RECRUITING EXPERTS WORLDWIDEWE POWER THE WORLD OF WORKOctober 2014

INTRODUCTIONS:

Mark Pamplin – Manager Asia, Hays Globalink

Kar Hu – Resourcer Asia, Hays Globalink

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Hays plc is a highly influential recruitment business and is the leading global specialist recruitment group.

We are located in Asia Pacific, Europe, UK, North & South America plus the Middle East.

We have been established in the UK since 1969.

HAYS

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Globalink comprises a team of consultants based in London who facilitate the movement of candidates currently residing in the UK, Ireland and Europe who are looking at opportunities to work in the Asia-Pacific region.

GLOBALINK – WHO WE ARE

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

•Current market trends•Salary guidelines•Update resumes with reference and any international experience•Arrange interviews in Australia/New Zealand/Asia prior to departure•Discuss visa and work permit requirements•Arrange interviews via telephone/ video conference prior to departure•Any other issues around relocation

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CV WRITING TIPS

Tips for great resume writing

In order to make the shortlist, your resume must meet most or all of the criteria in the position description. If your credentials are appropriate for the position to which you are applying, here are our tips to make sure your CV stands out.

Contact details - Obviously you need to include such basic information as your name, address, telephone numbers and email address. Make sure the e-mail address you use appears professional. hotstuff@hotmail.com is not appropriate!

Professional summary - Ensure the first area at the top of your resume is a "summary of experience" and includes specific applicable experience as opposed to generalities.

Consider using words from the job description or posting so that applicant tracking systems (ATS) can recognise them and make a match. This area of your resume should be designed to prove your value proposition and differentiate you from your competition — and shouldn’t list objectives.

CV WRITING TIPS

Education and qualifications - In this section reference your career objective back to the job applied for to give an indication of what you are looking for in your next career move, with an overview of your key achievements. For overseas qualifications state local equivalent.

Work experience - This should be listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent. Include employer names, positions held and primary responsibilities. Use language like “managed” or “oversaw” as recruiters and hiring managers react better to this terminology.

Quantify your accomplishments where possible. Also, where appropriate, include an indication of salary level achieved and reasons for leaving each position.

We advise you not to leave gaps in your CV. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so. If you do include gaps, potential employers can suspect the worst.

Stating the years, rather than the months you started or finished a role can also send off alarm bells. Writing "2008 - 2009" could be interpreted as employment from December 2008 to January 2009 unless you say otherwise.

Overseas work experience – Include a summary on locations, company turnover, number of staff, industry etc. Your employer could be a household name in one country and an unknown entity in another.

Linked In profile – make sure it matches your CV, is up to date and includes a professional corporate photo.

References - It is also important to include details of two references, such as former employers. If you are a graduate with no work history, include details of a former lecturer.

Online recommendations are great for showing the skills you are best known for but they are not a substitute for the role references play.

CV WRITING TIPS

The referees recruiters and employers value the most are those people you reported to directly. These people can speak about how you used your skills and experience to add value to their organisation.

Former managers can also speak to your personal attributes such as reliability, ability to build and leverage relationships and whether you collaborate well with other team members.

Document format - Most companies will upload your resume into their databases so make sure it is written in a common format. Most applicant tracking systems accept a variety of document formats, including PDF and DOC. We suggest using a clean format with no graphics, images or tables. ATS software doesn't pick up images and graphics as they aren't searchable inside the database. Within the text of your resume, it is best not to use any special characters or fonts. Avoid headers and footers, too, as these can be incompatible with most ATS.

Also, ensure there is plenty of white space. We recommend not placing too much information on one page or using or small fonts that are difficult to read.

CV WRITING TIPS

Final checks - Don't forget to spell check your CV. Remember, it is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, so take the time to get it right. If possible, ask someone to proof read your resume to check for any spelling, layout or typing errors.

Finally, attach your resume and if requested cover letter to an email, rather than pasting the text into your email program. Pasting text into an email program sometimes causes text to appear on the recipient's screen in a distorted or muddled mess, making it very difficult to read.

Unless otherwise stated, you do not need to attach copies of certificates relating to educational and/or professional qualifications (including recent academic transcripts) or references from previous employers. You should instead bring these to a job interview.

CV WRITING TIPS

CV WRITING TIPS

Make personal contact - The best way to make sure your resume is seen is by following up with a phone call.

Resume template

To make sure you present yourself as the best person for the job, personalise your CV for each position you apply for.  Prepare a resume template and adjust for each job application.  Expand the section on experience that applies to the job and cut back the space you have devoted to those areas which have little or no value to the role applied for.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

Do your research

The better prepared you are, the more relaxed and comfortable you will be when the interview questions begin. The following offers a few interview tips and suggestions on ways to refine your interview technique.

Before the interview, it is a good idea to gather information about the company that has the position vacant and try to relate your experience to the specific duties of the job opportunity available.

Interview questions

We suggest preparing a list of questions you want to ask about the organisation and the position. These could include:

• Do you have a detailed job description? • Why is the position available? • What training and induction will be given? • What prospects are there for personal and professional development? • What are the company plans for the future? • What attributes would you hope that I bring to the job?

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

• When can I expect to hear from you?• What skills and attributes do successful people at your company usually have? • What do you like best about working at the company? • What results are expected from me? • What specific problems are you hoping to solve during the first six months? • What communication style do you prefer? • What are your goals for the department?

Look the part

Dress for success! At an interview it is extremely important to look, act and dress professionally as you won’t have a second chance at making a good first impression. Ideally, a business suit should be worn. Clean shoes, clean finger nails and clean well groomed hair are important.

We can’t overemphasise how important first impressions are. Research has shown that an interviewer has made an impression within the first eight seconds of meeting the person. The remainder of the interview is spent confirming this opinion, or turning this opinion around.

Plan ahead

Be prepared! Below are some of our job interview preparation tips:

• Practice interviewing - Enlist a friend (better yet, a group of friends and colleagues) to ask you sample questions. Practice making eye contact. • Video record your practice sessions - Pay attention to body language and verbal presentation. Eliminate verbal fillers, like “uh,” and “um.” Practice using positive body language to signal confidence, even when you’re not feeling it. • Handle logistics early. Have your clothes, resume, and directions to the interview site ready ahead of time, to avoid any extra stress.

Anticipate likely questions

To get to the motivations and working style of a potential employee, employers often turn to behavioural interviewing, an interviewing style which consists of a series of probing, incisive questions. This may sound a little intimidating, however with a little preparation you can feel confident before the interview.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

Behavioural interview questions

Behavioural interview questions are aimed at establishing various core competencies relevant to the role, such as teamwork, creativity and innovation, decision making ability, business awareness or conflict resolution. The interviewer is looking for examples of past behaviour that demonstrate these competencies.

Sample behavioural interview questions include:

• Describe a situation in which you didn’t meet your stated goal, how did you handle it? • Tell us about a situation in which you encountered resistance from key people, how did you convince the person or people to do what you wanted? • Describe a situation in which you took the initiative to change a process or system and make it better, how did you identify the problem? How did you go about instituting change?

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

During the interview

To be on the safe side, bring a spare copy of your resume to the interview. We advise arriving at least ten minutes early as interviewers are unimpressed by lateness and will rarely accept excuses from prospective employees.

A firm (but not bone crunching) handshake with a big smile will do wonders when you first meet your Interviewer. Some small chit chat from the reception area to the interview room will also help. These are the vital seconds (not minutes) in making your first impression.

Body language and other forms of non-verbal communication are important elements in the way an interviewee performs. Appearing relaxed and trying to act naturally is easier said than done but good appearance is mostly a matter of assuming a position that you are comfortable with.

We suggest sitting up straight, leaning forward slightly and always maintaining good eye contact with the interviewer or panel. Looking disinterested will limit your options.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUESAlways treat the interview as a two way discussion and answer questions honestly, directly and keep to the point. Everyone present will be focusing their attention on you, so clouding your answer with jargon or evading the issue will be more obvious than you think.

There are common questions which arise in most job interviews, and while you should be prepared, try not to rehearse answers that are too precise. We suggest a better approach is to work on broad subject areas that are likely to come up during the interview. Some of these areas include:

General background - Often the first question is a request for a summary of your background. People applying for their first job should focus on extra curricular activities, education, and qualifications.

Qualifications - A specific question often asked is "Why do you think you are qualified for this position?" Qualifications, in this context, mean all qualifications which could make you suitable for the position including educational, employment-related and personal. In most cases, this may be the question that will win or lose you the job, so your answer needs to be clear and memorable.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

Experience - Here is where your research pays off. Your answer should include details about relevant employment, community or educational experience and a discussion of the nature of the industry, the organisation and the position itself.

Reasons for applying - Your answer should describe what you find appealing about the position, how you prepared yourself for a career in the organisation and how you believe your present job equips you for the position in question.

Career objectives - Be ready to discuss your long-term aspirations. Your best approach is one that indicates you have thought about your career in these terms and have taken some action towards realising your ambitions.

Crisis management - In some organisations, employers give candidates questions designed to test their ability in situations or crises. You should try to find out the most common type of dilemma for employees in the job you are seeking and formulate an intelligent response.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUESSample interview questions

• Why are you seeking a position with our company? • How do you cope with pressure situations? Be ready to give an example. • Have you come across a situation like this? How did you handle it? What was the outcome? • What are your greatest achievements to date? • What objectives did you set yourself at the beginning of your career or study? • Have you achieved those objectives? • What interests you most/least about this job? • Describe your own personality. • Describe a situation where you have... (as mentioned earlier, this is the style of questioning used in competency based interviewing, so have relevant examples at the ready.) • What salary are you looking for? (Do your homework beforehand!)

Towards the end of the interview, you will usually be asked if you have any questions of your own. Be confident when asking your questions and use them to score additional points in your favour.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

At the end of your interview, smile and thank the people involved for their time. While decisions and job offers are usually made some time after the interview(s), should an offer of employment be made at the conclusion of any interview you attend, ask whether the offer will be confirmed in writing. Also, it is not unreasonable to request a short period of time to consider the offer before formally accepting.

CV WRITING AND INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

Questions and Answers

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE UNITED KINGDOM

Financial Regulatory Reporting Managers – Scrutiny by regulators continues to call for stricter requirements on regulatory reports produced. The pool of such talent in the UK is limited, especially higher up the seniority ladder. Employers usually require candidates with existing exposure or niche skill-sets in these areas.

Financial Controllers – There are many candidates interested in these positions, however employers are usually very specific about the industry experience, skill set and profile they will consider.

Financial Analysts – Employers are generally feeling more confident about the outlook for business activity over the next 12 months and as a result are adding more Analysts to their team.

Auditors and Operational Risk – As companies mature their three lines of defence model, Auditors as well as risk professionals remain in high demand. In most demand are Senior Analysts. Meanwhile, Analysts are needed as business confidence improves and employers want to add more expertise to their teams.

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE UNITED KINGDOM

Tax Managers – There is a shortage of tax professionals who can manage both direct and indirect tax. Employers are looking for candidates with a mix of experience in both commercial and practice firms.

International exposure – Those candidates who have gained experience working or studying abroad are highly regarded by employers as they can offer insights into different ways of doing business.

Management Accountants – Employers are looking for commercially orientated Management Accountants with a broad-based skill set that encompasses transactional, reporting and analytical expertise. Candidates with a Big 4 background in addition to commercial experience continue to be viewed highly.

Financial Accountants – Candidates with proven accuracy in statutory reporting and who are strong in managing audit processes are needed. Employers also look for candidates with industry experience.

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE ASIA

Regulatory Reporting Analysts – In response to tighter legislation and regulations there has been a significant increase in demand for Regulatory Reporting Analysts. 

Financial Controllers – There are many candidates interested in these positions, however employers are usually very specific about the industry experience, skill set and profile they will consider.

Financial Analysts – Employers are generally feeling more confident about the outlook for business activity over the next 12 months and as a result are adding more Analysts to their team.

Tax Managers – There is a shortage of tax professionals who can manage both direct and indirect tax. Employers are looking for candidates with a mix of experience in both commercial and practice firms.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE ASIA

International exposure – Those candidates who have gained experience working or studying abroad are highly regarded by employers as they can offer insights into different ways of doing business.

Language skills – There is an increasing need for candidates with both written and spoken Chinese language skills due to the growing number of roles available within Chinese financial institutions.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

Group Accountants – Multinational groups with 30, 40 or 50 entities require this specialist skill set to bring results together. Complex consolidation experience is a genuine differentiator that makes top quality candidates stand out.

Finance Business Partners / Commercial Analysts – Employers are strengthening their teams with analytical expertise in order to look into costs and improve profitability. While this can be one of the more oversubscribed roles, top quality candidates are in high demand as organisations look to maximise the commercial application of accounting principles and results.

Cost Analysts/Accountants – Businesses are driving efficiencies and making operations more aware of commercial matters. This is creating demand for candidates who can focus on cost optimisation and work with divisional managers.

Auditors and Operational Risk – As companies mature their three lines of defence model, Auditors as well as risk professionals remain in high demand. In most demand are Senior Analysts. Meanwhile, Analysts are needed as business confidence improves and employers want to add more expertise to their teams.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

Management Accountants – Employers are looking for commercially orientated Management Accountants with a broad-based skill set that encompasses transactional, reporting and analytical expertise. Candidates with a Big 4 background in addition to commercial experience continue to be viewed highly.

Financial Accountants – Candidates with proven accuracy in statutory reporting and who are strong in managing audit processes are needed. Employers also look for candidates with industry experience.

System Accountants – These candidates are sought for contract roles, particularly in regional locations such as Wollongong. Traditionally such candidates moved to our major cities to secure work. Consequently there is a shortage of suitable candidates in regional centres.

Finance Managers – SMEs are streamlining and recruiting candidates with a broad skills base who are capable of taking on both management and statutory reporting.

 

MARKET OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE

Questions and Answers

THANK YOU

Contact Details:

mark.pamplin@hays.com or +44 7 401 323 051

Useful Links:

How to write a resume:

http://www.hays.com.au/career-advice/how-to-write-a-resume-1091

Interview techniques:

http://www.hays.com.au/career-advice/interview-questions-tips-1650

Global career opportunities:

http://www.hays.co.uk/globalink/apac/index.htm