iCIMS Hire Expectations™

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."
--Michael Jordan

It is always nice to see that the 3 hour lecture hall classes we were forced to sit through in college actually taught us something besides ‘how to fight to stay awake’. My minor in college is entitled, “Labor Studies and Employment Relations” which most people give one of those side head nods, not having a clue what it really means. Honestly, when I first started taking the courses it may just have been because the professors all got smiley faces on ratemyprofessor.com, however I have found the subject and the courses are relevant in almost every and any job position you may be in. 

As a marketing intern at iCIMS, I am beginning to discover that a positive work environment can motivate employees to stay on task and achieve higher goals. While customers and clients are what keep the business thriving and moving forward, employee satisfaction is vital to keep the company running smoothly.

In my previous experience, I have seen both good and bad working environments and the way it affects the productivity of work is incredible. My first job was at an ice cream shop. While the endless amount of ice cream was mouth-watering, the work environment brought a whole new meaning to ‘rocky road’.

Some of the negative aspects of work environment included:

• No Supervision- The owner was barely ever at the store, so he had no idea what needed to be done in order to keep the business in top shape.
• No Communication- The employees were told not to speak to one another while working, as it would distract them from what they needed to do. 
• No Teamwork- We didn't have meetings, goals, or anything to keep us feeling involved in the workplace. Without the initiative to work towards something, many employees worked as little as possible.

When employees (or interns for that matter) feel like they are apart of a company, they want to see it succeed. Employee communication is an important part of having a positive work environment. When employees feel like their opinions matter, their concerns are being met, and their work has a significant role in the overall success of a company, they are more likely to excel in their positions.

A few things iCIMS does to keep a positive work environment include:

• Weekly training sessions- Every week employees have a training session about something new or interesting that can help them with their work. This keeps everyone on the same page and allows for the company as a whole to progress together.
• Weekly department meetings- Although this may not seem like much, this allows everyone to share what they have been working on and express any questions or concerns they may have.  
• Monthly Goals- Goals give every employee a reason to work their very best. No one wants to be the reason why a goal wasn’t met.

These small things may not seem too important; however, a positive environment can put everyone in the right mood to succeed. I, for one, know that I feel a lot more comfortable expressing ideas and working to surpass my goals in a company that embraces a positive workforce.