August 22, 2019

An Ignite blog featuring recruiting tips for employers and students by: Gerrie Meyer, Director of Employee Development, Adams Brown Beran & Ball, Chtd.

Excitement is in the air this time of year…can you feel it?  Knowing that fall is on the way is exciting for many reasons - the cool air, football season, new coffee flavors, stunning landscapes, and the start of a new school year. Times have changed for me, and I no longer worry about homework assignments myself. However, I still feel all the eagerness and anticipation for my children and for all the remarkable college students that I get the opportunity to meet during recruitment season. One of the best parts of my job is getting to play a role in informing students of the limitless possibilities that lie ahead in their futures. If you haven’t participated in any recruitment activities in the past, either as an employer or a student, I highly recommend you do so soon because the benefits are tremendous.

If you’re an employer in the accounting industry, I’m sure you’ve had conversations about succession planning and discussions about how to create a talent pipeline. University recruitment might just be the answer you’re looking for. No matter how big or small your firm or business might be, different recruitment options will work for you and your schedule. If you don’t have a relationship with the career services office at a university, my recommendation is to pick up the phone and connect with one or two. Our relationships with career services offices, university professors across the state, and the KSCPA have been an invaluable asset to our firm. Once you’ve made those connections, ask about events that you can take part in, such as mock interviews, class presentations, meet the firms events, and the KSCPA’s Private College Accounting Career Consortium. The list of opportunities for you to meet up-and-coming accountants is nearly endless. Get your name out there and develop those relationships to jumpstart your talent pipeline! Additionally, continue attending these events year after year. That’s when you’ll truly begin to see your efforts pay off. You never know when you’ll have the perfect position open up for that student you met three years ago after giving a class presentation.

Students - can you guess my first piece of advice to you? Go introduce yourself to your career services office! If you don’t have a dedicated career services department at your school, I can almost guarantee there is someone on campus that is responsible for this role. Go find that person. If you’ve seen events on your campus, such as mock interviews or presentations by employers - go participate in those events! If you haven’t heard, employers are looking for YOU, and it’s hard to find YOU if you’re not at these activities. Did I just hear you say, “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do at those events”? You know that career services office I mentioned? They will help prepare you for these activities because that’s what they love doing. If you ask your professors, I’ll bet they would also be more than happy to help you.

So, what are employers looking for at these events? Of course, I’m speaking only on my behalf, but we’re looking to learn more about you and your aspirations. Do your goals align with the goals of our firm? Does the culture that you’re looking for in an employer fit with our culture? What kind of role are you looking for right out of school and also ten years down the road? My final piece of advice would be to keep in mind that you only get one chance to make a first impression. How you present yourself at that career fair could be the difference between a job offer during your junior year and struggling to find a job after graduation.

Go out and seize the opportunities in front of you this fall, and I can guarantee that your efforts will pay great dividends. Happy recruitment season to all!