The newly qualified chartered accountant has become inextricably linked with the ubiquitous war for talent. Consequently, employers looking to secure that talent during 2008 might like to take note of a survey undertaken by Accountancy Magazine and specialist financial recruiter FSS which proves the old adage that money isnít everything!
When asked what aspects of their job and working environment are important to them, almost 35% of newly qualifieds stated that they wanted to work for an environmentally and socially responsible employer, while over 30% would value the availability of flexible working arrangements. And staying on the theme of flexibility, well over a third of respondents (37%) wanted a flexible benefits package with the ability to pick elements that suited their lifestyle.
Interestingly it seems that accountants are also focusing on developing soft skills which will help them in their future career. When asked what one thing they would do differently in a new job, almost 30% said that they would network more with peers and well over 25% said that they would communicate stronger their views on projects. This is backed up by the fact that almost 40% of respondents said that they would be interested in attending networking workshops.
And where will they go to get career advice? A third of respondents (33%) would use the services of a recruitment consultant while 28% would rely on managers or colleagues. Online job boards and career websites came in third at just under 23%. When it comes to job searching, almost two thirds (65.1%) found recruitment consultancies the most effective followed by company websites (28%) and networking (17.9%)
I'll tell you what i want, what i really really want
Newly qualified accountants reveal their wish list for 2008 Ethics, Flexibility and Soft Skills ñ Key Issues
