You are nearing the end of an interview with a potential employer. It has gone well, in the sense that there were no questions that made you sweat or stutter. At this point, you are suppose to ask the interviewer some questions which bedazzle her with such insightfulness that she will not let you out of the meeting without your signature on an employment offer. But let's for argument's sake assume... Read more

Finding a great job in the financial markets can be challenging in the best of times, but when Wall Street firms announce the kind of headcount reductions we’ve been seeing lately the search becomes down right daunting. And according to a survey eFinancialCareers conducted this month with financial professionals, recruiters may not really help job seekers all that much either. The survey found that while nearly four out of five (78%)... Read more

The expected cost of new regulations being implemented from financial reform was cited at the SIFMA Dodd-Frank impact Analysis conference as one reason banks are reluctant create new jobs. "There's a capital strike going on in corporate America," said Larry Kudlow, economist and host of the CNBC program, "The Kudlow Report." Speaking at the conference, Kudlow went on to say banks are "afraid to take the risk of hiring until... Read more

The idea of taking a pay cut is anathema for all working professionals—especially for finance execs used to handsome compensation packages. But many are finding their paychecks and pocketbooks to be much leaner this year. For those impacted by a slash in pay, unlike before, most are choosing to stay put, says Ken Murray, president of Mercury Partners, an executive search practice for front office finance professionals. He says it’s... Read more

If there is ever a poignant piece of advice that university lecturers and textbooks failed to warn me about upon graduating and entering the workforce, it is the fundamentals of office politics. Not long after finding my feet in my new professional environment, I learned pretty quickly that sometimes it’s the brownnosing and “who you know, not what you know” ticket that guarantees movement up the corporate ladder. I have... Read more

You may be tired of hearing that it’s a buyer’s market when it comes to jobs in the financial markets. And these days it’s not only the employers who aren’t responding to job applicants. Recruiters haven’t been on their best behavior either. In fact, candidates are complaining that when it comes to common courtesies, such as returning phone calls and following up with interviewees with advice on why they didn’t... Read more

Editor's note: This article first appeared on our Australian site. A spate of layoffs in recent months means some financial services professionals face the daunting prospect of job hunting while unemployed. Those fortunate enough to get an interview will of course be asked why their old employer got rid of them. Here’s a short guide to dealing with that situation. 1) Chill: the interviewer would be more worried if you... Read more

It’s not uncommon for candidates applying to a bulge bracket or top bank to sit through a three- to five-hour interview session. Yes, the interview has become a marathon session, designed to break you down and reveal every little point of knowledge, as well as your personality flaws. But if you want the job, then you need some effective tools to do your best. Admittedly, the run-around with four or... Read more

Job hunting in this market takes a little extra effort. Here’s how to stand out. 1) Get networking By being well-networked, you’ll not only be able to tap into the "hidden" job market, but you’ll also be giving yourself a real advantage over other candidates, says Andrew Hanson, director, financial services, Robert Walters. “Your network should include anyone who can assist you with a job search or career move –... Read more

Despite all the gloomy headlines about layoffs in the financial markets, there is some positive news for those of you who chose to follow a financial career path. A new survey released today shows that as a group, financial professionals received higher pay raises than their white collar counterparts in other industries. According to the survey conducted by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), financial executives saw their pay increases hitting... Read more

Job hunting can be traumatic at the best of times, but job hunting when you’re unemployed is far, far worse. It’s a jolting, high adrenaline ride. One week when there might be three opportunities at the same time, all progressing well and all at quality firms, the next week they may have all fallen away and you’re back to square one. The lack of decent feedback can be particularly frustrating. It’s... Read more

Editor's note: This article first appeared on our Australian site but applies here as well. There’s sometimes criticism from candidates on this site and others about the quality of service you’ll receive from recruitment consultants. Much of this criticism is justified. Recruitment is a sales-based industry which works on behalf of clients, not job seekers. We manage candidates who are at particularly vulnerable stages of their lives when they are looking... Read more

The rallying cry during the next presidential election could well be, "It's the jobs, stupid!" As earnings season chugs along Corporate America is boasting record profits, primarily due to robust growth outside the U.S. such as Asia and China in particular. Granted, the financial sector hasn't been faring so well of late, but according to Reuters, 78 percent of companies in the S&P 500 index have reported second quarter earnings that... Read more

By Uzair Bawany, founder and managing partner of Fairway Search Partners Candidates typically view writing resumes in the way they once treated exam revision: it is left until the last minute. After all, few people enjoy having to sell themselves, digging deep into their memories to uncover what they have contributed to organizations in the past and justifying their value to potential employers. For many, writing a resume can bring... Read more

The Middle East is lagging behind other major centres for Islamic finance when it comes to employing female executives and scholars, which is discouraging women from entering the sector lower down the ranks. Malaysia, one of the world's largest Islamic finance centres, is setting the pace when it comes to appointing women scholars and executives, according to Bloomberg, with six female members of its 35-strong Shariah Advisory Board. The Middle East... Read more

Does your resume say, “I can handle a financial crisis?” If not, you may want to get cracking, and insert that skill and fast. It’s time—right now—to update your resume, and detail all the things you have done to weather previous downturns. That's the humble opinion of San Francisco-based career coach and jobs transition specialist Don Asher, author of several books including, Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn’t, and Why. Asher believes a... Read more

Have you ever considered looking beyond the financial markets to find a finance job? No? Well, you may want to think about this. While the financial sector is shrinking in the wake of the economic meltdown, continuing shocks to the financial system from the European sovereign crises, and a complete inability of Washington politicians to agree on anything, cash is piling up on Main Street. Treasury Strategies, a Washington-based treasury... Read more

An exit interview seems like a riskless trade. A 15-minute nirvana in which you get to vent your spleen after years of grovelling obeisance. It may seem that there’s limited downside to a frank and forthright exit interview. After all, you’ve already resigned. If you’re going to a competitor, there’s surely a limited amount the most vindictive manager can do to sabotage your prospects. If you’re going to a client, your... Read more

If you're an energy trader, it's a safe bet that you're a bit worried about your job. Overall, due to tech and the big players taking over, there's fewer jobs. Plus, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is just about ready to announce position limits for physical commodity derivatives as mandated by Dodd-Frank. That, and expected regulation in the EU, is sure to shake things up. "There's been some downsizing already, but... Read more