Whether you are currently employed or seeking a new opportunity, how will you know if it’s the right job for you? There are many reasons people continue to stay in the same position for years, for better or worse. Here are a few discussion points that might help you decide you are in the right place or decide to move on.

Does the organization have the same goals and desires you are seeking? Individual, team and organizational goals should be cross aligned, ensuring connection and contribution to the overall higher goals. The business should also support these goals and help you achieve them the best way they can.

Is this a position where you can make an immediate impact? The organization should be able to create an atmosphere where you can feel comfortable enough to initiate new ideas and show individuality while also listening to your team and learning from leadership.

Do you always feel like you are in survival mode? Does every day going into work feel like a battle, or do you dread going in? We mostly all have had those thoughts/feelings in specific jobs, and there is a reason you aren’t there anymore. So why waste more time in a dead-end job?

Suppose a job is not fulfilling your needs personally and professionally. In that case, it might be time to accept a position within an organization that will and take the next step in your career. Only you can make that decision!

JSpire Recruiting celebrates Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month as Janice Shisler, Chief Executive Officer, is proud to represent the community as a Hispanic Executive and Entrepreneurial Leader within the financial services recruitment industry.

Hispanic Heritage Week was initially started by Congress in 1968 and was lengthened into a month-long celebration in 1988. The dates September 15th through October 15th are unique due to several national independence days occurring in Latin American countries over this time period.

Hispanic and Latinx small-business owners are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States. According to a study from Stanford University, the number of Latinx business owners grew 34% over the past ten years.

During this month, we honor the cultures and recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Thank you to our colleagues, clients, candidates, and partners within this community who help influence and inspire growth in our industry and beyond!

Are you in a dead-end job?

If you are asking yourself this, then most likely, yes. You’ve probably heard the term dead-end job, but what does it mean? To put it bluntly, you have no career advancement in your present company. You’ve fulfilled your time in your position or department, and there is no room for professional advancement or growth.

A few specific examples that could lead you to this conclusion:

• Your employer cannot provide or outline a clear career path for you within the company.
• You feel you are not utilized for more challenging projects or opportunities.
• You are required to have advanced degrees or qualifications to meet the criteria for a higher-level position.
• The organization hires external candidates instead of promoting within.

Overall, you feel you are undervalued. So, is it time to call it quits and take the next step in your career? Go for it, and maybe you’ll see an overall lifestyle change!

It’s the beginning of a new year; with all of the ambiguity going on in the world, is it a good time to make a career change?

Self-reflection has been a focal point of the past year; with the uncertainty of the job market; many are adapting and learning new skillsets. New skillsets mean new potential candidates, as more people are switching and adjusting to different industries. People are more willing to move, and geographical obstacles are seemingly non-existent when it comes to new opportunities, as virtual interviews make the transition easier.

Businesses need to be creative in attracting this new potential talent pool. From remote work to flexibility with schedules and changes to work habits – these all have made the corporate setting a thing of the past. Malleability to this new business environment is crucial to ensuring your employees are at ease; however, the virtual aspect ensures conversations are more personable with less conflict.

Depending on your circumstances, now might be the best time to reevaluate what’s vital in your career and what you want to do differently. Purposefulness might be the new mantra for the year 2021.

Managing Client and Candidate Relationships

Respectable recruiters are successful in managing the two relationships – client and candidate – during the recruitment process. Both relationships are equally important, requiring trust and communication.

Technology has evolved and streamlined the recruitment process, primarily through Client Relationship Management (CRM) software and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems are beneficial to recruiters; however, the rapport between the recruiter and their contacts gets lost in translation.

Personal connections are unequivocally the foundation for recruiters, clients, and candidates alike. Simple callbacks and touching base with clients and candidates on both sides of the recruitment process on a frequent basis is essential, making sure both your clients and candidates feel involved in the process.

Getting back to the basics is vital for successful recruiters, especially during the current climate, where we may not be getting human interaction as much as we used to. People want to feel like they aren’t just another number, and reassuring them they are as important as the next client or candidate can foster a reputable reputation.

New market, new demand!

Ask yourself, what are we doing as a company to retain our talent within our mortgage division?

The mortgage industry is in high demand of employees, as mortgage rates continue to remain under 3%. Due to the urgency of hiring candidates with mortgage operations experience, employers are seeking mortgage leaders to join their organization.  Quality talent is being swept away by other mortgage companies by virtue of monetary base compensation and incentives.

As an organization facing some of these challenges, employers are being creative on compensation structures to incentivize workers.  Incentives offered are hiring bonuses, retention tools tied to compensation, with the ability to work remotely.

If your company is facing the same challenges, reflect on your incentive strategy and retention tools needed to be competitive in a demanding mortgage rate environment.

Securing quality talent within your organization should include an internal strategic plan. Retention plans for top credit union Executives comprise of competitive salaries, targeted performance incentive goals and retention bonuses, stock options, paid time off, and ancillary allowances and benefits.

Robust, targeted performance incentive plans are successful when implemented at the offer stage/onboarding process, and even more lucrative when these plans align with industry standard. Specifically, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual performance incentives are beneficial at the Executive level and should be established to incorporate non-financial metrics and financial metrics. Non-financial metrics might include engaged members, member survey results, staff turnover ratios. Financial metrics may encompass loan growth and earnings, return on assets, capital ratio, membership growth, net income, and board evaluations (if applicable).

Once you establish the targeted goals, each metric should be broken out to a percentage of the final goal. Non-financial metrics could be 10% of the total bonus, while financial metrics are 90%, it depends on the organization’s focus to meet the needs of its employees and business strategy. Evaluating your Executive Compensation plans should be assessed annually to ensure they are in-line with the industry standard to achieve employee engagement and retention.

Should you chase the money or the opportunity? Well first, ask yourself, ‘Is it the right fit?’ Organizations may pay well, but if they have a high turnover rate and don’t fulfill your career goals, it may be in your best interest to really think it through.

This is an internal dilemma that many people go through. Of course, you shouldn’t undervalue yourself monetarily should a job prospect check all your career boxes, but don’t let an opportunity slip away that could benefit your long-term career development. Success can be subjective, and how it is measured and valued differs from person to person.

Some companies do entice candidates with short-term monetary goals, which can burn out employees quickly, causing high turnover within an organization. It may not be in your best interest to weigh opportunities based on compensation alone; career advancement, skill development, and passion should be considered. Chasing short-term benefits could prove unfruitful in the long-run, and you may not want to look back and wish you would’ve done things differently.

You’ve reached the final stage in the recruitment process, the offer – After the application and multiple interviews, you landed the job!

Generally, the incentive for candidates to move organizations or positions would allow candidates to seek opportunities that will provide a promotion, ability to be a key contributor within the organization, and an increase in pay structure.

When seeking a new opportunity, the motivation to make a change for a new role should be discussed initially, setting the expectations from the onset. Once an offer is extended and accepted, you have agreed to the terms and negotiation ends. Strive to find a balance to determine if a counteroffer is necessary or if it is about its monetary value or the position. Most often, it is the position job seekers are trying to attain.

Organizations have set wage bands for positions based on market and internal value, from minimum, mid-point, to maximum of the salary range. Various other factors could help offset any wage bands misalignments when pursuing a job offer, including sign-on bonuses, targeted variable (bonus) pay, allowances, paid time off, supplemental retirement plans, and additional benefits.

These are all part of the equation when evaluating your next opportunity!

The heart of any company begins with its mission statement. The mission statement is the very definition of what the company stands for and the potential future outlook of the business. Much like a company’s value, it shapes the organizational culture where employees learn and grow. If one member of the team doesn’t believe in the same vision the entire team can begin to crumble.

Executives should be the ultimate advocates of driving the mission statement home. They need to constantly focus on how to better the organization and what steps to take to get closer to the ultimate goal. If they do not believe in the vision of the company, this can create a major disturbance in pushing the entire company forward.

Is it worth the time and energy to dedicate time and resources in coaching the executive to invest themselves more? Or should you turn your attention to someone that can prove to be a driving force towards the future?

Many times, the executive cannot offer 100% buy-in to the company’s mission. While the executive may offer great departmental support to the overall vision, if they are not focused on the same goal this can be a deterrent to the desired success in the long run.

Focusing attention on someone who wants to see organizational growth fall within the mission of the company is important. The executives and employees that support the direction a company is headed are more willing to dedicate the time needed to see the goals come to fruition. Try not spin your wheels on a stalled executive, and instead, cruise into the future with a group of supporters backing you.