Personal Insight: Recruitment Trends and Job Application in Finance Sector

This personal insight journey discusses the recruitment trends and job application in the finance sector. It includes a cover letter, resume, interview preparation, and reflection.

Running head: PERSONAL INSIGHT
PERSONAL INSIGHT
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of Contents
Section1: My role............................................................................................................................2
Section 2: Recruitment trend...........................................................................................................2
Section 3: My Application...............................................................................................................5
Cover letter..................................................................................................................................5
Resume:.......................................................................................................................................7
Section 4: My interview preparation...............................................................................................9
Section 5a: My Interview – Reflection..........................................................................................10
Section 5b: My Personal Insight Journey - Reflection..................................................................11
Reference:......................................................................................................................................13

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Section 1: My role
As an individual, I have been someone always interested in financial matters for several
years. My interest in the financial matter has successfully influenced my decision regarding my
role that I think suitable. I always had the desire to enter a finance or economic path to choose
the role that would be able to fulfil my desire of getting into a field of finance and economy. I
also consider my interest in the world events and their inevitable impact on the global market as
well as on the local market added further curiosity in getting into the world of economic and
financial matter. Also, witnessing the boost in international trading, globalization and a rise in
digital technology have only cultivated greater crave for getting into a job role as a bookkeeper.
There are some attractive positions available for the graduate positions by Australia’s leading
financial service providers which I wish and feel myself suitable.
In addition, having the capability to fit naturally in the in the position of a finance
graduate position also aim to find growth in the position. The finance sector is anticipated to
grow even wider including finance sector of every micro level and will continue to be an ever-
present industry in Australia. Considering my interest and possible future prospects I believe it is
a suitable area to work for me. Also, as I am willing to adapt to the changing technology and
adapt to global financial matters.
Section 2: Recruitment trend
There is a constant change happening every year, every month and every day. In
conjunction, with periodic differences, the changes are noted to adapt, improve, and change
further. Every year candidate experience different perceptions of recruitment (Lee, Bull and Ho,
2013). Organizations change its requirement as per the external and internal factors leading to

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changes in the demand of job role. It is one of the significant factors to keep up with the
developing trends for candidates as well as organizations. Organizations bring changes to keep
up with the market demand and candidate are found preparing as per the organization’s changes.
The recruitment trends can be in any aspect of the organization which tend to vary as per the
places and time period.
The experts and analysts give us information regarding the recruiting trends and the
recruitment trends that are expected in the coming year in the financial sector are as follows:
o Demand for tech skills: Today employers seek people with more than one skills to save
time and energy. There is a high demand for candidates with technical accounting skills.
Also, due to a shift in the pattern of working from manual to cloud-based, there is also a
high demand for employees with IT skills to some extent (Alfaro and Charlton, 2013).
o Positions in the market for graduates: companies seek to hire young talents since it is a
way of hiring potential fresh, innovative ideas. The younger group are eager of learning
with the zest of building career in renowned organizations. Companies often offer
internships or short-term employment to encourage young candidates. This factor has
become widely acceptable in recent years as well.
o Increase in the skill sets: There has been a shortage of good accountants in the finance
industry and therefore there are good companies offering attractive role which would be
filled with suitable candidates (Galati and Moessner, 2013). A suitable candidate can be
defined as someone with a minimum of three to five years of business service experience.
In the audit space, senior auditors and audit managers are hard to find which followed by
a high demand for such candidates. There is high demand for commercial accountants
and analytical in the recent years than past. There is a high expectation from the finance

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and accounting support of the company. Contract-based roles have become important as
companies invest in their employees by providing experience and training therefore with
the help of contracts companies tries to retain the good employees.
o Evolving CFO role: The chief financial officers are no more expected to perform only
finance. Clients are seeking for candidates with multiple skills with a breadth of skills.
Today the role of CFOs has expanded including other territories of HR, IT and strategy
making. CFOs are needed to have strong stakeholder skills encompassing
communication, leadership and business partnering (Catanach Jr, 2013).
o Work-life balance: In 2018, work-life balance is an unavoidable factor that is highly in
demand. Candidates are fund priorities employer who offers health and wellness program
as perks. Employers offering flexibility in work such as work from home, leave early and
multiple working shifts are also found retaining more candidates than companies
following traditional rules. Several organizations are providing personal trainers to
employees for health check-ups, diet chart, exercise instructing and many more related
perks a job satisfaction tools.
o Soft skills: there is a high demand for soft skills in every field. Soft skills enhance the
personality that helps in attracting customers. Soft skills also help in having happy
clients. Behaviours such as right body posture, body language and communication skills
are seen as crucial components of a job role (Davidson, 2016).
The impact of these trends on the application can be in various ways. The impacts raise
the level of getting selected for the position of bookkeeping administrator. The changing trends
also make reaching for the positions accessible for the young graduates providing various scopes
in the field of bookkeeping.

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Section 3: My Application
Cover letter
King Him Li
Address of the candidate:
Date:
Dear sir/ma’am,
I am currently seeking an opportunity to apply my skills and in the bookkeeping field. I want to
apply myself for the post of bookkeeper which was recently published on a job portal site. I
would like you to consider my resume for the position and enclose it.
Throughout my career, I have gained considerable experience in the field of finance and
accounting. I have successfully presented myself in presenting and selling effective financial
solutions to the client in my past experience. I consider myself as a bookkeeper with appropriate
ethics who operate with honesty and integrity all the time. I am determined to keep my approach
to provide a quality service that allows the customer to seek for more help regarding the
bookkeeping matter at the later date. I determine to give services in a way that would make the
customers come back happily in future.
I have the ability to engage with different kinds of people, including both formal and informal
events. I also consider myself as a person with excellent presentation skills as well as negotiation

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skills. I believe I am capable of exceeding the requirement that the job role demands and would,
therefore, like to be given the chance of proving my skills and contribute to the company’s
success.
I am keen to know more about the status of the job and I will phone in a few days to confirm if I
stand the chance of having the informal discussion with you regarding the post. I have provided
my phone number and email as well for any further details.
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours sincerely
(Name of the candidate)

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Resume:
King Him Li
[e-mail]
Address:
Mobile number:
Summary: Experienced in a various field who can successfully manage speciality the finance
planning project from interception to competition. Excellent in team management at all level.
Goal oriented with organized planning works toward the benefit of organization and self-
development. With leadership and team management skill successfully operates well in the
highly competitive environment.
Highlights:
 Relationship management
 Customer service
 Wealth planning
 Mutual funds
 Stocks
 Keeping financial records
 Up-to-date market knowledge
 Financial assistance
 Debt liquidation planning
 Reporting and analysis
 Sales proficiency
 Up-to-date bookkeeping techniques
Experience:
Personal financial advisor: Book keeping
July 2010 to Current
 Exceed sale goals for financial products by 10 percent positively.
 Consult with clients to determine financial needs and goals and develop growth plans

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 Build individual client base and continuously network with them
 Resolve customer service promptly with issues and queries.
 Answer financial questions and doubts
 Offer researched based detailed advices with strategic planning to customer to get
financial benefits.
Oswald financial service: Book keeping
July 2007 to august 2010
 Selling stocks and bonds, and mutual funds to individuals of high ends
 Utilized solid stock market and financial data to reinforce recommendation
 According to monitored market adjusted client’s financial plans
 Prepared financial reports with detailed plans for further references.
Premier financial service: Book keeping
October 2006 to June 2007
 Oversaw investments and proactively managed client’s funds records.
 Growth in client base to top 5 per cent regions in less than 18 months.
Education:
Course: Diploma of Commerce
Campus: Burwood
Deakin University

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Section 4: My interview preparation
S- Situation A few years ago I was working as a financial advisor for a small firm.
One morning our head of the department called for a meeting. He told us
that the number of negative feedbacks is increasing and it is unacceptable
for the firm and its reputation. He provided a solution to it saying to build
a committee that would analyze the situation which is giving rise to the
negative feedbacks. After analyze they would put forward actionable
improvements. He wanted volunteers for the total procedure.
T- Task I was seeking an opportunity where I could prove myself capable of
taking more than one responsibility. I was also a person who enjoys
working with groups in group situations. I was the first person to
volunteer for the program and my manager was seeing me the first person
to volunteer made me the leader of the committee. I was the leader of a
group of six people who were responsible to come up with solutions.
A- Action In the next three weeks, we were able to come up with an analysis that
showed results for the occurrence of such a problem. It was due to lengthy
procedures customers had to go through for getting their work done and
also the long hours. The vast majority of the negative feedbacks were due
lengthy time customers had to spend on their work is done. We were sure
that we had to reduce the amount of time in the procedure. I encouraged
and lead brainstorming sessions to find out the solution to the problem.
We planned for online systems that could solve the problems that could be
solved through online.

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R- Results We could see changes after implementing my suggestion. There were
many problems which the customer could get rid of through online
methods. The online process also helped in getting the important and
heavy works since the online problem solving was assigned to a different
group. It was one of the situations that needed me to manage six people
and find a solution. On doing so a positive outcome was observed and the
critical issue was solved.
The questions I prepared to ask each of my teammates are:
1. Which project do you consider the most important project in your career and why?
2. Which are the time when you had to make difficult decision in a short span of time?
3. What was your one incident where you were faced with an excessive problem and still met the
deadline?
The reason for choosing these particular questions due to the fact that it would be able to give the
insights into their leadership qualities, decision making skills and their ability to handle stress in
the workplace. The questions will let think present answers which will help in identifying their
strengths and weaknesses.
Section 5a: My Interview – Reflection
I had my interview a few days ago. I was well aware of the fact that the interview will be
on various behavioural questions regarding teamwork, communication skills, time management,

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leadership skills, problem solving and relationship building. I had done my research on the topics
before to make myself well-prepared regarding the concepts and its implications. My research
helped me figure out the ways of answering in better ways. I was well prepared for various
related information on the topic. I analyzed two critical incidents based on my experience which
were able to illustrate qualities such as leadership, teamwork and decision making.
There were a few areas that I could have done better in my perspective. I could have
structured my sentences in a more appropriate way. I wanted to give out too many information
which made me lose the connection between the topics. I order to speak in a smoother flow I
could have made use of suitable connective words. Also, according to me, I could have
emphasized more on the pronunciation.
When I reflect on the interview to analyze the reasons on the areas I could perform better
I find out it was due to the nervousness. Since I did not have any past experience of giving
interviews, I was nervous. I could have obtained some basic practices to make myself more
confident.
In the future, I would spend more time to practice speaking with better connective words.
I would also participate in more interviews to make myself more accustomed to interviews.
Observing the relevant topic more widely and deeply will also be in my preparation list for
future.
Section 5b: My Personal Insight Journey - Reflection
This whole experience was very new and valuable to me. It helped me in many ways to
learn about my strengths and weaknesses. I certainly feel more confident regarding interviews
now and I look forward to more interviews now. I have learned regarding many aspects of

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interviews such as things I need to do and things I need to avoid. Apart from the mentioned
points, I have also learned writing a resume and cover letter. Resume and cover letter play an
important role. It creates an image of the candidate before one goes to face-to-face interaction.
I have learned writing an appropriate resume as per the job position, my qualification and
skills. Reflecting on the interview experience I have also learned about communication skills
which include the best ways of interacting in the professional areas. With the help of this
interview, I have learned that in the professional area there needs to formal as well as informal
ways of interactions and it is necessary to make interaction with the correct approach.
The interview has also made me able to talk to people with more confidence. There have
been a lot of changes since the trimester which involves the above mentioned factors. I have
obtained knowledge on various aspects which has helped me to shape my career goals. I have
learned and made my resume and cover letter. I learned about the good qualities of leadership,
teamwork, relationship building and communication skills. These factors were major change and
learning that made me ready for the career I want.

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Reference:
Davidson, K., 2016. Employers find ‘soft skills’ like critical thinking in short supply. Wall Street
Journal.
Catanach Jr, A.H., 2013. What makes a CFO" the best"?. Strategic Finance, 94(10), p.29.
Galati, G. and Moessner, R., 2013. Macroprudential policy–a literature review. Journal of
Economic Surveys, 27(5), pp.846-878.
Alfaro, L. and Charlton, A., 2013. Growth and the quality of foreign direct investment. In The
Industrial Policy Revolution I(pp. 162-204). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Lee, K., Bull, R. and Ho, R.M., 2013. Developmental changes in executive functioning. Child
development, 84(6), pp.1933-1953.