Seasoned Veteran vs Young Talent: Who To Hire?

Companies across the country are faced with a dilemma on a daily basis; do they hire a seasoned veteran of the workforce or young talent just out of college for an accounting position? This can be a difficult question to answer, but we will discuss both options, so companies know how to go about their hiring process for open positions.

Hire the Seasoned Veteran

As we take a look at hiring veteran workers, one thing we need to keep in mind is the fact that this should not be gauged by birthdays. Instead, companies need to gauge a veteran worker by the years he has worked within the industry, the experiences they have amassed, the personal networks created, and the trials and errors solved throughout their career.

If your company wants to hire a veteran worker, it needs to take into account the wisdom and experiences that worker has accumulated during their career. The more wisdom and experience an employee has, the more effective or helpful he/she will be to the company hiring him/her.

Hire the Young Talent

Companies that hire young talent will be rewarded with fresh ideas and new perspectives to complete projects assigned to them. Young talent right out of college, or with very little time in the workforce, will be more inclined to take risks with projects in order to see their company succeed.

Hiring young talent often means that they likely will not finish their career with your company. Gone are the days of employees working for one company their entire career. This means that within two to five years, you will need to replace the young talent as they move to other ventures.

The bottom line here is that you need to look at both veteran workers and young talent when positions become available at your company. Reach out to Casey Accounting & Resources in Chicago IL and hire a suitable temporary employee to try before you commit to any one employee. This gives you a chance to see what they are all about while they prove their worth to your organization.

Why Having a Referral for an Accounting Job is so Important

You may not realize just how important it is to have a referral for an accounting job until you get passed over for a position by someone who has an inside contact at your dream company. If you enter a job search without having a referral, you could be putting yourself at a major disadvantage. Why is having a referral so critical to your success?

  • It gives you a chance to breeze through the application process faster than other candidates.
  • A referral can get your resume in the right hands of a hiring manager sooner than just waiting around for a response.
  • Direct referrals can give you added insight into what to expect in the hiring and interviewing process, so you have an advantage of correct interview preparation.

When searching for a new job, you should do everything possible to put yourself ahead of the pack, but make sure what you do is positive and does not negatively impact your search. We will discuss the importance of using a referral in an accounting job search here.

Using an Internal Referral

One of the most effective types of referrals for accounting jobs is that of the internal referral. This means that you will need to know someone working at the company where you want to apply for a job. Many companies today are using their employees to find their new hires because it can be less costly than traditional recruitment methods. This means that they rely strongly on their employees and trust their judgment when it comes to referring potential candidates. When you begin the search for an accounting job, think about all your friends and family members and where they work. One of them could turn out to be an internal referral for you.

Get Referred by a Staffing Agency

When you are registered with a staffing agency that has a relationship with multiple companies that hire accounting and finance professionals, you have a major advantage. Your resume goes to the top of the pile in most cases, the recruiter calls the hiring manager directly to promote you, or you may just be placed into an assignment right away. Once you prove yourself in a temporary accounting assignment, often this can lead to regular full-time employment at the client.

Referrals Push you to Top of the List

As with any type of job, having a referral in the accounting industry can push your resume to the top of the candidate list. Why does this happen? You would not refer someone for a job who might be shaky or might not have the experience needed for the job because it will reflect poorly on you. The same can be said for someone referring you for an accounting job. If you can acquire a referral, you will more than likely be called for an interview because you instantly have credibility in the search by the company for a new hire.

Personal Attention from the Employer

If you have a referral for an accounting job, it is likely that you will receive personal attention from the hiring manager or human resource executive. This happens because the person who referred you to the company probably handed your resume directly to the person who is hiring for the open position. This instantly increases your chances of being interviewed and offered the job. When you receive personal attention from the hiring manager, you are already ahead of the game.

Send a Referral Letter

Another important tip to consider is sending a referral letter to the potential employer. This will only help your cause in finding an accounting job. After your referral says he or she talked to the hiring manager about you, submit the letter to that person. Make sure you explain how you know the common connection and even offer a little bit about your background and experience in the letter.

Using a referral to find an accounting job can put your resume atop the list of candidates. Make sure you take advantage of this job search secret the next time you apply for a new job.