Why honesty is the best policyDr Hilary Coyle explains what she is looking for in a new employee when recruiting for her department.
It’s a buyer’s market for someone like me who is in the fortunate position of recruiting new staff. This is down to the growth of student numbers at my institution and the excellence of our accounting and finance programmes.
I don’t use AI tools to shortlist but it’s clear to see that many candidates do not do the same when it comes to their applications.
Manual selection of each application is down to ensuring our university’s values are upheld, those being a collegiate and inclusive organisation.
However, many applicants make basic errors that immediately make me challenge their suitability. Here are my thoughts on what I am looking for.
Attach a cover letter and complete the application form fully. Many applicants just send a CV and one applicant, when on the form was asked if there was anything they wanted to add, simply entered “you can Google me”.
Sorry, I don’t have time to do that. The cover letter is your chance to shine on paper. It also shows whether you can communicate. While research is a fundamental part of academia, most of the positions I am recruiting for are teaching focused. If you can communicate well in a cover letter, I’ll feel more assured that you can communicate in person.
AI is a great friend when writing applications but make sure it sounds like you and not a generic chatbot. Remember to remove your AI prompts – oh yes, I have received several applications with the AI prompts still there.
Read it through and check it. This is a key skill of an accountant. If you are sloppy with a job application, what will you be like to work with?
Check you have attached the correct letter.
I know when hunting for a job you may make many applications but always check it through.
For example, I am not Professor Andy. Please check your cover letter that you have aligned the recipient, institution and job role. If you haven’t done this it’s easy to tell and I can safely say you will not make the shortlist. Never cut corners.
Say why you want the job. So many letters detail what skills you have but not why you really want to come and work here. Be honest with this. It could be because it is local, or you have researched us and really like what we do.
If you are looking for a change of career from an accountant in practice to teaching, then please say why and what is motivating you to change.
Think about your CV, how you present it and tailor it to each role. This is obvious, right?
But very few candidates do this. There isn’t necessarily a right way to write or present a CV, but there are some unwritten rules when it comes to CV structure and length. I am looking at hundreds of applications and I consistently have CVs with over 20 pages to them. If I am recruiting for a teaching role I do not need 10 pages of research. And 20 pages is too long. Try to focus your key achievements on two to four pages. This is more likely to be read thoroughly.
The CV is the proof you have all the essential criteria and opens the door for the interviews. It isn’t your life history. Even the best stories don’t tell you every single detail. If they did, it would be a very tedious read. Be precise, be selective, be direct.
Be clear about what you are doing now. Be honest if you have been made redundant or have taken time off. I am looking for honesty in staff and not people who window-dress their CV as it is so disappointing when this is discovered during an interview. Make sure you explain any gaps in your CV. Having gaps is fine but not if they’re unexplained. This creates uncertainty and if there are several similar candidates anyone with any questions raised will not make it through the initial cull.
In summary, the main themes are honesty, due diligence in checking your application and paying attention to detail. These are the main attributes of accountants. To stand out when many candidates all have the essential criteria I am looking for passion for the role on offer and genuine reasons why you want to join my organisation. Make it easy for me to spot you and pick you.
- Dr Hilary Coyle is Head of Accounting & Finance at the University of Leicester School of Business
