How do accounting and finance recruiters pick you to meet their clients? It’s not a magic formula, or a black box. There’s a process, and we’ve decided to pull back the curtain on it.
Resume and LinkedIn Profile
This may seem like common sense, but make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile effectively market you. This means using outcome-focused language, not just listing your duties, and ensuring that your professional brand is well represented. With accuracy so critical to accounting and finance roles, a resume or LinkedIn profile that has spelling, punctuation or formatting errors, can quickly be placed on the discard pile.
For tips on how to craft an award-winning resume that will get you noticed, read “The Best Finance Resume We Ever Received.”
Resource: Read “3 Reasons Finance Recruiters Are Passing Over Your LinkedIn Profile” to get insight on how to attract recruiters using LinkedIn.
Designation
Accounting and finance recruiters prefer candidates who have achieved their designation. It shows a commitment to setting and achieving a goal. It also demonstrates that the candidate is invested in growing their skill set and career. Couple that with the completion of a degree and you’ve caught a recruiter’s attention.
Requirements
Client requirements drive the selection process. Some are simply non-negotiable. And while certain technical skills are an absolute must (like strong system skills), increasingly there’s a call for accountants and finance professionals who can build business partnerships and communicate cross-functionally. As finance and accounting recruiters, we always encourage candidates and clients to be open to transferable skills, particularly if there is a lack of industry experience. In fact, if this situation describes you, and you’re meeting the recruiter for the first time, lead with how you can meet the technical skill requirements for the role.
That being said, while strong recruiters will work collaboratively with their clients in crafting a list of “must haves” and “nice to haves,” at the end of the day, the client drives the decision-making.
Progression
Recruiters want to see purposeful career choices, even if a resume contains a step down or a lateral move. As long as the candidate can clearly articulate the strategy behind the choice, the recruiter will continue to be invested. Bonus points if the companies that you’ve worked have strong name recognition (caveat: remember that your accomplishments will always speak loudly, regardless of the organization).
Why the Change?
Building on the concept of progression, an accounting or finance recruiter wants a candidate to explain why a change makes sense at this stage of their career. Whether it’s a desire for skill set growth, a passion for a different industry, or a need for advancement, there has to be a goal underpinning the decision-making. In fact, throughout your first meeting, the recruiter is watching how you carry yourself, how you frame the discussion and how you inquire about and shape expectations. This gives the recruiter a sense of how you’ll behave in front of the client.
Helpful Article: Read this article for tips on how to explain why you want to change roles.
Cultural and Team Fit
When the recruiter meets you, he or she is evaluating whether or not you’ll connect with the company’s culture and your future manager. Good recruiters take into account that many candidates transition out of roles because of a poor managerial, or cultural fit. And since no one wants to have to return to the drawing board 3 or 6 months down the road, it makes sense that any recruiter worth their salt will evaluate how well you’ll mesh with the natural working style of the organization and team you might join.
Key Takeaways
Accounting and finance recruiters have a process that they use to help them select the candidates they want to meet their clients. To attract recruiters in the first place, ensure your resume and LinkedIn profile are top-notch. Be able to clearly explain your career trajectory and future goals. Outline why the current opportunity makes sense at this juncture. And be honest, if you’re preferred working style and core values won’t mesh with the job, then bow out gracefully. The recruiter will remember you for future opportunities.
Your Next Step
No one should walk the job search or hiring road alone. At Clarity Recruitment, we help others realize their success through a process that marries proprietary technology with unwavering commitment. Contact us today to take control of your career, or to partner with us to hire well.
Clarity Recruitment, connecting exceptional people with remarkable companies.
