#financejobs Archives - Astute Financial

Why good interview feedback really matters

Our team been working exclusively with a long-standing client to recruit an Assistant Management Accountant. Ideally someone with bright enquiring mind, keen to learn with an accounting and finance degree. Some experience in a finance role would be ideal. After shortlisting down from 18 candidates to the best five, the CVs went across and our client interviewed all five this week.

The good news is that three have been selected to undertake some online testing and have a second interview in a few days.

The bad news is that two candidates are not being progressed.

The client and Astute were able to discuss detailed, constructive feedback for each candidate including some tips for the future.

We fed back to one of the candidates not being progressed and wanted to share what the feedback was including some constructive tips for them in answering unplanned questions and focussing their answers.

“…while its bad news I’ve not got a second interview – it’s great to get positive rounded feedback after the first interview. I can use this experience and feedback to help me prepare and perform better in future interviews, and hopefully get a second interview next time! Thanks for letting me know and taking the time to ring me.”

He has been impressed with the process at Astute Recruitment Ltd, and thanked us for taking the time to call him and pass on the feedback.

If someone has taken the time to attend an interview – they deserve at the very least to get some constructive post- interview feedback. That feedback may just help them secure a second interview and a job offer next time.

“It’s not just learning how to prepare for an interview that counts.

It’s also learning how to perform in an interview. That takes time, practice, and crucially, feedback!”

This is why our team at Astute Recruitment encourages a collaborative relationship with our clients throughout the recruitment process. Good interview feedback from the finance manager/ line manager/ HR professional recruiting, really helps our team inform our candidates on how they can improve their performance on an interview.

From how to answer a question to coping with nerves, unless a person has interview practice and good feedback from the recruitment consultant and/ or client, it is very hard for them to learn how they can come across better in the actual interview itself.

For another useful post on more interview tips and advice, you can see another of our blogs on our website, using the following link: https://www.astuterecruitment.com/6-interview-questions-and-answers-to-help-you-nail-the-perfect-job-in-the-pandemic/

If you would like any more advice or help around interviews, arranging interviews remotely – let us know.

An article by Mary Maguire

MD Astute Recruitment Ltd

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mary-maguire/18/73/553

Have you got the right PPE for your career?

Is the job paying the most, the best one to go for? Why PPE is the true currency when looking for staff or a new job.

The current job market is so different to any other situation. In the last economic crisis back in 2008/2009, job boards were just starting to become ‘a thing’.

People’s individual brands were mainly about their cv, with LinkedIn and other social media just a useful addition for those in the know!

Now, for the first time, we have a fully digitised job market. Of companies vying for the best talent, recruitment agencies swamped with applications using anonymous algorithms to ‘sift’ candidates. Job seekers, desperate to make their experience shine above lots of others.

The result?

An often jaded customer experience by everyone from hiring managers to recruitment professionals and of course those looking for work.

Here at Astute, there is a new way forward. It doesn’t involve anonymous emails and forgotten banks of candidates.

During the Lockdown, we heard first hand, the power of the spoken word. Talking directly to people. From CFOs to HR professionals. From credit control clerks to aspiring part qualified and experienced management professionals in accountancy and finance.

Was our team expecting to pick up jobs? No. But funnily enough, we did!

Our strategy, as always, was to simply keep in touch with as many candidates and business contacts as possible.

How?

By a simple phone call!

That personal interaction, and conversation, was not about Recruitment. It was often just chatting about how people felt, giving reassuring advice, help, and support.

There were laughs. There were tears. But every call was an opportunity to say we are here and we are here to listen and help.

So, back to my original question. The best paying job isn’t the criteria to judge a potential new employer by or on which agency or advert to apply to.

No!

The best jobs should be judged on the company’s social and interpersonal currency. Ask yourself, “Do you get a personal connection with that company?”

This is where good recruiters come in!

As brand ambassadors and knowledge experts, we can advise our customers on the hidden things you never see on a job description.

What’s the culture like?
Does the company treat people fairly?
Will they be a really supportive employer?
What’s the real reason for the role?
What’s the real working hours expected in that business?

Equally, for employers, and hiring managers, we can steer them to the right person for their team. It could be someone more experienced than they thought they needed. It could be the overlooked up and coming person. Lacking experience but with that ‘something special about them’ who will be a star.

The trust, honesty, and relationships with all our people, our team, our customers, and the brands we represent, are about going back to the future.

Using the latest technology but never forgetting we are dealing with people.

Thats the true currency of recruitment, business and life.

Proper Personal Engagement.

PPE.

An article by Mary Maguire

Managing Director
Astute | Accountancy & Finance | HR | Office Support

Suite One, Ground Floor West, Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road, Derby, DE1 3QT

T: 01332 346100
M: 07717 412911

E: [email protected]

W: www.astuterecruitment.com

LI: https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mary-maguire/18/73/553

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Mike

16:04 13 Mar 23

Highly recommended! Josh and Sarah have been fantastic at Astute. They've found and placed me in 2 jobs now between them, both really responsive and excellent at keeping you up to speed with things. Very knowledgable about the roles and happy to talk to companies with any queries you have.

C R.

10:45 27 Jan 23

Great agency one of the best ones I've worked with! Liz has been a great help and support in helping me towards a new direction in my career life. She is very attentive and keeps me in the loop at all times! She makes the extra effort to work with my preferred requirements for work and even if it isn't completely attainable she meets me in the middle and does as much as she can to help! Also Liz is very funny might I add 😂 and I'm happy that I can now put a face to the name after all these years! Thank you again Liz for all your help and support! 😊

Christine

10:32 20 Dec 22

Josh and the Astute team was very swift to help me to find roles that matched my profile. They are really reliable and will help through every step of the recruitment process going out of their way to assist and follow up when needed. Could not find a better recruitment agency!

Helen Pinegar

16:19 18 Dec 22

Fantastic recruitment agency.. Josh was extremely enthusiastic, encouraging and clearly knowledgeable about what was needed from both the employee and the employers point of view. Extremely supportive especially in regards to interview preparation and endeavoured to procure feedback promptly. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Astute in the future to both candidates and recruiting businesses particularly for the right fit for the role!!!

Lisa Leigh

11:56 30 Nov 22

I have worked as a candidate for Astute and they have been excellent. Super friendly service and professional agents keen to fit the right person to the right job. It has been a pleasure dealing with them and I would happily work for them again in the future. Highly recommend this agency.