Most of our new business wins come from clients who finally give us a chance (after years of trying to engage them) because they’ve spent months struggling to fill a vacancy.
This is, almost always, due to unrealistic expectations on the role profile, coupled with current recruiters who aren’t willing or able to challenge those expectations.
Recently, we filled a niche tax role with a FTSE 250 company, an internal audit role within a financial services organisation, and an accountant position in a professional services firm – all of which had been open for over three months.
In each instance, we worked with the client to strip back the role to the key core skills, shared deep market insight on the availability of these skills, and provided options that had the key skills but with the aptitude and ability to grow into the role. All three roles were filled within weeks.
A few key areas to consider when a position has been open for a while:
👉 Balance ambition with pragmatism: It’s important to have a clear vision for the ideal candidate, but it’s equally important to be realistic about what’s achievable in the current market.
👉 Value potential: Experience is valuable, but so is the ability to learn and adapt quickly. Look for candidates with strong core skills and a demonstrated aptitude for growth.
👉 Work with a recruitment partner who deeply understands their market, collaborates closely with you, and isn’t afraid to challenge and present realistic solutions.
Too many positions sit open for too long due. There is always a solution. If your current finance recruitment partners aren’t providing the solution, let’s chat.
