Today’s job seekers have more opportunities than ever before.
In an industry like finance, where demand is high, and talent is scarce, you have the power to decide which roles are right for you, and which you’d rather avoid. For most people, this means that finding the ideal job isn’t just about looking for the best salary anymore. Today’s forward-thinking candidates want to know that they’ll be in a role where they can grow and thrive.
If you have the right skill set, and a specialist finance recruitment team like Rebus Recruitment to help you, then your opportunities are endless. Here’s how you can choose the right role in this environment.
1. Decide What’s Important to You
A job description tells you the basics about a potential position, including pay, benefits and the tasks you’re going to complete each day. However, you might need to do additional research to see whether a business delivers what’s important to you.
For example, are there specific values that the business shares with you? Maybe they avoid printing invoices to reduce their environmental footprint, or they’re invested in using the latest accounting methods. Perhaps the employer offers plenty of opportunities to bond with coworkers through team lunches and breakout sessions.
Decide what matters to you and look for evidence that your new organisation will be able to deliver.
2. Look for Evidence of Upward Movement
You may not want to stay in the same role forever. Even if you like the part of finance you’re working in now, there’s a good chance you’ll want to explore more responsibilities or put your leadership skills to the test. With that in mind, it’s important to look for opportunities for upward movement in a new role.
When in the interview, ask your hiring manager how people work towards progression in the business. Is there a managerial track that people can join to get help from mentors and learn new leadership techniques? Are people frequently promoted to executive positions, or are higher-level employees recruited from outside?
You may be able to find additional information about an organisation’s structure on their website. For instance, some companies publish reports and case studies that detail the growth and satisfaction levels of their employees each year, or you can look at reviews on forums like Glassdoor.
3. Examine Communication: Are You Treated with Respect?
As soon as you apply for your new position, you’ll engage in a communication cycle with hiring managers and other people from your potential new team. Someone might call you for an initial screening interview, or you may have a chance to connect with peers in a panel-style discussion. Though these experiences can be nerve-wracking, it’s useful to pay attention to the communication style of the business so you can see how much they value their people. For instance:
- How quickly do they get back to you after an interview – even just to thank you for your time and let you know about next steps?
- Are they professional but friendly when they speak to you? Do they seem to rush through the conversations you have, or demonstrate poor body language?
- Do they treat you with respect? Do the people from the business use your first name and address you with eye contact in person?
4. Is the Cultural Fit Right?
A lot of people talk about “cultural fit” in the current hiring environment, but many still don’t understand what it means. To feel comfortable and happy in your role, you need to feel as though you belong in the company. If your values and work habits don’t align with the other people you work with, then you’re going to feel like an outsider looking in.
Spend some time researching the critical values of the company, and the things that people are rewarded for in your team. For instance, if you’re an innovator, and your employers are impressed by out-of-the-box thinking, that’s a good sign you’ll fit well in your new group.
Remember to look for signs that bonding is encouraged too, through team outings, educational sessions, and group meetings.
5. Will You Learn Valuable Skills?
Finally, having the opportunity to learn new skills and develop as a professional is essential for any role. Just because you’re a junior accountant now doesn’t mean you don’t want to grow to become a senior executive in the future. The best way to do that is to learn on the job.
Great employers will offer plenty of opportunities for development, through mentors, one-on-one educational sessions and even access to outside training. You might even get opportunities to take on additional responsibilities outside of your current role when you’re ready.
When applying for a position, ask what you might be able to learn from the role going forward, and consider whether there are any transferrable skills from this job that will help you in the future.
About Rebus Financial Recruitment
Rebus Financial Recruitment provides a specialist and focused recruitment service to its customers, which historically range from a wide variety of organisations including SME’s to large PLCs.
We strive to offer both the client and candidate a seamless recruitment experience. Using our expertise, we get to the heart of employer and employee needs; and, in doing so, we match the two perfectly. To get in touch call us on 01282 930930.
