Job interviews for positions in the financial sector are becoming even more intense, according to an expert.
The economic downturn and the numbers of people applying has lead to a huge increase in competition, recruitment firm Joslin Rowe said.
It revealed more hurdles are being put in the way of candidates – including further stages of selection.
The company's latest research revealed the time between submitting an application and starting employment has risen by three weeks to six from the previous year.
A total of 1,244 City job offers in the accountancy, risk, banking, investment and compliance sectors were analysed to generate the data.
Managing director at the organisation Tara Ricks remarked businesses have to "justify every single hire".
"City firms have always been incredibly selective but now only exact match candidates can expect to tick all the boxes on each financial services job spec and receive that job," she claimed.
Other factors could also be affecting the increases in waiting times, including the implementation of diversity and equal opportunity policies.
A recent study by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants found the majority of its students are confident of securing employment once they qualify.
