Finance Headhunters Chicago Archives

What Does the Financial Recruiter Want to See on Your Resume?

When you’re applying for accounting and finance jobs in the area, you’ll need to make sure you highlight all of your skills and certifications clearly in your resume. Many financial recruiters review resumes in great detail and even use programs to find certain keywords and phrases. If you aren’t including these words in your resume and making a strong case about your experience, you may get overlooked.

Here are three factors a financial recruiter wants to see on your resume.

Tech Skills

Many accountants, financial analysts and other financial professionals use the latest software programs and computer systems to manage data. You need to be up-to-date on the latest software programs and earn any relevant certifications. Consider taking online courses to catch up if you have been out of the workforce for a while. Make sure to list your tech skills and skill levels so the employer has an accurate idea of your exact capabilities.

Soft Skills

Many people don’t think accounting and finance jobs require many soft skills since the bulk of time spent at the office will be in front of a computer and managing data. However, today’s most successful accounting and finance professionals have good interpersonal skills and solid knowledge about the business world. Make sure you’re listing examples of leadership skills, a customer service background, and your ability to solve problems or stay organized under pressure.

Certifications

Any certifications, diplomas or other awards need to be listed on your resume. Make sure to highlight any notable events surrounding these awards, such as a company president’s award, so that you stand out from the crowd.

Making sure a recruiter sees examples of skills and certifications on your resume is a priority, but you also need to make sure you’re including any specific details about how your skills made an impact on the organization. If you have any data or statistics former companies have shared with you about a project you worked on where you were able to apply yourself, make sure to disclose that on your resume or cover letter.

Need help with your job search? Consider working with one of the top accounting and finance staffing agencies and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. This award-winning team of financial recruiters has your dream job waiting.

Why Blind Interviewing Helps Your Organization

When you’re looking for the ideal candidate for your organization, you may be able to find the most suitable match with a blind interview. Many organizations are using this approach to have job seekers audition for a job without knowing anything about the individual’s educational background, age, gender or other factors. The test is to see how well the individual can perform at the job and whether they have the level of talent the interviewer is looking for. Here are some ways blind interviewing can help your organization:

Helps With Diversity

In fields that tend to not be so diverse, blind interviewing can help to create a more diverse work environment. You may end up hiring people of a variety of ethnicities, age groups and genders who are extremely talented and get along well with each other because of it.

Eliminates Bias

Many people don’t realize they have a psychological bias when they are looking at names on a resume or schools that a potential candidate has attended. You may be guilty of this without knowing it; blind interviewing eliminates the possibility you are making a biased decision.

Gauge Phone Skills Easily

Since you may not be conducting a face-to-face interview with these candidates, the phone interview will reveal whether the individual has good verbal skills and can speak confidently over the phone.

Gauge Written Skills

If the job involves writing or even composing persuasive emails, you will be able to gauge the candidates writing and communication skills with a writing test or upon requesting a short essay. This can be helpful for determining whether the candidate has a strong enough skill set to manage writing assignments on the job and whether they can convey their ideas effectively.

If you are searching for highly qualified candidates, reach out to a leading Chicago finance recruiter and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. We can provide job placement services to make the hiring process that much easier.

4 Skills Every Candidate Needs in Every Industry

If you’re putting yourself out there on the job hunt and want to secure a position sooner rather than later, make sure your prospective employer can identify some key skills and attributes that will make you the perfect candidate for the position. Whether you’re exploring an accounting career or working in finance, your future employer needs someone who is not only a hard worker but also has certain traits that will help them succeed with the company for the long term.

Here are four skills every candidate needs in every industry:

1. Communication

Even though your role may be fairly independent, you may be required to work with other departments, lead a team and collaborate with other staff members on certain projects. Having strong written, verbal and listening skills is critical for your success in any position. You need to be able to relay information concisely and respond to other people’s communications effectively.

2. Empathy and Emotional Awareness

Being able to understand your own emotions, and being aware of the emotions of others is a skill that can be developed. Some people have more emotional awareness than others, and this trait is important in both work and social situations. Being able to relate to someone and looking at their point of view can make it easier to get along.

3. Accountability

Being accountable for your actions is critical in a workplace environment. You need to admit fault and work on finding an effective remedy. Knowing what you are accountable for and who you are accountable to is important in any position. If you are in a management position, you need to enforce accountability among your team members.

4. Teamwork

Working as a team means always contributing your fair share and also making sure you are not taking all the credit for a job well done. Do your best work and bring others up so they can do the same at every opportunity.

When you’re searching for accounting jobs or need some help to take your career to the next level, talk to the professionals at a leading Chicago accounting recruiting firm. Casey Accounting & Finance Resources provides career tools, including assessments and professional resume reviews, to help you find your ideal job. Contact us today!