Showing posts with label avoid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label avoid. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

( Mistakes Leaders Must Avoid To Retain Employees ) ( Accounting Services Associate ) ( Financial Representative- Sales ) ( Restaurant Corporate Positions: Licensing Manager, Payroll Manager and Project Accountant Needed! ) ( Coding Audit & Education Specialist ) ( SVP, Operational Finance and Accounting ) ( VP, Finance Systems and Information Analytics ) ( Project/ Audit Accountant ) ( Financial Analyst/Accountant ) ( Chief Financial Officer ) ( Accounting/purchasing ) ( Internal Audit Manager )


Mistakes Leaders Must Avoid To Retain Employees

Nothing scares employees more than bad behavior on the part of their CEO. But what makes them bristle and what makes them leave are two completely different things.

According to career experts, employees are willing to tolerate a lot from their leader, especially the lower on the totem pole they are, but if it directly impacts their career prospects or their workplace happiness, the good ones won’t think twice about jumping ship. In fact, according to a recent Glassdoor survey, one in five employees said their boss has a negative impact on their career.

“You want to be working for a company where your career interests and personal needs are being satisfied,” says Paul Winum, senior partner and global practice leader at RHR International, the executive consulting firm. “When the CEOs decisions and actions put employees’ ambitions or career prospects at risk, people start leaving.”

According to Julie Bauke, career strategist, president of The Bauke Group, and author of Stop Peeing on our Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes that Screw Up your Job Search, one of the biggest mistakes CEOs or leaders can make is to treat their employees as if they don’t know any better or worse yet they are simply too stupid to get it, which can be a form of workplace bullying. Not only does that kill morale, but also productivity because the fed up employees end up spending a lot of time complaining about their boss. “People watch and listen for clues and cues. If people do not believe in what the leader is saying, or if the walk doesn’t match the talk, it really can come across as he or she thinks we are too stupid to notice,” says Bauke.

For many employees, career development and advancement are the main reasons they take a job and the motivation for staying at a company. But if the CEO doesn’t create a culture that enables people to move up, it will quickly be seen by the employees, resulting in a high turnover rate.  “In most companies the success of the CEO and company is directly dependent on the caliber of talent it is able to attract and retain,” says Winum. “If a CEO wants to hold on to people and attract people he or she has to make a demonstrable commitment to talent development.”  Winum says that not only does the CEO has to make sure there is on-the-book development and career paths, but he or she also has to let workers know the company cares about them and appreciates their contributions.  “If the CEO conveys the view that employees are interchangeable cogs in some wheel…people are more likely to leave to get a better opportunity,” he says.

Change is inevitable regardless of the company, but how a CEO conveys that change will make all the difference between retaining employees and losing them at a fast clip. According to Christine Comaford, author of the book SmartTribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together, since people inherently resist change, even if it’s for the better, the CEO has to frame the change in a way that that shows the new direction is simply an improvement on what the company is already doing instead of a complete overhaul of the business. “Leaders need to present the change…as the bad stuff is being removed and good stuff is being added,” she says.

Nobody wants to work for a wishy-washy boss, which is why the CEOs who are unable to make hard decisions, especially when it comes to people within an organization, can have co-workers heading for the door. Understandably, it’s hard to fire someone, but if the CEO hangs on to an executive that everyone within the company thinks is incompetent, a bully or who is hard to work with, they will lose respect for their leader. “It has such a wide reaching effect throughout the organization,” says Bauke. “You are really are telling people what you value.”

Contradictions can be fatal, especially if the CEO is pounding the table about how important his or her people are but the actions convey the exact opposite message. A classic example of that is the CEO who thinks he or she is smarter than everyone and ignores or dismisses any input, says Bauke, who once worked in a small organization where the owner liked to tell the very smart and capable team that was assembled that he knew none of them has been as successful as him. “Everyone wants to be heard and acknowledged, not patted on the head,” says Bauke.

Mistakes Leaders Must Avoid To Retain Employees is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

Related posts:

  1. 5 Mistakes To Avoid During Your Job Search
  2. What Makes Employees Love Their CEO
  3. How To Recruit & Retain Millennial Employees


Accounting Services Associate

Details: Provides accounting services, sales tax preparation and payroll processing for clients. Responsibilities: As an Accounting Services Professional you will:Administer and process payroll for clients.Prepare reports required by clients, including payroll tax, sales and use tax, and personal property tax.Assists with accounting functions for clients primarily using QuickBooks software.Reconciles bank accounts for clients.Composes and types routine correspondence including orders, memos, letters and reports.Act as a business advisor to clients and assess their general accounting needs.

Financial Representative- Sales

Details: Title:  - Financial Representative -  SalesAbout the OpportunityDid you know that nearly 10,000 Baby Boomers will reach retirement age every day for the next 19 years? ¹ Or that almost half of the households in the U.S. are underinsured? ² This means that many Americans could face financial vulnerability and uncertainty at a stage in life when they can least afford it.  At The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company (Western & Southern Life), we’re working hard to make sure our customers are prepared for the future, but we need Financial Representatives with integrity, dedication and commitment in order to be successful.  In short, we need you!Our Financial Representatives help our middle market customers meet their financial goals using a robust portfolio of solutions.  They include life insurance, health insurance, retirement savings, and in some of our offices, investment products and services.  As part of our Sales team, you will: Provide professional advice to your clients, meeting multiple financial goals, with a comprehensive and top-notch line of financial products and services. Serve as a dependable advisor who helps to provide financial solutions to the right people, in the right way, for the right reasons. Have access to professional selling tools, and approachable sales leaders - from the manager to the CEO. Experience multiple opportunities for professional development in sales or move into management in our locations throughout the country.  Compensation & Benefits Compensation – A compensation plan that truly rewards results with un-capped earning potential. Benefits – A competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, company-funded benefit pension plan, long term incentive rewards, and a generous 401(k) match.  Training – Comprehensive product and sales training recognized by Training Magazine’s Top 125.3 Market – Access to a growing market segment with increasing demand. A Proven Method – A position that offers a great deal of flexibility while working in a structured process proven to result in sales.  Strength – The backing of a Fortune 500 company consistently recognized for its financial stability, operating performance, and our 120+ years of financial strength and stability.

Restaurant Corporate Positions: Licensing Manager, Payroll Manager and Project Accountant Needed!

Details: Licensing Manager  Manage Restaurant licensing and permitting for all restaurant operations. Must have TABC (TX Alchoholic Beverage Commission) experience Must be able to work projects from start to finish Prioritize and generate excellent work product under stringent agency timelines.  Demonstrate an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise in the day to day licensing of restaurant business operations.  Ability to collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.   Competent analytical and cognitive skills are essential.  Exceptional organizational skills.  Computer literate.  Proficient written and verbal communication skills.  Communicate effectively with restaurant management and operations team to ensure posting of all required licenses/permits.  Continuous educational development in business practices and procedures to accommodate proper business methods.  Utilize "Professionalism" in every aspect of the job. Exercise sound decision-making on resolution of complicated  Travel when required. Minimum three years’ experience as a Licensing Specialist; Bachelor’s degree preferred;Restaurant industry experience preferred.  Payroll Manager Acts as liaison with internal and external service partners to ensure the accurate and timely preparation and distribution of the organization’s payroll. Manages processing of new hires, temporary workers, transfers, and terminations.Ensures appropriate withholding of taxes, benefits, and garnishments. Ensures the accurate and timely preparation and filing of all legally required reports. Monitors and ensures compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, Sarbanes-Oxley 404 control procedures, and company procedures.Develops and implements approved changes to methods or procedures to improve efficiency of the payroll function.Engages in all manager responsibilities requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating, and controlling. Supervisory responsibility involving staffing, conducting performance appraisals, training and developing subordinates, promotions, salary increases, terminations, disciplinary actions, etc.  Job RequirementsEDUCATIONAL/EXPERIENCE /QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:Bachelors degree required, FPC required, CPP preferredFive plus years Payroll  management experience required in a multi-state, multi-location, and tipped environment preferred Project Accountant.  Must be CPA with experience with construction companies.  Maintains project budgets for each new restaurant and large facilities maintenance projects.Assists development head in maintaining strong internal controls over vendor bidding and vendor management.Performs monthly construction accounting functions including monitoring of expenses, processing invoices, preparing financial reports and reconciling accounts. Understands project budgeting, commitment, approval and invoicing processes. Reviews and processes invoices and monitors data integration with accounts payable department.Reviews monthly pay applications. Communicates with vendors and resolves invoicing issues. Completes and provides monthly job cost reports. Manages and reports on funding sources. Creates an electronic and/or document filing system to ensure project invoices are organized and easily auditable. Maintains timely input and management of project-related records (i.e. contracts, change orders). Submits monthly journal entries to accounting with proper supporting schedules for accruals. Monitors operational and construction budgets. Manages retainer balances. Reviews and maintains rolling balance sheet reconciliations and all related sub-ledgers. Ensures overall contractual compliance as it relates to billing and payment requirements. Ensures overall compliance with project and accounting policies and procedures. Provides accounting support and training for on-the site management team. Ensures data integrity for all sub-systems utilized. Researches, documents and requests programming changes as necessary.Performs related tasks as assigned by Chief Development Officer.  Job RequirementsEducation/ Training/ Work ExperienceBachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.CPA preferred.3-5 years of experience in a construction/project accounting role.

Coding Audit & Education Specialist

Details: Scheduled Hours:  40 Schedule:  8:00-4:30 Shift:  Day FLSA:  Exempt Coding Audit & Education Specialist  Responsibilities: The Coding Audit & Education Specialist develops, implements and maintains an effective and comprehensive audit & education program for coding consistent with regulatory, contractual, professional standards and healthcare revenue cycle industry practices.  Reviews medical records for correct coding and provides feedback to the provider.  Reports to the HIM Professional Coding Manager Qualifications:•Coding Certification (CCS, CPC, etc.) required.  •CPMA certification preferred.  •Baccalaureate degree preferred.~CB

SVP, Operational Finance and Accounting

Details: Job OverviewResponsible for  leading both the accounting and finance operations organizations for CHI.  Prepare financial reporting across all CHI to meet external and regulatory reporting requirements. Responsible for driving accounting standards and interpreting and communicating enterprise policy as well as overseeing accounting shared services to ensure it  meets  enterprise needs.  Support ITS department, oversight of financial systems Hyperion and Lawson, and oversight of Finance shared service center.  Additional responsibility for driving disciplined performance management (as business partner with COO), creating critical financial analytics performance management capability, overseeing COE implementation, an formulating enterprise service-line strategy.Responsibilities:Manage core accounting functionOversee consolidation of monthly financialsSet accounting policies, processes, and calendarsDesign, build, and maintain common accounting infrastructure (e.g., GL, chart of accounts) with consistent data definitionsEnsure budgets and updates are in GLDetermine reporting requirements ensure compliance, and prepare external reportsAdvise CFO, CEO, and the Board on major accounting issues and implicationsOversee supporting finance departmentsOversee Finance IT Systems - Hyperion and LawsonSupport ITS department to ensure systems acquired, maintained and supported at appropriate levelOversee Shared Services center to ensure adequate service levels to maximize effectiveness & efficiencyManage performance management capabilityCreate an integrated financial performance metrics dashboard and track budget adherenceLead assessment of impact  to collaborate with COO, SVP of Ops, and Region CFOs on action planningLead financial analytics group and oversee DSS systems to ensure adequate access and performanceOversee Transformation Management Office to track progress of Clinical and Operational ExcellenceLead formulation of enterprise service line strategiesWhat success will look like (in next 2 years)Close collaboration with Region CFOs to drive towards a centralized accounting modeShared service center conducting 90% of transactional activity with high efficacyA single set of consistent financial numbers used across the organizationActive oversight of adherence to CHI accounting policies and processesSmooth consolidation process requiring few reconciliations and manual adjustmentsA surprise-free financial environmentIntegrated and strategic approach to Finance IT system acquisition, rollout, and supportIntegrated and fully optimized use of Hyperion and LawsonEffective performance management processes with clear performance measuresSignificantly improved finance analytics capability with a fully DSS system$500M COE savings run rate achieved by FY15COE owners engaged in consistent performance management and alignment cadenceCompetencies for successVery strong financial knowledge and understanding of major business drivers of financial performanceExcellent communication skills and ability to manage through persuasion  and coachingStrategic mindset and strong business  leader with proven recordExcellent skills in analytic problem solving and change managementStrong ability to collaborate with operational teamsKey measures and targetsAccuracy, relevance, and timeliness of information to support decision makingControl of total cost of finance function for the firmSupervision of quality of information prepared by Region controllersCompliance with external (Regulatory) reporting requirementsEfficiency and effectiveness of shared service centerCOE achievements against targets

VP, Finance Systems and Information Analytics

Details: VP in charge of Finance analytics and the support and integration of Finance systemsResponsible for ensuring accurate, timely and user-friendly data is available to end users of Finance analyticsOversight of Finance systems including EPSi, Lawson, and Hyperion, as well as niche Finance systems such as RCA and PDSOversight of standard reporting playbooks, systems maintenance, implementation, enhancement and integrationManages team of Enterprise FISA analysts who provide Enterprise level (cross-Divisional) adhoc  reporting for organizationalActs as interface and integration point for enterprise intelligence for both finance analytics and data integrationFinancial information managementAccountable for ensuring robust Financial data management and governanceResponsible for managing system-specific teams to ensure on-going data quality and integrity and completeness of Financial information In charge of creation and oversight of Financial Analytic datamart by developing an architecture to support user-friendly access to “best in breed” Financial dataCollaborate with Enterprise Intelligence to ensure a reliable single source of truth for finance data is available as needed across the organizationTechnical supportResponsible for managing system-specific implementation, enhancement, maintenance and integration of  Finance systemsCollaborate with CHI IT and Enterprise Intelligence to oversee IT integration for server hardware support and network integration across CHI and external JOAsEvaluate Finance software vendors and manage relationshipsResponsible for system auditsEvaluate, implement and oversee new projects related to Financial decision support systemsAnalyticsOversee the creation of standard and ad-hoc reports, ensuring end users receive timely and accurate analytics Responsible for creation and oversight of standard playbooks of Financial informationEnsure analytics support strategic initiatives across the organization

Project/ Audit Accountant

Details: .Global leader in travel and tourism is looking to groom a CPA into a Project Accountant/SEC Reporting Manager who has worked at least 3 years for one of the "'Big 4"'.Responsible for managing the preparation and/or review of SEC reporting documents (10-Qs, 10-K’s, 8-K’s, etc.), earnings releases and related supporting schedules. Also includes drafting disclosures, processing changes and ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the documents.Researching, interpreting and concluding on technical accounting matters, including the impact of new accounting pronouncements. Must be able to document, via written internal memos, the issue and recommended course of action to facilitate meaningful discussions with Finance leadership, external auditors, etc. Assist with the company’s debt and XBRL compliance processes.Manage and oversee the Finance department’s contract review process, including reviewing contractual arrangements to determine accounting ramifications. Develops, documents and maintains the company’s accounting policies. Liaises with internal and external auditors as part of the financial reporting process. Support Corporate Accounting’s financial statement close process when necessary.Perform ad-hoc financial analyses and projects on a regular basis as requested by Finance leadership.Support finance due diligence work in mergers and acquisitions as needed.This position will have frequent interactions with the financial controllers group, financial planning, investor relations, treasury, legal, and internal and external auditors in order to accomplish goals and ensure effective information exchange

Financial Analyst/Accountant

Details: Financial Analyst/Accountant position  Growing industry-leading company in downtown Boston is adding to their team!  Position is open due to internal promotion so the company does “walk the walk” when it comes to career development!  Enjoy an outstanding and comprehensive benefit package, reasonable work-life balance and very team-oriented culture with lots of visibility, plus making a difference!   Key Responsibilities: Work closely with other department staff and leaders to provide financial expertise with regards to budgets or business/contract proposals; including meetings to demonstrate, explain and educate important and critical aspects of financial reports Maintain accounting records in accordance with compliance and reporting requirements Ensure expense and payroll items are allocated correctly Generate invoices for contracts (transactions are high dollar/low volume)  Prepare all financial reports for business/contract/grants Prepare General Ledger schedules and participate in month-end closing process Assist with audit preparation and interface with external auditors Perform ad hoc financial analysis and other special projects for senior management needs  Key Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Accounting 4 years of experience in Public accounting or private accounting Experience preparing budgets helpful Experience conducting/interfacing with audits preferred Thorough understanding of GAAP Knowledge of A-133 helpful Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other G/L accounting systems Exceptional communication/presentation skills Able to manage multiple tasks at the same time and successfully meet deadlines using effective time and organizational management skills  For more information and a complete job description, please send resume to , formerly Ajilon Finance.

Chief Financial Officer

Details: Oversees the Center financial operations to provide ongoing healthcare services in a financially stable manner.  Direct all financial and fiscal activities of the Center including preparation of current financial reports as well as summaries and forecasts for future business growth.  Provide leadership and coordination in the administrative, business planning, accounting and budgeting efforts of the company. Essential Duties: Directs the preparation of all financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, forecasts, tax returns, and reports for government regulatory agencies. Oversees accounting, billing and front desk areas, purchasing, budget preparation and audit functions.  Establish and implement short- and long-rage departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures.  Establish and maintain appropriate internal control safeguards.  Meets regularly with manager to keep informed and to offer direction. Review reports and forecasts to analyze projections of operational profitability, maintaining a positive operating cash flow and strengthening the balance sheet. Perform strategic financial analysis in advance of new programs/services, capital investment and funding opportunities. Develop key financial indicators for evaluation of ongoing financial results and to determine program changes necessary to sustain the financial health of the Center.  Perform on going monitoring of key indicators. Study long-range economic trends and projects Center prospects for future growth in overall patient access, as well as, opportunities for acquisition, expansion, and other strategic alliances.  Estimates requirements for capital, land, buildings and an increase in the work force. Supervises investment of funds, works with banks and/or donors to raise additional capital as required for expansion. Approves and coordinates changes and improvements in automated financial and management information systems for the company. Advises the President and CEO, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Directors with respect to financial conditions and trends of the organization. Organizes, directs, and controls the retention of historical accounting and legal records, ensuring all information is safely stored Administers all insurance programs of the Center and recommends insurance requirements and policies Performs other duties as assigned.

Accounting/purchasing

Details: Qualified candidate need to perform accounting and purchasing functions for mid sized manufacturing company. Candidate will be responsible for accounts receivable, accounts payable, bank reconciliation, purchasing, vendor negotiations, and vendor payments. Candidate must have 3-5 years experience with above functions.

Internal Audit Manager

Details: Our client, a manufacturer with a global presence, is looking to add an experienced Audit and Compliance Manager to lead  their audit functions.  The Audit and Compliance Manager will be responsible for audit planning and design, SOX testing and controls, and leading strategic and operational initiatives.  The Audit Manager will have regular interaction with the Senior Management group and this role will have the potential for rapid ascension within the organization.Should you meet the qualifications and would like to be considered for this position, please email your resume to Josh Marcus at . Should you already be registered with Ledgent Search Group, please contact your Ledgent Recruiter.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

( What To Avoid When You Don’t Get The Job ) ( The Inaugural UK Candidate Experience Awards )


What To Avoid When You Don’t Get The Job

Opening your email inbox to find a rejection letter is every job seeker’s nightmare. This can be especially frustrating after feeling like you nailed your interview. Many job seekers don’t even get to receive their rejection in the form of a concise email; it often comes in the form of silence.

Of all job search frustrations, getting rejected from a position certainly tops the list. Learning to handle rejection during your job search is an art — without the proper approach, job seekers are likely to be faced with a variety of consequences.

Learn from these terrible ways of handling job search rejection to overcome disappointment and find success in your hunt for employment:

1. Forget Perspective. One sure-fire way to mishandle a rejection is to overlook the big picture. Getting turned down from a few positions during your job search is inevitable. Rather than getting hung up on the glaring details of the situation, look to the overall perspective of your job search, career and life. This is just one small bump in the road.

2. Let Your Emotions Take Over. With rejection comes a wide variety of internalized emotions. It’s important not to take this rejection personally. While you may be angry with yourself for not performing better in the interview or at the potential employer for not seeing how great you truly are, try your best to remain level. Allowing your emotions to consume you will only make the job search harder as you put yourself under unnecessary stress.

3. Forget To Ask For Feedback. Simply ignoring a rejection letter and not looking back might feel right at the time, but you could be missing a valuable opportunity for feedback. Instead of wondering where you went wrong, consider reaching out to the employer and asking for feedback. While they might not always be able to give you details, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Be sure your request is respectful and optimistic.

4. Refuse To Improve. Rejection during your job search can act as a driving force for improvement. Instead of cursing the employer for their inability to recognize your match for the position, break down the hiring process and see if there’s room for growth. The job search is often a learning process.

5. Don’t Stay Connected. The hiring manager may not have chosen you for the position, but you should still keep in touch with them. Focus on maintaining a relationship with this person by connecting with them on LinkedIn, shooting them an email in regard to relevant information, and even applying to another position when it arises. Never let a connection with a hiring manager go to waste.

6. Avoid Sharing Your Experience. Utilizing your support system will help ease many of the challenges you experience during the job search. Sharing your rejection with others might feel embarrassing at first, but speaking about your experiences and emotions will get it off your chest. Everyone has experienced some form of rejection, and this will allow you to receive a variety of advice and guidance.

7. Give Up. Rejection pushes many individuals to give up on the things they’re seeking to accomplish. Mishandling rejection during your job search may lead you to giving up on your search for employment — even if it’s only temporarily. Briefly quitting your job search might force you to miss out on a variety of opportunities. Keep applying for positions, customizing your resume, and working your network.

Successfully handling rejection can have a positive effect on your job search. Your ability to grow from the experience, remain optimistic, and drive connections might put you at the top of the list for the next opening.

What To Avoid When You Don’t Get The Job is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

Related posts:

  1. 5 Tips To Avoid Fake Job Postings
  2. 8 Do’s & Don’ts After Your Job Interview
  3. After The Recruiter Says No: How To Handle Job-Search Rejections


The Inaugural UK Candidate Experience Awards

candidate experience awardsThe first UK Candidate Experience Awards took place at a special ceremony held at The Brewery in London on the 26th February, 2013. Those companies who were identified as providing exceptional candidate experiences were named “With Distinction” honourees and were celebrated, along with all CandE winners. Open to organisations that recruit in the British employment marketplace, the UK CandE Awards follows the success of its North American counterpart. The U.K. programme recognises that candidate experience varies between companies and aims to enable companies to benchmark and improve the experience. Using a survey-based evaluation process, the UK CandE Awards consists of three rounds of review designed to identify organisations that provide a good candidate experience. The process includes surveying the candidates that applied to the organisations to verify how well they think they are doing. All participating organisations receive a report allowing them to compare their candidate experience against an aggregate of all the entrants.

All of the winners were evidenced as doing some great things to improve their candidate experience. They all focus on recruiting processes to create environments for better feedback, communication and transparency.

Some of the main research findings:

  • 50% of candidates surveyed said they had a neutral overall experience that was neither negative nor positive. 39% said they had a positive experience.
  • 49% of candidates claimed some relationship with the company they applied to including nearly 1 in 5 being an existing customer and 12% had family and friends working there.
  • 73% of candidates surveyed would definitely tell their inner circle about a positive experience (62% would share a negative experience) and 28% would share a positive experience on Social Media (17% would share if it was negative.)
  • A number of candidates were frustrated by the “black hole”, with 30% citing receiving a “do not reply” automated response and 31% receiving no response at all.

The 2012 U.K. Winners

Overall there were ten winners out of 24 total company entries. Of this ten, three of the companies were recognised “With Distinction” for what they are doing with their candidate experience. The 2012 With Distinction winners include business technology solutions provider, Avanade; GE Capital, one of the country’s most successful consumer finance lenders; and Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a world leader in catastrophic risk modeling.

2012 winners ‘With Distinction’

  • GE Capital
  • RMS
  • Avanade

2012 winners

  • Intel Corporation
  • CA Technologies
  • Empiric Recruitment
  • The Carphone Warehouse
  • Eaton Corporation
  • Jones Lang LaSalle
  • Utopia Resourcing

Following are some of their stories and innovative ways the With Distinction, winning companies, in the U.K. and North America, are improving the experience of their candidates.

Walk in the Candidates Shoes

Avanade, a business technology solutions provider, understands the needs of candidates and regularly test their own systems and recruitment processes and walk in the candidates shoes. Based on feedback from candidates about their application process they adopted a three click rule and shortened the process.  It shouldn’t be difficult for employers to review their own recruitment process. Doing so may include searching for one of the company’s jobs on the web and following all the steps required to apply. Like 2012 winner, Avanade, companies can capture the number of page changes and number of times the candidate has to create an account or log in. Employers should also consider how long it takes to apply to the position. Would they be willing to do all of those tasks, all of the time? Employers can then create a list of changes that would simplify and enhance the process for candidates, positively impacting the impression they make on potential hires.

Avanade also focuses on open communication with candidates.  The company provides contact details of recruiters in automated emails generated via the applicant tracking system (ATS) and encourage candidates to contract them. Two years of CandE research confirms that two-way communication is key to any successful relationship, but a high volume of response will significantly reduce the time available and opportunity for recruiters to do this. Full transparency in public channels reduces applications, because people choose to opt out or identify themselves as unqualified to apply. This creates the time needed to give a great candidate experience to those who remain in the process.

Hiring Managers are Accountable Too

GE Capital recognises the importance of hiring manager involvement in all stages of the recruitment process. Internally, the organisation awards a Candidate Experience Award to two hiring managers each year based on candidate feedback. The company has found that the more hiring managers are involved in the process in all areas including feedback and communication, the better the experience for the candidate. Without abdicating all responsibility, hiring managers are required to sometimes provide specific feedback, and in some cases to facilitate communication with candidates directly, or to be available for follow up.

High Touch Candidate Experience

RMS, a risk management solutions company, is a first year U.K. awards winner, but has also claimed a coveted With Distinction CandE Award in North America for two years running. The company understands that its business and the jobs for which it recruits are not for everyone. As a result, RMS seeks to find and engage with a targeted group of individuals that really fit what it is looking for.

Once RMS attracts these candidates, it’s important for them to make sure it remains engaged in the recruiting process. This has resulted in a recruiting process that is very high touch with candidates. RMS recruiters listen and provide a two hour daily chatter facility for all potential candidates to speak to a recruiter. Fifty percent of candidates using the chatter tool make it to the pre-screen interview with the hiring manager or recruiter. In addition, sponsoring social games that fit the skills and interests they are looking for in candidates, RMS strives to ensure that once the right candidates find the organisation, there should be few reasons for these candidates to fall off in the recruiting process.

Candidates Are Also Customers

Adidas, one With Distinction winner from the 2012 North American programme, sees candidate experience not only as a recruiting goal but one that’s integral to the company’s entire organisation as a whole. Adidas understands the fact that any candidate that applies for a position is probably a potential or active customer too.  A negative experience in the recruiting process could reflect poorly on the brand and negatively impact its core business.

For every candidate that applies, it is mandated that the recruiting team must follow up with every single individual with a final response to their application. While some of those responses are unpleasant or uncomfortable, candidate feedback confirms that by closing the loop on every application, it results in a much better experience for them to at least know where they stand with the organisation.

Create a Better Referral Process

Deloitte, one of the North American winners, stood out from the pack with its focus on referrals. This is not a new strategy by any means for companies, but Deloitte takes typical referral strategies a step further. With nearly 50 percent of its hires coming from referrals, Deloitte have made it a priority to make submitting referrals as easy and transparent as possible. Every referral that comes into the organisation will know their status within 48 hours of the submission. In addition, Deloitte’s recruiting team informs both the referral candidate and the referee of the individual’s status to ensure they are in tune with the process.

This is also something on which fellow winner, RMS focuses.  The organisation receives referrals from external candidates including those who were not successful in their application, which, for RMS is a true sign of how well the company manages its candidate relationships. This is an excellent example of how candidates leaving the process with a positive experience can still play an important role in an employer’s attraction strategies and recruiting results.

Delivering a Better Candidate Experience

Candidate experience has been a hot topic for many years and will be important for most organisations, the way that it is best structured will change and differ based on the inherent goals and challenges of the business.

For example, GE Capital feels that understanding a candidate’s journey through the recruitment process enables the delivery of an exceptional experience. Through regularly surveying candidates, including those who were not hired, they have developed systems and processes based on feedback, focusing on honesty, transparency and timeliness of communications.

Avanade strongly believe it is essential that the candidate experience doesn’t end as soon as they walk through the door on their first day – in their eyes there is no finish line. The recruitment team is actively involved in the post-hire experience and works in partnership with HR generalists and the business to ensure that they deliver upon the career promises that were made.

As an industry, human resources and recruitment professionals have some way to go to figure out the best ways to ensure a positive or neutral candidate experience. While the 2012 CandEs research (to be available at www.ukcandes.org) outlines areas within communication, expectations and process that leave room for improvement, the year-over-year North American data suggests that communication trends are heading in the right direction.

Candidates who participated in the survey were asked what they really want from the recruitment process. Overwhelmingly they said they wanted a straight forward process. Other main comments below:

  • Be honest and transparent
  • Treat me with respect – Call Me
  • Remove the long winded application process
  • Can I please get some feedback

Some organisations have really grasped candidate experience and understand its greater importance to the business as a whole. Starting with the basics and getting it right shouldn’t be difficult for any hiring organisation. We hope the CandEs, with its research data and benchmarking opportunities, will demystify some of the perceived challenges and help any organisation on its journey to improve its candidate experience.

The CandEs Awards and benchmarking programme is completely free to enter for all participants and is funded by donations from third-party sponsors. Support for the 2012 U.K. CandE Awards programme came from global sponsor, Monster; principal sponsor, Talent Collective; gold sponsors, ChangeBoard, KellyOCG, and Peer Group; plus silver sponsor, HireRight. The CandEs movement has enjoyed and appreciates their ongoing support.

The CandEs U.K. white paper contains the results of the 2012 research data and can be accessed on the Candidate Experience Awards website. The document aims to help organisations benchmark their candidate experience initiatives against the aggregate of those that took part. Those interested in accessing the research can register for a complimentary copy at www.ukcandes.org. There they can also access details on the upcoming programme, which will be announced in the United Kingdom and North America this spring. Organisations can register to participate in the 2013 programme on the website or contact Leigh Carpenter directly leigh@thecandes.org

Leigh Carpenter – The UK Candidate Experience Awards