Dear Abby

DEAR ABBY: I really want to use your agency but we signed an exclusivity agreement with another agency and aren’t seeing any relevant candidates!!

WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN EXCLUSIVITY agreements here at Prospex Recruiting and here is my soapbox as to WHY WE WILL NEVER USE EXCLUSIVITY (or a retainer) as a bargaining chip when working with clients.

Why We Don’t Believe in Exclusivity Agreements

1. We believe that exclusivity gives agencies an excuse to be lazy – it removes any competition and only benefits the agency you’re signing with, not your company.
2. We want to make sure you get the right fit FOR YOU! We hope to be the ones to show you the right candidate, but we want to make sure to show you a killer process, relevant candidates to use to benchmark, and good market intel whether we find the right candidate or you find them through your own efforts.
3. If an agency isn’t delivering the right candidates for you, you shouldn’t be handcuffed to only use them.
4. I’ve seen agencies use exclusivity as a bargaining chip to decrease their rate. We are at a 20% rate, 100% contingent upon us delivering results and will always give our best effort on each position – not just if you agree to give us exclusivity.

Connect with Us

Who has had an experience with signing an exclusive recruiting agreement? We’ve heard more and more horror stories over the past few months of companies signing one and getting horrible results – would love to hear your experience!!

Reach out to me or anyone on my Prospex Recruiting team to talk more in depth about our process and how we can work together to get the right fit for your team!!

• Nicole Ehlers
• Maloree Johnson
• Zach Truman
• Maria Battista Foxley
• Lauren Hedin
• Whitney Jaques
• Bracken Higginson
• Talisha Jones
• Josh Roberts
• Amelia Graviet

DEAR ABBY: I just got #laidoff and I’m freaking out. What are actionable items I can do to level up my job search and make it across the job offer finish line?! 🙊 😭 🤬

LET’S TALK LAYOFFS! They suck. There is no getting around it. They usually aren’t expected by the employees and no one is 💯 safe from them.

Once the shock wears off, here are some proactive actions you can make to elevate your job search!

Expert Advice to Elevate Your Job Search

🐮NETWORK!! Recruiters, former co-workers/bosses, go to events, etc. Get your name out there!! Your likelihood of getting a role drastically increases when you have multiple people working for you. “It’s who you know” is a saying for a reason!

🐷Update your LinkedIn profile! Make yourself easy to find. Have good detail on your LI of what you’ve done in each role – industry, responsibilities, key accomplishments… Ask coworkers or clients to add recommendations on your profile.

🐎Be more active on LI. Allow your name to start having more familiarity around it! Along with this – be cognizant of what you are posting/commenting on LI. I’ve had hiring manager pass on a candidate due to concerning comments they made. Remember that what you type is VISIBLE!

🐮Update your resume and make sure your resume and LI match. If there are discrepancies, this is a huge red flag to a hiring manager that you’re trying to hide something. Anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team can help with a resume review and revision (I have a whole additional post on updating LI and resume).

🐷Be intentional in the positions you are applying for! You’ll have a much better success rate.

🐎Take interviews that you’re called on – especially in the beginning of your search. This will help you see what you want and what you don’t want and will allow you to hone in your interview skills!

🐮When you do get an interview, make sure to do your research on the company and the role. Have good questions to ask and have good examples to share!

🐷Stay positive!! When you start getting down on yourself (which is normal!) feel your feels but don’t stay in them. When you get too down, it shows in the interview. Make sure to have confidence and make sure it’s good fit for you!!

Contact Prospex Recruiting for Help!

This is a scary time – take a deep breath and know you will get through it! Reach out to anyone on our team to help you through this!

• Maria Battista Foxley
• Zach Truman
• Whitney Jaques
• Maloree Johnson
• Lauren Hedin
• Josh Roberts
• Talisha Jones

Share to anyone that needs this! What have you done in a layoff situation that’s helped out?

DEAR ABBY: I’m going to all of the Meet the Firms events and I’m conflicted what type of accounting firm I want to go to! What are the differences between local vs regional vs Big 4?? HELP!

Not all firms are created equal! One isn’t necessarily better than another – it’s a matter of what is best for YOU. Everything in your job search should be focused back on what is best for you and your long-term career growth. Make sure that you have an idea of where you want to be in 5-10 years and target the firms that will allow you to get there; dial in the things you want like: industry preference, size of organization, type of company (high-growth, public, pre-IPO, private, government, etc.), product or service offering, etc. This will allow you to be very intentional in asking the right questions to join the right firm for you.

Local Firms

Great exposure to small to midsize companies and usually focus on partnerships, LLCs, and S-Corps. You can gain great exposure to multiple areas of the company and work with a wide array of companies. Usually have a healthier work/life balance. Ability to work directly with the owners/decision-makers both internally and with your clients to add-value!

Regional Firms

Great exposure to midsize companies with a diverse client/industry portfolio. Great local networking opportunities and heavy focus on training, career development, and many allow you to focus on clients in industries you are interested in. Usually have a healthier work/life balance as well with a bigger focus on employee retention. Ability to create great relationships with clients to impact change. Good benefits!

Big 4

Great training, great exposure to larger companies and public companies. Broad range of specializations. Good national networking and consistent career progression. Great technical focus and credibility. Opportunity to transfer between offices if you have a desire to move around. Provide comprehensive benefit package.

Get Certified

Regardless of the firm – I would STRONGLY encourage you to get your CPA!! Essentially all firms will provide study materials and pay for the first attempt of the exam. Most firms will also pay a bonus for completing your CPA exams.

Work with Prospex Recruiting Today!

All firms have their benefit. If you go where 1) you enjoy the people/culture 2) you like the work/industry/structure you will be doing and 3) comp/benefits make sense, you can’t make a bad choice!

Anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team would love to help walk through what the best direction is for your long-term career goals! Contact us today to start your journey towards success in the accounting industry.

What has your experience been at different types of firms? LOVE hearing from you!

DEAR ABBY: I got my degree in accounting, I have worked in accounting, I don’t love accounting and I want to get out of a traditional accounting role! How can I transition out of accounting while still using the skills?

I’ve had more people asking me about this recently and, the good thing about accounting is, the skillset can be utilized in pretty much any industry!

Paths to Consider for Transitioning Your Career

Some paths that I’ve seen people take:

• Consulting/Client Services – either starting your own firm or joining firms like Embark, Amplēo, Connor Group and others can be a great spot to diversify your day-to-day. This can give you more interaction with clients, be more involved with strategic planning, and get exposure to multiple companies from the company side as opposed to the audit side. This route will mix up your day to day while still maintaining your expected compensation.
• Staying in a traditional accounting function but getting into an industry that you are more excited about. Doing the work for a company you believe in can make the work much more invigorating!
• Take a gamble and go towards a career that you want to go to. This usually comes with an initial pay cut but hopefully being somewhere long term that you love will drive that number up exponentially.

Conclusion: The Limitless Possibilities

There are ENDLESS options and there isn’t one right path to transition out of a traditional accounting role. Finding an opportunity you are passionate about can help to facilitate long-term success! When you do what you love, where you love, with people you love – you can’t make a bad choice!

What have you done to transition out of a traditional role while still utilizing your strong accounting background – or transitioning out in general and finding success?? I loved seeing Adam Gray story on his transition out of accounting!!

Connect with Prospex Recruiting

Feel free to reach out to anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team to talk about different options and have someone in your corner to help through the various options!!

DEAR ABBY: My LinkedIn Profile hasn’t been updated in ages – what are your top tips??

Just like there is no such thing as a blind date anymore (dating apps, socials…you get it), blind interviews are a thing of the past. Before an interview, a hiring manager will have viewed your resume, LinkedIn profile, and even googled your name in many cases!

Top LinkedIn Tips

1. Profile Picture: Set the Right Tone

Have a good showing of who you are! This doesn’t always mean glam shots or donning a full suit. Let’s get rid of car selfies, blurry pictures, pictures from your wedding 10+ years ago, too close-up pictures… you get the idea. Feel free to show a little personality through it if that’s your style or have a nice professional picture! This is the company’s FIRST viewing of you – make sure it is representative of you!

2. Details: Be Thorough

If you are active in your search, make sure you are easy to find! Put detail under each position highlighting what you did, what ERP/Software you used. This can look similar to your resume! Make sure you are coming up in searches!!

3. Relevant Experience: Keep It Current

After you have started your career, take off college/high-school jobs if they aren’t relevant to your professional career. Keep your LI cleaned up.

4. Consistency: Match Your Resume

Make sure your resume matches your LinkedIn – if it is off, that will be a huge red flag!

5. Consider Side Jobs Carefully

If you have side jobs/hobbies that are on LI but not relevant to your career progression, think before adding them onto your profile (side consulting, real estate license, weekend jobs). Depending on what it is, it can detract from what your core skillset is!

6. Mindful Engagement: Comment with Care

Be aware of what you are commenting on others posts as this activity shows on your page – I’ve had candidates disqualified based on some of their aggressive commenting.

7. Summary: Craft Your Elevator Pitch

Use your summary to show who you are and to highlight exactly what it is – an awesome summary of your skills!! Think – elevator pitch!

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR TOP TIPS?! You KNOW I love your feedback!

Need Help? Reach Out to Prospex Recruiting Today!

Reach out to any of our Prospex Recruiting team to help review your LinkedIn Profile to make sure you’re getting the best exposure out there!!