Well, this was the week that Lehman’s Brothers collapsed, the US Treasury stepped in to bail out the insurance giant AIG, and Lloyds TSB rescued the ailing HBOS in a £12.2billion deal.
Needless to say, shock waves were sent through the financial community. But while a few thousand newly unemployed bankers doesn’t spell the end for the million-strong finance industry workforce in the UK (Office of National Statistics), this shake up is going to do very little for confidence in the job market – especially since unemployment hit a nine-year high of 1.72 million in August.
But, while it’s definitely sobering after all these years of comfortable affluence to see thousands of the country’s best paid professionals lose their jobs in a flash, this does not mean disaster on all fronts, and there are still jobs to be had for those willing to face that bit of extra competition.
Indeed, even though a recent Badenoch and Clark survey has revealed that 44 per cent of accountants are less confident about their career now than they were in the New Year, recruiters themselves are less pessimistic.
Sara Johal, an experienced financial recruiter, has a realistic view of the situation: “Companies always need accountants - especially in the current climate. With continuing growth within our commerce and industry teams it's been as good a time as any to be looking for other opportunities. In light of recent events it’s become obvious that the Financial Services market has become slightly more reserved in increasing its headcount. However, there do continue to be pockets of recruitment going on at the moment, so it's vital you keep your eye out for roles and remain in close contact with your consultant if you use one. Keep up to date and stay positive - the work is there, it’s just not being thrown at you anymore!”
So, the jobs are there, but if you’re finding it difficult getting an interview, you may need to pull out all the stops on the CV front and treat it to a complete makeover. At GAAPweb we’ve teamed up with The Fuller CV to find out how to revamp a tired, out-of-date or unfocused resume to really market your skills and experience to employers.
To get your CV to the top of the pile, you’ve got to stash away all modesty and really sell yourself. You can contact The Fuller CV for a bespoke revamp of your resume by an industry professional, or simply get started right here with the help of their handy advice.
CV Makeover Step-by-Step
You’ve got to differentiate yourself from all the other finance professionals out there, so don’t fall into the trap of highlighting irrelevant experience. Stick to what the employer needs to see, and quantify your experience if you can. Really measure your accountabilities to demonstrate how you’ve performed at work.
Once you’ve got your CV facts sorted, you’ve got to work at spinning them to present your experience in the best possible light. Using key or action words such as “recommended”, “implemented” or “selected” will show future employers that you are respected and trusted at work – regardless of the seniority of your position. Most importantly, you must give supporting evidence for everything in your CV – otherwise you could end up sounding like a dynamic, proactive, team-playing cliché.
Your final touches should involve prioritising the CV’s content, and making the most relevant experience stand out – remember, recruiters have little time to search through CVs and so your key skills need to jump right out.
So, you've already added your CV to the GAAPweb site, but did you know you can make it public so that employers can find you in their recruitment searches? This could be a great way of coming across your next step up the career ladder!
