When you hired your most recent financial analysts you thought you were getting Sherlock Holmes. Instead, you’ve hired Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum from 21 Jump Street. Your key mistake – not writing a job posting that spoke to the right talent. To ensure that you hire well the first time, avoid these accounting job posting mistakes.
Mistake #1 – Not Talking to Stakeholders
If you don’t talk to the key stakeholders that are most impacted by the role, you set yourself up for failure.
Solution: Establish the “must haves” and “nice to haves” with relevant stakeholders. Integrate the “must haves” into the Requirements section of your job posting.
Mistake #2 – Not Defining the Deliverables
When you don’t define the role’s deliverables, you risk bringing a candidate on board who cannot meet your objectives.
Solution: Determine the 3, 6 and 1 year deliverables. Look for candidates whose resumes speak to success with similar objectives. Integrate questions based on your defined deliverables into your interview process. Most importantly, when it comes to your job posting, include these deliverables in the Responsibilities section.
Mistake #3 – Not Having a Hook
Job postings without a hook risk being ignored by the job market.
Solution: The best authors capture your attention in the first few lines of a novel. Create a hook that makes the candidate pool want to read more. This hook could be a catchy title, or the first line or two of the job posting (or both).
Resource: Check out our resource “10 Strategies for Writing Effective Finance and Accounting Job Descriptions” for more details on how to write a job description that attracts the right talent.
Mistake #4 – Not Speaking to Your Audience
Using a generic job posting does not speak directly to the kind of audience you want to reach.
Solution: Emotion engages buying behavior (i.e. makes candidates want to apply). Write a job posting that speaks directly to the kind of candidates you want to attract. Use “you” instead of “the candidate” to personalize the posting. And for all that is sacred in the land of accounting job postings, do not copy run-of-the-mill content from the web. It limits your ability to tell an engaging story.
Mistake #5: Not Talking About Your Culture
How can you attract the kind of person that will mesh with your company’s culture if you don’t speak about it?
Solution: Talk about what makes your company’s culture unique and attractive. Use your brand’s voice when you write the job posting and include a link to a separate company webpage for more information.
Read: For practical, hands-on tips for making your company’s brand stand out in a job posting read “How to Make Your Company Brand Stand Out in a Finance Job Description.”
Key Takeaways
To avoid a hiring misstep, ensure that you have a killer finance or accounting job posting. Speak to relevant stakeholders and establish a list of “must haves.” Integrate these “must haves” into the Requirements section of your job posting. Nail down the key deliverables for the 3, 6 and 1 year mark. Make these deliverables an integral part of the Responsibilities area of the job posting. Write directly to the kind of talent you want to attract. Craft a hook that engages, use your brand’s voice and speak about your company’s culture. Attract the right talent the first time, rather than returning to the drawing board 6 months down the road.
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.
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