Puppies give Boston employees a break from busy season

Always willing to try something new, the McGladrey Boston office added a new animal to its busy season stress relief strategy – puppies. Every Wednesday, from February 19-March 26, Last Hope K9 Rescue brought in adorable puppies to give employees a break from busy season for “puppy stress reduction sessions.” Employees were encouraged to drop in to spend time playing and cuddling with these lively creatures. Several employees have even taken the next step to adopt some of the puppies, giving them a permanent home and lots of love.

Puppy Wednesday is a hit with Boston employees

Puppy Wednesday is the brainchild of the Boston Social Club and Alex Monahan, a consulting supervisor, who has served as the treasurer of the Last Hope K9 Rescue since November 2012. Alex said the idea evolved after he initiated an information booth in the Boston office, a common occurrence to raise awareness of charitable causes, to encourage donations, volunteerism and, most importantly, adoptions of the rescued puppies.

“Our social club suggested that we bring in the puppies periodically during busy season as a way for employees to take a break,” said Alex. “Every Wednesday, about 40-50 people show up to play with 4-6 dogs, ranging in age from several weeks to about two years.”

“Most people stay for about 20 minutes to play with the puppies and then go back to work. But, the program has also raised awareness of the need for good homes for the dogs. Since starting the program, one employee has adopted a dog, three more have applied for adoptions and many others have signed up to volunteer with Last Hope,” said Alex.

Since Last Hope K9 Rescue was founded in March 2012, the organization has found homes for just under 2,000 dogs. The success of Puppy Wednesday is also starting to catch on with other businesses who have heard about the program.

4 College Recruiting Myths Debunked, from a Recruiter’s Perspective

By Anne Hoang
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Chicago, IL

As each recruiting season rolls around, both campus recruiters and students strive to make the most of their time and energy. Here is a peek inside a recruiter’s brain for tips on a successful recruiting season!

Myth #1: “I can’t really prepare for a career fair.”

Reality: Let’s face it, students dread job fairs more often than not, and feel overwhelmed long before the fair even begins. Sometimes we hear from students that there really is no way to prepare for the event. This is entirely false. Since you only have two or three hours, you need to maximize your time and make the best impression. Prioritize companies so you are able to allocate enough time to visit all of the booths that fall into your #1 category. Do research into not only the firms themselves but also their available positions. I can’t count the number of times a student has visited our booth but not done any research on who we are, or the positions we have posted. Make sure you understand the organization and ask insightful questions that will help you make your decisions! 

Myth #2: “At a career fair, I should wait in line to speak with the campus recruiter.”