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In part two of Jess Brady’s conversation with Professional Recruiter Deepa Surti on the XY Podcast, they discuss what the marketplace environment feels like for candidates in the financial advice industry.

We’ve summarised what candidates can expect in the hiring process and explained the entire recruitment process from a professional recruiter’s point of view.

How sellable are you?

This is the first thing you need to think about as a job seeker. Deepa suggests keeping the following in mind so you can put your best foot forward and become a top candidate:

Create a great resume/cv – having a great resume/cv is the best way to get your foot in the door and make employers or recruiters sit up and take notice of you, so make sure you present yourself well on paper. Deepa suggests:

• Use descriptive language to emphasise yourself, your strengths and your capabilities
• Use simple words and keep your resume/cv to the point, preferably use bullet points

Shine during your initial phone call – this is an opportunity to showcase your best self. Even if this call is only 15 – 20 minutes, employers/recruiters can pick up a lot about you from this short conversation. Let them know what you can offer and why it’s a good idea to hire you.

Wear something smart – first impressions count! So take the time to dress well. Deepa suggests polishing your shoes and tidying your hair can go a long way toward a good first impression. You don’t have to wear a three-piece suit to the interview but try to look your best in something you feel confident and comfortable in.

Arrive early – wearing something smart to an interview might be a good idea but not if you’re running late and turn up flustered and sweaty. It’s much better to arrive early and wait for the interview so you’re in a better headspace when going into the conversation.

Do your homework and be prepared – all employers/recruiters want to know you’re serious about landing the role so it helps to show you’ve researched the company or person you’re talking to. This demonstrates you’ve taken the time to do your research and are genuinely interested in what the company or employer is all about.

Prepare yourself with a behaviour interview and situational questions – most employers will ask you questions specific to the role you’re applying for so think about questions that might arise around this. Where you can, provide real-life examples when answering these questions to show you aren’t just telling them you have the skill, you can demonstrate you have it.

Ask good questions – employers/recruiters find it a breath of fresh air when candidates also have good questions to ask. Here are some examples Deepa shared:

• What training am I going to get?
• Is the company offering a career path for this role?
• What would my 1st week or 1st three months look like?
• What is the role’s KPI (key performance indicators)?
• I don’t have everything you’re asking for. Are you willing to invest in me?

How can you find the best employer and negotiate the best option for you?

The pandemic has brought about a significant change in how employers and employees see work. A lot of employers nowadays are offering a lot of flexibility and opportunities for growth to their employees. If you’re thinking about planting your roots in a good company, try to think about what that company would look like for you such as:

• Flexible/Hybrid working options
• Career growth and skills development programs
• Company initiatives that you can get involved in to engage with fellow employees or the community
• Paid parental leave (if you’re a parent or looking to have kids in the future)
• Remuneration such as equity option or bonus structure based on your KPIs

Lastly, not all applications end with a successful hire. In case this does happen, your best course of action is to identify what went wrong, so don’t hesitate to ask the recruiter or interviewer for feedback and what you could improve on. 

At the time of publishing this, it is without a doubt an employee’s market, so there’s ample opportunity to land your dream job with a great company, especially if you present and demonstrate that you are an excellent candidate.