Job Openings

Houston Employment Economic Update via Greater Houston Parntership

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The Partnership sends updates for the six most important economic indicators each month. If you would like to opt-in to receive these updates, please click here. August 19, 2016

Click to access Employment_Update.pdf

Metro Houston lost 8,600 jobs in July, according to data released today by the Texas Workforce Commission. Houston always experiences significant job losses mid-year as educators on 10-month contracts are without work during the summer. This year’s loss fell well below the typical loss of 15,000 jobs for the month. July’s job losses will likely be recouped when school resumes in the fall.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the region has added jobs in three of the past four months, adding 3,700 in July. Seasonally adjusted employment is only 5,700 jobs below Houston’s January ’16 peak.

Of note, the mining and logging sector, which has averaged losses of 1,500 jobs per month since January ’15, lost only 300 jobs in July. From early June to mid-July, crude prices averaged $48 per barrel. Over the same period, the U.S. drilling fleet added 54 rigs. Those two trends suggest the energy industry may have seen the worst of the downturn. As a result, energy-related job losses have begun to moderate.
Sectors recording notable growth in July were professional and business services (+5,100 jobs), construction (+2,100), and trade, transportation and utilities (+1,500). Sectors recording notable job losses included local government education services (-14,400) and health care (-1,200).

Houston’s unemployment rate increased from 4.8 percent in May to 5.8 percent in July. Both the Texas and U.S. unemployment rates are 5.1 percent. Houston’s rate should start to decline again in August as local educators return to the classroom.

A more detailed look at employment will appear in the September issue of The Economy at a Glance.

Close the Interview Well – By Caitlin Beausoleil

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

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http://sharpheels.com/2016/08/close-the-interview-well/

6 Techniques to Use at the End of an Interview that Can Make the Difference Between Landing the Job – or Not 

Acing an interview isn’t about being the most qualified candidate or just answering all the questions perfectly. While those two factors are certainly important and help you stand out, your chances of being extended the job offer drastically decrease if you forget one crucial thing: properly closing the interview.

This goes beyond thanking an interviewer for their time or sending a thank-you note (both which are still necessary steps). But the vital part? You need to make sure there are no hesitations that you’re the right person for the job. It’s your final opportunity to stand out from your competition, and negate any last qualms an interviewer might have about you.

Here are some pointers to accomplish those two tasks:

Think of the hiring manager as a potential client. You already know that, throughout the interview, you need to sell yourself and prove why your skills match their needs. To help solidify this, before you leave at the end, ask about any hesitations they might have about hiring you for the position. Ideally there won’t be any, but if so, this gives you the chance to address their concerns.

If there are any, try to use specific metrics like numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, or time frames that apply to the responsibilities and challenges of the job. (You may want to do some research ahead of time to have these handy.) Hiring managers love quantifiable results since it shows that you can perform the job with some degree of real-world knowledge.

Even if you’re indifferent about the position, don’t let it show. For example: A candidate went to an interview for a position she wasn’t completely convinced was a good fit, but afterwards was very excited about it. However, even though she was the top candidate for the role, she didn’t receive an offer. Why? Her initial uncertainty about the opportunity was apparent to the first two people with whom she interviewed, and the hiring manager didn’t think she truly wanted the job.

Don’t make that same mistake! Always show excitement for the opportunity, or you could miss your chance at being hired. The easiest way to do this: tell them you’re interested!

Have some questions to ask in the last half of the interview. You need to come prepared! Not doing so can be perceived as lack of interest. If you anticipate meeting with multiple people, bring even more questions than usual. Repeating some questions with different interviewers is fine, since you’ll get different perspectives, but it’s better to err on the safe side and over-prepare.

This is also the time to inquire about certain facets of the position to ensure the position is the right fit for you – i.e. you need to decide what factors are most important to you at a job. (The interviewer, from experience, will know that you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you.)

Sample questions to ask:

  • What qualities have helped someone be successful in this role?
  • What do you see as being the greatest challenges?
  • Who will I interact with on a regular basis? Who do I report to?
  • How often does the staff meet?
  • What are the professional backgrounds of other members in the group?
  • What characteristics of the organization make it better than the competition?
  • What do you like best about this company? 

Topics to avoid:

  • Work-life balance: Everyone wants it, but an interview isn’t the right time to ask about it. Instead, ask what the regular working hours are, or if there are particular busy times for the department/company.
  • Salary, Benefits, and PTO: If the interviewer brings these topics up, that’s great, but you should never be the one to start that conversation. These items can be discussed once an offer is made.
  • Career Progression: It’s good to know how your career can grow within the organization, but be careful how you phrase the question. Don’t ask how long it will take for you to become a manager, but instead ask how others in this role have advanced. This also gives you an idea why the role is vacant without blatantly asking (another question you should avoid).

Don’t feel that you have to say yes if you’re offered the job on the spot. While that’s very exciting, accept the offer only if you’re ready. If you are, then congratulations! If you’re not absolutely sure, you can tell the hiring manager that you’re very interested in the position, but you need to discuss it with your significant other, or that you need a day to think about it. They shouldn’t pressure you to make a choice immediately — that’s a red flag. However, neither should you take a week to get back to them; they might start to think you don’t really want the job.

On the flip side of this, don’t be discouraged if it’s not offered to you right then. They might have more interviews scheduled or need to speak with your potential manager first before making a decision. It’s more common for that to happen than on-the-spot offers.

You need to know the next steps in the hiring process, and all you have to do is ask! This way, you can find out if more interviews will take place, the target hire and start date, and if you should prepare reference or work samples. This takes out the guesswork for what you can expect, and it also gives you a timeline for further follow-up.

In addition to thanking the interviewer for their time, you need to send a thank-you note within 24 hours. It seems easy enough, but it’s surprising how many candidates don’t write a sincere thank-you email after an interview. It’s one more opportunity to state your interest for the position and remind the interviewer why you would be a great fit, so it’s foolish to not take advantage of that. Make sure you personalize it for each person you met with, and always have someone proofread before you send! There’s nothing worse than receiving a thank-you note filled with spelling and grammatical errors. And I even once had someone send me a thank-you note after an interview with my name spelled wrong!  Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed.

The Crucial Closing Stages of the Interviewing Process

It’s not always fair, but the best jobs may not necessarily go to someone with the best qualifications, but rather with the best interviewing skills. This is less lopsided than it appears, because having those skills indicates your degree of emotional intelligence, which is seen as an increasingly important component of any successful employee.

Thus, closing an interview properly is not a step to be overlooked. Make sure the hiring manager walks away from the interview confident that you’re the right person for the role – and keep that feeling going for the next few days, until the job offer is absolutely nailed down!

 

The Real Reason Your Résumé is Being Ignored by Dana Manciagli | Aug 4, 2016

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The Real Reason Your Résumé is Being Ignored

The Real Reason Your Résumé is Being Ignored

Job hunting can be an incredibly frustrating process. You’ve brushed up your résumé, written a solid cover letter, and been applying to roles that seem darn near tailor made for you…

But when your phone is silent and inbox remains empty…

It can be tempting to ask “What’s wrong with me?”

But I’ve got good news.

There’s nothing wrong with YOU. Taking control of your career and winning the right job is serious business. Throughout my career as a manager, hiring manager, and mentor, I have met thousands of job seekers, all of whom fit into three clear categories:

  1. The Seriously Committed: You understand that the hiring game has changed and you are on a committed hunt for the next opportunity. Your drive to change the status quo has carried you this far – but you know you need to learn some additional skills to get real results.
  2. The Plan B-ers: You’re frustrated with your current situation and are searching for Plan-B. Despite your unhappiness you haven’t fully committed to searching for a new role but are keeping your eyes and ears open. You may be faced with a career change as your previous job-searches came up empty.
  3. The Hobbyist: Like occasional guitar players and weekend golfers, you dabble in your job search efforts, conduct R.A.A. (Random Acts of Application) by spraying out résumés, and meet up with people for coffee. If you’re in this category, and you want to stay there, stop reading now. If you want to get serious and find (and win) that new job, stay with me here!

It’s obvious the optimal category to be in is “Seriously Committed Job Hunter.” Why? Well, the truth is the job market has changed. Carefully worded cover letters and a strong résumé aren’t enough to get attention anymore – no matter how relevant your experience might be!

You need the best skills and to execute every step of the job hunting process brilliantly.  Job searching isn’t an application process, it’s a hunt in the truest sense of the word – and you need to be patient, prepared, and hungry.

There are no shortcuts to finding the right role. You’ll need to carve time out of your day to speed up the quest and stay committed to the process.

Where do you start?

Making the shift into the Seriously Committed category can be frustrating, especially when you feel as though your skills are out of date or something you’ve been doing is just NOT working.

As with any goal, your odds of success improve exponentially when you invest time to not only develop your existing skills but also to identify gaps and roadblocks and look for ways to eliminate them.

I’ve developed a 3 Step Action Plan to help you successfully negotiate your transition from a casual job-seeker to a seriously committed one; plus I’ve included my ultimate organization tool for any job search.  Click here to download your free Job Search Tracker.

The 3-Step Action Plan for Finding the Right Job Now

  1. Set Your Goal: Have you taken the time to clearly identify where you want your career to go – and how to get there? Have you thought about what role would be a perfect fit for your career? Sit down and clarify your goal until you can answer the question “What are you looking for?” in 20 words or less.
  2. Develop Your Plan: Now that you know what role you want, develop a schedule of how you will spend your time (and where it will be focused) over the next quarter. Create a detailed list of things you need to get done – and make sure you assign deadlines.
  3. Keep Yourself Organized: How many job applications do you have out there that are still possibilities? If you can’t answer this question then your job search is NOT organized. You need a clear, efficient system that not only keeps track of the opportunities you’re pursuing but also the specific people you need to follow up with.

FREE GIFT: This is the ultimate tool to stay organized, keep you in control, and streamline your job search. My carefully crafted Job Search Tracker is the result of assisting hundreds of job searchers on their journeys and it’s my gift to you – free.  Click here to download now.

Accounting Supervisor – Downtown – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

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MUST have Dynamics

Overview: Manage team of 2 and Month End Close Process

  • Manage the accurate and timely processing of accounts payable, petty cash, employee expense reports and wire transfers.
  • Prepare quarterly and annual billing
  • Monitor bank balances, reconcile accounts monthly.
  • Prepare journal entries to reflect payroll and benefits, revenue recognition, and various GL activity.
  • Perform monthly General Ledger closing procedures and GL Account Reconciliations.

Requirements:

  • Accounting Degree
  • MS Dynamics

 

Property Accountant – Downtown – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

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property accountant

Overview: 

  • Maintain the general ledger, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting for assigned properties
  • Monthly journal entries, income and expense accruals, job costing,
  • Accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, bank reconciliations and lease administration
  • Timely preparation of periodic financial packages, forecasts & budgets including analyses and supporting schedules of all balance sheet and income statement accounts.

Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of extensive exposure to commercial real estate accounting.
• Bachelors degree in accounting or finance, professional accounting designation preferred.

 

 

Key Economic Indicator – Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) Via Greater Houston Partnership

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The Houston Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a short-term leading indicator for regional production, registered 43.8 in July, up slightly from 43.7 in June, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management-Houston (ISM-Houston). With the July reading, the PMI has signaled economic contraction in Houston for 19 consecutive months. To access the full report, click here.

Click to access Purchasing_Managers_Index.pdf

Updated List of Accounting & Finance Job Openings – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

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Here is what we are working on this week! dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

  • Small company Accounting Supervisor
  • Senior Accounting Analyst (public accounting required)
  • Construction Staff Accountant
  • JIB Senior Accountant
  • Director FP&A with CFO track
  • Tax Manager (big 4 needed)
  • Tax Senior – Big 4 required
  • Staff Accountant
  • Senior Property Accountant
  • Senior SEC Accountant
  • Staff SEC Accountant, CPA
  • Reinsurance Analyst
  • AP Manager
  • Senior IT Auditor
  • Internal Auditor – 40% travel
  • Internal Auditor – 60% travel
  • Internal Auditor – 30% travel
  • Staff Tax Accountant – Industry
  • Senior Tax Accountant – ULTRA high net wealth clients
  • Senior Insurance Accountant
  • Payroll Admin
  • AP Specialist
  • AR Specialist
  • Division Assistant Controller
  • Audit Senior public accounting

Small Company Accounting Supervisor – West Houston – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

Overview: 

  • Supervise AP & Staff Accountant
  • Cash & Bank Management
  • Manage Month End Close
  • Review Financial Statements
  • Oversee monthly bank reconciliations
  • Review AP and AR coding
  • Assist in year end audits

Requirements: 

  • Accounting Degree
  • 1 plus years of supervisory experience
  • 4 to 8 years of General Accounting
  • Excel and major ERP

This map shows what $100 is really worth in your state via http://www.businessinsider.com/

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

Your dollars go further in some states than others.

The Tax Foundation released a map showing the relative value of $100 in every state compared with the national average using the data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

In expensive states like New York, you can afford comparatively less than average; in less expensive states like Mississippi, you can buy relatively more.

“Regional price differences are strikingly large; real purchasing power is 36 percent greater in Mississippi than it is in the District of Columbia,” the Tax Foundation wrote.

“In other words, by this measure, if you have $50,000 in after-tax income in Mississippi, you would have to have after-tax earnings of $68,000 in the District of Columbia just to afford the same overall standard of living.”

Here’s the map:

$100 Map state 01Tax Foundation

The states with the largest relative value of $100 were:

  • Mississippi ($115.34)
  • Arkansas ($114.29)
  • Alabama ($113.90)
  • South Dakota ($113.64)
  • West Virginia ($112.49)

The states with the smallest relative value of $100 were:

  • District of Columbia ($84.67)
  • Hawaii ($85.62)
  • New York ($86.43)
  • New Jersey ($87.34)
  • California ($88.97)

Handling rejection like a pro viahttp://cfstaffing.blogspot.com/

Posted on by Dianedelgadolemaire

It’s the call you’ve been anxiously awaiting, but unfortunately it’s not the outcome you had hoped for: you didn’t get the job. You might feel defeated or even a bit lost, but remember that this can happen to the best of us. Rejection is an unavoidable part of the job search process, but it’s something you can learn from. Our recruiters have shared their expert advice on handling job search rejection like a pro.

Be Professional

You shouldn’t take things personally. Nicole Hicks, Staffing Manager of CFS Seattle, reminds us that the company is not rejecting you as a person. Your skills simply don’t match up with what the company needs right now, but not necessarily what they’ll need down the road. This is why it’s crucial to always thank your interviewer and maintain a professional relationship. You never know what opportunities may arise in the future.

Stay Positive

It may be cliché but it still remains true. There is a reason we end up where we do and it’s important to remember that. Ron Ramey, Executive Recruiter of CFS Columbus, explains that more often than not it will come down to two people, and in the end one person simply has a little more experience than the other. In this scenario, Ramey says it’s important to focus on the positives takeaways from the interview process. What did you do well? How did you present yourself? Were your answers relevant and concise? Utilize this experience to your advantage and form a game plan for your next interview. You don’t want to overthink a job that “wasn’t meant to be”.

Ask for Feedback

Self-evaluation is the first step to improvement, but honest feedback from someone else is especially helpful! If you have the opportunity to ask your interviewer for feedback, then you should take it. Not only will you gain an outsiders perspective, but it will make you a stronger candidate in the future. You can utilize their response of why you were rejected and put it to good use.

Don’t Dwell on It

You won’t be able to move on if you constantly think about it. In addition, you don’t want to speak about any of your past rejections in an interview and give a prospective employer reason to think you’re not a desirable candidate. As Hicks says, when you go on a first date it’s not common practice to speak about an ex, and the same idea applies for a job interview.

Always remember that the interview process will be filled with trial and error. It takes time to find the perfect job. That’s why it’s called a job hunt! In order to succeed you need to get yourself out there and not be afraid of rejection- the right job for you will come along.

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Find the closest location to you here.