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  • Vacations are an important tool to help employees take some time off and recharge every once in a while. However, improper planning and coordination before a vacation can leave employees and their employers in a difficult situation.

    Without the right steps, a vacationing employee can lead to missing deadlines, confused customers or clients, and stressed out workers if you don’t take the right steps to prepare for someone’s absence. Here are four things your employees should do before they head out on a well-earned vacation.

    Image of an employee on vacation. Manage PTO requests with the help of a PEO.

    Let People Know

    People shouldn’t be surprised than an employee is gone. Make sure that your company knows that someone will be gone so that they can get what they need from him or her before they leave. There are also plenty of people outside of the company that may need to be informed as well.

    Employees should set up autoreply email messages and voicemails to let people know that they’re away and who to contact during their absence. Higher priority customers or other outside parties can be told a week or two in advance.

    Prioritize Important Tasks

    Depending on the employee, there may be certain tasks that can’t be done by other workers. Make sure that your employee prioritizes these tasks if they need to be done before he or she leaves. That way you don’t have to worry about them while your employee is gone.

    Delegate Other Duties That Can’t Wait

    According to a 2014 study, 41 percent of American workers don’t actually plan on using their vacation days. Why, you ask? The most common reason is that employees are afraid of dealing with all of the work that wasn’t handled while they were away. 

    Make the return to work easier on your employee by having some other people pick up some of the slack. That will help them get back into a regular work flow without feeling like they need another vacation after dealing with a mountain of work after their vacation.

    Set Communication Rules

    Employees should try to stay offline during vacations, but you may need to reach out to them in case of emergency. Set rules for communication to make sure there are guidelines.

    If an employee is completely off limits, make sure they let people know. Other employees may actively check emails or accept calls. If that’s the case, let them set guidelines for how and when they can be reached. That way you can minimize interruptions in their vacation.

    Enjoy Their Vacation

    Once an employee has prepared for vacation, they can go ahead and relax. Of course, vacation time can be tricky without having a solid PTO plan set in place. If you need to set up a PTO process for your business, contact GMS today to talk to one of our experts about how our HR management services can help.

  • Too many emails per day keeps productivity away. Email is a great communication tool, but too many business owners and employees get bogged down and frustrated by endless messages that eat away at productivity.

    Forbes reported that “office workers spend 2.6 hours per day reading and answering emails.” That’s almost a third of your work day! It’s time to take back your time so that you can limit the amount of your day you spend dealing with your email and limiting distractions. That way your business can benefit and you’ll feel a lot better about dealing with your inbox on your terms. Here are three email time-management tips that can benefit you and your company.

    Image of a man frustrated with emails. Read our email management tips.

    Schedule Times to Check Your Email

    Stop answering an email as soon as you see a notification. It’s rare that you’ll ever need to respond within minutes of an incoming message and the distraction can really hurt your productivity. According to Atlassian, a company that develops software and management tools, it can take around 16 minutes to truly refocus after being interrupted by an incoming email, meaning that emails can take up a lot of time and make you less efficient at other tasks. 

    One way to address this problem is to set a couple of regularly scheduled times to review and answer your emails. That way you can focus on whatever task you’re working on and give it your full attention. You can then check on that email – and any others – at 2 p.m., or whatever the next time you have set in your calendar. Plus, it’s more efficient to handle emails in bulk anyway!

    SaneBox, an online email efficiency tool, estimates that “62% of emails in the average inbox are not important and can be processed in bulk.” By setting up regular times to check your inbox, you can more efficiently address each message.

    Turn Off Email Notifications

    If you really like our last suggestion, but just can’t stop getting distracted when an email notification pops up on your screen, feel free to turn off those notifications. Notifications are designed to get your attention, so removing them will effectively remove the impulse to check your inbox.

    Of course, not everybody will be willing – or even able – to turn off notifications. However, that simple act can make it easier to break bad email habits and save you and your company time in the long run.

    Think Before You Send

    A quick consideration of who should receive an email can help limit the amount of time your company spends dealing with emails. The Wall Street Journal reported on a company that began telling their executives to reconsider cc’ing extra people on an email or forwarding items to them to keep them in the loop. 

    What they found was that these emails ended up being more of a time suck that a help. By limiting the number of people on forwards, cc’s, or bcc’s, the company cut the total number of emails – and the number of potential distractions – sent out by half.

    Save Time for Other Work Functions

    Good time management is a crucial way to help save your business money. Retooling email habits can help eliminate unnecessarily wasted time so that you and your employees can spend that time elsewhere.

    Emails aren’t the only thing that can take away from productivity. HR functions can take hours of time away from other important tasks, especially if you aren’t trained properly. If you need to free your time up, contact GMS to see how our HR experts can help. 

  • A company can offer the best product or service around, but if no one knows about it, they will never succeed. In today’s consumer market, it is more important than ever to get the word out about your business. Here are a couple ideas to get you started.

    Who is my audience?

    The first step to any marketing plan is to identify your target audience. What do they look like? There are many factors that will determine your demographic. What is their age, gender, occupation, education, income, etc. Once you have gathered this information, you are ready to move on to the next step. 

    What are my differentiators?

    You must determine the factors that make your company/product/service stand out from the rest. By successfully communicating the things that set your business apart, you can separate yourself from the competition. Otherwise, your communication will fall on deaf ears and you will blend in with the rest of your competitors. 

    How do I reach my audience?

    Once you have identified your audience and differentiators, you must figure out the best way to get your message in front of that group. Today, there are many avenues to reach prospects.

    Online

    Many companies will start by creating a website and social media presence. They must then determine which social media outlet will best reach their audience. According to Small Business Trend’s 2016 Social Media Statistics Study, “Almost 90 percent of marketers say their social marketing efforts have increased exposure for their business, and 75 percent say they’ve increased traffic.”

    Facebook currently has the largest reach of all, but there are many options depending on your demographic. Many B2B companies will focus on LinkedIn to build professional relationships with those in their industry and to connect with new clients. Companies with a physical product, focused more on visual appeal, can utilize an outlet like Instagram to reach their audience. 

    These resources typically have paid advertising options where you can target your ads to your audience. There is an array of options, so it is very important to do your research in finding the best option for your business.   

    Local 

    If your business focuses on a certain location, another option would be to seek advertising options throughout the local publications. You can look to offer deals, or specials to attract new customers through print advertising options. 

    Get out and promote! Look for event sponsorship opportunities to get your name out there. Find networking or social events where you can reach your target audience. The easiest way to get someone to pay attention, will always be face-to-face interaction. 

    It is much easier for a consumer to scroll past a post, ignore an email, or skim past an ad than to tell someone “No” in person. Marketing resource MarketingProfs mirrors this sentiment, citing a Meeting Professionals International (MPI) report that states “40 percent of prospects converted to new customers via face-to-face meetings, and 28 percent of current business would be lost without face-to-face meetings.”

    Find Time to Market Your Business

    Many entrepreneurs struggle to find the time to address the marketing needs of their company, as they are too busy keeping up with the daily duties of running their business. Some will outsource different aspects of the business, so they can focus on daily operations. Professional Employer Organizations like GMS can help companies save a lot of time and money, by handling all of their HR related tasks. Contact us today to learn more!

  • When you’re a small business owner, your schedule is never empty. Each year contains several important deadlines that you need to follow to keep your business compliant with important laws and regulations involving your company’s finances and employees. Just a single missed date can lead to problems with the IRS or other government agencies.

    Keeping track of all these dates as well as everything else you need to do as a business owner can be difficult. We’ve put together a list of critical dates you need to know to keep your business legally compliant.

    Image of a calendar of 2018 dates for small business owners.

    2018 Tax Due Dates by Entity

    As a business owner, you need to worry about filing more than just your personal taxes. The deadlines for filing 2017 business taxes can differ depending on what type of business you run and if you file by the original deadline or need an extension. A simple misunderstanding about deadlines can leave you with costly penalties, so it’s important to know exactly when your business taxes are due. Here’s a rundown of the filing dates in 2018.

    • Original deadline for S Corporations and partnerships – Thursday, March 15
    • Original deadline for personal taxes and C Corporations – Tuesday, April 17
    • Original deadline for nonprofits, charities, and other exempt organizations – Tuesday, May 15
    • Final deadline for exempt organizations – Wednesday, Aug. 15
    • Final deadline for partnerships and S Corporations – Monday, Sept. 17
    • Final deadline for C Corporations and individuals – Monday, Oct. 15

    Other Important Dates for Small Business Owners

    Tax deadlines aren’t the only important dates that you need to know for your business. Several forms or other documents need to be filled out throughout the year as well. Many of them are also complicated or lengthy, which can make completing them on time difficult if you don’t start early enough or have any assistance. Make sure the following deadlines are on your schedule so that you can finish everything on time.

    File W-2 forms to employees and agencies

    Wednesday, Jan. 31

    You don’t get much of a break after the start of the new year. All W-2 forms need to be completed and provided to employees either by mail or online by the end of Jan. 31. This also applies to any 1099 forms that need to be sent to contractors, vendors, or other professionals who worked for your company during 2017. 

    In addition to W-2’s, W-3, 1099, and 1096 forms need to be filed with the appropriate agencies by this deadline as well. Late filings can lead to $250 fines per form, with even greater fines for inaccurate forms according to the Small Business Chronicle.

    Provide employees with 1095-C form

    Wednesday, Jan. 31

    In addition to W-2 forms, you also need to send 1095-C forms to your employees by this date if you offer health insurance coverage. This document contains details on which coverage was available to your employees and which months the specific employees were eligible for that insurance. 

    File forms 1094-C and 1095-C to IRS

    Tuesday, Feb. 28 (by paper)

    Monday, April 2 (electronically)

    While your employees need to have their personal 1095-C forms by the end of January, you have a little more time before you submit the same information to the IRS. In addition to the 1095-C forms, you’ll also need to provide 1094-C forms, which are sent only to the IRS and serve as a cover sheet for the 1095-C form.

    File employee benefit plans (form 5500 series) to DOL

    Wednesday, July 13

    These forms are used to file your employees’ annual benefit plan information with the Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL uses these forms to make sure that these plans are being operated according to certain standards, making them a key compliance tool that needs to be filed every year.

    Prepare Your Business for 2018

    Knowing all the deadline dates ahead of time is very helpful, but it still doesn’t make your schedule any less busy, especially when it comes to managing compliance concerns and internal functions. Fortunately, a Professional Employer Organization can help you not only save time, but also improve compliance and save costs through human resource outsourcing.

    A PEO can offer you access to a team of experts that can help your business manage any or all your internal HR functions, freeing your time up and strengthening your business in the process. Contact GMS today to talk to one of our experts about what your business needs and how we can help. 

  • “How has your internship been going?” I’ve been asked this question more times than I can remember this summer. Family and friends have been seeing my social media posts all summer and are curious as to what I’ve been learning. 

    When I was asked this question for the first time, I took a long pause—not because I didn’t know what to say, but because I didn’t know how to put it into words. How do you put into words that you’ve learned more about yourself in 10 weeks than you have your entire life? How do you tell your family that you now have a second family in the office? How do you say that you’re sad to leave your internship when your senior year of college is approaching?

    If someone at the beginning of the summer told me that I would feel like this about an internship, I never would have believed them. As I’m getting ready to go back to college, I’ve realized that GMS and the people there have had such an impact on me and have taught me more than I ever expected. These are the top three things they’ve taught me.

    Part of the GMS team at an event.

    Teamwork

    Every single person at GMS works together. It’s rare to step into a sales office and see all the reps working together instead of competing against each other. They all truly act as a family here. A good family is a strong team and I believe that’s why they’re so successful. More times than not, teams work better than individuals and this company proved it to me.

    Knowledge

    I took this internship in hopes that I would learn more about the sales world and the working world in general. Learning to work in an office environment after learning in a classroom setting my entire life is a little bit of an adjustment. I like to be able to learn and fail behind closed doors and that’s not an option here. 

    I was thrown in to the mix of it when I started and messed up time after time, but people here helped me fix what I was doing wrong. When I messed up and was frustrated with myself, they helped me figure out what I could say differently on a call to be more successful. When I booked my first appointment, everyone was so excited for me and helped walk me through the rest of the process without me even asking. I didn’t have to figure it out on my own like I would have if I hadn’t been thrown in to it.

    Leanne Grubbs making calls on behalf of a Professional Employer Organization. 

    Confidence  

    I feel as though my internship with GMS has been so different from those of my college friends. This company is like a big family. Everyone truly cares about their co-workers and encourages each other to keep grinding and keep being the best sales rep possible. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend eight hours of my day. 

    People don’t understand the importance of a company’s culture. The people at GMS made me realize that I have more potential than I ever saw in myself and gave me the confidence to pursue a career in sales and I could never thank them enough for that. During my time here, I feel like I’ve been adopted into this crazy family dynamic. I never imagined that I would be so sad as my time here at GMS comes to an end. I’m going to miss the daily laughs and smiles that these people have brought me.

    Want to join the GMS family? Check out our current openings and apply to GMS today!

    The GMS team.

  • Welcome to GMS! I am so excited for you to start your career with such an amazing company. I was a summer intern in 2018 and learned so much from the people at this company. I figured I’d give you a heads up as to what’s to come.

    You’ll feel overwhelmed for sure in your first week. Any time you start something new, you’ll feel that way. Don’t worry though, your new co-workers will help you through it all.

    A group of happy GMS employees and interns.

    You’re going to meet some amazing people while you’re at this company. You’re going to meet a rep who’s been here for a while and you might not know how to feel about him at first. Give that some time because you’ll see another side of him when you go to the sales conference and you’ll become friends. Another rep is one of the biggest goofballs you’ve probably ever met, but he’s also really good at what he does. I suggest learning from him. There’s another rep who you’ll meet and she’s one of the sweetest humans you’ve ever come across. You’ll teach her things about social media and use terms she’s never heard in her life. In return, she’ll teach you things about life and be a great person to share secrets.

    One of the very first reps you’ll get to know will probably start to call you her duckling. She’ll take you under her wing and try her very best to help you succeed. Make sure you thank her frequently for dealing with you daily. You’ll meet one of your favorite people while you’re here. You’ll admire her for being herself at all times and thank her for making you laugh daily.

    Happy GMS interns.

    You’ll meet so many others: a self-proclaimed Dave Franco look-alike, a new guy who is secretly a famous musician, a sweet little brunette who actually loves soccer more than you do, a big, tall guy who keeps tags on his T-shirts, a mom who is more like your college bestie, a guy who becomes your bestie just so you stop bugging him about being friends, and a few others who are just as special. You might even meet your work dad!

    You’ll get to know your manager pretty well too. He’ll make you realize how much potential you have, and that sales is a career that you’re capable of doing. There won’t really be a “right” way to thank him, but make sure he knows how much you appreciate everything he’s done, even if he’s not aware of exactly what he did. 

    You’ll want to thank the whole office for impacting you in different ways and teaching you so much. So, thank you Andy, Justin, Shelly, Sara, Zemba, Zach, Branden, Brandi, Drummy, J-Maas, Schooly, Dave, and everyone else at GMS. I’ve loved every second of my summer thanks to you guys.

    Want to join the GMS family? Check out our current openings and apply to GMS today!

  • My experience as an intern at GMS has been nothing short of amazing. In the three months that I’ve been here, I have had times of information overload—in a good way—and times of building relationships. When I talk to my friends about their internship experiences and they begin to explain the tasks they have to complete, I often hear “I just sit at a computer all day and do boring stuff” or “I actually grab coffee for people and organize things for my boss.” When they return the question back to me, it feels a little bit awkward because I could go on forever about what I do here at GMS. So, what has my summer looked like so far at GMS?

    Group Management Services employees and interns.

    What have I done?

    If I get into detail, then we’re going to be here forever because I’ve obtained skills that I didn’t know existed. I learned how to speak in a professional manner, how to dress professionally, how to manage my time, how to build relationships, and how to take criticism.

    Why is any of that important?

    Presentation

    When you’re in the workforce you must speak professionally; it’s just a fact. You cannot possibly try to sound like an established business person if you’re speaking in slang. Former intern and current Sales Representative Sara Scacchi taught me that first hand, while I shadowed her during a first meeting. 

    Dressing professionally is also incredibly important. Kate Carnahan stressed this during her presentation at our National Sales Conference in Indianapolis. I learned that you are judged within the first 15 seconds of meeting someone. How happy do you think I am to know that now? My outfits require plenty of planning. 

    Time Management

    Managing time is critical to your success, not only college, but in the workforce as well. You better keep tabs and reminders for days and times that you have appointments or meetings to make sure you are meeting and exceeding expectations. 

    Building Relationships

    Having a healthy relationship with people you work with just gives you another reason to be excited to wake up and go to work in the morning. I enjoy seeing the people at GMS every day. They all have such unique personalities, but all these personalities complement each other. 

    Growth

    Every person working at GMS cares about growth, for themselves and for others. My sales manager, Dave, even said in my initial interview with him that he wants everyone working here to succeed and to grow. How cool is that? 

    Working at GMS as an intern this summer helped me realize that constructive criticism never stops. It’s all just to ensure that you don’t plateau as an employee. Everyone wants to see you succeed.

    In the end…

    I do not think I could have landed a better opportunity for an internship this summer. I have had such a wonderful time learning new things and hearing things I’ve learned in school. I took a sales class in the fall that, so far, has mirrored exactly what the sales world is like. It’s been eye-opening working here at GMS this summer and I can’t wait to bring what I’ve learned back to school so that I am a better student.

    Want to join the GMS family? Check out our current openings and apply to GMS today!

  • Managing the operations of a small business is costly and requires time away from more valuable projects. That’s why many small and mid-size businesses outsource human resources, payroll, employee benefits, and risk management services. A PEO (Professional Employer Organization) can help take these responsibilities off the plate of business owners, so they can focus on the growth and success of their business.

    We’ve put together a guide to understand what PEO services entail and how to choose the right PEO for your business.

    PEO services help small and mid-size businesses with employee management.

    What is a PEO?

    A PEO provides comprehensive business solutions and services. Through the co-employment model, PEOs work with small and mid-size businesses to:

    • Manage payroll and tax administration
    • Manage human resources and risk management functions
    • Provide employee benefits
    • Stay compliant

    By providing these services, PEOs help make the companies they serve a better place to work and conduct business. This typically translates into faster growth, higher retention rates, and increased success for businesses. The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) found that businesses working with a PEO:

    • Grow 7 to 9 percent faster
    • Have 10 to 14 percent lower employee turnover
    • Are 50 percent less likely to go out of business

    PEOs help businesses grow by allowing them to spend more time improving productivity and profitability while focusing on their core mission. Additionally, employees benefit by gaining access to big-business employee benefits such as 401(k) plans, wellness programs, and health, dental, life and other insurance offerings. All of this contributes to the success of a company.

    How to Choose a PEO

    There are more than 900 PEOs in the U.S., according to NAPEO. With so many options, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Follow these tips to help you to choose the right PEO for your business.

    Assess Your Business Needs

    Before talking to a PEO, you should take stock of your business needs. What current challenges does your business face? Do you anticipate any changes to your company that could impact the services you need? Look at facets of your business, such as:

    • Payroll: Between managing payroll and filing taxes, small and mid-sized companies spend an average of $2,000 per employee each year to handle payroll and many incur IRS penalties each year due to compliance issues. Outsourcing payroll services to a PEO can save you time and money by providing you with a simplified, online payroll system.
    • Human Resources: From recruiting and retaining employees to tracking vacation time, managing your company’s HR responsibilities takes a lot of time. Outsourcing these HR functions to a PEO can help you save time and money, while growing your business.
    • Risk Management: Managing your company’s risk on your own can be time-consuming and costly. Instead, you can build toward a more secure future by outsourcing to experts at a PEO. PEOs can help you qualify for workers’ compensation discounts, keep unemployment tax rates down, and create a safer environment for your employees.

    Identifying your needs within each of these categories will help you better determine how your business will use a PEO and set the stage for choosing a qualified partner.

    Build Your Benefits Package

    Employee benefits will make your business a great place to work and help retain talent. While you’ll be hard pressed to find a PEO that doesn’t offer access to health insurance, the providers they work with and the amount of coverage their plans provide will vary. In addition to assessing your business needs, you’ll need a good sense of what types of health coverage your current and future employees will require and what you’re willing to spend on it.

    When you work with a PEO, instead of directly with insurance companies, you’ll be able to leverage buying power through mass policies, which lets you take advantage of purchasing multiple policies at typically lower premiums.

    Speaking of multiple policies, you’ll also want to consider other benefits like dental, vision, and life insurance as well as 401(k) retirement savings programs to make your business more attractive to quality candidates. Additionally, wellness programs can help manage your premiums, while keeping your business running like a well-oiled machine. Whichever benefits are most appealing for your business, you’ll want to do your research to make sure you find a PEO that has everything you require.

    Perform a PEO background check

    When vetting PEOs, it’s important to look at their history, experience, and qualifications. Ask questions, such as:

    • How many companies do they partner with?
    • Do they have experience working in your industry?
    • How many employees do they represent?
    • What is their client retention rate?

    And don’t forget to look at reviews from places like Google and Facebook. These are all telling signs of whether a PEO will be able to properly handle your business needs.

    Additionally, accreditations from organizations like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and certifications, such as the Certification Program for Professional Employer Organizations (CPEOs) from the IRS, help demonstrate trustworthiness and reliability in a PEO. CPEO certification affects the employment tax liabilities of both the CPEO and its customers. To become and remain certified under the CPEO program, CPEOs must meet tax status, background, experience, business location, financial reporting, bonding, and other requirements. With only 37 CPEOs in the country, small businesses know they are working with a trusted partner.

    Evaluate a PEO’s Technology

    The purpose of PEO is to make your life easier. If the technology platform that a PEO offers isn’t simple to use, then the PEO is going to be more of a burden than an asset to your company. Web-based payroll portals benefit employers by compiling everything they need to manage their back office in one place. They also help employees get paid on time, track time, and access W-2’s and paystubs.

    Your PEO’s online payroll system should help employers:

    • Manage and access payroll information
    • Complete payroll in minutes, not hours
    • Easily keep track of deductions
    • Simplify workers’ compensation calculations and payments
    • Generate on-demand payroll reports

    These payroll functions streamline the process for employers and keep employees satisfied.

    Beyond payroll, any other administrative functions a PEO can digitize is only to your advantage. Your PEO should offer online data collection services for:

    • Employee reviews
    • Timekeeping and PTO requests
    • Health insurance and employee benefits
    • Company communication
    • Employee handbooks

    Being able to store these types of files in an online portal makes it easier for you to access, edit, and track.

    Focus on Your Business

    The point of working with a PEO is to ease your workload. A PEO that you have to manage is only going to add to your stress and laundry list of tasks and responsibilities. Knowing your PEO is taking care of your more administrative needs while you focus on the core of your business is comforting to business owners.

    Your PEO should provide you with designated HR, payroll, and benefits specialists to meet all of your needs. Additionally, your PEO should have a comprehensive risk management team, from  safety specialists that keep your workplace and employees safe, to unemployment and workers’ compensation experts to investigate and help process claims.

    By having a PEO handle the HR, payroll, benefits, and risk management side of your business, you’ll be able to focus on what really matters: building your business.

    Work With a PEO

    When you work with a PEO, you need to make sure all your needs will be met. Group Management Services offers payroll, human resources, employee benefits, and risk management services to help your business succeed. With our proven history, easy-to-use online payroll portal, and dedicated team of experts, GMS is proud to take on your administrative burdens. When you work with us, you can put your focus back on client relationships, building an effective team, and growing your profits, while we help you reduce costs, limit risk, and save time and money.

    Ready to work with a best-in class PEO? Contact GMS today to talk with one of our experts to see how we can make your business simpler, safer, and stronger.

  • This time last year, I would never dream that I would have an internship my first summer out of college. I barely knew what the purpose of an internship was. Of course, I saw interns in movies running around getting coffee and such, but I never really thought of it as much more than that.

    GMS intern Sammy Crisalli during her time with the company.

    Joining GMS

    Fast forward to winter break when I was presented with the opportunity to apply at GMS. I went in completely blind, not knowing much about the business or having much insight on sales in general. The position sounded interesting, and I saw it as something that could help further my education.

    Soon after I applied, I received an email for a virtual interview (since I was away at school at University of Kentucky) and I was ecstatic! In all honestly, I had no idea what to expect out of this interview process. I was very nervous, but was pleasantly surprised with how smooth it went and how everyone involved eased my nerves. After interviewing with Melanie Bahr, Kate Carnahan, and Tim Austin, I was more excited than ever for this great opportunity.

    After I was offered the job, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, as I was now set on a job for the summer that would also benefit my college career. 

    A Learning Experience

    I checked out the company website before my first day and looked over the sales manual, but I really had no idea what I would be walking into on my first day of training. I was surprised to walk into a brand-new building for a quickly growing company that would present me with an abundance of knowledge to bring back to school.

    After the first week of sales training, I finally had an understanding of the services GMS offers and how we are able benefit so many companies across the country. GMS is a Professional Employer Organization, providing all levels of human resource administration for small to medium size businesses. I got to see this process put into place while shadowing sales reps on meetings and learning about the day-to-day operations of other departments.

    These were all new concepts to me. I honestly had no idea what human resources really entailed before this summer – I just knew that if I had a problem at work that was who I went to for help. I didn’t know what a worker’s compensation claim was or even what employee benefits really entailed. 

    Growing Through Experience

    While learning all about GMS, office life, and how to be professional, the biggest take away for me is the importance of effective communication. I have been a soft-spoken person my entire life, so I was able to get out of my comfort zone in a very beneficial way. I finally know how to communicate in a professional and confident manner. I was able to develop these skills from shadowing sales reps and making cold calls to business owners regarding the services we offer. 

    Looking back, this was my first exposure to sales, so seeing how passionate all these sales reps are and how they genuinely want to help businesses is incredible to me. They truly believe in the services they provide. Then it was impressive to see how the service works firsthand. The statistics on GMS and the PEO industry as a whole supported my understanding and belief in this company. 
     
    Lastly, the thing I’m probably most impressed with is the culture here and the nature of my job. Every single person at GMS is not just here to get their job done. They are always looking out for one another and their prospects/clients. Everyone was willing to help whenever I needed it and they would take me along with them to have firsthand experiences. This was inspiring and motivated me through my daily tasks, where I saw myself making a difference. It never just felt like busy work, as I saw the benefit of what I was doing every day. 

    A Lasting Impression

    This internship was exactly what I needed to have a head start into the world of business. I feel like I accomplished so much this summer, with everything from cold calls and prospecting to contributing in the organization of the national sales conference. Thank you to everyone who has made this an unforgettable learning experience, while having a lot of fun along the way.
     

  • You might debate between internship opportunities.  There’s a chance that you’re intimidated to even apply for an internship. You most likely feel scared to start this kind of experience. These are all feelings I felt going through this process, along with many more. Just go for it! Take this opportunity and run, you will grow in many ways.

    The GMS team promoting company culture outside of work.

    What to Expect from an Internship at GMS

    The first week at GMS is an adjustment in the best way possible. When you walk in the doors, anyone and everyone will say “Good Morning” and “How was your weekend?” You will feel welcomed instantly whether you know these people or not. Training week was a favorite for me! Going through training with all the new sales representatives was very beneficial and helped me learn so much about GMS. There will be a lot of information thrown at you, so be ready to learn with an open mind and, of course, have fun!

    Throughout the internship experience, you will want to learn everything about this company. There’s a lot, so take one step at a time. Every individual who works at GMS is passionate about what they do, and it is so motivating to be around! Take the time to learn and make friends in your department, as well as other departments – it will benefit you. Something I wish I would’ve told myself before I started is to not be intimidated by success. There are tons of successful people at GMS and at the beginning that can be intimidating, but I promise they are there to help and guide you. 

    Every Monday and Friday morning, I attended meetings with the sales department. These meetings highlight everyone’s success and will get you pumped up to crush the week. I swear, I sometimes feel like I am at a TED Talk by how motivating they are. 

    Highlights from GMS

    I can talk all day about my favorite things at GMS, but I am going to highlight some of the top experiences. We dedicated an entire week to shadowing all the departments at GMS. This not only taught me what each department does daily, it also helped me connect with a ton of people. Our HQ is a large building, but it became smaller after I shadowed and grew more comfortable. 

    One of my favorite things was going on ride-alongs. This is where you shadow different reps on all kinds of appointments. From first meetings, to proposals, and popping in to see how their clients are doing, you will get to experience all aspects of the sales cycle. Seeing GMS come to life in these meetings is where I learned best. I was able to connect the information I learned in training and shadowing the departments.

    One of my favorite experiences during my internship was the National Sales Conference: GMS Vision, which includes the sales departments from every office across the country. Working with the managers and the VP of sales to help organize this event was so much fun and having all the offices under one roof to learn and grow together is very rewarding.

    Not only will you learn and grow as a professional, but you will have a blast doing it. The culture at GMS is something I have never seen before. You will make great friends and have some fun times! You will laugh so hard and smile so much with these people. If you are wondering if you should hang out with them outside of work, the answer is yes! Go to the lunches, the dinners, the workout classes, the Indians games, the cookouts, and go play a game of cornhole even if you aren’t good.

    Andrea Libal with her fellow GMS interns.

    GMS: A Memorable Experience

    Taking this internship at GMS was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have grown personally and professionally because of the influential people here. Your manager will become someone you look up to and mess with from time to time. The person you sit next to will become your new best friend. There will be someone that you know you can always laugh with and there will be someone who will straight up tell you the truth. 

    If I can think of one quote to describe this company it’s “work hard, play hard.” Everyone here works their tail off day after day and has some great times together, as family. A lot of the people you meet will have no idea how much they did for you but thank them even if they don’t get it completely. Going back to those initial thoughts and feelings, I talked about at the beginning… don’t be intimidated to apply and don’t fear this kind of experience. If you’re debating between where and what you want to do, I recommend GMS with my entire heart. 

    Thank you, Mike Kahoe, for everything you do. Thank you for creating an amazing company and giving me this opportunity. Another thank you to Dan Flanagan for being the best manager I could’ve asked for and for making me laugh every time you laugh. Finally, a huge thank you to the entire sales department – you all have taught me so much and I thank you for always being there to help me. My internship experience has been nothing but the best and I am grateful for everything this company has given me.

    Want to join the GMS family? Check out our current openings and apply to GMS today!