RECOMMENDATION REPORT

Brad Boeddeker

Employee Recommendation Report for Erin Hackey

Prepared for English 320 Fall 2013 By Brad Boeddeker

Distributed: October 28, 2013

Table of Contents:
LIST OF FIGURES iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iv INTRODUCTION 1 COMPANY EVALUATIONS 1 THE ANNE CARLSEN CENTER - 1 History 1 Relation to Field 2 Location 2 Job Requirements - 3 Salary & Benefits - 3 U.S. BANK - 3 History 3 Relation to Field 4 Location 4 Job Requirements - 4 Salary & Benefits 5 EIDE BAILLY - 6 History 6 Relation to Field 6 Location 6 Job Requirements - 7 Salary & Benefits 7 RECOMMENDATION 8 WORKS CITED 10

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List of Figures:
Figure 1: Illustration of Job Comparison..8

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Executive Summary
The purpose of the following report is to help you decide between the three jobs that you are considering applying for. I looked at each position and company individually and then compared them against each other utilizing the questionnaire that you completed for me. With this information I was able to make an informed and unbiased recommendation that I believe is the best choice for you at this time.

The position with The Anne Carlsen Center in Grand Forks, ND would be a good job in regards to the benefits offered and the experience you would gain. Unfortunately the projected salary and location make it somewhat less desirable.

U.S. Bank offers a very competitive benefits package for the Human Resources Recruiter position. There was no salary listed, but according to Simply Hired, comparable positions in Fargo earn approximately $56,000 a year. (Simply Hired, 2013) This, along with it being located in Fargo, ND, makes it an attractive option. A potential downside would be the lack of relevant experience that you would gain in regards to your long-term career goals.

Neither the salary nor benefits were listed for the position with Eide Bailly so I had to rely on other sources for that information. Simply Hired estimated an annual salary of $32,000 for Administrative Assistants in Fargo, ND. (Simply Hired, 2013) Also, The Better Business Bureau rated Eide Baillys employee benefits as A+ in 2013. (The Better Business Bureau, 2013)

My recommendation for you is to take a position with The Anne Carlsen Center, but in Fargo instead of Grand Forks. I was recently able to find a new posting for a position in Fargo that would allow you to work in your field, perform a valuable function by helping others, work closer to home, and still afford you the opportunity to continue your education at NDSU. While the initial salary is less than you desired, if feasible this position would help you achieve many of your personal and professional goals.
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INTRODUCTION
While researching these potential employment opportunities I looked at numerous aspects of each, yet focused on several main criteria that seemed most important to you after reviewing your questionnaire. I considered your desire to spend time with your family as being very important to you and did my utmost to take that into consideration through my research and while writing this report. The other important criteria that you mentioned were as follows: benefits to include medical and retirement, the prospect of working in your field while attending graduate school at NDSU, and an annual salary of $55 - $60K. (Hackey, 2013)

I looked at each organization individually in regards to their history, mission statement, growth, location, benefits, and how working for any of them could help you achieve your personal and professional goals. After completing my research I looked at each position objectively and was able to make a recommendation that I believe best fits your goals at this time.

COMPANY EVALUATIONS
The Anne Carlsen Center: Direct Support Professional
History: Mission Statement: "To make a more inclusive place where independence is a gift to all." This is a well-established and highly respected organization that continues to increase the independence and quality of life of the people they serve. The Center originally started in
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Jamestown, ND as a school for crippled children in 1941 and was eventually named after its' superintendent in 1980. Today the Anne Carlsen Center serves over 1500 individuals and employees over 550 in 4 locations throughout North Dakota.

Relation to Field: While I was researching the Direct Support Professional position, I quickly realized that it had the strong potential to fulfill your desire to work in your field. You would still be providing substantial support to clients while increasing their quality of life. I can see this being an extremely rewarding position that will help you gain invaluable experience that you could put towards another professional setting in the future.

Location: Unfortunately this specific position is being offered in Grand Forks. While you did express the willingness to travel for work, there are a couple of potentially negative aspects that I must address. The round trip of 162 miles per day would take approximately two hours and 40 minutes. (Google, 2013) This is valuable time that you could spend with your family. Also, an average fuel cost of $3.29 per gallon equates to an estimated $5,543.20 annual fuel expense for a vehicle that gets around 25 mpg. Also, depending on your weekly work schedule, this could possibly make it very difficult to attend graduate school at NDSU. After considering these factors I conducted periodic searches of my own and located a new posting for the same position in Fargo, ND. This would offer all the positive aspects already mentioned, without the negative issues relating to extra costs and less time with your family.
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Job Requirements: As we are both well acquainted with the requirements for each of these positions, I will only bring up any potential discrepancies there might be in regards to your ability to meet those requirements. After reviewing your educational and professional background, it is apparent that you will not have any trouble fulfilling the requirements for this position.

Salary & Benefits: I was unable to find the actual salary for a Direct Support Professional, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics quoted the average income of comparable positions to be $20,170 during 2010. While this is below your desired salary, they do offer some very competitive benefits that may help offset this issue. The Anne Carlsen Center provides benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision. You may take part in their Health Savings Account and flex account option. They also offer a 401(k) plan, paid time off, and an employee assistance program if needed. Other benefits include short and longterm disability, life insurance, as well as potential relocation bonuses.

U.S. Bank: Human Resources Recruiter

History: According to their website U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank, has well established history dating back to 1863. (U.S. Bank, 2013) They have maintained a consistent pattern of responsible, positive growth when other institutions have struggled.

I was able to locate an article on money.cnn.com which stated that U.S. Bancorp was recently rated the number one most admired companies by Fortune Magazine in 2012. (CNN, 2013)

Relation to Field: While this position doesnt quite fulfill your desire to work in a clinical setting, it would however, allow you to gain experience while performing a rewarding task that you are familiar with.

Location: This position is in Fargo, which would make it considerably less difficult to continue your education at NDSU. Your daily commute would be negligible compared to the Direct Support Professional position in Grand Forks, allowing for more time with your family and significantly less fuel cost.

Job Requirements: After a careful review of the requirements for this position, there are two issues that require further discussion. The first is the timeframe in which the company wishes to fill this position, and whether or not you will be able to complete your Bachelors by then. The second is regarding your equivalent work experience. We would need to further discuss your length of employment at Express Employment Professionals to ensure that you meet the minimum requirement. Once we are able to establish that you meet both of these, I see no other issues with you meeting the necessary requirements.

Salary & Benefits: The salary for this position was not listed, but the average salary in Fargo, ND is approximately $56,000. (Simply Hired, 2013) This amount is sufficient to meet your desired salary range as stated on the questionnaire. U.S. Bank offers exceptional benefits to employees and their families. The following benefits are listed on their website: Health, Dental, and Vision Discounted access to wellbeing programs: pregnancy support, chronic condition support, fitness programs, etc. Health Savings Accounts Health Care Flexible Spending Account 401(k) o 100% contribution up to 4% of annual pay after 1 year Cash balance pension plan o 100% funded by U.S. Bank o 100% vested after three years U.S. Bank paid term life insurance up to annual pay Disability insurance (U.S. Bank, 2013)

Eide Bailly: Administrative Assistant/Processor

History: Eide Baillys website directed me to Wikipedia where I was able to find detailed information on the companys history. The company began in 1917 in Fargo, ND and has greatly expanded in size and services offered, but their focus is on audit & assurance and tax services. (Wikipedia, 2013) According to their website, Eide Bailly currently has 22 offices across the nation and is rated as a top 25 CPA Firm. (Eide Bailly, 2013) When one looks at how the firm has grown from a local to national level, it is reasonable to believe that there is great potential for individual professional growth as well.

Relation to Field: Unfortunately this position would not be in your preferred field. While you would still be gaining important professional experience, I would not consider it to be directly relevant. This is an important fact to consider as future positions in your desired field may require a certain amount of relevant experience.

Location: Again, this position is in Fargo, which is an added benefit due to your inability to relocate at this time. Their office is at 4310 17th Ave S, which is easily accessible from I-94 and numerous main traffic arteries allowing for a shorter commute and more time with your family.

Job Requirements: After review of the requirements for this position, I do not see any issues that would arise regarding your ability to meet those requirements.

Salary & Benefits: I was unable to find any listed salary or benefits for this position, but a quick search on Simply Hired showed that the average salary for comparable positions in Fargo was approximately $32,000. (Simply Hired, 2013) This is still somewhat below your desired range, yet their website does mention competitive benefits for employees. (Eide Bailly, 2013) Also, the Better Business Bureau as awarded them with an A+ rating for employee benefits. (Better Business Bureau, 2013

RECOMMENDATION
Even though there are numerous positive aspects of each potential position, there some negative issues that must be addressed in order to evaluate the impact they may have on your decision. I took the liberty of constructing a table, Figure 1, to better illustrate how these positions compare to one another in regards to the criteria discussed above.

Meets Criteria Anne Carlsen Center Location / Time with Family Benefits Relation to Field Salary Grand Forks, ND Health/Dental/Vision 401k/Life/Disability Yes $20, 170 Based on Average

Does Not Meet Criteria U.S. Bank Fargo, ND Health/Dental/Vision 401k/Life/Disability No $56,000 Based on Average Eide Bailly Fargo, ND Unknown but highly rated No $32,000 Based on Average

The Administrative Assistant position with Eide Bailly offers a lower than desired salary and is not directly related to your field. It is in Fargo which would make it easier to continue your education at NDSU while allowing for more time with family. The Human Resources Recruiter position with U.S. Bank offers a very competitive salary and benefits package. It is also located in Fargo, with the associated benefits. Unfortunately, the experience gained in this position may not be considered relevant for future positions in your chosen field. The Direct Support Professional position with The Anne Carlsen Center meets your needs in regards to benefits and gaining relevant experience, yet offers a salary below what you are looking for, and is also located in Grand Forks, ND. This

last fact decreases the amount of time you can spend with your family and adds significant fuel expenses to your annual budget.

During my careful consideration of each of these positions, I continually returned my attention to the Direct Support Professional with The Anne Carlsen Center. Even though the other positions offered better pay and their locations are more convenient, I couldnt help but think about how working at The Anne Carlsen Center would benefit you personally and professionally when looking long-term. This is why I took the liberty of conducting the previously mentioned periodic searches for the same position in Fargo, and was recently successful in finding just such an opening. While the salary would no doubt be comparable in both cities, the location would be much more convenient. This will greatly reduce commuting time and fuel costs, while still allowing you to gain tremendous relevant experience while attending graduate school at NDSU. But more importantly, you would be working in a field where you will see the tangible results of helping others on a daily basis.

While it would be fiscally irresponsible to overlook the lower salary, if your current financial situation allows, I strongly recommend the position with The Anne Carlsen Center in Fargo, ND. I believe that it will pay off tremendously in the long-run both personally and professionally.

WORKS CITED:
The Anne Carlsen Center. (2013). Retrieved October 15, 2013 from
http://annecarlsen.org/careers/

The Better Business Bureau. (2013). Retrieved October 25, 2013 from
http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews/insurance-employee-benefits/eidebailly-employee-benefits-in-minneapolis-mn-96056238

CNN Money. (2013). Retrieved October 25, 2013 from

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/most-admired/2012/industries/50.html

Eide Bailly. (2013). Retrieved October 25, 2013 from

http://www.eidebailly.com

Google. (2013). Retrieved October 20, 2013 from

https://maps.google.com/

Hackey, E. (2013, 03 October). Email questionnaire. Simply Hired. (2013). Retrieved October 25, 2013 from
http://www.simplyhired.com/salaries

U.S. Bank. (2013). Retrieved October 15, 2013 from

https://www.usbank.com/careers/employee-benefits.html

Wikipedia. (2013). Retrieved October 25, 2013 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eide_Bailly_LLP

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