Category: Job Seekers

Everyone thinks they know the most forward-looking industries. Web development, marketing, biotech, even media – all sectors people see as dedicated to constant, rapid change; sectors where executives live with unrelenting, extreme FOMO. They can’t miss out on the next big thing and survive.

Accounting, meanwhile, seems comparably stable. To an outsider, the industry looks relatively stable – the pleasant Victorian mansion set among the city’s steel-and-glass skyscrapers.

You know that’s not really the case. With your view from inside the industry, you understand the world of accounting is constantly changing. You need to be as attuned to changing market conditions as anyone in the technology or drug development fields.

With that in mind, here are five trends to watch out for in the accounting industry going into the 2020s:

Customization

You’re used to getting exactly what you want every time you walk into a store or log in to your favorite retailer. That expectation has overwhelmed the accounting world as well.

Your clients demand customized service. They want micro-targeting and increased communication, allowing them to achieve a result more well suited to their particular concerns and long-term development.

This means you’ll need skills beyond vanilla accounting acumen. Expect a role with a lot of slashes in ... Read More

While some friction in the workplace is to be expected, too much is harmful to everyone involved, particularly if left unresolved. Conflicts between employees disrupt their work and that of colleagues who share the work environment. Ongoing disagreements can affect job performance and even the company’s productivity and bottom line.

While most U.S. workers report involvement in workplace strife at times, more than a third say they deal with it often or always. In a typical week, employees spend, on average, about three hours handling conflict at work. That’s just 7 percent of the work week, but in terms of productivity, the costs are staggering, resulting in an estimated $360 billion in paid hours.^*

So, what’s causing all this workplace friction? Employees say mainly personality conflicts and warring egos, as well as stress and workloads. These may lead to angry outbursts and insults; nasty, behind-the-back comments; poor communications; procrastination on projects; and more.

Other than avoiding people who rub us the wrong way—which doesn’t solve and often intensifies the problem—what can we do to resolve conflict at work?

Try taking these steps to manage conflict with co-workers

1. Ask yourself why the person bothers you. Be aware of what is setting you off. If dealing with ... Read More

You’ve been out of work for a long time. The frustrating treadmill of applying to jobs and absorbing rejections has started to cut into your self-confidence. Meanwhile, the lack of a paycheck has simultaneously cut into your bank account.

Or, maybe you’ve toiled in the same dead-end, unfulfilling position longer than you care to remember. Your hopes for long-term career satisfaction have started to fade.

Either way, you can help your situation by teaming with a staffing firm. You’re reluctant, however, because of what you’ve heard about life as a temp.

You’ve heard working as a temp means submitting to a series of short-term, mind-numbing tedium, where you’ll draw the ire of your co-workers and constant mistreatment from your managers. A cross between a medieval serf and a court jester.

These are myths. A recruiter aims to put you in engaging, career-expanding placements, ones with dynamic co-workers and supportive bosses happy for the talents you bring to the table.

Here is the truth about four myths related to life as a temp:

You Only Get Mind-Numbing Work

People tend to view temp work like a glorified paid internship. Under this conception, you’ll spend your days making copies, brewing coffee or taking lunch orders. If you’re lucky, you ... Read More

Administrative positions provide a great building block for long-term career development. You get the opportunity to learn diverse skills, have contact with company decision makers and soak in valuable experience you can turn into earning power and advancement potential down the road.

However, administrative jobs can be difficult to land. They require a broad set of skills, from communication to organization to specialized industry-dependent knowledge. Meanwhile, because they have strong long-term potential, securing a position often requires winning out in a very competitive process.

All this can make searching for an admin position difficult and demoralizing. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone. Teaming with a recruiter creates a short cut to finding the best assignments. You’ll find better jobs and spend less time out of work.

Here are four ways a recruiter makes searching for an administrative job faster and easier:

Streamline Your Job Search

Finding a job can represent a long and tedious process – constantly searching job sites, submitting resumes and trudging off to interviews. Working with a recruiter can simplify the procedure.

Once you submit your information to the staffing firm, they do the heavy lifting. They know your skills and your preferences, allowing them to steer you towards the perfect ... Read More

The search for a new job can dredge up a lot of emotions: anxiety, frustration, confusion, maybe even optimism in your more positive moments. In the darkest times, though, it can feel very lonely.

Of course, you have a personal support system: friends, family and host of other well-wishers in your life. But, aside from the networking opportunities they provide, they usually can’t provide more than emotional help in the job-search process. You could use something a little more concrete.

Enter a staffing firm. Nothing builds confidence more than an objective third party to give you advice and help you frame your pitch to employers.

A recruiter offers a number of advantages over conducting a job search on your own. Here are the top ways a staffing firm will accelerate the process of finding that perfect opportunity:

One-Stop Shop

Looking for a job comes with a lot of tedium. Wading through job postings, filling out applications and constantly submitting resumes – the whole process quickly becomes a grind.

A recruiter provides a shortcut. Once the agency has processed your information, the staffing firm can plug you into any number of their clients. It’s like applying for hundreds of jobs at once, allowing you to focus your ... Read More

You feel like your job search has reached a dead end. All the excitement you felt when you first started looking for your next big opportunity has deteriorated into frustration and despair, as you fruitlessly send out resume after resume and attend uninspiring interview after uninspiring interview.

You’re looking for an escape from the job-search treadmill. People have suggested a staffing agency as a possibility, but you’re reluctant. From what you’ve heard, using a recruiter doesn’t seem like the best option for you.

But before making a final decision, you might want to dig a little deeper. People often go into the job search with preconceived notions about staffing agencies. But many of those assumptions are wrong.

Here are four common myths about the staffing industry and the truth about how a recruiter can help facilitate your next opportunity.

1) Myth: Recruiters Only Offer Temporary Positions

It’s true: Many staffing firms provide short-term gigs. That only represents a portion of what recruiters do. Most agencies offer a variety of placements, allowing job seekers to set their own balance between flexibility and long-term commitment.

Think of it like a dating site. Some people prefer a casual relationship. Others are looking for something long term. The matchmaker ... Read More

Transitioning from unemployment or underemployment to a position that’s professionally, personally, and financially fulfilling can be one of life’s most arduous tasks. And while Central Pennsylvania’s tight job market currently favors job seekers, the hunt can lead to undue stress and even burnout when going it alone. As Charlie Kelly facetiously gripes in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: “Why don’t I strap on my job helmet and squeeze down into a job cannon and fire off into jobland?!”

Job recruitment companies like Tristarr Staffing exist to make that journey out of the “job cannon” and into “jobland” just a little bit easier. We recognize, however, that it can be daunting to take that first step. If you’re on the fence about utilizing recruiting agencies, consider these seven ways executive headhunters help place candidates like you:

1. They connect you with prospects. A recruitment agency provides unparalleled access to jobs and positions that often aren’t widely advertised online or offline. As more companies search for qualified candidates every day, recruiters typically have knowledge of job openings first. This gives you a competitive edge over those who stick to prowling job boards like Monster and Indeed to secure a new role.

2. They shepherd the process. ... Read More