Asking Your Employer If You Can Telecommute - FlexJobs

Asking Your Employer If You Can Telecommute - FlexJobsAsking Your Employer If You Can Telecommute -This week, Dilbert (in the comic strip by Scott Adams) asked his boss if he could work from home. Asking your employer if you can telecommute can be difficult.We can guess how it turns out for Dilbert, but if you are strategic in how you ask- you may be able to negotiate a more flexible schedule or the option to telecommute. You should be prepared to address common objections and to explain the value telecommuting offers you AND your employer.Keep reading for some excellent resources to help you ask your employer if you can telecommuteThe following are great resources that provide advice on approaching your employer about telecommuting or working from home.Asking to telecommute in a bad economyHow To Ask your Boss if You Can TelecommuteGetting Permission to Work From HomeHeres How to Convince Your BossHow I Convinced My Boss to Let Me TelecommuteAs telecommuting is getting more popular today, and the benefits to both the employee and the employer are becoming more well-known, many companies are willing to give it a try. Another real benefit to telecommuting is the preservation of the environment.Here is an excellent article on the environmental benefits of telecommuting. Being knowledgeable about how telecommuting is beneficial to organizations, employees, and the environment is an excellent departure to convincing your boss to try letting you work at home.

Theres an easy way to root out our own prejudices at work

Theres an easy way to root out our own prejudices at workTheres an easy way to root out our own prejudices at workBecoming less prejudiced and - in the popular word of the moment, more woke - is a process that nearly everyone goes through. Social stereotypes are powerful no matter what ones own background, and it takes years to learn to see the people behind them.For instance, a man may never think of himself as sexist but believe a female boss is bossy and a male boss is assertive? Managers who would never see themselves as racists might turn down a minority applicant because of worries that he will be a bad cultural fit, which is usually code for different than us.For the recipient this can all sting, which erodes trust and loyalty - two key elements for strong teams.Theres no shame in trying to fix ourselves. Learning to be sensitive to diverse groups of people is an ongoing project even for good people.We carry the baggage of cultural stereotypes even into the workplace. To be better workers- to be better employees and better colleagues and better humans- we need to learn how to let these weights go.Mindfulness alters our biases by teaching us to let goThankfully, these impressions are not set in stone. Theres a study that shows us how we can use mindfulnessas an empowering tool to reduce the biases in how we speak and address people.What is mindfulness? Its just the practice to paying attention to our own thoughts, while putting them in their place. In mindfulness, we recognize what we are thinking but we just let the ideas and sentences float by without giving them power.Heres how it can work Researchers asked 84 Emory University students to describeadult cartoons drawn in different scenarios. They were asked to think of thesecartoons as friends or enemies.Participants in the immersive group were told to become absorbed in the vivid details of thoughts of the cartoons while participants in the mindfulness group were told to observe their thoughts as a fleeting mental state.What did the immersive participants do? They immediately saw the friendly cartoons as part of their personal clique. Those that immersed themselves in the minds of the friendly cartoon characters took sides and spoke judgmentally about the offenses of the cartoon characters enemies.Meanwhile, participants who were told to paymindful attention to their biases would still positively judge their cartoon friends - but not as much as those in the immersive group.Overall, following the instruction to be mindful significantly reduced prejudices.The upshot mindfulness gives us the perspective and distance to rememberthat no one should be defined by one moment or first impression. When were reminded of that, we can evaluateour co-workersmore objectively.

Win the Race for That Accounting Job

Win the Race for That Accounting JobWin the Race for That Accounting JobTiffany Arcaris is always on the lookout for top finance and accounting job binnenseekers. If theres one message she can impart about standing out in the job market, its this Be sure to articulate the background, strengths and accomplishments you bring to the position.As a branch manager in Salt Lake City, Arcaris tells applicants, You need to be able to thoroughly describe your experience and your knowledge of processes, laws and relevant software. When youre in the interview, you should provide real examples in your responses to questions rather than hypothetical answers.To see how you measure up, here is a list of four qualities the best accounting job candidates possess in this field of accounting1. Accounting work historyOne of the candidates Arcaris represented had 10 years of experience in the payroll field and was responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank and monthly reconciliations. She d managed a payroll department, processed multi-state payroll and worked with tax returns and quarterly reports. She wasnt in the market for long.Not everyone applying for finance and accounting jobs has that much experience, but having stability and tenure in similar roles can be pivotal in securing your next position.Take a look at the job description for the position youre interested in. If its for a billing clerk job, you may be expected to show some work history in creating and submitting invoices and credit memos, processing bills, preparing journal entries and communicating with customers about billing.For other jobs, like that of an accounting manager, youll typically need at least five years of experience in the role, along with a bachelors degree and credentials.See some of the temporary accounting and finance roles we place that can strengthen your work history.SEE WHAT TEMPORARY ROLES WE PLACE2. Interpersonal skillsHow can you leave a good impression on a potential emplo yer? While technical expertise is valuable in an accounting job, you need both hard and soft skills for success. Communication is one of the most important soft skills, and it includes abilities such as articulating coherently, customer service, leadership, teamwork and adapting to change.Managers are looking for someone whose outlook and habits are compatible with their company culture. They can examine whether your interpersonal skills are a good fit by asking behavioral interview questions and probing for deeper answers that show more aspects of your personality.3. Precision and accuracyDetails matter in this profession, and its not unusual to see the words detail oriented as a qualification for a job.Employers are looking for someone who can hit deadlines and not make mistakes. As Arcaris says, someone with a strategic and analytical mindset and excellent organizational skills would make an ideal candidate in accounting operations.4. Passion for the workIn an Accountemps survey of the top job search blunders, CFOs cited a lack of enthusiasm on the part of candidates. Theyre looking for someone who shows an interest in the company and the position.Dont be caught off guard with a question like this Why do you want this job? This is an opportunity to talk about how much you enjoy the work, while demonstrating the strengths and value you bring. Do you take pride in managing bank reconciliations or performing month-end closings? Dont be afraid to say soFinally, heres a good practice from our job-hunting tips to give you an edge over other job seekers Create a resume and cover letter thats customized for each position and employer. This requires you to study the job description and research the company. Address a real person, never to whom it may concern. And make sure the application materials you send are clean and error-free.has been helping job seekers find great career opportunities since 1948. Enlist our recruiters to find the right job for you.