There’s a large population of the workforce that is several months into adjusting to working remotely due to the Coronavirus outbreak. While the flexibility of working from home is a huge perk, most of us have also come to find out that working remotely comes with its setbacks. One of those setbacks is the lack of human interaction we get from going into the office each day and collaborating, even socializing, with the rest of our team.

Working from home doesn’t mean the camaraderie you’ve built up with your co-workers for the duration of your time with the company gets erased. It simply means that just as we’ve adjusted to staying productive within our roles outside of the office, we need to adjust the way we interact and bond with our co-workers as well. Below are some tips for staying connected to your team without seeing them at the office every day.

Zoom Meetings vs. Phone Calls

If working together in person isn’t an option, virtual meetings are the next best thing. Of course, phone calls are great for questions and brief discussions, but virtual meetings on the meeting software of your choice is needed when working from home. Whether it’s a team check-in meeting once a week or a one-on-one virtual call with a team member or manager, seeing a smiling face is better than hearing a voice.

Team Communication Platforms

Team communication platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout or Chanty are perfect for remote work. This modern software allows large teams to stay in constant communication throughout the day in an organized way. Direct message with co-workers for private conversations or participate in group chats about specific topics, it’s all possible with a good business communication platform.

Celebrate Small Wins to Big Milestones

It’s more important than ever to connect and keep that camaraderie going since we can’t celebrate accomplishments in real time at the office. Celebrating means recognizing everyone’s hard work and team effort towards common goals, so be sure to give a shout out to co-workers for everything from small wins to major milestones.

Continue Monthly Get-Together

The team happy hour that you looked forward to each month might be on hold for a while, but who says it has to end? Continue that monthly get-together with co-workers virtually. It doesn’t have to be all business, all the time. In fact, you will create a stronger bond with your team if you make an effort towards getting to know everyone on a human level rather than strictly business.

JW Michaels & Co. is an executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology and business institutions. Contact us about our Executive Search and Flexible Staffing Solutions today.

While many offices are still closed due to employers taking extra precautions during the Coronavirus pandemic, working remotely has become the modern workplace for thousands of employees. The flexibility of working from home might seem like the perfect work setting at first, until challenges come along that might interfere with productivity or job performance.

Distractions at home such as children or a significant other also working remotely can make it difficult to get your job done as efficiently as you did at the office. However, exceling in your position is not negotiable and should always be your top priority.

Whether your company has decided to keep your position remote permanently or temporarily, getting familiar with ways to excel in your position without stepping foot into the office is invaluable. Below are tips on standing out while working remotely.

Over Communicate

When being in the office is no longer an option, being overly communicative is the best way to stay ahead of your work and make your productivity known. Check in with your manager and team clearly and regularly to avoid confusion and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Organization

Organization is the key to remote work when newfound freedom and flexibility are at your fingertips. It’s much easier to get distracted at home, so staying organized will keep you on track and productive. Whether it’s your Outlook calendar or an old school notebook and paper, set goals and meet them each week.

Meet Deadlines

It goes without saying, meeting your deadlines is the best way to prove yourself to your team. Once you’ve become reliable and trustworthy, it will allow you to stand out amongst the crowd. It’s as simple as that.

Follow All Hands on Deck Mentality

Being a team player is important on a remote team because it shows your sense of comradery and willingness to contribute to the goals of the company as a whole. If you notice your co-workers are tied up and can offer your help, by all means step in and do so.

Always Improve

Improving, learning and fine tuning your skillset will make you stand out in any work environment, not just when working from home. Be known as the team member who’s always seeking to expand their knowledge on the new and exciting trends in your industry. Take advantage of learning opportunities your organization provides as well as knowledge veteran members of your team can provide.

Adjusting to working remotely might involve a bit more effort to keep a good standing amongst your team. Always strive to stand out for your professionalism, willingness to succeed and reliability as a team player. Follow the above tips to excel at working remotely.

JW Michaels & Co. is an executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology and business institutions. Contact us about our Executive Search and Flexible Staffing Solutions today.

The impact of the Coronavirus is far reaching and unprecedented, causing millions of people to make a sudden transition from going into the office regularly to working from home full-time.

At first, working from home can seem like a relief, replacing your commute time with more time spent with the family or for yourself. It has its perks, like wearing sweatpants every day or running to the kitchen for a snack whenever hunger strikes. But over the long-term, those perks can turn into distractions and WFH burnout can happen.

Working remotely takes discipline. Setting goals for the week and sticking to them is a great way to maintain your productivity while working from home. Additionally, set boundaries between work time personal time to keep a sense of separation. Having some structure can help too, since it might feel like a free for all with no team around for support, inspiration or comradery.

While it might seem like a dream to work from home, it can also be easy to lose focus. With that said, here are 5 tips to staying productive while working from home.

Home Office

Even if there’s no dedicated home office in your house, creating a space for work is recommended when working remotely. This creates a separated workspace vs. space for other everyday activities such as exercising, resting and relaxing.

Keep a Schedule

It’s inevitable that distractions will come up, so keeping to a schedule can boost productivity when working from home. Even if the schedule only distinguishes a start time or end time, this can help solidify any grey areas between work time and personal time.

Get Dressed

When we get up and go to the office, we feel good about ourselves by looking presentable. Stay in the routine of waking up early, showering and putting on work clothes to avoid falling into the habit of staying in pajamas or sweatpants all the time. These habits can alter our productivity levels over as the weeks go on.

Keep Communicating with Co-Workers

Not seeing your co-workers in the office everyday can get lonely and isolating, so consistently staying in virtual contact with them can increase productivity levels and keep creative and professional sides active. Whether it’s jumping on a phone call, Zoom call or brainstorming together in Slack, keep communicating often.

Take Breaks

Taking breaks is an essential part of staying productive because it can prevent a burnout. We’re not talking about Netflix breaks, but rather walking the dog or going outside for some fresh air can provide the refresh needed to stay on task. Sitting in one room of the house for too long isn’t conducive to productivity, so take breaks when your energy begins to fade.

JW Michaels & Co. is an executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology and business institutions. Contact us about our Executive Search and Flexible Staffing Solutions today.

The last thing hiring managers want to hear are generic statements that they’ve heard a handful of times before. Standing out from other candidates should be your goal during the interview process and offering detailed examples of your past achievements is a terrific start.

Hiring managers don’t want to hear blanket statements without any example to back it up, such as:

• I do extremely well with time management
• I work well with others
• I’m passionate about this field
• I’m self-motivated

Any candidate can claim to have the above skills but to separate yourself from the rest, offer a tangible example of achievements with a good story. It will not only show off your unique personality, it will give the hiring manager a better idea of what you can bring to the table.

Paint the hiring manager a picture and allow them to envision how your past experience can benefit the organization. For example, instead of using the broad statement “I excel at time management,” explain how you stay on top of deadlines, plan ahead and use a calendar or a specific project management app to track weekly, monthly and yearly goals. To demonstrate how passionate you are about the field you’re in, explain how you volunteer in your spare time and actively seek ways to improve your skills by taking classes and attending seminars.

If you want to demonstrate your good communication skills, don’t simply tell the hiring manager that you have them. Show them by highlighting your skills and experience through detailed anecdotes that pertain to the specific role you’re interviewing for. By illustrating your skills through example, the interviewer can get to know your personality better and decide whether it fits in with the company’s corporate culture.

Being clear, concise and detailed is an excellent way to put your best foot forward and show your positive traits in a job interview.

JW Michaels & Co. is an executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology and business institutions. Contact us about our Executive Search and Flexible Staffing Solutions today.

Salary negotiation is nerve-wracking enough, but receiving any type of pushback during the process can take that stress to new heights. Whether you’ve just accepted a job offer and have started negotiating your starting salary, or you’ve been with the company for a while and think you deserve a raise, salary negotiation can be challenging. The best strategy is to go in as prepared as possible, having done thorough research, and remain confident in your worth. To ease the pressure, below are some tips for successful salary negotiation strategies.

Credible Research

Bringing credible research to the table such as what competitors are paying employees with your skillset in the same geographic location and amount of years in the industry can be used as leverage in the salary negotiation process. Using this information as back-up will solidify your role as a valued employee who knows their worth.

Decide Your Cutoff Number

You should have a cutoff number going into the salary negotiation meeting, or have the lowest salary you’re willing to accept in mind before walking away. If your employer can’t meet your lowest possible salary request, it might be a sign that it’s time to walk away. They might not see the value you’re bringing to the company, and in that case, it’s probably not a good fit for your career anyway.

Negotiate Non-Monetary Perks

Don’t neglect to negotiate key non-monetary perks like healthcare, paid vacations, working remotely on certain days and other work perks. If there’s simply not enough room in the budget for the salary raise you’re asking for and you wish to stay loyal to the company, negotiate non-monetary perks in the interim and ask to revisit the salary negotiation at a later date, when the company becomes more financially stable.

Bring Specific Examples of Value

Surely, the question of “Why do you deserve a raise?” or “Why do you deserve this competitive salary?” will come up, and you will need to be prepared to offer specific examples of accomplishments that support your request. The more specific you can get, the more successful your case will be. For example, if you’ve been with the company for several years and you’re negotiating a raise, remind your manager of the amount of revenue you’ve brought in over the past year or cite an example of a successful project you recently lead.

Timing

Life is all about timing and that rings true for salary negotiations as well. It’s best to request a meeting about a raise upon completion of a successful project. This way, you’re negotiating at your most confident and your value is fresh in your boss’ minds. The trick is to ask for a salary increase when your odds are on your side, instead of when you need the money the most.

JW Michaels & Co. is an executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology, and business institutions. Since our founding in 2010, we have grown to over a 120+ employees across six offices nationwide. We continue to grow because we stay true to our mission, employing the best people to find the best people. Fill out our form and one of our specialists will contact you as soon as possible.

Congratulations! You made it past the interview process and landed the new position you’ve been eyeing. Now that JW Michaels has connected you to your new company, it’s time to create a notable first impression and set up habits that will lead to ongoing opportunities within the company. Although the following tips are crucial the first few months on the job, carrying them through beyond 90 days is just as important.

1. Seek a Mentor

A mentor is a valuable asset to have when learning the ropes of a new company culture. Seek a mentor who has once held the position you’re in now, and they can help guide you. Gracefully accept their tips and advice on how they did things in the position, then make the position your own and leave your own mark on the company. The most important aspect of a mentor is forming a long-lasting bond that is mutually beneficial. (more…)

Recruiters all face times they need to give negative feedback, but the goal is to deliver it effectively and constructively. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s inevitable at certain stages of the recruiting process. For a recruiter, an interview can be seen as somewhat routine, but job candidates often view them as stressful situations. If a job candidate requires help in certain areas of the interview, delivering productive feedback can help them change the trajectory of their career and potentially land them a position in which they can thrive once they make the changes. Below are 5 tips on giving negative feedback where it’s needed.

(more…)

We’re Leaders in Placing Accounting & Finance Professionals!

JW Michaels works with many major companies, here in the United States, and abroad, to meet their personnel needs in Accounting and Finance.  We are among the top recruituing firms for accounting and finance. Our vast network allows us to provide outstanding candidates to our clients.

Right now we have a strong need for Accounting and Finance professionals at all levels, including

• CFO
• VP
• Controller
• Tax
• Audit
• FP&A
• General Accounting
• Internal/External Reporting
• Financial Systems Management
• IT Finance and Financial Services
• Click HERE for Current Opportunities

Candidates: Do You Have What It Takes?

If you have the knowledge, skills, personality and desire to bring your career to the next level, you owe it to yourself to call our New York Office today at (212) 922-2844. Our Accounting & Finance Recruiters can help place you in the career you deserve! You will experience the difference as compared to other accounting staffing agencies. Take the risk out of finding your dream job by working with JW Michaels – call today or email us now.

Employers: Let JW Michaels Deliver the Talent You Need

JW Michaels & Co. is a premier executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology, accounting and business institutions. Our clients include select investment management firms, hedge funds, investment banks, law firms, and Fortune 500 companies in every industry. If you’re looking for top-quality finance recruiting firms to find professional placements for your company, give us a call at (212) 922-2844. Learn More.

“While being highly selective, we have the ability to place qualified candidates at some of the most prestigious financial and business institutions in the world. Our clients consistently set the bar high on requirements, credentials, and education; we aim higher with one of the most developed networks of Big Four and large regional talent.” — Jason Wachtel, managing partner of JW Michaels

Our seasoned Information Technology recruiting professionals consist of software engineer recruiters and software developer recruiters. Our recruiters work with Fortune 500, financial services firms, major media companies, and pharmaceutical, e-commerce, and retail organizations to find the ideal IT professionals for your needs. We specialize in areas including Application Development, Infrastructure, Architecture, Business Analysis, Quality Assurance, software engineering, and SAP.

Right now, our software engineer recruiters & software developer recruiters have a strong need for IT professionals at all levels, including:

• Application Developers
• Software Developers
• Software Engineers
• Installation Technicians
• Support/Help Desk
• Click HERE for Current Opportunities

Candidates: Do You Have What IT Takes?

If you have the knowledge, skills, personality and desire to bring your career to the next level, you owe it to yourself to call our New York Office today at (212) 922-2844. Our software developer recruiters can help place you in the career you deserve! Take the risk out of finding your dream job by working with JW Michaels – call today or email us now.

Employers: Let JW Michaels Deliver the Talent You Need

JW Michaels & Co. is a premier executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology, accounting and business institutions. Our clients include select investment management firms, hedge funds, investment banks, law firms, and Fortune 500 companies in every industry. If you’re looking for top-quality professionals for your company, give us a call at (212) 922-2844. Learn more.

“Evolving as readily as the industry does, our IT recruiters are dedicated to sourcing the best full-time, consulting, project-based, temp-to-perm, and executive professionals, to suit the unique needs of each of our clients.” — Jason Wachtel, managing partner of JW Michaels

We’re Leaders in Placing Risk Management Professionals!

Our dedicated Risk Management recruiting professionals work with industry leading C-Level Executives, Portfolio Management Professionals, and Risk Managers in all 50 states and around the world. Our risk management placement team has years of experience working inside financial services and recruiting departments of financial organizations, and focuses on risk management jobs, portfolio management, and infrastructure.

Right now, our risk management placement team has a strong need for risk management professionals at all levels, including:

• Chief Risk Officers
• Financial Risk Management
• Hazard Analysis
• Supply Chain Risk Management
• Operational Risk Management
• Click HERE for Current Opportunities

Candidates: Do You Have What It Takes?

If you have the knowledge, skills, personality and desire to bring your career to the next level, you owe it to yourself to call our New York Office today at (212) 922-2844. Our Legal Recruiters can help place you in the career you deserve! Take the risk out of finding your dream job by working with JW Michaels – call today or email us now.

Employers: Let JW Michaels Deliver the Risk Management Professionals You Need

JW Michaels & Co. is a premier executive search firm dedicated to serving the specialized recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology, accounting and business institutions. Our clients include select investment management firms, hedge funds, investment banks, law firms, and Fortune 500 companies in every industry. If you’re looking for top-quality professionals for your company, give us a call at (212) 922-2844. Learn More.

“We have identified the growing need for effective strategy and risk management placement due to the constantly evolving landscape as well as the tail-end risk that is constantly changing and affecting the markets.” — Jason Wachtel, managing partner of JW Michaels