Don’t overlook the wealth of finance job candidates on the horizon

Business school students aren’t waiting until springtime to apply for jobs and internships anymore. Hiring managers are busy sifting through resumes and applications right now, trying to find the ever-elusive “best fit” for their companies.

The good news for employers: Business schools are growing in terms of enrollment and the programs and coursework they offer. Smart high school students are increasingly choosing a career path in finance to the detriment of other areas like medicine and engineering.

There are a lot of smart and ambitious people to choose from today. Bonus: As businesses struggle to bring employees back on site, savvy young professionals are less likely to balk at “coming into the office.” At least for most of the week – surveys show some remote work flexibility is preferred by sought-after candidates.

But for the most part, finance job candidates in their 20s are less concerned about work-life balance than older counterparts with children at home. Companies that are competitive on salary, benefits and opportunities to move up the ladder will be able to land top talent. Which is welcome news for companies that’ve struggled to find capable new staff members over the past three years.

Some steps to save time & make connections

Whether you’re looking to hire or bring on interns for the summer, keep in mind that a candidate’s ability to communicate well and interact appropriately with team members remain the first two critical attributes businesses look for.

To save time and effort on both ends, set up a video interview to chat and learn more about who the person behind the application really is. Keep an eye and ear out for:

• frequent eye-to-eye contact
• appropriate smiles and laughter in response to a light comment or joke
• an ability to explain his or her skills in clear language
• “thank yous” and “you’re welcomes”
• sharp attire and grooming, and
• pertinent questions about you and your company that shows he/she did some research.

A candidate who checks all of the boxes on a video call is your best bet for an in-office second interview with other team members.