Adam Weirich is a Senior Recruiter at J2T Recruiting Consultants and successfully helps Montana companies find the top talent in accounting, finance, and administration. Today he is sharing his wisdom on what it takes to make a successful career change.
Adam, what new trends do you see in recruiting in 2023?
Adam: I think hiring will be slightly slower than in 2022 for recruiters, but it won’t be too noticeable. The headlines you see about major tech companies laying people off are industry specific. Plus, most of those people will quickly be absorbed by smaller tech companies needing that talent.
Theresa: I agree that we will see hiring slowing to a more modest level in 2023, but despite the current economic uncertainty, we will continue to be in a job seekers market which is excellent news for anyone considering a career change.
What tips do you have for someone wanting to make a career change?
Adam: Start networking more, but not just to ask people for jobs. Start reaching out to people in your industry (or the industry you want to move to) and build relationships. Most people will set up a call or meet for a coffee if you ask them.
Also, start writing about your industry more to establish yourself as a knowledgeable professional on places like LinkedIn, even if all you do is start sharing articles with a couple of comments.
Theresa: Yes, Adam, networking is key for a successful career cahnge, and I always say: You never know what opportunities are just one conversation away. So, start one today.
Can recruiters help you make a career change?
Adam: A recruiter can help you pivot careers to a point. If you are an accountant and want to move to a finance-oriented role, that’s something a recruiter can help with because there are some related skill sets. You can improve your chances by volunteering to work on more finance-related projects at your company to enhance your resume.
However, if you want to move from accounting to being a lawyer, recruiters most likely won’t be able to help you. Clients use recruiters to help them find specific talents or skills. If a person is new to this field, a recruiter’s clients likely won’t want to pay a fee for someone with no experience.
Theresa: Thanks for these insights, Adam. It’s important to remember that recruiters work for the employer, not the candidate. While many great recruiters like yourself are in this profession to help people, they can’t help everyone. This is where career coaches come in. They’re the ones who work for and with a candidate to guide and empower them through a career change. They will support you from identifying the best career for you all the way to getting a job offer.
What is your top resume tip?
Adam: Instead of just listing your responsibilities on your resume, list your accomplishments. Saying you use Excel every day for reporting isn’t memorable, but if you say, ‘I rebuilt the reporting template by building a macro to automate the reporting process, which brought the time spent from 4 days to 1 day,’ that will stand out.
Theresa: What a great example of the difference it makes to share accomplishments instead of tasks and responsibilities!
Can you share one interview question you often ask and what you’re looking for in an answer?
Adam: I like to ask candidates how their boss or coworker would describe them. This always makes a candidate reflect on their contribution to their team. I’m looking for them to tell me things like ‘I’m the go-to resource for Excel’ or ‘People tell me I have strong attention to detail because I can tie out a financial model to the cent.’ It not only highlights their strengths in a new light but also shows me that they work well on a team.
Theresa: Thank you so much, Adam, for sharing these actionable insights with us and helping career changers successfully make the transition in 2023!
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