Administrative Jobs Indianapolis

There are many personality types we deal with in Central Indiana jobs. While diversity in personalities is what makes the business world go around, there are certain people that create a toxic work environment for many of those in Indianapolis careers. According to Suzy Welch , there are five “species” of difficult co-workers:

·         Boss Haters: Most Boss Haters persist, using every kind of subterfuge from eye-rolling to outright belligerence, until management loses patience and ousts them.

·         Stars: Many key players are Stars largely because they are the best kind of employee, inclusive and inspiring, but some Stars can develop into real bullies, often ridiculing any idea that is not their own.

·         Sliders: former Stars, resting on their laurels and undermining their teams with apathy. Their unspoken excuse is "I've proven my worth around here; I don't need to scramble anymore.", leaving their co-workers to pick up the slack while they get the glory

·         Pity Parties: The most expert Pity Parties concoct long-running sympathy stories: bad backs, bad marriages, bad childcare, and so on. I don't want to sound harsh. Sometimes people really do need time off or special accommodations, but Pity Parties make an art form of wriggling out of responsibility, and you're left wondering if you're a heel for resenting them—or a dupe for helping them.

·         Self-Promoters: Self-Promoters occasionally sabotage peers in pursuit of fame and glory

I’m sure in reading these descriptions an image of a current or past co-worker popped into your head. But what if YOU are that toxic employee?

Those working in entry-level jobs in Indianapolis and administrative jobs in Indianapolis to those in managment positions, six figure jobs in Indianapolis and all those in Central Indiana jobs have weathered (and still are) a tumultuous economy where companies are doing massive downsizing, employees are asked to do twice as much work, there is constant concern about whether you are next on the downsizing list or whether your company is going to make it through the storm.

While this type of stress seems to bring out the worst in us, this is an opportunity to promote your Indianapolis career. Being that employee who takes a bad situation and continues to work positively and with a “whatever it takes” attitude are the employees that employers of Central Indiana jobs will value.

If you were a victim of the economy and downsized this positive approach is a plus to you in your Indianapolis job search. It not only gives you answers to those companies who have adapted the hiring trend of Behavioral Interviewing but will also give you positive references from your former employers.

Not sure how your personality is perceived by others? Take a quick quiz to find out or for fun, determine which character from Office Space you are!

 After spending a great week at the beach recently and listening to lots of comments about the amount of time I spent checking and responding to That's Good HR emails, it occurred to me that the days of vacations where we leave the office AT the office are a thing of the past. Staying in touch with the office is not a requirement of That's Good HR but is my choice (or addiction) to keep up to date.

Should you be accessible or completely “disconnect”? There are as many opinions on this as there are ways to work remotely and the answer is specific to each person, their job and the company they work for. Those of us who work in the Indianapolis Staffing market know that things happen quickly and we feel a need to be in contact. Executive headhunters and those in management positions in Indianapolis may also have a need to be accesible while others in more operational roles such as administrative jobs or accounting jobs may not feel a need to be as accessible. It is a hiring trend with many Central Indiana jobs to offer reimbursement for cell and smart phones in order for employees to be accessible even while away from the office. 

Companies do need to be aware of exempt versus non-exempt employees to monitor hours actually worked by non-exempt employees for overtime.
 

For me, it is a much more relaxing vacation when I can quickly address questions and handle urgent issues. That way, I don't fear my first day back in the office and facing hundreds of emails. I personally don't feel that my vacation is compromised by checking emails once or twice a day while looking out at the ocean!
 

The season for companies to hire interns is quickly approaching. Current hiring trends show more Indianapolis job openings are being filled with interns than ever before due to the current economy . In addition, not only are students looking for internship opportunities, many unemployed Central Indiana job seekers are also seeking these as they are making career changes or looking to gain new experience.

Unpaid administrative, accounting finance and HR internships in Indianapolis have been a great opportunity for students who get academic credit in lieu of a paycheck. In this current Central Indiana job market, with the unemployment rate hovering near 10%, job-search sites like CareerBuilder and Monster.com are reporting increases in the number of postings for internships. More and more college graduates and even middle-aged professionals are willing to work for free in hopes that it will help them land a paying Central Indiana job.

The caution for Central Indiana employers is this:  volunteering at for-profit companies is, legally, not allowed. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has spelled out several criteria with the goal of ensuring that internships not only provide real training but also can't be used by companies to displace regular employees.

"It can be very tempting if you're laying off employees to bring in free help and call it an internship, but most career-services operations are fairly sophisticated in weeding those out."

The DOL regularly does outreach with colleges to help protect the rights of students. Because of the influx of older interns, many of whom graduated years ago, this is also on the DOL’s radar screen because the legal requirements aren't any different.

Central Indiana employers need to make sure they are legally compliant before bringing bringing in unpaid interns!

Finally

• We provide immediate and honest communication
• We serve as a staffing partner, not just a vendor
• We provide strategic staffing solutions, not just order filling
• We make sure candidates fit the organizational culture
• We provide exceptional account management

• Collegiate Career Fair at the Convention Center on Thursday, February 18, 2010
• Butler University Networking Fair at Butler's Campus on Tuesday, March 23, 2010
• IUPUI 'Just in Time' Career Fair at IUPUI on April 1, 2010 

It does not matter if you work for an Indianapolis Staffing company, are in Accounting & Finance, are an Executive Recruiter, in management positions in Indianapolis or in an Administrative job in Indianapolis - we have all had to deal with job stress over the past year. In this difficult economy, you may find it harder than ever to cope with challenges in central Indiana jobs. Both the stress we take with us when we go to work and the stress that awaits us on the job are on the rise – and employers, managers, and workers are all feeling the pressure. While some stress is a normal part of life, excessive stress interferes with your productivity and reduces your physical and emotional health, so it’s important to find ways to keep it under control. Fortunately, there many things that you can do to manage and reduce stress at work.

• Create a balanced schedule. Analyze your schedule, responsibilities and daily tasks. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities, exercise, daily responsibilities and downtime.
• Don’t over-commit yourself. Avoid scheduling things back-to-back or trying to fit too much into one day. All too often, we underestimate how long things will take. If you've got too much on your plate, distinguish between the "911 situations" and the "to get to" projects. Drop tasks that aren't truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.
• Try to leave earlier in the morning. Even 10-15 minutes can make the difference between frantically rushing to your desk and having time to ease into your day. Don’t add to your stress level by running late. Coming in early allows you some “quiet time” to tackle tasks before they tackle you.
• Plan regular breaks. Make sure to take short breaks throughout the day to sit back and clear your mind. Also try to get away from your desk for lunch. Stepping away from work to briefly relax and recharge will help you be more, not less, productive.
• Prioritize tasks. Make a list of tasks you have to do, and tackle them in order of importance. Do the high-priority items first. If you have something particularly unpleasant to do, get it over with early. The rest of your day will be more pleasant as a result.
• Break projects into small steps. If a large project seems overwhelming, make a step-by-step plan. Focus on one manageable step at a time, rather than taking on everything at once.
• Most Importantly, HAVE FUN! The most healthy and productive work environments are the ones where there is teamwork, positive interaction and a sense of humor over the quirks and stresses that inevitably occur.

If you are in a culture that invariably drags you down, it may be time to think about looking at Indianapolis job openings.  Indianapolis Staffing companies and Executive Recruiters are  great ways to explore opportunities and help guide you to find the right fit!

It is, once again, that highly anticipated season of American Idol! Watching the auditions, it occurred to me how much these tryouts are like interviewing for Central Indiana jobs!  Your Indianapolis job search is in a very tight job market with many, many candidates vying for the same position.

Here are my observations and how it relates to your Indianapolis job search:

·         Those that portrayed a positive attitude had a far greater advantage. When a negative attitude is perceived, you are instantly eliminating yourself. Case in point:  Andrew Fenlon. The guy who was clearly annoyed he had to wait for his audition. This instantly put off the judges and eliminated any shot of him going to Hollywood.

·         Those that appear genuine like Maddy Curtis have a definite advantage from the start. Maddy came across truly appreciative for the opportunity to audition. She projected a positive and confident attitude and the judges (even Simon!) instantly liked her..

·         The way you project yourself is everything! Case in point: those that auditioned in crazy outfits, not focused or had a sense of entitlement negatively swayed the judges’ opinion before they even auditioned.

 

You may be lucky enough to interview with a Paula but in this intensely competitive central Indiana job market, you will more likely be interviewing with a Simon 

The moral to my watching 3 hours of Reality TV in one week:   No matter if you are looking for HR jobs in Indianapolis, Accounting jobs in Indianapolis, six figure jobs or administrative jobs in Indianapolis and no matter how discouraged you are in your job search or irritated you might be with a prospective employer, never let this come through. Always convey a confident (but not cocky!), professional and enthusiastic attitude. You could be the most qualified candidate on paper but Indianapolis staffing companies and executive recruiters are also looking for employees who will not only be able to use their skills but also contribute to a positive and productive environment.

Hopefully, this helps you get your "golden ticket"

Technology has certainly made Central Indiana jobs easier… for the most part. Who among you can raise your hand with me for forwarding (so you thought) an email to someone with a smart comment only to realize you hit reply, not forward? That is NOT a lol moment!

Everyone from Indianapolis Staffing company employees to executive headhunters, people in six figure jobs, administrative, HR jobs in Indianapolis and people in management positions in Indianapolis have all had that sick feeling when you realize you sent something to the wrong person or worse: PEOPLE.  This can lead to embarrassing and sometimes serious consequences not to mention a load of damage control!

Here are some common Email mistakes. Any sound familiar?

• Sending confidential employee salary information to the whole company.
• Transmitting confidential client or employee information to the wrong or parties.
• Sending a racy picture to the whole office that was only meant for a few people.
• Sending a job offer to the wrong candidate.
• Sending a resume to an internal recipient rather than to its intended recipient at an external, prospective employer.
• Nasty comments and catty, gossipy emails about supervisors - sent directly to supervisors by mistake.
• Calling a co-worker an "idiot" and mistakenly copying the co-worker or worse: the entire company.
   

1. Give your full attention to your email response. This is one time that multi-tasking does not pay off.

2. Thoroughly scrutinize who you are sending information to, particularly if it is a distribution list.

3. Take special care with those you copy. Think twice before hitting “reply all” and only copy those that need to be in the know.

4. Beware of sending or replying to emails from a handheld device. Your view is limited so if possible, review on a laptop or desktop.

5. Don’t hit “send” when you’re emotional. Angry emails are never a good idea. Give yourself a moment to cool off before responding. You may find it better to speak in person.

6. Keep it professional. Think about how your email could be viewed by the receiving party. Emails are easily forwarded and some email messaging may be monitored. As a general rule, avoid saying anything that could be viewed as harassing, discriminatory or unprofessional.

I am fortunate to work for a great company.  Even though the economy has forced our firm to eliminate free Coca-Cola and company paid Treos, we still have weekly Pilates classes in our office and Fun Fridays. 

When sales prospects ask me about That's Good HR, the following is the typical dialog which follows:

Me:  I work for a company called That's Good HR.
Sales Prospect: What HR?
Me: I work for an Indianapolis based recruitment firm.
Sales Prospect: Ok.  So you are a headhunter?
Me: Well, I am am a headhunter but prefer to call myself an Indianapolis Executive Recruiter.  However, Our firm does more than just executive search.  We also do temp, temp-to-hire, direct hire (i.e. permanent placement) and government staffing. 

So it is kind of a mouthful to explain to sales prospects what we do.   While we are not industry focused, we are discipline focused in the areas of accounting, finance, administrative, operations and human resources.  Essentially, we are here to assist Indianapolis companies with staffing needs ranging from an hourly receptionist up to a Chief Financial Officer with a six figure job.  We pride ourselves on being the Indianapolis experts on hiring trends.   

Our business model is focused on being flexible for our clients.  While we engage in retained and contingency searches, we also offer a modified retainer options.  This enables our clients to engage us on an exclusive basis and split up the payments over a few months.  

So while our company's name might be a little confusing at first, we are very passionate about providing great customer service to our clients and candidates.  If you are reading this blog and are a sales prospect, we hope you will give us the opportunity to work with you for your next Indianapolis staffing need.   

 

Last year I became one of the many casualties of the economy. I was downsized from an Indianapolis Staffing company where I had spent the last 17 years. This was not only a blow to my ego but also stressful to be searching for HR jobs in Indianapolis in a very bleak economy.

After feeling sorry for myself and spending a short amount of time being the youngest snowbird on the Gulf Coast (this was actually a boost to my bruised ego!), I decided to practice what I had been preaching for the last 17 years in my staffing and HR roles:

1)  Do not solely rely on job boards to find your new career. While sites such as CareerBuilder and Monster are valuable, do not assume that only submitting your resume through these sites will land you your dream job.

2)  Network, Network, Network!

o     Reach out to any and all personal and professional contacts. Referrals are a very valuable tool in searching for positions. Your neighbor may know of a position opening up within his company or your former employer may be hiring. People who know you want to help.

o     Contact your college placement department.

o        Contact your former employer’s competitors. You have the industry experience and knowledge they are looking for and you can add new insight to their business.

o        Join professional organizations in your area. There are organizations for HR , Accounting and many other professionals in Indianapolis. There is also the Business Network International Organization (BNI) which is the largest business networking organization in the world and The Network of Women in Business. There are also website groups for Administrative professionals and "virtually" any other type of professional on websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace.  These organizations enable you to network yourself directly to hiring officials.

o       Many churches in the Indianapolis area have networking groups which is another great way to market yourself.

o         Volunteer. This is a great way to not only network but to also turn the negative of finding yourself with too much time on your hands into making a positive impact in your community.

3)   Follow the news. Know what companies are coming to your area. While they may not have jobs posted yet, you can proactively market yourself ahead of the pack!

4)  Contact Indianapolis staffing companies. I know of a really GREAT staffing company, called That’s Good HR! Indianapolis Staffing companies work for you. Whether you are looking for Federal Government Contract jobs, Accounting jobs, Administrative jobs or Six Figure jobs in Indianapolis, Indianapolis staffing companies have many contacts within many companies. While you are networking yourself to one company at a time, Indianapolis staffing companies are networking you to many direct hiring sources.

5)  Above all else, stay positive and open-minded. What may appear to be a less than ideal job opportunity could end up being a better career fit for you.  For example, you may start at a more entry-level position than where you previously were.  This may enable you to learn about the company from the ground up. You may have employment offers that are “temporary to hire”. This is an opportunity for you to try out a new company or industry.

As hiring trends focus more and more on effective screening and background checking, job seekers with questionable pasts are becoming more savvy. Oh, if those folks would only use their powers for good instead of evil!

For Indianapolis Staffing companies working to fill Government jobs, Administrative jobs, Accounting jobs and many other Indianapolis job openings, this is another step we need to take to ensure candidates are who they say they are.

If you Google "fake references", websites like fakeresume.com pull up citing the following”

o         How to fill the gaps in your employment history

o         The best way to get fake references

o         The main reason good liars get job offers and honest people don't!

o         How to get College transcripts from ANY University with any GPA you want!

o         How to rig your resume so it gets picked by the new automated Human Resources systems

ABC News reports on two companies that provide fake references:

CareerExcuse.com, a Web site that says it can fill in gaps on your resume by pledging to "act as your past employer" and provide job references, complete with working phone numbers and people on the other end of each line ready to answer questions posed by prospective employers. Schmidt, who started the Web site after being laid off from his job as a human resource manager in February, said he got the idea after perusing posts on the micro-blogging site Twitter. He was surprised, he said, by how many Twitter users were asking strangers for job references.  

ABC News also reports on AlibiHQ.com, another website which boasts: Assistance with obtaining employment, providing employment and personal references, providing verification of employment, providing verifiable cover's (alibis) for unexcused absences from work or home, Caller ID spoofing, mail forwarding, untraceable phone numbers, virtual phone numbers, novelty Dr. Notes, faxing services, fax Caller ID spoofing, virtual fax numbers, e-mail spoofing, e-mail services and covers, spoofed E-Ticket reservation, fake travel agency confirmations, virtual hotel services, virtual doctor's office, virtual business office, telephone alibi service (we pretend to be anybody you need us to be and place outgoing calls or receive incoming calls), personal assistant services, novelty document services, fake trade show invitations, fake confirmation services and much, much more.

What do Indianapolis Staffing Companies Need to Do?

o         Always check the company’s website to make sure they are a legitimate company

o         Use reverse lookup http://anywho.com/rl.html to verify the number you are calling

o         Request a copy of a candidate’s W-2 if to verify employment with a company and their salary.

Stay tuned for more information on the lengths job seekers with questionable pasts will go to!

As we approach flu season, the question looms large: "do I stay home" or "do I go in and get work done"?

Many Indianapolis Staffing companies and their employees are facing this question.

As this flu season is predicted to be bad, it is, first, important to take precautions to avoid sickness. These include frequent washing of your hands, wiping down your work area (including keyboard and phone) and any other frequently handled surfaces on a daily basis. This also includes coughing or sneezing into your elbow.

Secondly, if you do experience flu-like symptoms, please see your doctor immediately and notify your employer. To review specific information, go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

Indianapolis Companies should develop a plan to ensure sick employees stay home and that the workload is covered. Whether this is determining which employee covers specific tasks for a sick employee or whether a sick employee is set up to work from home.  


There are many types of Central Indiana Jobs that can generally be done from home such as some Management Positions, Executive Headhunters, HR jobs and Accounting Finance jobs while Administrative jobs usually need to be done at the company site.
It is important to determine the workload and employee roles before multiple employees are absent!  It may seem strange to dedicate time to plan for volume absences in the unknown future, but better safe than sorry.