Author: dvillalobos

3 Strategies for Hiring Top Finance and Accounting Talent

A recent survey of more than 1,000 employers revealed that hiring and retaining employees is a significant concern. The right talent fuels any organization’s success, and the cost of a bad hire can be steep. Companies are realizing they need to be proactive and strategic to attract and retain top performers, especially in finance and accounting, where competition for qualified candidates is fierce.

Robust hiring strategies ensure organizations build a strong team of knowledgeable and skilled professionals. Here are three ways you can enrich your team with high-caliber professionals.

1. Promote Regular Salary Reviews as Part of Company Culture

Regular salary reviews ensure your compensation packages remain competitive and aligned with the market rates. This helps you retain your current staff and makes you more attractive to new hires who see you stay up-to-date by regularly raising pay rates.

Research industry standards, consult salary surveys and benchmark against competitors in your region. Make it part of your company culture to adjust salaries to match or exceed market rates at least once a year.

2. Highlight Growth and Career Paths During the Interview Process

While competitive compensation is crucial, top finance and accounting talent is often drawn to organizations offering robust professional growth and career advancement opportunities. During the hiring process, it is essential to highlight the potential career paths available within your organization.

Engage candidates in open discussions about their aspirations and long-term goals. Outline clear roadmaps for progression within the company to demonstrate your commitment to their professional development. By vividly portraying the potential trajectories, you can position your organization as an attractive destination for ambitious professionals seeking challenging and rewarding careers.

3. Give Your Team the Technology it Needs to Thrive

Don’t bog down your top performers with outdated software or clunky processes. Seek out software that streamlines workflows, eliminates tedious manual tasks and provides real-time insights.

By giving your finance and accounting aces access to cutting-edge tech, you’ll empower them to work smarter, not harder. They’ll appreciate your commitment to arming them with the best resources available. When they can maximize their efficiency and deliver exceptional results, they’ll be more motivated to stick around.

Productive Teams Equal a Competitive Edge

You don’t want to waste time attracting and hiring strong candidates while your company misses opportunities or your current staff is overloaded. Partnering with a specialized recruitment firm such as Century Group can significantly enhance your hiring process — granting you access to a wealth of unadvertised and passive talent pools.

With our expertise and vast network in the finance and accounting sectors, we can connect you with the skilled professionals your company needs to thrive. Don’t let hiring challenges hold your business back. Contact us today, and let’s build a productive, competitive team to give your business an edge.

4 Benefits of Building Your Professional Brand in Finance and Accounting

Whether you’re an up-and-coming professional looking to get noticed or an experienced veteran ready for your next challenge, a thoughtfully curated digital presence helps you stand out. It puts you in control of the narrative surrounding your expertise and accomplishments, increasing your visibility and opening doors to job prospects and career growth opportunities. After all,  Employers take notice of candidates with a visible, credible online footprint.

Here are four benefits of developing a powerful professional brand in finance and accounting.

1. Expand Your Realm of Influence

Sharing insights and thought leadership on platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and industry blogs and publications showcases your expertise. You expand your influence and bolster recognition of your knowledge and expertise.

Give more people a chance to see your impressive background and knowledge. A vibrant, professionally focused online presence gives you more visibility while solidifying your reputation as a trusted voice.

2. Build Credibility and Instill Confidence

Credibility and trust are crucial in finance and accounting. A polished, professional online brand instills confidence in potential employers and clients. Your digital footprint allows employers and prospective clients to verify your background and observe your professional aptitude easily. It also shows that you are genuinely invested in the industry and committed to driving it forward.

3. Redefine Your Career Trajectory

An influential, far-reaching digital brand builds a network of people who know and trust you. As you gain recognition within your field, you’ll get noticed by hiring managers, internal recruiters and leadership teams. Your profile, portfolio of work and professional insights can put you top-of-mind for new opportunities.

4. Score Higher-Paying and Harder-to-Find Roles

An influential online presence can help you access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. An authentic, well-rounded brand presence conveys the full depth of your professional knowledge, skills and passion for your profession. This competitive edge allows hiring managers and recruiters to understand the unique value you’d bring to their team.

When you differentiate yourself through skillful brand-building, you position yourself to find your dream job with an earnings potential to match.

Unlock Exclusive Career Opportunities with Century Group

If you’re considering elevating your professional brand, you know the value of an insider’s edge. That’s where Century Group’s extensive employer network and long-standing relationships can help. We can give you exclusive access to career opportunities you won’t find advertised on public job boards — connecting you with roles perfectly aligned with your expertise, salary goals and long-term ambitions. Search our available jobs or submit your resume today to accelerate your career ascent.

4 Reasons to Become an Auditor

You may be surprised to learn that an auditor is a dynamic profession offering diverse opportunities, ongoing growth and the potential to make an impact.

Auditors safeguard businesses from the devastating pitfalls of financial discrepancies while helping to uphold public trust in vital economic systems. If you like the idea of a career that combines accounting and analytical skills with ethical responsibility, becoming an auditor might suit you perfectly.

Here are four ways becoming an auditor can bring you professional achievement and personal satisfaction.

1. You Learn Highly Valued and Transferable Skills

Skills you develop in a career as an auditor can empower you to take your talents anywhere. While a mastery of finance and accounting is foundational to the job, auditors are strategic evaluators armed with an expansive and cutting-edge toolkit.

In addition to traditional analytical abilities, today’s auditors develop data visualization, analytics and IT capabilities. New technologies help auditors work smarter and faster, whether reviewing anomalies or tracing transaction cycles. This gives them the resources to tackle risk, provide strategic advice and generate vital insights.

As an auditor, you also develop communication skills that forge a solid foundation for later leadership positions. Honing abilities like identifying patterns and exceptions, critical thinking, explaining complex concepts to different people and brainstorming with colleagues make you versatile, valuable and recession-proof.

2. You Can Work Anywhere

As an auditor, you can work with companies anywhere across the country or worldwide. Skilled auditors are in high demand, and many corporations with offices in the U.S. have offices or do business with companies in other countries. If you want to travel and see the world, becoming an auditor can help you do that.

If you work in or with companies in a foreign country, you will need the appropriate licensing for that location. It’s also essential to learn applicable laws and regulations.

If you don’t want to travel, you can still work internationally. In today’s digital and virtual workplace, you can work with international companies from home or a local office.

3. Auditors Are in Demand

There is a high demand for qualified auditors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,538,400 U.S. auditor and accounting positions in 2022, with an annual growth rate of 4%. Firms prioritize hiring an auditor after discovering an accounting or operational failure. Auditors are critical in helping businesses maintain integrity.

4. Work With Innovative and Interesting Clients

Working as an auditor gives you an inside view of innovative companies in every industry worldwide. Every public company has an external auditor, which means you have the unique opportunity to peek behind the curtain of some dynamic organizations.

Future Proof Your Skills by Becoming an Auditor

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, working as an auditor can position you for outstanding professional experiences and long-term growth. As recruiting experts dedicated to accounting and finance, Century Group is here to help.

4 Effective Employee Retention Strategies that Attract Workers, Too

It’s a challenging market for attracting and retaining workers in all industries. As many experienced workers retire and others look for new opportunities, employers can find themselves challenged to hold on to top talent. The good news: There are straightforward, practical steps you can take to ensure your best employees stay with you. Even more — those retention strategies can double as impactful recruiting methods, as well.

Top Retention Strategies for 2024

While the details of why any employee looks for a new position vary, it usually boils down to a few factors: employees who feel underpaid, under-appreciated and overworked. So, your retention strategies should be focused on preventing those issues from developing. Take some time to look at your current policies and practices to ensure employees feel they have the following:

1. Fair Compensation

For employees, fair compensation means more than just making more than they used to. Look at the salaries you’re offering compared to what your competitors are paying and the cost of living in your area. Salaries can be above average for your industry but still lag within your geographical location. You can factor in the value of benefits and other job perks, too, but keep in mind that free bagels every Monday can only go so far if the company down the street pays an average of $5k more per year.

Check out our 2024 Salary Guide for a curated compensation report of more than 40 accounting and finance positions and other hiring insights.

2. Work-Life Balance to Prevent Burnout

We may be out of the crisis period of the pandemic, but its effects on the work world continue. Many people have permanently changed their view on work-life balance, and it’s a significant factor in where they choose to work. Try to build in flexibility so employees don’t have to choose between their jobs and personal lives. Benefits like remote work, flexible hours, and maybe even a four-day workweek can boost morale while maintaining productivity.

Plus, employees who experience an increased workload become looser in the seat — sometimes seeking alternative opportunities that better meet their needs.

Utilizing consultants for project-based work can help alleviate unexpected job duties, so your team doesn’t have to bear that burden in addition to their regular responsibilities.

3. Recognition and Rewards

Everyone likes to feel appreciated for their work — and few of us feel we get enough of it. Even simple, inexpensive ways of recognizing employees’ efforts can help them feel that they and their work are recognized and appreciated. It’s also worth reminding managers to sprinkle more positive affirmations in their informal discussions with employees. In the day-to-day, it’s easy to focus on challenges and then forget to follow up with an appreciation for the solutions employees find.

4. Opportunities for Training and Development

Even workers who love their job and the company may get antsy if they don’t see a clear path to career progress — however, they may envision it. You can prevent that by ensuring you have a solid onboarding process to set the right tone from day one, as well as mentorship and formal training opportunities. That can look different for every employee. Some people may want to move into management, while others are happy to stay in their current position as long as they can learn about the latest trends and software in the industry. The most important thing is to make sure whatever training and development you offer is tailored to employees’ career goals as much as possible.

Retention strategies to attract and keep top talent don’t have to mean reinventing the wheel. All it takes is reviewing your current efforts on compensation, training and more with an eye to how it can be a tool to help you improve your team. If you’re still challenged to find the talent you need, contact us to see how we can help.

2024 Q1 Accounting and Finance Employment Report

The post-pandemic U.S. job market continues to stabilize and grow — 2023 concluded with a steady rate of new hires and relatively low unemployment rates. While the Fed works to keep inflation in check and maintain steady economic growth, the overall labor market seems to be moving toward more normal conditions in many industries. For finance and accounting, however, the sector promises to be a hot labor market.

Looking at the 2024 Q1 employment report, the GDP’s 4.9% increase in the fourth quarter of 2023 was the biggest since 2021. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

q1 employment report

The University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers showed a 14% leap in consumer sentiment in December, climbing to a midpoint between pre-pandemic levels and 2022 lows. After a year of recession worries, higher wages and lower-than-expected inflation contributed to a surge in confidence across all age groups and demographics.

In accounting and finance, an estimated 75% of CPAs reached retirement eligibility by 2020, and more than 300,000 accountants quit their jobs between 2019 and 2021. This creates opportunities for job seekers and requires creativity from employers.

Here is a look at what accounting and finance professionals and companies can expect in 2024.

For Employers

With so many experienced accounting and finance professionals retiring, employers are finding creative approaches to attract talent, improve retention and develop the potential of existing employees to meet their finance and accounting needs.

Remote and Hybrid Schedules

Some employers stand out from the crowd, attracting and retaining skilled professionals by offering flexible work arrangements. Paired with competitive salaries, hybrid or remote work options are a significant draw.

Upskilling To Meet Demand

Some hard-to-fill or high-demand positions are opportunities to upskill existing staff or hire for potential and trainability. In the wake of the 2023 bank failures, the financial services sector needs qualified risk and compliance professionals. Stock market fluctuations necessitate adept fund managers who can help clients rebalance their portfolios.

In alignment with trends toward skills-first hiring, managers are opting to relax experience requirements. Instead, they are recruiting entry-level professionals who demonstrate a strong capacity for learning on the job. This shift addresses immediate staffing needs and invests in the long-term development of a skilled workforce.

When you work with Century Group as your strategic staffing partner, we help you access a broad and diverse talent pool of accounting and finance professionals. This includes active job seekers and passive candidates open to the right opportunities. We tailor our recruitment strategies to fit your staffing needs.

For Job Seekers

The first quarter of 2024 presents opportunities for job seekers in the accounting and finance sectors. With the current talent shortage, there are several strategies and trends that prospective candidates should be aware of to maximize their chances in this competitive yet opportunity-rich market.

The Rise of Contract Roles

More firms are working with contract professionals, which opens an avenue for job seekers. Contract roles provide immediate employment opportunities that can lead to permanent positions. If you’re open to contract work, these positions can provide valuable experience, networking opportunities and a foot in the door at sought-after companies.

Targeting High-Demand Areas

Roles in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), financial reporting, risk and compliance, fund management and general accounting are in high demand, with unemployment rates comfortably below the national average. Job seekers looking to enter the field or change roles should consider upskilling or reskilling in these high-demand areas.

Preparing for the Market

To stand out to employers, highlight relevant skills and quantify your accomplishments on your resume and during interviews. Online and in-person networking can play a significant role in uncovering opportunities. For example, engaging with professional groups, attending industry events and staying updated with industry trends will help you make a mark in the finance and accounting sectors now and as your career develops.

In addition to accreditation and relevant skills, employers look for soft skills like leadership, collaboration, communication and the ability to present your ideas.

Working with a dedicated recruiting agency is a great way to accelerate your career. At Century Group, we only work with finance and accounting professionals, so we have deep expertise you can use to find a role and a company culture that genuinely matches your professional and personal needs.

Potential Growth and Advancement Ahead

Our 2024 Q1 employment report shows employers and job seekers in the finance and accounting sectors face unique challenges and opportunities. Both parties can navigate this dynamic landscape successfully by staying adaptable, focusing on skills development and leveraging specialized resources like Century Group. The year ahead promises growth and advancement for those prepared to seize the opportunities in this evolving market.

Elevate Your Output With These 3 Efficiency Hacks

As a finance and accounting professional, you bring essential expertise to the team. Efficiency hacks are a tool to help you leverage your available time, freeing you to deliver on high-value tasks. Whether you’re a manager looking to hire top talent or a job seeker ready to elevate your career, here are three game-changing tips to make every minute count.

1. Prioritize Ruthlessly.

Effective prioritization is one of the best ways to consistently meet deadlines and avoid last-minute marathons to get projects done.

Utilize the Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is an easy-to-implement but powerful tool. It helps you sort tasks into four categories:

  • Urgent and important
  • Important but not urgent
  • Urgent but not important
  • Not urgent or important

By categorizing tasks this way, you can quickly see what needs your attention first. This allows you to focus on tasks that impact your productivity and career growth. It can also help you say yes to higher-value tasks and no to tasks that might bog you down and don’t require your expertise.

Set Clear Daily Goals

At the end of each workday or in the morning, list the top three tasks that need to be accomplished. These tasks should align with your core responsibilities.

2. Leverage Technology

Technology has an equal capacity to distract and support you during your workday. Leveraging technology in efficiency hacks requires thoughtful strategy. Each tool you implement should give you back time, streamline your day or make tasks more manageable.

Here are a few ways you can use technology to create efficiency hacks:

  • Automate routine tasks like data entry, scheduling or report generation
  • Use cloud-based tools to facilitate collaboration and ensure you have access to files when and where you need them
  • Utilize analytical tools to gain insights and make informed decisions efficiently
  • Keep your tech skills up to date to stay on top of new tools that can benefit your field

3. Embrace the Power of Breaks

This efficiency hack may seem counter-intuitive, especially if you’re in a high-volume or high-pressure position. However, research shows that the right breaks can increase focus and productivity, reducing burnout or fatigue.

Understand the Science

Regular, short, intermittent rest helps your brain learn and perform faster. In addition to giving your brain short breaks during the day, it’s important to include opportunities in your life for it to reset and rest. If you’re always watching TV or on your phone, your brain doesn’t get the time it needs to be restored.

Give yourself time during the week to walk in nature, do something creative, meditate, listen to music or rest.

Efficiency Hacks Make Your Life Easier

Leveraging your time helps align your daily actions with your long-term career goals. This approach will enhance the quality of your work, making you an invaluable asset.

How a Staffing Agency Can Help You Avoid Bad Hires in 2024

Every new hire comes with risk, and the competitive talent market adds another challenge to an already complex task. The cost of a bad hire can be substantial, leading to disrupted operations, lowered staff morale and the daunting task of repeating the recruitment process.

A 2019 survey of over 1,000 hiring managers found companies reported an average loss of $18,700 on each bad hire. Even more, it’s not unusual to go through the hiring process only to discover the new staff is not a good fit. The survey found that around 75% of employers have hired the wrong person for a position.

Partnering with a professional staffing agency can streamline your hiring process, provide deeper insights into candidate compatibility and help you make more informed, successful hiring decisions. Here are five ways a staffing firm can help you avoid bad hires in 2024.

1. Tailored recruitment strategies

Professional staffing firms can help you avoid bad hires in 2024 through a customized recruitment strategy. Experienced staffing professionals regularly go beyond the standard hiring procedures. They understand that not every role necessitates a full-time employee, and they can help you determine the most effective hiring approach, whether a contract position, permanent role, or contract-to-hire strategy. This tailored approach aligns the hiring process with your immediate needs and long-term goals.

2. Streamlined recruitment process

A staffing agency can significantly reduce your time and effort in writing job descriptions, posting ads, sorting applications and evaluating resumes. A streamlined recruitment process lets you get to the most qualified candidates quickly.

3. Specialization

Professional staffing specialists are experts in specific fields, such as accounting, administrative and customer service, legal, marketing and creative or technology. This focus means they have deep knowledge of which skills are critical for each area and how to identify candidates with these skills.

4. Proactive Recruitment With Advanced Technologies

A staffing firm never stops recruiting. It uses advanced AI-driven recruiting technologies to network, building extensive databases of qualified candidates within their industries. This list of pre-vetted candidates means there’s already a reservoir of potential candidates when you need to fill a position.

5. Embracing Remote and Hybrid Work Models

Flexible work arrangements can be as crucial to some candidates as salary. If you are filling a position that can be done remotely, a staffing agency can help you tap into out-of-market talent pools to find the right fit for your organization.

Avoid Bad Hires in 2024

You want the best people for your organization, and a staffing firm like Century Group can help. By leveraging our specialized knowledge, advanced recruitment technologies, and expansive networks, you can secure qualified professionals who align with your organizational culture and operational needs. Connect with us and get started today.

Top Hiring Trends for 2024

Talent acquisition has always been an evolving process, and this year is no exception. Rapid technological advancements and evolving social values reshape how businesses and employees approach the job market.

Here are three pivotal 2024 hiring trends to keep in mind. Understanding these trends will help hiring managers and candidates excel in a dynamic and competitive environment.

1. The Use of AI in Hiring

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are poised to streamline how hiring managers connect with and evaluate potential candidates. In the competitive hiring landscape, 56% of U.S. job seekers say an employer’s responsiveness during the hiring process is essential, and 41% cite a lack of communication as the most frustrating part of the job search.

AI can enhance candidate engagement. Chatbots are AI-driven and can answer questions and guide applicants through recruitment, keeping them informed. This can be a win-win for busy hiring managers who can handle critical touchpoints while delivering an engaged and smooth candidate experience through onboarding.

AI tools can also analyze historical data to help predict a candidate’s job performance and retention, helping hiring managers make speedy yet informed decisions. While a data-driven approach is helpful, it doesn’t replace a recruiter or talent acquisition’s expertise and understanding of people.

2. Employer Branding and Company Culture

The hiring landscape has changed in some crucial ways over the past decade, and one is an emphasis on company culture. This can encompass a spectrum of factors, from hybrid work schedules to DEI initiatives.

A strong company culture correlates with better employee engagement, workforce growth and increased net profits.

While there is no one-size-fits-all for company culture, developing your employer brand to reflect your organization’s values, culture and benefits is essential.

A strong brand draws candidates who are aligned with your company’s culture.

3. Hiring for Skills

Degrees and pedigrees still matter — especially in fields like accounting and finance, which require specialized expertise — but are no longer the sole indicators of a candidate’s potential or capability. More employers are emphasizing skills and experiences, a strategy that targets job seekers willing and capable of growing and adapting in a rapidly changing economy.

By focusing on skills and potential, companies can tap into diverse talent sources, including non-traditional candidates who may not have formal qualifications but possess immense potential and relevant capabilities. Soft skills like critical thinking, adaptability, learning, and emotional intelligence are particularly valued and can help job seekers level up.

It’s Still All About People

While technology and employee expectations lead 2024 hiring trends, the essence of employment remains the same. People with skills seek employers who value and recognize their contribution, ideally giving them both stability and pathways of growth.

Work is more digitized and data-driven, but these tools only realize their potential in the hands of skilled professionals. By focusing on people, candidate experience and employer branding, organizations can build a workforce that is not only skilled but also resilient.

6 Career Development Strategies for 2024

Continuous learning enriches every career path. With technology evolving at a mind-blowing pace, ongoing skill development is critical to career success.

Whether or not your position uses technology, versatile soft skills are highly sought after and will help advance your career. Here are some strategies to help you level up professionally this year:

1. Develop Niche Skills

Specialization can set you apart. Identify a niche within your field that interests you and dive deep.

Having specialized expertise can put you in high demand. It positions you to be known as an expert in your field and command a higher salary.

2. Network and Build Relationships

Your professional network can be one of your greatest assets, especially if they know your capabilities. People you know can connect you with information, insights and opportunities you may not otherwise find.

Your network also provides opportunities for mentor-mentee relationships. Whether you are ready to mentor another professional or seek an experienced mentor, the relationship benefits both parties.

3. Step Up and Take On Challenging Projects

Volunteer for projects that are a step out of your comfort zone. Taking on challenging projects demonstrates your abilities and shows you are capable of more significant responsibilities.

Innovation, problem-solving and adaptability are all highly valued in the professional world. By stepping up, you develop yourself professionally while contributing to the success of your team and organization.

4. Build Your Professional Brand

Developing visibility helps the people around you recognize your potential. Don’t hide your ideas and abilities; speak up and offer your thoughts and solutions.

Many professionals wait to be asked. Instead, you can become known as a strategic thinker by proactively adding value with suggestions and solutions.

Another strategy for developing visibility is to take on speaking engagements. Being recognized as a thought leader can accelerate your advancement.

5. Sharpen Critical Soft Skills

In today’s collaborative work environments, strong communication skills make you a valuable asset. There are many ways to develop your written and verbal communication skills, from daily journaling or taking classes to joining a local Toastmasters club.

Other in-demand soft skills include problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, leadership, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and innovative thinking. Identify the soft skills that will most benefit you in your career and set and follow a personal development.

6. Maintain a Positive Attitude

A positive and professional attitude can open up opportunities. It makes collaboration smoother and more pleasant. People are drawn to positivity and professionalism, making you a preferred colleague, leader, or partner.

A positive mindset makes you more open to new ideas, spurs creativity, and can increase your performance by keeping your energy strong and steady. Positive people are more resilient and adaptable and even have better health.

Let 2024 Be a Year of Advancement

Century Group supports your goals, whether you’re looking to take your career to new heights or seeking the perfect candidate to complement your team. Connect with us and let’s make 2024 a milestone year.

2023 Q4 Accounting and Finance Employment Report

Despite economic frustrations like inflation and hiring reticence from some sectors, the job market remained steady in Q3 and is forecasted to continue through the rest of 2023.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 336,000 jobs were added in September — nearly doubling what economists predicted, according to The New York Times. In fact, last month’s numbers showed the most job growth this year since January. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8%.

Q4 2023 accounting and finance employment report

LinkedIn’s Senior Economist, Kory Kantenga, notes that one of consumers’ most pressing concern — inflation — is on a bumpy, downward path, helping to raise the overall economic outlook as we move into the New Year.

Still, it’s a balancing act for employers and job seekers in Q4, as both have different motivators influencing their hiring and employment decisions. We share both outlooks in our Q4 accounting and finance employment forecast.

For Employers

Staffing as a whole has declined in 2023, specifically in the areas of human relations, accounting and finance. But, according to Kantenga, he believes the most pain in this area should be behind us and an uptick in temporary workers being added to payrolls is expected.

What does that mean for companies? The battle for top talent remains in full effect. One impactful tool: salary transparency. Providing this information in a job advertisement is more likely to entice top performers to engage with the role, as pay remains a key motivator for job seekers in today’s climate. Employees want to feel empowered by their career decisions, so starting the working relationship on open, even footing sets the tone for the future company dynamics.

The battle for top talent remains in full effect. One impactful tool: salary transparency.

Another successful tactic is rethinking the type of candidates company’s are considering when evaluating potential employees. Many hiring managers are turning to a skills-based hiring approach to combat a limited talent pool and establish a more equitable workforce, but in a recent ZipRecruiter survey, there are still three important areas that are lacking: time management, critical thinking and professionalism. Review this interview guide to help get the right person in the seat.

For Job Seekers

Even with some economic uncertainty from both employers and job seekers, most recruiters consider the labor market to still be candidate-driven. In a recent survey of tech agency recruiters, 31.2% of recruiters expressed optimism for the job market in Q4, with 64.7% believing candidates still have the upper hand.

Job seekers should continue to evaluate career opportunities based on what matters most. Successful companies are including salary ranges in their job postings, as well as showcasing hybrid work arrangements to cater to employees’ desire for financial security and flexibility. Leverage interviews to discern if a company — not merely the role — is an ideal fit. Or, simplify the job search process in its entirety with the assistance of a recruiter to maximize your results for a faster, more successful job match.