Fresh Perspectives Wanted

Survey: Most Firms Conducting Same Amount of Campus Recruiting as Five Years Ago; Creativity and Enthusiasm Top Employers' Wish Lists

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Accountemps

Aug 09, 2016, 08:11 ET

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- No experience, no job? Not exactly. A fresh perspective is exactly what some employers are looking for. Twenty-three percent of CFOs polled recently by Accountemps said their firms are doing more entry-level hiring today than five years ago; another 65 percent said their recruiting efforts have remained the same. Among those whose companies are more actively hiring new graduates, fresh ideas and innovative spirit (30 percent) and enthusiasm (22 percent) were cited most often as the reasons.

View an infographic of the survey findings.

CFOs whose firms are increasing entry-level hiring say they seek candidates with an innovative spirit and enthusiasm.

"When your work experience is limited, demonstrating creativity and enthusiasm during the interview is your strongest asset," said Bill Driscoll, district president for Accountemps. "One of the most important ways to do this is by researching the company thoroughly and describing for hiring managers what excites you about the prospect of working there. It's surprising how many job seekers don't take this step."

Driscoll cautioned, though, that innovation and enthusiasm are not limited to entry-level staff. "The best ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. Employers should foster a culture in which employees at all levels are encouraged to be creative and share their ideas," he said.

CFOs were asked, "Is your firm more or less active in recruiting entry-level candidates from colleges or universities now than it was five years ago?" Their responses:

Significantly more active	7%
Somewhat more active	16%
About the same	65%
Somewhat less active	7%
Significantly less active	5%
	100%

CFOs were also asked, "Which of the following is the primary reason your firm is more active in recruiting entry-level candidates from colleges or universities?" Their responses:

They bring fresh ideas and an innovative spirit	30%
They bring energy and enthusiasm to their jobs	22%
They adapt quickly to new technology	18%
There are recruiting challenges at more experienced levels	18%
They have lower salary expectations	12%
	100%

Accountemps offers five tips to help employees innovate on the job:

Never stop learning. Keep up with trends by reading industry trades and set Google news alerts for topics that interest you. Take courses that appeal to you, even if they're outside your field. Being exposed to a wide range of ideas is a natural creativity booster.
Try a different angle. Look at business challenges from a variety of perspectives – how would your customer see it, or someone from a different work group? This can help you identify new ways of doing things.
Take a break. If you've been trying unsuccessfully to come up with new solutions, step away from your desk and get some fresh air or focus your attention elsewhere. You will return to the task with renewed energy.
Mix it up. Purposely stray from your routine; even taking a new route to work or trying out a new lunch spot can provide inspiration.
Collaborate. Two heads are better than one. Bounce ideas and talk through challenges with other team members.

About the Research

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 2,200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in more than 20 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas.

About Accountemps

Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The staffing firm has more than 325 offices worldwide. More resources, including job search services and the company's blog, can be found at roberthalf.com/accountemps.

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SOURCE Accountemps