What to do with a ‘Desk Free’ day?

Written by B.J. Snelling

National Recruiting

Denver, CO

As an organization, we understand the importance of giving back where we live and work.  Several times a year, McGladrey employees across the country are encouraged to take time away from their desks to make a difference in their communities.  As a recent example, fifteen members from the Denver, Colorado team spent the morning of Desk Free Day volunteering at Food Bank of the Rockies. The team packed 9 crates full of 460 boxes.  Their jobs included assembling and labeling boxes, packing boxes with various food and drink products, loading and saran-wrapping crates, and disassembling old food boxes for recycling.

This is just one of many examples from ‘Desk Free’ day illustrating how McGladrey teams actively  get involved in their local markets and find ways to give back to their community. 

Other activities that are encouraged during ‘Desk Free’ day include Volunteering with one of McGladrey’s not-for-profit clients, having lunch or coffee with a business colleague to learn more about their company or industry, or participation in a networking event to meet other professionals in the field. 

Visit our corporate website to learn more about Desk Free Day and community involvement at McGladrey.

McGladrey Represented on Local News

On Monday, May 16th, McGladrey played the part as a potential employer in a local new station’s story about job searching. The Minnesota station, Kare 11, ran a story on an unemployed tax professional that was laid off in September of 2009. The job seeker, Steven Jackson, received interview tips from career and communications coaches who also helped him land an interview with McGladrey. McGladrey Partner, Todd Jackson, and Senior Recruiter, Terra Carbert, interviewed Steven as part of the story.

Click here to see the full story that was featured on Kare 11 News.

Terra Carbert was interviewed additionally by Kare 11 to discuss job searching. Click here to watch the interview. She has great tips on how to expand your network while you are unemployed and searching for a new career.

Have a Great Interview

Written by Kristie Lee
Lead Internal Recruiter
Baltimore, MD

Job interviewing can be very challenging and nerve racking, but with proper preparing and planning, this should eliminate some stress and make you more comfortable and ready for your big day.

Below are some essential tips for a successful interview:

Company Research

·         Gather all information on the company you are interviewing prior to your interview.

·         Review the company website, do research, and find out about company culture, etc. Be very knowledgeable about the organization. 

·         Get details from job descriptions and job postings so you know the position inside and out.

·         Request information on the interviewers you are meeting with (title, how long they have been with company, background, etc). Look them up on LinkedIn.

·         Be prepared to answer “Why do you want to work for our company?”

Practice Interview - Role Play

Practice a mock interview with a family member or friend.  Go over potential interview questions and provide answers.  This will help you prepare and be comfortable answering commonly asked questions.  Review your background (know the facts).  Go over jobs you have held, responsibilities, and skills needed. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Dress for Success

First impressions are lasting impressions and can make a huge difference.  Dress professionally and in a conservative manner.  When you feel good, you will present yourself well, and leave a great impression.

Preparing for the Interview – Plan ahead

·         Always be on time. Arriving 10 minutes early is best.  Never be late, but don’t arrive too early.

·         Go to the location before your interview so you know where to go, where to park, etc.  Become familiar with the area. 

·         Always bring copies of your resume. 

·         Be prepared with effective questions to ask about the job and or company.  Listen carefully to the person interviewing you, keep eye contact and make sure you are answering questions appropriately.

·         Exert a positive and upbeat attitude. 

·         Use examples of skills you have acquired that relate to the job you are interviewing for. 

·         Show passion and enthusiasm.

Thank you

After the interview, always send a thank you card to the people you interviewed with.  Express your interest in the job again, and be sure to include everyone that participated in interviewing you.

The Spirit of Customer (Client) Service

Written by Ken Bansemer
Senior Director, National Recruiting & Talent Management
Charlotte, NC

I was recently on an out-of-town business trip, and during my hotel stay, I was afforded the opportunity to visit the executive lounge for a complimentary breakfast.  The hostess there quickly engaged me in conversation, asking questions such as:  How long are you staying here?  Have you been here before? Are you returning anytime soon?  And, perhaps most importantly, what is your name?  I answered each of these politely – I’ll be here through tomorrow…It’s been a few years since my last visit….In fact, I will be back next week due to another trip…My name is Ken.

The hostess then proceeded to ask if I wanted any coffee, and how I would take it, and brought it over to a table I was sitting at.  Now keep in mind that this was not a restaurant, it is primarily a self-serve continental breakfast.  But it was clear that her role was to make the hotel customers (her clients) as comfortable as possible, and to provide a level of outstanding service.

So imagine my surprise, when I returned the next morning when she greeted me upon my arrival by quickly referencing her notes in a spiral bound notebook (apparently made that previous morning), and saying “Good morning Ken.  Would you like some coffee this morning – with cream only?”  I felt very special and thought that this was going above and beyond the level of service that I have traditionally seen at other hotels.  I wasn’t expecting it.

The following Monday, I returned – and the same thing happened again.  Coincidence?  Or was there a note about me returning?  With the number of people that come through that door each day, each week, each month, I don’t expect to be remembered on my next trip – which could be another year out.  However, I will remember the level of service I received.

What does this have to do with McGladrey? 

EVERYTHING! This is the level of service that our clients expect from McGladrey.  They expect McGladrey to understand their business.  They expect us to ask relevant questions to learn more about them, so we can provide better client service.  And they expect us to use this information to anticipate their needs.  In short, they expect to be treated as if they are the only client McGladrey has.

And we deliver on that promise.  That is an example of the Power of Being Understood.

If you ever are staying in Minneapolis, I would recommend you stay at the Marquette Hotel .  Stop by the 19th floor, and tell the hostess that I said hello.  I bet she will treat you like you are the only client she has.

Inside the Head of a Recruiter – Part 2

Written by Alissa Ochs

Senior Campus Recruiter

Western Region

Yesterday, Senior Campus Recruiter for McGladrey, Alissa Ochs, filled us in on the first five of her Do’s of Don’ts of the recruiting process. Today she reveals her final five.

Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts of Successfully Navigating through the Recruiting Process,  #5 – #1   

5) Do show interest and come with interesting questions prepared. Avoid asking “So what do you look for in a candidate?”, and “I am looking for a great work life balance. Can you tell me more about vacation and how many hours I will be working?” Every company wants fantastic candidates that have high GPA’s, outgoing personalities, and a display of varying interests and involvement beyond their school curriculum among a laundry list of other positive attributes. This question is asked to us so often that it may lead us to feel that you didn’t come prepared with engaging questions. And yes, we do very much value work life balance and believe that you should most definitely take the vacation that you are allotted. However, asking this when meeting a Recruiter or Hiring Manager may lead them to believe that you are not excited about the role; rather, that you are much more enthusiastic about the time when you won’t be spending in the role. Though this most likely is not the case, remember that perception is reality!

4) Don’t forget to smile! It goes a long way. Have some fun with the recruiting process! Professional fun, that is. Humor is great, but make sure it’s tactful and steers clear of anything that may be offensive. When in doubt—refrain!

3) Do send a thank you note via email within 24 hours. If you’re really on the ball and want to make a positive lasting impression, do in addition, not instead, send a written thank you note in the mail. Who doesn’t love mail that’s hand written and most importantly, not a bill? Plus, it’s a great way to get your name back in front of the Recruiter and/or Hiring Manager without being intrusive or overbearing.

2) Don’t be afraid of us! We’re nice, I swear. Just as hard as you are looking for that job that’s the right fit for you, we are looking equally as hard, if not harder, for just the right person to fill the role that we have open. Be yourself, be confident, and be a hit!

And last, but certainly not least…

1) Do formally express your interest in the role and ask for the job! Candidates often get so caught up in the process that they forget to ask for the position. Make eye contact and express why you’d be the perfect person to enhance the team, the role, and the company as a whole.

That being said, the benefits and rewards of this job certainly outweigh the hilarity and awkwardness that we as recruiters often encounter. I have been extremely fortunate to meet a very large group of talented, bright and ambitious individuals who have successfully navigated the “ins and outs” of the recruiting process. I am thrilled to say that many of these individuals have joined McGladrey, or will join us in the near future.

No one is perfect. We get that, and we don’t expect you to be. However, I hope that the tips within these two posts have allowed you to gain a broader insight about the recruiting process from the perspective a recruiter, and also helped you to avoid some of the common pitfalls that can often occur along the way to landing your job.

Inside the Head of a Recruiter – Part 1

Written by Alissa Ochs

Senior Campus Recruiter

Western Region

I am confident that I could write a smash hit stand-up comedy act with everything that I have had the fortune, or misfortune-- depending on your take, of seeing and experiencing during my time thus far as a Senior Campus Recruiter at McGladrey. In order to quell some of the material that inevitably, I have yet to have the opportunity to encounter, I am giving you a rare peek into what a recruiter is thinking, what they are looking for, and bluntly, what will send them running for the hills.

Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts of Successfully Navigating through the Recruiting Process;  #10 – #6

10)  Don’t address your cover letter or resume to the wrong recruiter or company. We know you’re applying to several places, but we don’t like to be reminded of it. When sifting through hundreds of resumes, it can often times be a deal breaker.

9) Do wipe your palms before shaking hands if they tend to get a bit clammy, and do pop a breath mint before speaking with your potential employer. There, I said it. I know we don’t often speak about such things, but in keeping with our theme of honesty and openness, I would encourage you to be self aware.

8) Don’t write verbatim emails to several people within the same firm. We tend forward on emails to let each other know that we’ve heard from candidates. Needless to say, it doesn’t behoove you to copy and paste.

7) Do research the company in depth! Recruiters and Hiring Managers love to hear that you’ve done your homework and it serves to show that you have a genuine interest in working for the company. Cater your interview answers towards the company you’re interviewing for rather than using the “canned” version that can be easily accessed on your local search engine that may or may not start with a G and end with an oogle. Trust me, we’ve been on that search engine and we’ve heard all of those answers-- probably a hundred times. Make the meeting or interview memorable, for the right reasons.

6) Don’t show up to a recruiting function, no matter how insignificant you may believe it is, without paying attention to your outward appearance. First impressions happen quickly and they last.

Alissa's top five tips will be shared tomorrow!  Subscribe to our feed to be directly notified.