It’s officially gratitude season, and on that note, there’s an old saying I’ve always appreciated:
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a tough battle.
I’d like to amend that a little bit to apply to the job search:
Be kind to everyone you meet at a company you’re hoping to work for, because you never know who will influence the decision.
The receptionist? Your interaction with them is a critical “first impression.” They might be tight with the hiring manager. The person who holds the elevator door? Might end up being the boss! In my work as a recruiter at Benchmark Search, I’ve seen that one rude move can make or break a hire.
Be kind, be kind, be kind.
On that note, if you’re actively looking for a new job or just getting ready to think about it, here is some food for your thought on how to write a resume and what next year will hold in terms of benefits.
October Jobs Report Highlights
The latest October jobs report offers significant insights into the state of the economy. National unemployment inched up to 3.9%, marking a 0.1% increase compared to the previous month, while the unemployment rate for recent college graduates remained stable at 2.1%.
During October, the workforce saw the addition of 150,000 new jobs, driven by impressive contributions from key sectors. Healthcare led the way with the creation of 58,000 jobs, followed closely by Construction and Professional Business Services, which added 23,000 and 15,000 jobs, respectively.
Despite the increase from the year’s near-historic low of 3.4%, the unemployment rate remains rather low. This highlights the continued challenge in hiring talent, as the percentage of the population actively seeking employment remains relatively small (particularly those with college degrees). Consequently, organizations are increasingly concentrating on passive talent – individuals who are already employed but open to changing jobs.
Referral Needed
ACCOUNTING
Controller, Oil and Gas (in-office) -$190k
Financial Reporting Manager, Oil and Gas (hybrid) – $190k
Director of Finance and Accounting, healthcare (hybrid)- $175k
Senior Manager, AP, Private Equity (in-office) -$175k
Controller, Muti-family real estate (in-office) – $150k
Accounting Manager, Logistics (in-office) -$110k
Senior Accounting Analyst, Investment Firm (Hybrid) – $105k
Senior Financial Analyst, Technology (Hybrid) – $100k
Senior Accountant, Retail (in-office) – $85k
Property Accountant, Real Estate (hybrid) – $75k
PROJECT
Senior Accountant, 24-month project (hybrid) – $95k
TAX
Tax Partner, Mid-tier Firm (Public or Public Combo) (Hybrid) – $275k + equity
Senior Tax Manager, Professional Services Firm (Hybrid) – $150k
Senior Tax Associate, Wealth Management (remote)-$85k
Tax Associate, CPA Firm (Hybrid) – $75k
The grammar rules we all ignore on resumes
Even the brightest people with the best grasp of the English language do some pretty wonky things on resumes, grammatically. It’s as if we’ve collectively agreed that resumes aren’t beholden to the usual rules. For one thing, we typically write about ourselves in phrases instead of complete sentences.
Example: Led the digital transformation of the HR department.
Or: Responsible for hiring 100 people last year alone.
Why do we do this? Obviously it can be traced back to the paper origins of resumes, when shorter was always considered better. Omitting subjects and using funky verbs (see: present participle) was one way to cut down on word count. But in a time when most resumes are digital and no one really subscribes to the “keep it to one page” rule, the reality is, we can afford to bring back full sentences and active verbs.
Recommended reading
The grammar rules we all ignore on resumes
Your employer might have a gift coming for you: From recent research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 80% of employers expect to offer more and better financial wellness benefits next year.
With inflation impacting the cost of living, this is good news for US employees. But on the flip side, it’s important for people weighing a job decision to look hard at the benefits being offered.
The phrase “well-being washing,” which I first heard recently, refers to companies offering benefits that at first glance seem helpful, but don’t turn out to be. For instance, offering generous amounts of PTO and lax rules around taking it are nice. But if the company’s culture makes it hard for people to take advantage of that PTO, it’s not a real benefit.
As a recruiter at Benchmark Search, my job is to match job seekers up with roles that don’t just seem right theoretically, but actually turn out to be right.
If you’re gung-ho about getting a head start on a new job for next year, reach out today.
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