Temp Agencies in Indianapolis

Friday, March 22, 2013 by Mary Springer

Are you looking for a qualified, temporary staffing agency in Indianapolis to fill positions at your firm?  That’s Good HR is a leading temp agency in Indianapolis. Among all of the employment services we offer, we staff more temporary jobs and temp-to-hire jobs than other job categories. With the rise in temporary service demands in Indianapolis area, as well as throughout the country, we are helping our Indy clients meet staffing demands while minimizing long-term overhead expenses.

That's Good HR of Indianapolis helps Fill Temporary Jobs in Finance, Accounting , HR & AdministrationAs Indianapolis temporary staffing specialists, we recruit job candidates for several popular temporary job categories. In fact, That’s Good HR is a temporary staffing specialist in several job categories, including:

  • Administrative jobs: Indianapolis companies often seek highly skilled professionals for office and administrative roles. Many of these positions are hired on a temporary or contract basis to meet demand, but often times become temp-to-hire administrative positions.
     
  • Financial and accounting jobs: In Indianapolis, financial and accounting jobs remain two of the most in-demand categories in the local temporary staffing job market. Like administrative temp jobs, financial and accounting positions often start as temporary staffing positions for seasonal projects, and many employers prefer to hire job candidates on a trial basis. For this reason, we have several recruiters at  That’s Good HR who focus exclusively on recruiting and placing temporary job candidates in financial and accounting positions.
     
  • Human resources (HR) jobs: As an expert staffing agency in Indianapolis, we also know what it takes to find the right person for an internal human resources role. We help many of our Indy clients recruit for HR candidates, which is also among one of the growing fields in the Indianapolis job market.
     
  • Executive (C-Level) jobs:  Many firms consider hiring executives on a contract or temporary basis during leadership transitions, when a current executive is absent for an extended period of time, or simply just to ensure a good fit before hiring permanently. With a recruiting team in place to help you with your executive search, as well as our customized, hrology services such as contract, compensation and benefit negotiation as well as transition services, That’s Good HR can serve the role as your executive headhunter with ease.

So now you know that we are more than just an employment agency in Indianapolis. Whether you’re seeking a temp agency and temp services or simply want to work with experienced Indianapolis headhunters, That’s Good HR can help you find the perfect fit.

Think references are a thing of the past? Think again!!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 by Amber Crosby
References are important!As an experienced recruiter and in the Indianapolis staffing industry I'm seeing a trend recently of candidates we are interviewing not being able to provide solid references.  Frankly, I'm shocked!  As a headhunter who knows a great reference can put you head and shoulders above your peers in the final selection process, I'm left wondering why professionals would feel this is no longer important.  Let me address below why you want to have strong references:
  • Great references set you apart from your competition.
  • It makes the company you are interviewing with feel more comfortable with their hiring decision.
  • Job offers come much faster if references are completed during the interview process.
  • Most job offers are contingent upon reference checks, so why sweat it out once you have made it that far!
Now you are probably wondering, "How do I get a great reference?".  The first part is in your control.  You have to do a good job for the company, leave on good terms and treat managers/peers with professional courtesy.  Once you accept another position or you get the dreaded "We are downsizing/eliminating your position/outsourcing this department/laying off due to lack of work" then the first step is to secure your references.  To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Ask, ask, ask - you don't get what you don't ask for.  Never assume your manager will give you a reference if you did not ask them to. 
  2. Get their personal contact information - you want their personal information (phone, address and email address) because if they leave that company or the company closes, you will still need that reference and that means calling them on their personal phone.  I also ask for their home address and send them a holiday card every year.  They won't forget about you if they see your smiling family on a card each year.
  3. If you are on LinkedIn, ask for a recommendation on your work and return the favor for your reference.
  4. Keep in touch - reach out to them a couple times a year to keep good contact information.  Don't be afraid to disclose some personal tidbits as well and make it a friendly touching base email. 
  5. Make sure you call your references by the time you reach the 2nd interview with a company.  If they know to be expecting a call, chances are they will return the reference call much quicker.  This will also give you the heads up if someone is going to be unable to be reached due to a travel schedule, vacation planned or just being out of the office for an extended period of time. 
  6. Know what they are going to say about you.  If there was an attendance problem at that time, or if you are like me and are notoriously late to everything then make sure the company you are interviewing with knows this so they don't get any surprises during the reference check process.  If you give good reasons for the issue and how you have learned from your mistake this will only make you look better.  If you don't mention it and they do, rest assured you probably won't get the offer you are waiting on.  As all football fans know, the best defense is a good offense.  You want to get all their possible reasons for objections out of the way early on, not during the reference check process.
Obviously, this is the best case scenario, so what do you do if company policy prohibits your manager from giving a reference?  This depends on the level of trust between you and your supervisor.  I have always been close with mine so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable asking them if they would talk "off the record" to the company I'm interviewing with.  If you aren't close then chances are they won't be comfortable with this.  You will need to alert the company you are interviewing with when they ask for references that this will be the response they get.  Offer additional references from other companies, volunteering activities, or external customers you worked with at that company. 

To address the question I get from new graduates, "I don't have any work experience so how do I get a reference?".  Use professors for a reference.  This will take extra work on your part but I'm a firm believer in the advantages of staying connected to professors after graduation.  If you have a professor more than once for your area of study - Ex.  Accounting professor for accounting students then they would be the most optimal reference.  You also have many other potential reference resources that you might have considered during your time at school. Summer jobs, volunteer opportunities, extra-curricular activities, student leadership posts and many more. To get them to give you a reference, make sure you follow the 6 steps listed above. 

Now go add your references to your holiday card mailing list!!!  Happy Holidays from That's Good HR!!

Attention College Students: Make your holiday break useful!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 by Stacy Rouse
This post was written and published around this time last year. We felt like it was useful for many and therefore we have pulled it out, dusted it off and republished as a quick reminder and guide to all of the students out there who are anxiously looking forward to the upcoming holidays and the brief respite they may bring from your studies.

If you are a current college student it's probably your first week of holiday break and you are literally brain dead after cramming for final presentations, projects and exams.  So you are at home in your sweats, propped up on the couch and your plan for the next 3-4 weeks is to be a couch potato while watching old episodes of "Jersey Shore" and to keep tabs on what your friends are doing all break through Facebook.  Believe me, that sounds awesome...and I don't blame you for taking some time for yourself after a hectic semester.  However, I would urge you to at least spend a little bit of your break focusing on your future career.  In a time when internships and entry level jobs are scarce and your competition is getting more fierce, you have to be able to set yourself apart to employers.  I have compiled a short list of items that you could do during break to make yourself more aware of current hiring trends and what Indianapolis job openings may be available after graduation. 
  1.  Review the logs on file through the career center websites that list types positions held by alumnus in your field of study.  Write down a few of the top positions that are of interest to you and do some research in order to get a better feel for where your strengths and interests would be best suited. 
  1. Schedule an informational interview.  Talk to your friends and family to see if anyone can help you get an informal, informational interview with a company that has positions similar to the ones on which you have targeted your search.   
  1. Job shadow: This is very similar to the informational interview but a little more in depth.  This is a great way to really see "A day in the life of______".  There is no better way to figure out if a position is fit for you than to actually see the work first hand. 
  1. Give your resume some TLC and spend some time beefing it up a little bit.  A good way to start is by translating your educational experince into relevant "work" experience.  Add any organizational involvement onto your resume and detail out any skills that are utilized in the work you perform for those organizations.  (If you aren't involved with any organizations, you better get involved quickly!)  I would also recommend having a few HR Professionals or headhunters review it so that you can get the perspectives of a few different people within various industries.  These conversations might also lead to potential Indianapolis job openings!
Again, I know it's not that exciting to think about doing "work" on your break, but if you spend this little bit of time and effort on preparing yourself for your job/internship search, the results will definitely pay off.  At That's Good HR, working with new grads and college students is one of our favorite things to do so if you are seeking career advice, summer or seasonal work be sure to give us a ring!

Why you Should Never Stop Learning...

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 by Karen Seketa
This blog post is for everyone. It does not matter if you are a job seeker, a stay at home parent, an HR professional, a Headhunter or someone who has a great job and life is good. Nothing is a sure thing these days so no matter what your situation, you should always be seeking ways to improve your knowledge, your skills, yourself. I recently came across this video created by IBM titled "THINK" and in watching it, I was overwhelmed with the sheer scope of what we are capable of and how much more we can do. Take a peek at it when you have a chance.
Never Stop Learning
Once you stop learning, you stop living. Status quo is rigor mortis when it comes to progress. Doing things the same way today because that is the way you have always done them simply means that you are not invested in learning and evolving with the rest of the world. Time to get out of your comfort zone and start learning and living.

Look around you, ask questions, challenge processes, debate the status quo, have provocative discussions about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you cannot find someone around you to have these interactions in a non-threatening and safe way, find new people to hang out with and talk to. No one says it better than Joseph Heller in his book "Catch 22" with this line. "“[They] agreed that it was neither possible nor necessary to educate people who never questioned anything.”

It does not matter if the economy is in the dumps or you have too much to do and too little time or if you are just too tired to learn anything new. Stop learning and this will be your reality forever after.   Why am I so passionate about this? My strengths lie in teaching and providing. I thrive on engaging with others in way that makes me a better person or helps them to look at the world in a different (hopefully better) way.

Seth Godin does a great job illustrating this and other great points about "What Matters Most" in this slideshow. One of the things that this presentation talks about is the Ripple Effect of learning. On slide 23, one of the contributors, John Wood, says: "Education has a ripple effect. One drop can initiate a cascade of possibility, each concentric circle gaining in size and traveling further." If you have a few minutes I recommend that you read through this slide presentation - you will learn something of value.

In the Staffing industry, the way we do business is constantly changing. Every day, there are new laws, processes, interpretations, technology or products that require those in our business to be constantly learning. If we do not, we are behind almost immediately. As a candidate in the middle of your Indianapolis job search, you too have to keep learning to stay on top of who is hiring, why, how to apply, how to network, what skills to learn or improve and how to interview.

Get out there and find a way to constantly learn from the world around you. Even if it is just one small thing every day. Do this and you will find that while the world keeps moving and changing, you will not be left behind.

What people say about you....

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 by Karen Seketa
what are people saying about you?What people say about you can be more important than what you say about yourself. Professional business references are among the most powerful tools you have in your quest for a new job or career change. Your Indianapolis job search must begin with the accumulation of solid references from professionals who can enthusiastically support your skills, experience, capabilities and even more so, your character. No one wants to hire someone who does not have strong support from those who have worked with them before. Getting other people to talk about you (positively) is the best way to convince a hiring manager that you are also a quality individual that will contribute much more to the company than simple work product.

Entry level jobs do not require the same skills and experience as Executive jobs in Indianapolis (or anywhere for that matter), but they DO both require that you have other people who are willing to back up your ability to do the job and do it well. Call any headhunter or staffing firm in Indianapolis for help in your job search and one of the first things they will request from you are professional references. That said, before you call your local recruiter for help with your Indianapolis job search, you should check their references as well. A little research online can go a long way in finding out what people are saying (or not saying) about you or others.

The access to information about most everything and anyone on the Internet is something to be very conscious of but not afraid of. Use this mechanism to your advantage in your career search. How? First you have to manage your online brand by checking out what comes up when you search on yourself. If nothing comes up, that can be as worrisome as if your late night inebriated tweets come up. If you don't exist in the vast universe of the Internet and you are looking for a sales or business development job or a management position that requires deep expertise in a particular area, you have some work to do on your online brand. Complete that LinkedIn profile and connect with professionals who know you well and start building that list of recommendations and referrals. Clean up your Facebook page to ensure that when stumbled upon, it is not in direct conflict with the image you are working hard to create.

So, as you are preparing for you Indianapolis job search, before you send that resume or plan your attire for your interview, get a handle on what people are saying about you and how you plan to manage it. Gather those great references and complete your online professional profiles by adding references. Then get out there and share it.

Managing Indianapolis Staffing During Winter Weather

Friday, February 4, 2011 by Lisa Minter

Indianapolis Staffing Companies have had an exceptionally challenging time of managing staff and workload this winter due to the “predictably unpredictable” Central Indiana winter weather. We have all been witness to this recently, that is for sure!

This winter’s multiple snowfalls and recent ice storms have made Human Resource jobs all the more challenging in determining if employees need to come into the office or if employees should be sent home as conditions worsen.

With today's technology, it is more possible to allow employees to work remotely and be completely connected but in the case of many Central Indiana Jobs, company policies are not a one-size-fits-all approach and may even differ from department to department.

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 the chaos of bad weather hits!  Speaking from (very recent) experience, there is nothing more counter-productive than attempting to manage multitudes of employees calling in late or off and fielding questions as to how this time applies on top of accomplishing the normal daily tasks.

Winter weather can wreak havoc on a company’s productivity not to mention the individual productivity for employees. This is why it is vital to have policies communicated out in advance for getting work done during inclement weather.

"Dating" and your Indianapolis Job Search...More similar than you think!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011 by Amber Crosby
As 2011 has begun you might be looking at your New Year’s resolutions and thinking which to tackle first.  For some of my friends their goal is to meet that certain someone and hopefully begin a lifelong relationship with an Indianapolis recruiter. 

datingWait, what?!  I thought they wanted to find a new person to date!  I quickly found out that their approach was pretty much the same if they wanted to find a recruiter or staffing agency to partner with for their Indianapolis based job search or a new person to spend their spare time with. 

To start, they both hit the Internet:  one was searching Indianapolis headhunters, recruiters and staffing firms.  The other Match.com, eHarmony, and Yahoo singles.  Once they set up their profile on the sites (CareerBuilder, Monster, Match.com, eHarmony, Yahoo) the calls started pouring in.  They were both so excited and it felt good to be sought after by so many! 

Then came the next quandary... should they accept a date with every suitor that came calling?  Wasn't that a little fickle? How would they find the time?  What if they really liked one but not the others, was that just a waste of time and energy?  How could they all get to know them well enough to really be focused on them and their future? As you can imagine,  they quickly went from feeling excited and desired to feeling overwhelmed and confused. 

When they started telling me about their situations, I gave them both the same advice:

It was time to take a step back and see which suitors would be worth their efforts. 
  • Start by having a phone conversation with each suitor or recruiter.  By doing this they would be able to quickly tell if there was a connection with the person they would be meeting with. 
  • Go prepared with questions – if you are unsure about something ask, for referrals or recommendations!
  • Be honest! – A relationship with a recruiter is the same as other relationships, if you don’t tell the truth then you set the relationship up for failure and that can have major ripple effects on your career.
  • Stick with those who demonstrate a true interest in you. Do they ask questions about what you like, what you don't or what you want to be when you grow up? Always steer away from those who talk more than they listen, as clearly their priority is NOT going to be you.
  • The most important advice: Do not pay anyone for a date or for a job placement relationship! In both situations, this is never a good idea, even if you are desperate.

At That's Good HR, we forge great long term relationships with our candidates every day. Remember, it is a two way street so don't show up expecting your new date or your new recruiter to do all of the work in building a strong relationship. Start your search off right and make informed decisions along the path!  Happy match making! 


What Will Show Up On Your Background Check?

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 by Lisa Minter

With eight out of ten hiring officials in Central Indiana jobs conducting background checks, it is vital to know what may show up on yours. 

Employers are running checks that range from a basic criminal check for those applying for entry level jobs, Indianapolis part time jobs and administrative jobs in Indianapolis to nationwide criminal and credit checks for those applying for finance and accounting jobs, Indianapolis executive jobs or six-figure jobs in Indianapolis and an even more intensive background check, including interviewing previous neighbors, previous drug use, etc. for those applying for Federal Government Contract jobs in Indianapolis.

 

Even more important than knowing what may show up on your background is that you disclose this to Executive Headhunters or any hiring official in Central Indiana jobs. You may have a conviction that meets an employer’s criteria but if you have not disclosed this, that is considered falsifying your application.

 

There is valuable information found at The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse  
 

Before you begin your Indianapolis career search, take the following steps to reduce the chances that you and/or the potential employer will be "surprised" by information found in the background check process:

  • Order a copy of your credit report. If there is something you do not recognize or that you disagree with, dispute the information with the creditor and/or credit bureau before you have to explain it to the interviewer. Another individuals name may appear on your credit report. This happens when someone mistakenly writes down the wrong Social Security number on a credit application causing that name to appear on your file. Or you might be a victim of identity theft. (See PRC Fact Sheet 6 on your credit reporting rights, www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs6-crdt.htm, and Fact Sheet 17a on identity theft, www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm.)
  • Check court records. If you have an arrest record or have been involved in court cases, go to the county where this took place and inspect the files. Make sure the information is correct and up to date.

    Reporting agencies often report felony convictions when the consumer truly believes the crime was reduced to a misdemeanor, or that it was reported as a misdemeanor conviction when the consumer thought the charge was reduced to an infraction. Court records are not always updated correctly. For example, a signature that was needed to reduce the charges might not have been obtained or recorded by the court. Don't rely on what your attorney may have told you. If you think the conviction was expunged or dismissed, get a certified copy of your report from the court. For an explanation of expungement, visit www.epic.org/privacy/expungement.
  • Check DMV records. Request a copy of your driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles, especially if you are applying for a job that involves driving.

    Many employers ask on their application if you were ever convicted of a crime. Or they might word the question to ask whether you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Typically, the application says you do not have to divulge a case that was expunged or dismissed, or that was a minor traffic violation.

    Don't be confused. A DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) conviction is not considered a minor traffic infraction. Applicants with a DUI or DWI who have not checked "yes" on a job application may be denied employment for falsifying the form -- even when the incident occurred only once or happened many years before. The employer perceives this as dishonesty, even though the applicant might only have been confused by the question.
  • Do your own background check. If you want to see what an employer's background check might uncover, hire a company that specializes in such reports to conduct one for you. That way, you can discover if the data bases of information vendors contain er

    roneous or misleading information. (Consult the Yellow Pages under "Investigators.") Or, you can use one of the many online search services to find out what an employer would learn if conducting a background check in this way.
  • Read the fine print carefully. When you sign a job application, you will be asked to sign a consent form if a background check is conducted. Read this statement carefully and ask questions if the authorization statement is not clear. Unfortunately, job seekers are in an awkward position, since refusing to authorize a background check may jeopardize the chances of getting the job.

These steps can help eliminate a costly (and even embarrassing) mistake in your Indianapolis job search!


Virtual Harassment

Friday, November 5, 2010 by Lisa Minter

In May, I posted a blog about how social media has taken Indianapolis staffing companies, executive headhunters and most anyone in Central Indiana jobs by storm. Sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube and Twitter offer employers, employees and job seekers opportunities to network, advertise and promote themselves and has become one of the biggest hiring trends to advertise Central Indiana jobs and Indianapolis job openings. It has also opened up the door to many employment law issues.

Social media has transitioned the job of many HR professionals and those in management positions in Indianapolis to creating updated policies and addressing sexual harassment claims stemming from the misuse of social media.

Many of us in HR jobs in Indianapolis have created policies prohibiting sexual and other harassment. Before the age of technology, harassment was much easier to identify and would consist of gestures such as a lingering hug, sexually suggestive comments or a loud obscene joke in the workplace.

Times have changed and so has the outlet for harassment. In today's culture of constant and instant communication, the opportunity for potentially harassing actions is there 24/7 at the click of a button. Even though many actions may take place outside of normal business hours, that doesn't mean the employer is not responsible for addressing these situations. This puts employers AND employees at risk.

Companies who have not outlined a clear policy are escalating their risk and employees who may think forwarding a joke by email or text or posting something on Facebook is innocent, may find themselves facing disciplinary action or termination. Some employees may think their jokes or actions are harmless but in reality their behavior could be considered harassing. This does not just apply to those in management positions in Indianapolis but to any employee at any level from those in six figure jobs government or administrative jobs.

Companies need to have a clear policy as to what constitutes sexual harassment and must enforce and follow this policy consistently. Even though the methods for potential sexual harassment have changed, those in HR jobs in Indianapolis should still handle these situations the same. The EEOC website provides helpful information.

Employees should think before posting a blog, a message on Facebook, sending a text message or email to a co-worker.  Always treat these  messages as if they were public. Taking measures to avoid communication that could be interpreted as harassment could save your career and reputation.

Wondering Why You Aren't Getting Hired?

Friday, July 9, 2010 by Keri Thompson
A few days ago I had an interview with a candidate who was beginning to become very frustrated regarding her current Indianapolis job search.  She wasn't getting called when sending her resume into companies, she wasn't getting any feedback following her interviews, and she kept getting "ding" emails from companies letting her know that they were passing on her, but with no specific reasons.  As someone who was recently looking for a new Indianapolis Career, I could relate to her and wanted to do whatever I could to help her figure out where things were going wrong.

I spent about an hour and a half with this person, digging into her interview style, how she answers questions, walking through her resume, and talking about the positions to which she is applying.  What I learned was pretty interesting and made it very clear to me why she wasn't getting the results she wanted.  

What were her challenges?

1)  Know your Experience!
The first thing that stood out like a sore thumb was that she was applying to positions that she wasn't qualified for.  If you are a financial analyst with 3 years of experience, you probably don't qualify for a CFO position that is requiring 10-15 years of experience.  Don't take it personally, but it's not quite your time for that type of opportunity.

2)  Impress your Interviewer!
When I asked her more info about the companies to which she had applied, she knew basic information.  Name of company and what they did.  She didn't take the time to do more research on the company.  This is critical when you're going into an interview!  Know your facts, know a little about the financials, know the history of the company.  The more you know, the better chance you have of making a lasting impression on the people with whom you meet.

3)  Be Honest!
We all know the statistics.  According to research from the Society for Human Resource Managers, 53% of people lie on their resume in some way.  When we were going through her resume, I noticed some dates that didn't line up.  She had fibbed a bit on the dates to make a few gaps in her employment "disappear", and didn't realize that she didn't do her math correctly.  She also told me that she was a few credits short of receiving a college degree, when on her resume she listed her date of graduation and type of degree obtained.  These are big "no-no's", and employers will find out!  Companies do background checks, degree verification checks, employment checks.  Be honest up front, it's always easier than the alternative!

4)  Have Enthusiasm!
No one expects you to come into an interview doing cartwheels up and down the hallway.  But, it is nice for you to come in with a positive attitude, energy, and a smile on your face.  During my interview with this candidate, I could see the lack of excitement, energy and optimism she was feeling.  We all know that job hunting takes a lot out of you, but you have to go into each interview with the attitude that this could be the one!  If you're lackluster and feeling depleted, it's hard to convince interviewers that you have the drive and ambition to do the job well and to advance within the company.


These were just a few of the issues that I uncovered during my meeting with her.  Check out this article from CareerBuilder that lists out a few other reasons why you may not be getting the results that you are hoping for during your quest for a new opportunity!

If you need help finding Indianapolis job openings, or if you're looking for and executive headhunter (or recruiter, as we like to be called!) please call That's Good HR and ask to speak to one of our experienced recruiters.  We would love to help you!



Balancing Work & Vacation in Central Indiana Jobs

Thursday, June 10, 2010 by Lisa Minter

 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!
 

2005 to 2010 - Wow has the world changed!

Thursday, June 3, 2010 by Harry Danz

As a founding partner of That's Good HR, an Indianapolis based staffing firm,  I have been asked to participate on a panel for the Indiana Venture Club as a 2005 Inc 500 award recipient.   The leaders of the Venture Club have asked our panel of three to discuss how our companies have changed over the past five years.  How did we survive the recession we are coming out of and what is the outlook for our companies and our industries?  In preparing for this presentation I realized that "WOW" a lot has changed in the past 5 years and there are many great lessons and numerous assumptions being made for both job seekers and employers as we start to come out of this recession. 

First let's start with the job seeker or candidate side.  In the past 5 years the supply/demand curves have drastically changed.  Gone are the days of multiple interviews, multiple job offers and recruiters/headhunters blowing up your phones or voice mail.   Most people are thankful for the job they have but I believe this has been an exceptional time to evaluate your current employer and your fellow teammates.  By now you should know where you rank on the list of "prized" employees and what the future holds for your employer and the opportunity to continue to grow your career there. If not, wake up and start taking notes.  In my opinion, the supply/demand curve is slowly starting to move back in the direction of the candidate. Don't get me wrong, this movement will be gradual, but now is the time to asses and measure. From what I see daily while assisting clients and our internal recruiters there is a pent up demand for new job opportunities by the top talent.  How long has it been since you have even sniffed an exceptional career opportunity?  Now is the time to assess yourself, your employer and pay attention to the Indianapolis job market as the curve is starting to shift.  

Next let's move to the employer or hiring manager side.  Wow, have the past five years really changed for them as well!  It went from a job market where they were held hostage due to a shortage of candidate supply to one in which now they can take their sweet time and interview many more candidates than they ever should. As a hiring manager and/or management, by now you should definitely know who are your A, B and C players (if you have any C's left, that is).  The past 5 years have really thinned out the Accounting/Finance and HR staffs in many companies.  As you continue to assess your needs for your team now is the time to be dipping your toes in the water and be one of the first companies to "market"(See pent up demand above). As the talent supply/demand curve starts to move, those aggressive companies will be the ones to win the top talent.  As an employer now is also the time to evaluate and potentially rebuild part or all of  your hiring process.  As the  market moves back to being more competitive for talent, time will once again be against you and the cost of hiring the "wrong" person has greatly increased.  The days of having excessive staff are gone and in the future making a miss-hire is going to have greater consequences to both the employer and the manager as it will be more visible to leadership and stakeholders. 

I also would be remiss to not address my "favorite" assumption that I hear on a regular basis as I talk with clients and prospective clients.  And that assumption is this: Some employers truly do believe that there is exceptional talent walking the streets of Indianapolis, unemployed.  Don't get me wrong, the pool of "good" and "very good" and even "exceptional"  has definitely increased through this recession but when was the last time you saw an employer downsize one of their "exceptional" employees, especially during one of the greatest recessions ever?  I understand the need to be objective in downsizing and of course understand the implications of HR law but let's be honest, the reality is that it just doesn't happen very often. I know this might sound like a setup or self-fulfilling as on owner of a staffing firm but time is precious and costly and in today's world of hiring and rebuilding your teams the cost of making the wrong hire has greatly increased.  

At That's Good HR we would welcome the opportunity to assist candidates with their career search needs and employers with their staffing needs.  We are also very willing (as well as competent, I might add) to sit down with a client or prospect and help you evaluate your sourcing, validation and hiring models.  We are here to make the hiring and interview process more enjoyable and more successful for all.     

Happy Hunting!

Managing Employment & Legal Issues with Social Media

Thursday, May 13, 2010 by Lisa Minter



Social media
has taken Indianapolis staffing companies, executive headhunters and most anyone in Central Indiana jobs by storm. Sites such as Facebook, Linkedin, You Tube and Twitter offer employers, employees and job seekers opportunities to network, advertise and promote themselves and has become one of the biggest hiring trends to advertise Central Indiana jobs and Indianapolis job openings. It allows job seekers to explore job opportunities in Indianapolis easier than ever before. While this is a huge benefit to reach a large audience very quickly, social media has created a number of employment and employment law issues. 
 

Issues around trade secrets, confidentiality, harassment, discrimination, job listings/OFCCP, background checks, and state laws that protect leisure-time activities have employers scrambling to create social media policies. 

 

Employers walk a fine line between banning social media and encouraging it to promote the company. Banning it creates resentment and invites violations. Encouraging it is not intended to encourage spending the majority of company time on these sites. That’s why companies are finding Social Media Policies vital to set guidelines in place.

 

When writing a policy, it is important to be very clear on the boundaries around social networking and to clearly spell out what to think about when engaging in social forums. Three great companies to model a company policy from are Kodak, Intel and IBM.

 

Employees also need to be aware of the risk of jeopardizing their careers when using social media. There are countless stories of employees being terminated for divulging confidential company information, non-productivity or for making disparaging comments about their employer.  Check out Top 10 Stupid Things That Will Ruin Social Media for Everyone at Your Company. My personal favorite is employees who update their Facebook status every 10 minutes while at work. Remember, social media is just that: MEDIA!

Developing appropriate and specific guidelines, and communicating them to ensure employees understand the rules, can help make cyberspace less stressful for everyone.

 
 

 

What sunglasses and staffing have in common

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by Cathleen Litz
With That's Good HR recently recognized as one of the 2010 Best of Staffing firms, customer service has been an even more dominant topic of conversation at this Indianapolis staffing firm. 

We always strive to provide outstanding customer service.  However, I think it can be easy to get removed from what is truly outstanding customer service when you are the provider.  I recently had an experience with awesome customer service which really made me step back and ask myself what I can be doing to differentiate myself from other executive headhunters. 

Last week, my dog chewed up a pair of sunglasses.  While chewing up ANY pair of sunglasses is bad enough, they weren't even my sunglasses!  They belonged to a friend who was visiting our home.  The good news was that our dog just managed to chew up the temples of the glasses.  So I called the manufacturer, Maui Jim, to see how they could help me.  The customer service representative was so unbelievably helpful.  She was sympathetic to my issue (yes, I was honest and told her that my dog chewed up the sunglasses) and informed me that the temples could be replaced for free and the service would take less than a week.  I got off of the phone call and was literally smiling because this person made me feel so much better about the situation.

So what can That's Good HR do to help you resolve your Indianapolis staffing issues and leave a smile on your face?

Inspiration not optional

Friday, March 5, 2010 by Karen Seketa
Inspire – “Maya Angelou once said, ‘People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.’ I think this is a great template for a leader…I think a leader is one who nurtures and encourages and inspires an employee to not only do what he/she is supposed to do but to feel better about themselves as a person and feel better about themselves as an employee.”

I came across this while reading a blog post on The Hiring Site  called "How Do You Identify a Leader?".  I will not rehash the top 10 list that this post provides, but rather, would like to focus on #5: Inspire.  Careerbuilder asked for input from their audience of headhunters, staffing companies and their recruiting audience focused on hiring trends and the search for the best talent.

It seems like every day there is a new and fancy way to be a great leader and I can tell you that as a long time veteran in the Indianapolis staffing industry, I have been fortunate to hold a number of leadership positions and the one thing that has been consistent, has been that providing inspiration to those you lead is crucial and that never, ever changes. Now working at That's Good HR, a locally owned and operated Indianapolis staffing company, I have learned that regardless the size of your company, the need for inspirational leadership is always critical to running a successful business.

To "inspire" is one of those objective terms that holds it's meaning in the eyes of the beholder, but lucky for us, it is not complicated.  Zig Ziglar once said

"You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life". 

This is what it means to inspire.  Always looking for opportunities to challenge your best people and when things are at their darkest, pointing them in the direction of the light. 

I am not talking just about having the desire to inspire or the great ideas with which to inspire, but to actually be able to effectively communicate and transfer that inspiration to those around you.  John Maxwell wrote a book called "The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader" and while the word "inspire" does not make the list, all the ways one inspires do make the list - the most important being "communication".  One of the quotes in his book states that:

"Developing excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership.  The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others.  If a leader can't get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn't even matter."

Don't even think about trying to inspire sporadically either, as that simply breeds mistrust.  The worst thing you can do is to pretend you are going to inspire, set people up to be inspired and then let them down by not showing up to the party.  There is no such thing as being sort of committed to something.  That is like being sort of pregnant.  Once you commit, you owe it to those following you to show them the way each and every day, not only when you feel like it - (that would be the definition of the opposite of inspire...not sure what that word is, but I am sure I can come up with a few).


Back on Campus

Thursday, February 18, 2010 by Amber Crosby
It's that time of year again for Indianapolis companies to gear up for some serious campus and college recruiting.  Already this week, That's Good HR has participated in many local campus events.  I went to Indiana University - Indianapolis to speak to their recruiting class, conducted mock interviews for the Kelley School of Business and today I will be attending the collegiate career fair.  Yes, it's a busy life for Indianapolis staffing companies, recruiters and headhunters.

There is something great about being back on campus in the springtime and remembering what it was like trying to decide what to do for the summer.  Ahhh, the good ol'days that seemed so carefree!  It's true that most Indianapolis based professional staffing firms attend the college career fairs in the fall but most students are narrowly focused on their companies of choice for internships or employment after graduation at that time.  The spring recruiting events are great for Indianapolis based staffing firms because now is the time that students will stop by to discuss how we can assist them in their job search.  What is it that we can do for them, you ask??

1.  Share our network with them.  We have network connections with over 250 Indianapolis based companies with whom we regularly meet with and hear about what's going on in their business, their industries and current hiring trends.  This can be a huge advantage to college students just based on the wealth of information we have at our fingertips about indianapolis job openings.  We might be able to suggest companies to look into that they haven't heard of but we know that they are currently seeking summer and fall interns. 

2.  Offer summer employment opportunities in their fields of study.  We can help those college students that weren't fortunate enough to land an internship for the summer but are staying in Indianapolis by presenting them with temporary employment opportunities in the areas of accounting, finance, HR, and administration.  Keep in mind that when graduation day arrives some work history looks better on a resume than none at all. 

3.  Help them find a full-time permanent or temp to hire opportunity here in Indianapolis with one of our clients.  When graduation day comes and goes and they are still searching for a full-time position (which, as discussed in an earlier blog posted by Mary Springer, unfortunately can happen as we emerge from the recession) we can assist them in their Indianapolis job search.  Our clients frequently hire new grads that have worked for us in the summer months.  They feel it shows ambition and they trust that we know their skill level due to the assignments they completed for us.  It never hurts to have headhunters considering you for their clients during your job search whether you are a college student or an experienced veteran!  After all it's a free service for you!  

Tell your college friends, co-workers or children to stop by to introduce themselves at one of our upcoming career fairs:  We look forward to meeting you! 

Never give up...even if your mother tells you to...

Thursday, January 28, 2010 by Karen Seketa
"Never give up" is a lot of pressure. MY personal take on that is "never give up if you truly believe that your direction, path, effort or intent is right".  If you are true to your cause, even when obstacles appear, keep on keepin' on and in the end, if you give it your best shot, you win even if you lose.  Be it in your Indianapolis job search or your search for that perfect candidate for your job opening or really anything you do in life, this motto seems to have worked well for me.

Take my son, Nate, for example.  I know, I know...I should stop using Nate as a muse to write my blog posts, he does not even know what a "hiring trend" or a headhunter means.   However, he consistently provides examples of how the simple things in life are the ones we forget as we get old and busy and grumpy.
Actual picture of the ring to which I refer in this post
Nate has a hidden drawer in a dresser where he stashes all of his "valuables" and until I find and reclaim them, even some of mine.  On occasion, Nate finds it necessary in that big heart of his to offer tokens of his friendship and love to his friends and family.  Last week, I received a call from his after school counselor concerned about the nice gold ring in the fancy velvet box that he was attempting to give to a girl friend of his.  She confiscated the loot and kept it in safekeeping until I came to pick him up.  At home that evening, we talked about the incident and I felt sure I had been very clear about the whole "not bringing my jewelry to school and giving it to a girl" issue. 

The next morning, my husband came to find out that the mother of the little girl who was the recipient of my son's affection happened to work at his office and they had a little laugh about the whole incident.  That should have been the end of it.  Not so fast... Two days later, my husband receives the following email upon arriving in his office.

"Good morning Greg,

Ariel came home from school on Friday with a ring, I thought the counselor at school and the teacher had already confiscated some jewelry from Nate, it appeared Nate was very determined to give Ariel a ring and probably had back up plans...Just FYI, in Chinese tradition, the groom's family is responsible for the wedding, we decided we will keep the Chinese tradition...  That being said, I am happy to pay for the cake and maybe flowers too..."

I think that demonstrates my point about having that "never give up if you truly believe that your direction, path, effort or intent is right" attitude.  I guess I should add to that...even if your mother tells you to.  Sometimes, you just have to go with your heart and keep going back to the fight until you really feel like it is time to give up.  If you need advice on this, I am happy to introduce you to Nate. 

If you need advice on how to best apply this to your Indianapolis job search, call That's Good HR to talk about your next career move and we can help point you in the direction to pursue your next opportunity with perseverance.  While we do not recommend you use jewelry to secure a six figure job, we can provide other pointers that may help.

Avoiding Email Blunders

Friday, January 8, 2010 by Lisa Minter

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.
     
Tips to avoid these embarrassing scenarios:

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.

 


Job Seekers Can Learn from Tiger Woods' Mistakes

Friday, December 18, 2009 by Cathleen Litz

We have all been inundated with media reports on speculation surrounding Tiger Woods over the past few weeks.  And while it may seem that the allegations against Tiger have nothing to do with an Indianapolis job search, job seekers might be able to learn a lesson from him. 

As an Indianapolis headhunter, I frequently ask my candidates questions such as "Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?"  Or, "Why did you leave your last position?"  Over the past five years I have spent as an executive recruiter, I have frequently experienced candidates who incorrectly or inadequately answer these questions.  
This can be detrimental to any job search.  Part of my job is to help my candidates address these questions and any issues in their past when applying for accounting jobs Indianapolis. 

Lets first look at the criminal background question.  First, most Indianapolis companies complete criminal background checks on prospective candidates so be prepared for this question.   Just because you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony does not mean that a company will eliminate you as a candidate for a position (as long it is not something of a very serious nature).  What most companies are looking for is honesty when answering this question.  If you had a DUI in your past, then be honest about it.  While it is definitely not something to be proud of, DUIs are one of the most common offenses and will typically not elimate a candidate for consideration for an Indianapolis finance job.   What will elminate you from consideration is not disclosing the DUI (or other offense) when applying for Indianapolis job openings and a potential employer when asked this question.

The second important question is regarding why you left your previous position.  If your position was elminated (again, which is extremely common in this economic environment), then disclose it.  It will not elminate you from consideration for an Indianapolis job opening.  Potential employers will call your previous employers to verify employment and your reasons for leaving.  Employment laws typically prevent employers from providing significant detail  surrounding this question.  However, most employers will reach out their individual networks to see what others might know about your work history and performance.  Executive headhunters like to call this "backdoor referencing" and it is often a great source of information on a candidate.    

I think we are all ready for Tiger to directly address the current allegations in the media.  Being direct and honest in your job search will enable any candidate to signifcantly improve their chances in the Central Indiana job market. 

Are personality assessments worth it?

Thursday, December 10, 2009 by Cathleen Litz
As an Indianapolis Executive Recruiter, my job is to help my clients make the match for Indianapolis job openings and minimize their risk of hiring the "wrong" candidate.  This means we are always looking for ways to differentiate our firm in the Indianapolis staffing market.  The validity and value of personality assessments are often a topic of debate among Indianapolis headhunters. 

While there are several personality assessments available including the Predictive Index, DISC profile, and Myers Briggs, our firm has had great results utilizing the Caliper Profile for over seven years.  I recently used the Caliper Profile for an Indianapolis six figure job search and my client loved the results.  The Caliper takes into consideration a job's responsibilities and company culture and management style.  Then, the Caliper Profile compares a candidate to the job to determine if there is a natural fit.  If an individual is in a role which plays to their strengths, the probability of success is dramatically higher.  

The Caliper Profile costs around $300.  While some might complain about the cost, hiring the wrong candidate can cost a company thousands of dollars.  Or, you could try the personality test in this video but That's Good HR does not endorse its effectiveness!