- On average firms review 30 curriculum vitaes (CVs) before extending a job offer for an accounting and finance role
- One in 20 companies (5%) review 50 candidate CVs on average before making a job offer
- The first thing that finance professionals check are candidates’ skills and experience when reviewing CVs
Dubai, 31 May 2016: New research reveals many companies are still relying on a scattergun approach to recruitment, reviewing the credentials of multiple candidates rather than using recruitment agencies for pre-qualification to speed the process. On average companies review 30 candidate CVs before extending an offer for an accounting and finance role, according to new research of CFOs and FDs by specialist recruitment firm Robert Half UAE.
One in 20 firms will review on average 50 CVs before making a job offer. The research highlights the importance many employers still place on traditional CVs and why candidates need to seek advice from recruitment companies on how to sell themselves on paper to stand out in the face of fierce competition.
Nearly a third (32%) of finance executives review a candidates’ skills and experience first, ahead of a candidates qualifications and education (20%) or their previous role and title (20%). The average length of stay at each previous employer can have a significant impact on employability, as 16% of CFOs recruiting accounting and finance professionals look at this first on a CV. Lots of short stays at multiple companies may be seen as a red flag for hiring managers.
What CFOs notice first on your CV:
- Skills and experience (32%)
2= Qualifications and education (20%)
2= Most recent role and/or title (20%)
4. Average tenure in each previous role (16%)
5. Previous companies and/or industries (12%)
Gareth El Mettouri, Associate Director, Robert Half UAE said: ‘Businesses are hiring to fill a current skills gap within their organisation and are looking for individuals with proven expertise to add value from day one. Professionals who highlight their individual expertise with quantifiable examples will be best positioned to gain the attention hiring managers – and receive an invitation for an interview.
‘With the demand for skilled professionals rising, businesses who actively engage a specialist recruitment agency are able to make use of their expansive pool of talented and skilled candidates to narrow down their shortlist early on.’
- ENDS -
Notes to Editor
1 The survey was developed by Robert Half UAE and is conducted by an independent research firm. The study is based on more than 75 interviews with senior finance executives from companies across the UAE, with the results segmented by size, sector and geographic location.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialised recruitment consultancy and a member of the S&P 500. Named to FORTUNE® magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies" and was the highest-ranked staffing firm (2016). Founded in 1948, the company has over 325 offices worldwide, including the UAE, providing recruitment solutions for accounting and finance, financial services, technology, legal, human resources and administration professionals. Robert Half offers workplace and job seeker resources at roberthalf.ae