Ten Years

It’s a joyous day here in Protiviti Land, as today marks our ten-year anniversary as an organization. In offices around the world, we spent the day toasting, recognizing, and reminiscing. We are all proud of our achievements over the last decade.

All of this reflection prompted me to wonder, what else has been around since 2002? After some digging around on the interweb, including bastions of information such as Wikipedia and infoplease, the result is the following list (fittingly, it is a Top Ten).

Top Ten Things That Have Been Around Since 2002 (Besides Protiviti)

10) Crocs. Yup, it’s been ten years and I have yet to purchase a pair. I’m told they’re comfortable.

9) The Euro. Notes and coins began to circulate at the start of the year.

8) American Idol. Kelly Clarkson won the first season, establishing a legacy that has given us Carrie Underwood and Jordin Sparks, among others. And then there’s From Justin To Kelly… pretty sure that speaks for itself.

7) The Dollar Menu at McDonald’s was introduced in 2002. College students everywhere rejoiced.

6) Cloned Cats. The first cloned pet, CC the cat, was announced in February 2002 by researchers at Texas A&M University (whoop).

5) Friendster became the first viable social networking site in 2002, spurring a slew of development in social networking, leading to MySpace a few years later, and after that Facebook. Does anyone in our audience still have a Friendster account?

4) The .NET framework was first released. (That one was for my Technology audience. Respect.)

3) The planet Quaoar, located a short distance of 4 billion miles from Earth, was discovered in 2002 (although admittedly it has been in existence a bit longer).

2) My college degree. Sadly, my impending ten-year reunion is another reminder of the passage of time. This is particularly brutal when a recent campus hire points out that she also graduated in 2002 – from third grade.

1) Segways. I’m still not completely sure I understand them, but people have been dodging them on the sidewalks of Chicago and other cities since 2002.

All of this is a fun way to say that we’ve come a long way. Congratulations to all Protiviti employees and alumni on this special milestone. I can’t wait to see what the next decade will bring!



-- Bridget

Dressing to Impress

What are the day-to-day questions that come up in the life of a consultant? Sometimes (nay, most times) our recent hires say it better than we recruiters ever could. When that happens, I figure it’s best to act as a conduit for the wisdom that was imparted, to post a quick blog here and let the brilliance wash over you.


In one such case, we had a recent question about dress code from a student who will be joining Protiviti this summer. In consulting, “dress code” can mean different things – depending on the client you are working on, depending on the season or the day of the week, and depending on what you managed to pack into your carry-on when you overslept your alarm. With his initiation into Corporate America swiftly approaching, our student asked the following question:

“Where should the line be drawn between dressing professionally to maintain a good image and overdressing where it can be seen as disrespecting another company’s culture?”

Joe, a consultant in Protiviti’s San Francisco office, provided this answer, based largely on the wisdom gained from his previous transition into the workplace:

“A rule of thumb that I’ve heard when it comes to dress is to try to match the client’s culture. For example, if you’re working for a financial services firm in New York, you would likely wear a suit and tie to work as the client probably dresses that way. In the case of a startup client that I recently worked with, it was obviously a bit different.

It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. I think when we show up to a client in business casual, it shows a sense of responsibility and expertise. Clients hire us for our expertise and our professionalism and I feel like this is a subtle way of re-assuring them of their decision to hire Protiviti. Business casual is a “neutral” type of attire. It doesn’t stand out because it’s overdone, and it doesn’t seem lacking.”

So there you have it, rookies. When in doubt, go business cas.





--Bridget

Pittsburgh Marathon

The Pittsburgh Marathon was bigger and better than ever on Sunday, as a record-breaking number of runners and onlookers filled the streets of Downtown.  Weekend events attracted a record 26,000 entrants. Last Sunday's events included the marathon, a half-marathon, a marathon relay, a 5K and a children's race was held on Saturday.

Members of our very own Pittsburgh office completed the half-marathon and marathon relay, sporting our 10 year anniversary running shirts.

 (Left to Right):  Sr. Manager, Tim completed the 1st leg of the relay and continued to ran the half marathon; Senior Consultant, Jim completed the last leg of the relay; HR Director, Jen ran the half marathon; Protiviti friend ran the 3rd leg of the relay; Consultant, Brendan ran the 4th leg of the relay; and Managing Director, Jeff participated at the 2nd leg of the relay.

Way to go guys!
-Casey Jo

Time For Rewards and Recognition

Protiviti is proud to be listed on Experience, Inc's "Best Places To Work For Recent Grads" ranking for 2012.  This is our second consecutive year on the list and we are thrilled to be back.  For more information on this ranking, click here.

As a campus recruiter, I have a special appreciation for all of the things that Protiviti does as an organization to command such recognition.  With that in mind, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide some quick but well-deserved recognition for the people who make our entry-level recruiting such a success.

Top Ten Reasons We Are A Best Place To Work For Recent Grads

10)  One Word: Joe. 

Our CEO makes a point to invest in initiatives that recruit, develop, and retain top talent.  From leading calls for our new hires before they join us to sharing his world-famous guacamole recipe when they start, Joe Tarantino is committed to making Protiviti a best place to work for recent grads.

9)  Our Leaders

Following Joe's example, Protiviti's leadership team is dedicated to ensuring the success of our entry-level hires.  Our executives go to campuses all over the U.S. to recruit (see below), give interviews for our new hire newsletter and website, serve as advisors for our interns each summer, build office camaraderie that helps our new hires feel at home, and drive client relationships that give our new hires exposure to real-world business problems.

8)  Our Facilitators

Protiviti professionals from all over the world make a point to serve as facilitators in critical new hire trainings such as The Intern Challenge and The Consultant Challenge.  This responsibility takes weeks out of their schedules each year, which is always a struggle in a world where time is money.  Their reward is to see our new hires engaged in project work from the start, confident in their understanding of the part they play in our business.

7)  Our Mentors and Buddies

Our professionals who act as mentors, buddies, advisors, and new hire buddies (iPals) build an integral support system that enables our new hires to develop both personally and professionally.  We thank them for all of the extra time and effort that this can take in a work environment where travel is frequent and client needs are constantly changing.

6)  Our Campus Recruiters

I couldn't let this list go by without recognizing the core team of campus recruiters who manage our local programs.  Chances are, you've already met them.  They work overtime to memorize every student's name, to answer every call, email, text, or tweet, to generate energy and interest in every interaction, to collaborate with career services staff who make their lives easier, to make every school feel like it is their favorite, and to guarantee a positive experience for every single candidate.

5)  Our People

You have likely already met this next group as well - at a career fair, perhaps, or an information session with your student organization, or possibly you interviewed with a few of them, or you took a business card after a classroom presentation... Every semester, our professionals head back to school to seek out the next generation of Protiviti new hires.  We are so happy that they can join us on the campus recruiting road show!

4)  Our Alumni

I have written time and again about our alumni (here and here, for example).  When we set out on the aforementioned road show, one of the most enjoyable moments is seeing an alum return to his or her campus as an accomplished professional.  There is always a sense of pride that shows through, and our alumni are truly committed to strengthening connections with their academic roots... and engaging in friendly rivalries with other schools, of course.

3)  Our Project Teams

Every day, at client sites around the globe, Protiviti staff and management contribute to a new hire's success by working side by side on a variety of client engagements.  Often our recent grads find themselves out of their comfort zone - it's all just part of the experience - and their project team is there to answer questions, provide direction and feedback, and help each new hire realize his or her potential.

2)  Our Interns

The closer we get to summer (even in Chicago, where the weather is still in the fifties most days), the more I think about our interns, and they deserve a mention here.  Each year, Protiviti hires the majority of its interns for full-time positions when they graduate.  During the time between their internship and their full-time start date, those interns serve as ambassadors of the Protiviti brand on campuses across the U.S.  They directly impact our ability to hire the best and brightest and to provide those individuals with a unique employment experience.  We can't say it enough - we love our interns!

1)  Our Recent Grads

Finally, in my mind, the most important factors in this equation are the recent graduates themselves.  We are so proud of the talented individuals that we hire into the entry level of our organization.  Their intelligence, creativity, enthusiasm, and spirit are evident in everything they do - from finding new ways to look at things to contributing to the communities where they reside, from growing their networks within Protiviti to exceeding our clients' expectations.  As we gear up for the 2012 Intern Program and for our May grads to join us this summer, we look forward to seeing what they do next!



-- Bridget

Protiviti Participates In The MS150



Washington D.C. Managing Director, Kevin



This year was Protiviti Houston's 10th year to participate in the BP MS 150, which is the largest fundraising ride of its kind, supporting research and vital services for men, women and children living with multiple sclerosis.  The BP MS 150 is a two-day cycling adventure from Houston-to-Austin.

In our 10th year as Team Protiviti, our riders raised over $21,000 to-date, exceeding our original goal of $15,000. These funds go to a great cause, Multiple Sclerosis Society – Lone Star Chapter, and the team appreciate all those who donated on behalf of the team. This year we had two team member joined from our Protiviti Washington D.C. office to make our complete team of 29 dedicated individuals and countless supporters.



Houston Manager, Ashley



I have received a re-cap from one of the team member rookie’s Technology Manager, Ashley that I wanted to share with you regarding her first experience on the 150 mile bike trek to Austin.

DAY 1:

Overall the weather was windy with lots of sunshine. The day started out a little cold when the team rolled out near 7 a.m. We started Saturday with a 20 mph headwind, not to mention, the whole route is on an incline, as you are headed north towards the Texas Hill Country. The end of day one had us end in La Grange, Texas at a campsite that appeared more like a festival. There are team tents with electricity that are the size of a tent you would use for a wedding reception.

DAY 2:

On Sunday, it was pretty painful to sit down on that bike seat, but after the first mile, I got used to the pain and just started pedaling. The wind died down on Sunday, just in time for the Hills to pick up. I was not a huge fan of the uphill, but I did manage to make it up all hills without walking my bike. However, the downhill was the part that I feared most. On one downhill, the guy that came flying past me said he was going 42 miles per hour! I’m pretty sure that was over the speed limit for cars on the road. I, on the other hand, was holding on for dear life and breaking the whole way down. I wanted to close my eyes, but knew that was not a safe move.

MOTIVATORS:
There were so many things keeping me motivated this weekend and I’d like to point out a few:
• 14,000+ riders
• Countless Volunteers every step of the way
• Men, Women, and Children living with MS thanking me for riding for them
• The entire town of Fayetteville setting up bubble machines and blowing bubbles as you ride through the route
• Cowbells ringing along the route ( yes, we were in Texas)
• A bagpiper stopped in the middle of a field with a full kilt outfit on

Consultant, Taylor and Senior Consultant, Joe at Saturday's Lunch Stop in Industry, Texas

THE FINISH:
The final 3 mile stretch into Austin seemed to take the longest, but I did finally make it into town. It’s hard to explain the emotions going through my head as I rode through the finish line area –
• “Holy smokes, I did it!”
• “Better not fall NOW”
• “Where is my ride home?”
• “Did I really just finish this?”
• “It wasn’t that bad.”
• “There's my ride!!!”
• “I’m so thirsty!”
• “I might do this again next year....”
• “What are you thinking!?!? Next Year?!?! AGAIN?!?!”

Senior Consultant, Vijan, Senior Manager, Holly, and Senior Consultant, Matt at Sunday's lunch stop in Bastrop, Texas

Overall for all participants it was a HUGE success! I am excited for all of the Protiviti riders who were able to either accomplish this milestone again, or for their first time. I for one will continue to be a supporter instead of a rider, because I cannot even begin to imagine 2 days on a bike.

-Casey Jo