing Factor Critical ThinkingCharacter count 778 ++++++++++C C A R Context, Challenge, Action, Results Format Self-Assessment for Job Objective 1 Budget Guidance I exceeded this job objective, demonstrating my ability to analyze and distill complex instructions, identify relevancy for my command and communicate expectations effectively to my customers.CONTEXT I support 8 organizations in my Command these organizations have more than 600 employees and varying functions but all work on vari ous weapons systems.CHALLENGE The budget guidance from HQ was very general and this was my first year in this position. I needed not only to interpret the instructions but demonstrate my understanding of my organizations functions so that I could effectively apply the instructions to their varying needs.ACTION I researched prior years Command budget instructions I also solicited feedback from my customers about last years approach to understand what worked and what did not. Next I drafted instructions and solicited customer feedback on the draft and made adjustments accordingly to address suggestions. Using my critical thinking skills, I ensured that instructions were applicable to my customers and used their language to enhance understanding I also created specific, relevant examples for each part of their submission. The instructions I issued were timely and complete. I followed up with my customers individually, consistent with the metric and created a 2-hour briefing for m y customers to help them understand the instructions and answer questions. I offered the briefing four times over the course of 6 weeks to give my customers opportunity to attend at their convenience.RESULTS I had 100% attendance at my briefings and the feedback I received was extremely positive. Typical comments from my customers included, easiest budget call ever, you really explained the process first time I understood it completely, and thanks for your help. I also received positive feedback on the thoroughness and helpfulness of my responses throughout the budget preparation period.Character count 1,938+++++++++OER Objective, Effort, Results Format Self-Assessment for Job Objective 1 Budget GuidanceOBJECTIVE I exceeded this job objective, demonstrating my ability to analyze and distill complex instructions, identify relevancy for my command and communicate expectations effectively to my customers. I support 8 organizations in my Command these organizations have more than 600 employees and varying functions but all work on various weapons systems. The budget guidance from HQ was very general and this was my first year in this position. I needed not only to interpret the instructions but demonstrate my understanding of my organizations functions so that I could effectively apply the instructions to their varying needs.EFFORT I researched prior years Command budget instructions I also solicited feedback from my customers about last years approach to understand what worked and what did not. Next I drafted instructions and solicited customer feedback on the draft and made adjustments accordingly to address suggestions. Using my critical thinking skills, I ensured that instructions were applicable to my customers and used their language to enhance understanding I also created specific, relevant examples for each part of their submission. The instructions I issued were timely and complete. I followed up with my customers individually, consistent with t he metric and created a 2-hour briefing for my customers to help them understand the instructions and answer questions. I offered the briefing four times over the course of 6 weeks to give my customers opportunity to attend at their convenience.RESULT I had 100% attendance at my briefings and the feedback I received was extremely positive. Typical comments from my customers included, easiest budget call ever, you really explained the process first time I understood it completely, and thanks for your help. I also received positive feedback on the thoroughness and helpfulness of my responses throughout the budget preparation period.Character count 1,925++++++++++Thank you for considering our NSPS self-assessment writing book.Good luck with being inspired to write your accomplishmentsSincerely,Kathryn TroutmanThe Resume Place, Inc.

What to Put on a Resume - Is it a Scam?

What to Put on a Resume - Is it a Scam? However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. Have no clue how to establish a resume or what things to put on it. There are two methods to use your resume. Everyone needs to have the chance to sell their idea and distinctive viewpoint with respect. What to Put on a Resume - Is it a Scam? Several the templates chance to be particular to provided industries. A resume ought to be straightforward, so be as easy as possible with language. Nowadays, many modern and intriguing templates are situated in internet. There are free templates readily available online, and many word processors supply you with resume templates to work with. Possessing a very clear and professional resume is vital in the medical field. For instance, in CV, if youre applying for work in education, you might want to place your teaching experience in addition to the CV. If you would like to receive a job in a well-kno wn company, do your very best to fulfill their standards and to present yourself accordingly. If youre attempting to obtain work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. When you show results, the reader doesnt have to guess what youve done. Professionals in technical fields may also list certificates and licenses. In the event the template isnt inside the suitable format nearly every value of using it. The resume format differs based on the prerequisites of the job which you simply are applying for. The realization that you could be really likely to have a preceding ageand some money set aside to assist fund it. You wont be selected as a consequence of your being over elaborate. A lot of people only list the work theyve performed, but they miss the chance to demonstrate what happened as a consequence of the time and effort theyve put in. The job market can be rough sometimes and some people can get frustrated as they have not received as many responses as expected. Keep in mind that your target is to impress the recruiters over an extremely limited quantity of time thats why its so important to pick the examples that are stunning. Resume objectives can be a little controversial. The Characteristics of What to Put on a Resume Job Title Ask for what you desire You may even ask your family and friends members what their resumes look like and make them send above their format to you. In fact, some candidates dont even dare obtain their resumes read as their titel letters just dont look impressive enough. Excellent resumes show as opposed to tell. The Upside to What to Put on a Resume There appear to be many men and women who like the sort of food in PN, but I dont appear to be one of them. If youd like your resume to get read and, more to the point, youre searching for an interview, you have to make sure it stands out from the rest and steers clearly away from empty cliches and meaningless jargon. Try to remember you dont nee d to be rigid in any portion of the interview so keep your spirits high dear. There is a great chance that you are able to make a decent first impression with a stunning resume. The best location to set your picture is on the top right hand corner of the very first page. If you consider it, the one most important thing your resume should convey is that YOU are ideal for the job accessible. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. Normally, a resume is 1 page long, though it can at times be as long as two pages. Contact information needs to be put on top of your resume. It is possible to graduate papers apa a totally free career guide from their site. Its simple to justify with a little bit of math. When you continue to be unable to comprehend what things to write, thus youre in a standort to use every one of our resume writing services. When youre writing a resume, you arent writing your autobiography. You wish to use an example fo r a guide so youre able to begin writing your own covering letter (also called a motivation letter). A History of What to Put on a Resume Refuted Well my friend, before going for any interview what youve got to do is to earn a general survey on the market so you need to know whats the present salary being offered to the candidates by different sort of businesses. When writing both of the two, concentrate on telling the prospective employer your existing point career-wise and how youre a terrific suit for the opening. Youll have to put some spotlight that can be notice by the audience quickly. Employing a resume builder to create a whole and catchy resume is an excellent way to entice a possible employer.

5 Ways to Make Employers Fall in Love With You

5 Ways to Make Employers Fall in Love With You Its Valentines Day who doesnt want to be madly in love? And Im not just talking about your relationship with that special someone, but your employer (or desired employer). It may sound creepy, but think about it What job binnenseeker wouldnt want a prospective employer to fall head over heels for him or her? And what worker doesnt want to see stars in his or her boss eyes because the employee is such an asset to the company?While many today will be buying and giving roses, chocolate kisses and cute and cuddly teddy bears with I love You plastered across their chests, why not also make an effort to give yourself some lovethe professional kind that a business offers to a valuable job candidate and worker?To get you started, Thought Leader Dr. Tracey Wilen has offered some tips and career advice to make employers fall in love with you. Whether youre inte rviewing for a job or already an employee, read on to discover what Wilen has to say about making sure this year Cupid shoots an arrow for you and your career progression5 Tips when Interviewing1. Research the firm and people you are interviewing with before the interview so that you are prepared. People like to hire people who have done their homework, are prepared and they can establish rapport with. Look for threads of commonality in your backgrounds, such as similar firms, similar hobbies, and overlaps in your professional lives.Look at LinkedIn, facebook inc and Twitter profiles and Google people in advance so you have a good sense of what the person is about before you meet them.2. Prepare answers to key questions you will be asked. There are a number of websites that publish commonly asked interview questions (Monster, Glassdoor, CareerBuilder, etc.)review them in advance and prepare factual short answers with metrics of your success with concrete examples.For example, if the question was, Tell me about your sales achievements? Your response could be, I increased sales for my current firm over 15 percent in the first quarter of this year. I did this by developing a contact management system and process that kept me highly visible and top of mind for my clients without being intrusive. In fact, one client quoted, You are always there when I need you but not invasive and that is why I appreciate working with you. I can do this for your company as well.You can also practice answering questions in the mirror or with another person on the phone or in person. Tape yourself so you can hear how you respond to questions.3. Show up on time (a little early) and dress professionally. If you do not know where you are going, drive to the location a day or two in advance so there are no issues on the day of your interview. On the day of the interview go early (target 15 minutes before your scheduled time) if you are too early, find a coffee shop to spend time reviewin g your notes.You can also use this time to walk around the lobby of the building, look at company videos and displays in the lobby, and read plaques and notices so you can get a sense of the firm and culture before you meet people. Observe people walking in and out, what they talk about, the pace, clothing, etc. 4. Ask relevant questions to the job at hand.A general rule of thumb is not to ask any question you can find the answer on the firms website, earnings calls or through a general search. The expectation is that you have done this prep work before the interview.Ask key questions that will help you understand if this is the right firm for you. Frame your questions around how work gets done, determine how fast you can ramp up by asking about resources, key process for moving key initiatives ahead, budget you have to work with, upper level engagement in projects, etc.5. Express your interest in the position and ask about next steps. Many people forget to ask for the job. Before y ou leave make sure you express your interest in the position, summarizing three key points in how you can add value to the organization and ask what the next steps are.5 Tips for Employees on the Job1. Show up on time every day.According to the BLS (2013), 16 percent of employees show up for work late at least once a week.2. Have a great attitude.Studies have indicated that the top reason that new hires fail is not due to the lack of skills and aptitude but rather to poor attitude.3. Support your teammates.Being a proactive team player is highly desired in todays complex, connected world.4. Raise your hand for special assignments and projects. What boss wont fall for a go-getter?5. Be prepared for meetings. Treat every meeting as an important session. Be prepared and ready to contribute.

The Changing Landscape of Recruiting in 2014

The Changing Landscape of Recruiting in 2014The Changing Landscape of Recruiting in 2014The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, Change is the only constant in life. In looking back on the last 12 months, its obvious that 2014 was a banner year for change on both a global level and in the world of recruiting and HR.The rise of employer branding, advances in technology as well as changes in the structure of work, along with how employees approach work, are just a few of the trends we tracked at Simply Hired in 2014. Here are a few highlights, with links to relevant articles weve published.Employer BrandingIn a recent study the majority of employers surveyed said they have articulated an employer brand. No longer reserved for companies with big budgets, employer branding is top-of-mind for many companies, and it extends to the candidate experience. Our e-book Recruitment Strategy in the Age of Branding and Mobile offers specific recommendations on how to streamline your applicati on process so that it contributes to a positive employer brand.But how do you measure employer brand? This fall, Simply Hired announced the Employer Brand Index (EBI), which measures the level of preference a company generates from potential employees based on the rate at which they engage with job ads. Currently the EBI is available for retail brands and will be made available for brands in other industries in 2015.Technology Social, mobile, applicant tracking software, cloud storage- those are just a few of the ways technology has influenced recruitment. Change will accelerate as mora web besucherzahlen moves to mobile devices and creates the necessity of planning technology enhancements and putting new measurement tools in place. It also means that recruiters must become more comfortable with data. Letting data become your ally in your quest to solve business problems is a great way to demystify potentially boring charts and graphs.Flexible Work ModelsIn his HRE article How to Ad apt and Thrive in 2014, Simply Hired president and CEO James Beriker listed the rise of flexible work models as one of the key factors to pay attention to in 2014. In a series about alternative work models, we interviewed people in part-time and remote positions. Our conversations with recruiters about the best times to use contractors rounded out the series, creating a wholly positive view that offering part-time, temporary and remote work options is a great way to save on costs and keep employees happy.Career Change SeekersThe economic and cultural environment has led to more people seeking to change careers or enter new fields out of necessity or personal interest. We are now being given permission as a society to do what makes us happy, said Wendy Nolin of Change Agent Careers. For recruiters this means working with hiring managers more proactively and keeping an open mind when reviewing candidates.In Search of the American Dream JobTaking the career fulfillment question one ste p further, our Dream Job survey looked at attitudes toward employment. While the vast majority of Americans believe it is important to have a job that matches their personality and strengths, and to have a career rather than just a job, only 35 percent said their current job represents their preferred profession.With such a big disconnect between dreams and reality, it should become the task of career counselors, recruiters and managers alike to make sure that workers are guided and developed into roles that match both their strengths and desires. And with only 13 percent actively looking, its even more imperative for recruiters to attract passive candidates.The wisdom of the ancients tells us that we can expect more change in 2015. Whats on your plate? Let us know in the comments.Read Related ArticlesThe Changing WorkforceCharm Candidates With an Irresistible Company CultureBusiness Agility Meets Flexibility The Growth in Alternative Work Models

How to Answer What Do You Enjoy about Working Here

How to Answer What Do You Enjoy about Working HereHow to Answer What Do You Enjoy about Working HereFor several months weve been doing an interview question series that coaches job seekers on the best way to prepare an answer to some of the fruchtwein popular interview questions such as Tell me about yourself?and How do you stay organized?Along the way we realized that job seekers are not the only people who have to answer questions in an interview. Very often candidates arrive at an interview with questions prepared for the end of the meeting, and its important that employers be prepared to answer these questions in the most honest and strategic way possible. To kick off this series were going to start with one of the most common job seeker questions, What have you enjoyed most about working here?Put Yourself in Their Shoes When a candidate ask this question, he or she is trying to understand two things what motivates the people who work for this company and what the most valuable b enefits are. The best answer is an honest one that models what you look for in your new hires, and that will depend on your company cultureand company values. Heres a look at several different ways you might reflect on your company and your experience in order to answer this question If your company values honesty and integrity, you can discuss how this attitude makes it less stressful to work here and share an example of a time when your leadership team was particularly forthcoming or showed integrity. If your company values humor and a relaxed environment, you can discuss how much you look forward to coming into work every day because you know youll get a lot done but also have a pleasant experience while you work.You can also share an example of a good-natured prank or practical joke you were a part of and how it helped to develop a relationship with other coworkers. If your company values its elite reputation and its level of expertise, you can discuss how its high standards hav e contributed to your own notoriety within your field and how valuable you feel your accomplishments have been since you started here. Then you can highlight unique products or clients youve worked with as a result of the companys excellence. If your company values service to the community or the world, you can connect your own desires to make a difference with what youve been able to accomplish with the company. In this light, you can share your satisfaction for being a part of an organization that shares your values.This question is not just about your personal journey as a human resources professional or hiring manager. Its about what your company values and whether or not the people who work there are aligned with that message. By reflecting on your answer to this question youll be able to help the candidate assess whether or not the position will be a good fit in the long term.When a candidate asks this question, how do you answer?

Whats your biggest weakness How to answer the interview question

Whats your biggest weakness How to answer the interview questionWhats your biggest weakness How to answer the interview questionFor job seekers, interview questions require you to think quickly on your feet and respond to any curveball the interviewer throws your way - even when these questions veer away from the scripts you prepared. Do you knowwhat tree you would beor what animal best represents you? Although whats your biggest weakness? is a popular interview question that has endured, many candidates are still unprepared to discuss their failures. (As we learned from these cautionary tales of how not to answer this question.)Heres what you need to know about how to get this question right.The best way to talk about your weakness is to make your answer trueThe secret to answering this question is in recognizing that the weakness itself isnt what your hiring manager is most interested in hearing - its the story that comes with your answer. Hiring managers want to hear a story abo ut professional adversity, not personal failure. No need to blab about any moral mistakes youve made in your personal life while your hiring manager listens in mute horror.There is a formulaTheres no one-size-fits-all answer for you to copy, but there is a basic formula for you to adapt to your needs Acknowledge a real weakness, and then talk about what actions youre taking to overcome it.The best answers should be tailored to the company youre interviewing for and should include a weakness you actually possess.In other words, your answer needs to be authentic and honest, so that the recruiter can see you as a job candidate and as a real person.I believe the most effective answer is one that is true recruiting expertHarry Urschel advises in a Quora post. He cites being a bad public speaker as an example. You can tell your interviewer that giving presentations in front of crowds makes you freeze up and how youre taking courses to overcome this fear. By acknowledging the weakness, you show the interviewer that youre self-aware.Why you cant dodge, according to scienceThats the danger in dodging this question When you dont mention any real weakness, you come off as insincere - or incapable of self awareness.When 122 college students were asked, whats your biggest weakness? in a Harvard Business School experiment, the ones who answered being a perfectionist, working too hard, being too nice, or being too honest as weaknesses were seen as strategically insincere humblebraggers.On the other hand, the students who were honest about a weakness and said answers like Im not always the best at staying organized were seen as mora desirable hires by the research assistants who rated the interviews.Francesca Gino, the researcher behind the experiment, suggested that this is because, authentic people who are willing to show vulnerability are likely to be the type of candidates interviewers most want to hire.Dont be too honestOf course, your answer should own up to a shortcom ing, but it should also be calculated. Its best if your weakness is not central to the very success of the business,Urschel also notes. Avoid mentioning relevant skills to the job you want as a weakness. You want to show vulnerability you dont want to reveal that youre ill-equipped for the job.Same question, different wordsYou also need to be prepared to hear the biggest weakness question in a different form.Kelli Dragovich, the senior vice president of people atHired, told Refinery29 that she asks candidates the same core question with more specifics If I talked to 10 people from the past that youve either worked for, partnered with, or managed, what would they say about you as a whole? What would they say youre great at that you bring to the table? And what would they say you need more help with, or is an area you might need to grow and develop in?When youre being asked whats your biggest weakness, what youre really being asked is what are your biggest gaps in professional develop ment, and how are you addressing these gaps.As long as this question keeps being asked, youll need to prepare an answer for it.