Ah, summer, the most relaxing time of the year!
Unless you’re a working parent with small children, of course. Then it’s “a logistical and financial nightmare,” in the words of Worklife. For those who count on the daily rhythm of the school year to be to work on time and get everything done, having to navigate around summer vacation can be a crisis.
If you’re a working parent who has spent this summer scrambling to get work done around your kids’ schedule, I see you. I salute you!
If you’re looking for a job that will give you more flexibility — or if you’re looking for a new role at all! — reach out today so we can launch a proactive search. In the meantime, here are some of my thoughts on the job search and the state of the market as we head into fall.
Unemployment Update
📈 July Job Growth: 187,000 New Roles Added!
The employment landscape maintains its steady trajectory with a notable increase in July payrolls. Key sectors driving gains include Financial Activities (+19k), Construction (+19k), and Leisure and Hospitality (+17k), showcasing a diversified job market.
📊 National unemployment rate drops to 3.5%, while college-educated professionals stand strong at 2.0%, according to the BLS. Economists observe the job market shows signs of stabilization as growth levels out.
Referral Needed
Controller
- Requirements
- Accounting Degree
- 10+ years of experience
- Multi-entity experience
- Supervisory experience
- Healthcare preferred
Tax Partner (Hybrid)- FTW
- Requirements
- CPA required
- 10+ years of experience
- Partnership and compliance experience
Senior Manager, Finance (Hybrid) – Lewisville
- Requirements
- Finance or Accounting Degree
- 8+ years of experience
- Financial Analysis experience in retail or multi-location/unit environment
- Creating and driving process improvements
Treasury Operations Associate
- Requirements
- Accounting and Finance Degree
- 10+ Years of Treasury Experience
- Fund Level Experience, Product Investing
- Investment Banking Experience or Alternative Investment Experience
Accounting Manager- Aerospace
- Requirements
- 3-5 years of related experience
- Big 4 experience and CPA or CPA candidate preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree: concentration in accounting or finance preferred
- Strong understanding of GAAP, accounting theory/principals/practices, three financial statements, and General Ledger
Senior Financial Analyst
- Requirements
- Finance or Accounting Degree
- 3-5+ years of experience
- Financial Analysis experience in retail or multi-location/unit environment
- Creating and driving process improvements
Senior Accountant
- Requirements
- Public Accounting – 2+ busy seasons preferred
- Open to Industry
Tax Senior (Hybrid)
- Requirements
- Accounting Degree
- 3+ years of tax accounting experience, partnerships required
- Current or prior public accounting experience preferred
Senior Financial Reporting Accountant (Hybrid)
- Requirements
- Accounting Degree, CPA preferred
- 5+ years of SEC Reporting experience required
- Experience working with or for a publicly traded company
- Current or previous public accounting experience preferred
Fund Accounting Analyst
- Requirements
- Accounting Degree
- 2+ years of experience in public accounting (current or previous)
Internal Audit (Hybrid) – Low Travel
- Requirements
- Degree in Accounting or Finance
- CPA or CIA preferred (Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Audit)
- At least 1 year of internal or external audit experience
- SOX knowledge and Internal Audit Standard
- Current or previous public accounting experience required
Tax Preparer (Hybrid)
- Requirements
- Accounting Degree
- 1+ years Tax Firm Experience
The Gen Z Crowd Prefers Legal Benefits to Pickleball Memberships
The hot benefit for the incoming Gen Z workforce? It’s not pickleball or kombucha on tap. It’s free legal advice. 84% of Gen Zers pilled by MetLife are interested in affordable legal services from their employer, and that number has gone up 10% since last year’s poll.
Before you start to worry about what kind of trouble Gen Z is getting itself into, they apparently want to use it for traditional things like estate planning along with the ability to review rental agreements, navigate home buying, and deal with traffic tickets.
I regularly talk to folks looking for new jobs, and although my pool of candidates tends to be relatively experienced folks, I am always interested in knowing what job perks and benefits matter.
Pay Increases Are Finally Outpacing Inflation
In July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that pay increases are finally outpacing inflation for the first time in two years. Hourly average pay has been growing at an annual rate of 4.4% for a few months now. A tight labor market and continuing inflationary pressure will continue to make pay hikes competitive into next year — although eventually, that will probably cool.
Economists are happy about this, but not as happy as job seekers. As a recruiter at Benchmark Search, I work with people every day who are looking for new, better roles — and the forecast is good for that.
Recommended Reading for August
The Hook — and How to Skip It
It’s the plight of many a job seeker. You know you’d be perfect for the role, and you really want it. But you can’t seem to get in the door. How to get the attention of the people who need you on their radar?
People who like to give advice about these sorts of things (ahem) talk about “the hook.” In your introductory message, there has to be something eye-catching.
I’ve recently heard it described as a “written handshake” — the “nice to meet you” with a confident grip and eye contact.
“But what exactly do I say?”
That’s the million-dollar question. While I can’t necessarily write your cover letters and intro emails for you, I can definitely help introduce you to the right people and sometimes even skip that step. Reach out if you want to start a new job search.
