Be Creative: Untapped Tactics for Landing a Finance Job

Finance is a competitive industry, and it’s often difficult to stand out from the huge group of people hunting for the exact same accounting job. When it feels like tired old job hunting tactics aren’t getting results, is there a way to introduce creativity into the process?

While it’s good to be creative, candidates shouldn’t go over the top. It’s finance, after all, not the circus. Sending a mariachi band to serenade a potential employer with your name may sound like a great idea when you’re desperate at 2 am, but it will make you memorable in all the wrong ways. Instead, find ways to use traditional resources in less conventional way.

For example, consider online networking sites such as LinkedIn. While many job seekers use these sites to hunt for jobs and maintain their own personal networks, few push the limits of what networking sites can really do for them. The most successful candidates are the ones who scroll through employees at a desirable company until they find a connection, then use their network to find a bridge in. Digital networking is a great tool, but it’s better when used as a means to a real live handshake.

Online networking sites aren’t the only way to use the Web. VisualCV.com is a free site that lets users build online resumes as well as post photos and presentations. This is a great way to highlight your attributes in a non-traditional way and show employers skills you might not be able to illustrate in a traditional interview.

Creativity can also come into play in the way you listen. In an interview, find out what the firm’s key issues are, then make a point of illustrating how you can address them. Treat yourself almost as a consultant and demonstrate the value you would add to alleviate the firm’s concerns. Highlight your skills and knowledge in conjunction with the firm’s ethics and culture.

When thinking of ways to be creative, don’t neglect the traditional search methods and etiquette. Follow through, keep your promises, and continually edit and improve your resume. A great resume, a trimmed cover letter, and a broad network are always the best job hunting tools.