Atlanta Finance Jobs Tips

If you're one of the many people who have been searching for Atlanta finance jobs lately, chances are you haven't had a lot of luck. Even though the financial industry in some corners of the country is beginning to recover, Atlanta is still feeling the effects of the economic downturn.

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta area's financial activities industry employed 135,900 workers during March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 138,500 workers during February and a 7.2 percent decrease from last year.

There are some things you can do to better your chances of getting a job offer. Fins.com, for instance, suggests finding different ways to impress finance recruiters.

"Whether you're pursuing an investment banking role or a corporate finance position, impressing a recruiter can be especially difficult during times of high unemployment in the finance industry," Fins.com notes. "But if you're currently searching for a job, it's worth the effort; staying on a recruiter's radar can mean you'll be in the know about new job openings."

The financial magazine recently asked recruiters in the finance and accounting industries to come up with some unusual ways that candidates have gotten their attention. Here are the five tips that question revealed:

1. Prepare an accomplishment or deal sheet - Instead of a resume, some job seekers come to an initial meeting with specific handouts that detail their skills and accomplishments. This provides more detail than a traditional resume and can help you show why you would be a good fit for a specific position. Be sure to list key metrics that are function-specific.
2. Help the competition - Take the time to introduce recruiters and fellow job seekers or let other people know about open positions that you're not interested in. This can come across as a valuable resource for recruiters and let them know you're not afraid of a little competition.
3. Come with specific interests - This is important because many recruiters are annoyed by candidates who are too generic about what company and position they're interested in. Recruiters will work to hire the best possible fit for a position, so it's important to highlight the things you're good at right away, which you can do by doing your homework and having specific companies and positions in mind.
4. Keep in touch the old-fashioned way - Most recruiters receive a ton of e-mails, so you may get a little more attention and prove your communication skills if you vary the ways you stay in contact, such as calling the recruiter or sending them a note.
5. Let your guard down - Job seekers who are honest and genuine about their skills and abilities will have a better chance of being hired than those who try to embellish what they're capable of doing and have done.