ON-THE-JOB experience is vital for those looking to work in the finance industry, according to the leading Perth recruiters.
Robert Walters Perth general manager Bruce Henderson said many candidates in the market were overqualified and had little or no work experience.
“It can be quite difficult to find jobs for these individuals, some of whom are qualified up to the PhD level,” he said.
“Employers want to hire staff who have a combination of experience and qualifications and won’t consider someone who doesn’t have any experience whatso-ever.
“Ideally, candidates wanting to do further study after their degree need to get two to three years’ experience in first, and then go onto their masters qualification.”
Hays Personnel’s Salary and Recruitment Survey 2002 advises a good mix between experience and training.
“Candidates should not expect a job placement upon completion of tertiary studies. In financial planning, attaining a full DFP or equivalent qualification is no guarantee of job placement, although certain subjects are almost compulsory for application to any role. Even with qualifications, candidates should seek entry point through paraplanning, administrative support and customer service where possible,” the survey says.
