Dear Abby

DEAR ABBY: I have a couple years of experience and I’m ready for my next step but I’m nervous I won’t live up to their expectations – I’m having major Imposter Syndrome! How can I approach this in my job search?!
I’ve had this conversation with multiple entry-mid level candidates recently. A candidate will have a few years of experience but have a hard time seeing their value and worth. They don’t want to let anyone down and the anxiety of this is stunting their long-term growth.

Here is my best advice to help people feel more comfortable in their transition:

1. Believe in Yourself

You know more than you think you do. You’ve worked hard on your degree and you’ve been able to perform in your roles so far – trust you have the ability to learn a new role. You will never grow if you always know how to do everything in a role!

2. Understand Expectations

In an interview, ask what the company’s expectations are for this role in the first 30-60-90 days so that you can make sure you are aligned.

3. Have Open Conversations with Your Manager

Managers don’t expect you to know everything Day 1. They do expect you to be open with what you do and don’t know, give it your all, and they will help give you the tools to meet/exceed their expectations in the first 3-6 months.

4. Sometimes You Have to Put In Extra Work

If you don’t know something that is critical to your job, take the extra time to learn it. This can mean self-study in your spare time as you’re getting acclimated to the new position! The more you put in to make yourself a strong performer, the more success you’ll have in your career!
Having the right raw skillset is half of the equation in a new position – work ethic, ownership, and the drive to do the work needed to get up to speed are things that can’t be trained and are invaluable in an employee!
Babe said it best – “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” ⚾
Have my hiring managers out there experienced this??
Have my entry-mid level candidates felt this as you’ve been interviewing?
Reach out to anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team to talk through this more in depth!

DEAR ABBY: I got laid off – what are actionable and proactive things I can do to level-up and be ready to make a job offer happen??
Getting laid off is a scary time regardless the reason. Applying to jobs can feel overwhelming and wondering if your resume is even being seen. Here are a few things that I’ve seen elevate your job search!

🪴NETWORKING

Get your name out there. The more awareness there is and the more people you get to know, the more people you have fighting for you! Get a good recruiter (Prospex Recruiting) on your side too that can show you additional positions you won’t see on your own.

🪴UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN

Make sure that you are “easy to find”. Have good key words and good detail in each position to allow companies searching for talent be able to find you! Make sure your positions on your LI match your Resume.

🪴UPDATE YOUR RESUME

make sure your resume is easy to digest while also giving enough detail to allow companies to want to learn more. Anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team is happy to review your resume and give pointers.

🪴 STAY POSITIVE!

A layoff can take a blow to your confidence. Make sure that as you are interviewing you stay focused on your strengths and how you can add value to the team, and not let your frustrations bleed into your responses.
What has helped you when you’ve been active in your job search!?
Reach out to anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team to help as you’re looking for your next opportunity!

DEAR ABBY: I’ve never used a recruiter – what is the benefit of using a recruiter from a job seekers perspective?? Do I have to sign anything exclusive? Do I have to pay anything? Basically – why should I use you and your agency??

GREAT QUESTIONS! Not all recruiters are created equal, but Prospex Recruiting is here to help you!!

1. NETWORKING!

Our team talks to over 500+ people a week collectively (the power of teamwork!!). We are very immersed in the market and have great insight on tons of companies that we can help to make sure you’re going to an environment that is right for you. We can always put in a good word for you too even if we aren’t actively working on the role!

2. EXPOSURE!

Due to all of our aforementioned connections above, we have a strong exposure to multiple positions that never get posted. When we’re working on a position that is also posted online, we are working directly with the hiring manager to make sure you get seen!!

3. SUPPORT!

When you are active in your job search, we want to make sure you have a listening ear with a team that understands the market, what you’re looking for, and the various companies you’re interviewing at. We have very specific debriefs after each round that assist in your decision making. Let us help you through your interview process (whether we showed you the position or not) to make sure that you are going to a position you are excited about! Prospex Recruiting is the BEST RALLY TEAM for you!

4. You don’t sign any sort of exclusivity

We are here purely to assist you in finding the right job for you! Our services are 💯 FREE to the job seeker. Companies engage us to help them find the right fit for the team. Using a GOOD recruiter is invaluable in your job search – take advantage of how our team can help you!!

We’d love to assist you in your job search in whatever capacity that looks like! Reach out to anyone on our team and let’s get started!

Dear Abby, I’m going to all of the Meet the Firms events, and I’m conflicted about the type of accounting firm I want to join! What are the differences between local, regional, and Big Four accounting firms? 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 focus on what is best for you and your long-term career growth.

Setting Your Career Path

Make sure that you have an idea of where you want to be in 5-10 years. Target the firms that will allow you to get there. Dial in on your preferences, such as industry focus, size of organization, type of company (high-growth, public, pre-IPO, private, government, etc.), product or service offering, etc. This will keep you intentional in asking the right questions to join the right firm for you.

A Glimpse at Local Firms

Local Firms: They offer great exposure to small to midsize companies, usually focusing on partnerships, LLCs, and S-Corps. You can gain exposure to multiple areas of the company and work with a wide array of companies. These firms usually have a healthier work/life balance, with the ability to work directly with the owners/decision-makers internally and with your clients to add value!

Regional Firms: Walking the Middle Ground

Regional Firms: They give you great exposure to midsize companies with a diverse client/industry portfolio. With extensive local networking opportunities and a heavy focus on training and career development, many allow you to focus on clients in industries you are interested in. They usually have a healthier work/life balance with a bigger focus on employee retention. There’s also the potential to create great client relationships to impact change, plus good benefits!

The Power of Big Four

Big four: They offer robust training, excellent exposure to larger companies and public companies, and a broad range of specializations. You get good national networking opportunities and consistent career progression. They have a great technical focus, solid credibility, and the opportunity to transfer between offices if you have a desire to move around. These firms also provide comprehensive benefits packages.

Embrace the CPA Journey

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.

The Power to Choose is Yours!

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

Let’s Discuss: What’s Your Experience?

Anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team would love to help walk you through the best direction for your long-term career goals! What has your experience been at different types of firms? We LOVE hearing from you!

Dear Abby, I get hit up by recruiters ALL the time – how can I respond in the best way to make sure I’m spending my time effectively on conversations that are actually productive?! SPOILER ALERT – NOT all recruiters are created equal.

The Key to Active Job Search: Finding the Right Recruiter

If you are starting to get active in your job search, it’s super beneficial to work with a GOOD (keyword being GOOD) recruiter to keep an eye out for you on the market. Even if the comp or highlights of the opportunity in the message don’t quite look like what you’re wanting but you like the recruiter, you still respond by saying that you’d love to have a conversation to start your search. Make sure to review the recruiter prior to responding.

Spotting the Best: Features of a Good Recruiter

Key things to look for in a recruiter:

• Connections, activity, and a good showing that they are well-networked
• The positions they are working on – do they align with what you have done and what you want to do? Will they be a relevant resource and consultant of the market for you?
• Strong interaction with the market

Passive Job Seekers: Crafting Your Response

If you aren’t active in your search but are interested in hearing about the right opportunities, a productive response can be: “Thanks so much for reaching out! I’m not actively looking, but I am interested in positions that have the following:

1. The first main thing you’re looking for
2. The second main thing you’re looking for
3. The third main thing you’re looking for

Will you highlight how your position fits these requirements? If so, I’d be happy to hop on a call to discuss them in depth. If not, I’d love to stay connected when you get something that aligns with this.”

Establishing Mutual Interest: Working With a Recruiter

I will never send anyone to a company without talking with them first and making sure there is interest on both sides. I also understand wanting to make sure conversations are relevant. It’s always good to establish a relationship with a killer recruiter in your market who can be your eyes and ears and your market resource!

Share Your Story: Your Experience with Recruiters

I would love to hear about your recent experiences getting hit by recruiters and how you’ve handled it! Reach out to anyone on our Prospex Recruiting team to start your search, discuss what the market looks like, or just start that recruiter relationship!