What are the key skills for an Executive Assistant? EAs tend to work with highly intelligent and exceptionally demanding people — people who work long hours and expect their assistants to keep pace. You are going to need a lot of patience and the attitude and flexibility to work outside regular hours (and at both ends of the day!) As […]

But what goes into a great job description? Here are some ways to set your description apart from other hiring companies.   A great job description should be accurate One of the most common problems our candidates face is that companies ask for a lot more than they need. Getting a great candidate doesn’t need to mean getting a candidate […]

“The people I worked with were nice, but I got very bored very, very quickly. I feel like I’m not making the right decisions when it comes to applying for jobs. Sometimes job specs read like copy-paste jobs and I can’t tell the difference between them, which I guess must lead to my eventual dissatisfaction. I don’t want to make […]

How to build a great team Don’t hire an entire team in one go It’s difficult to build a team around your weaknesses, and mistakes will be made! Instead, build slowly, and work on establishing firm foundations with the people you hire early on before you move on to finding the next ones. Test out different methods of communication Don’t dismiss […]

Should you apply to a job when you’re overqualified? How relevant is it to the job you want? Is the role at all close to what you want to be doing? If it is in the same industry, or it offers a route to a position that you feel more suited for, it might still be a good idea to […]

But rejecting a candidate might also be an opportunity for a company, too. An opportunity, of course, only if you take the right steps and act with grace. Remember: You never know where the person you are rejecting is going to end up. They may be on the other side of the desk one day! Why it’s important to give […]

Your people are your greatest asset, so how can you as an employer look after a new recruit remotely? Give them a warm welcome  Bringing on a remote employee takes real rigour. Your starting communications with your new hire must be clear, and they should know who to contact when they need assistance. Don’t forget to introduce these employees to […]

Fearing the Great Resignation, many companies took action to avoid resignations of key talent. Reactions ranged from investment banks providing five-figure bonuses for their analysts to businesses offering unlimited remote or flexible working options for their employees. Such adjustments to employee benefits were designed as much to attract talent – the competition for which has never been fiercer – as to […]

Since 2019, the days of Zoom-first (sometimes even Zoom-only) interviews have been commonplace, even expected, for companies seeking new talent. We have seen how this levels the playing field for candidates who might have found it tricky to have an in-person interview. And yet many talented people continue to immediately discount job hunting in other regions because they think employers […]

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is pristine Work on your profile exactly as you would treat your CV. This means: Don’t stop at listing your work experience. Add a summary of your main responsibilities and achievements that were specific to each role. Follow LinkedIn’s profile guidelines, as well. Whether or not your CV includes a personal bio (and we recommend […]

The fastest way to find talent If your company has a big name, we recommend setting up a link to job specs on your website. Join Us buttons work exceptionally well on the front page. Even if you aren’t such a big name, give candidates the option to add their name to your jobs mailing list. If you’re visible at […]

Clare has been busy launching her book, so we were thrilled to book her for this interview! Here, she talks with us about photography’s power to document and inspire, and how it feels juggling creative projects with work managing private finances.   Tell us about your work as a London photographer, specifically London in lockdown. You can see the switch […]

But if you’re looking to find a role mid-career, you haven’t picked an easy field. You’ll find stiff competition from people who have been in the business for a long time. So, how can you stand a fighting chance? Ask yourself these questions: 1. Are you good at writing? You’ll need unparalleled skills in both written and verbal communication; sometimes, […]

This is the fourth in our series on the GROW method. You’ve been through each of the steps in the GROW method. You’re almost done! Here’s how you can tackle the very last step: Will.   (Psst! Forgot to read the first three articles? You’ll find them in our list of career guides! And if you don’t know what the […]

Obstacles take time to identify. But if you don’t find and tackle them, then it will become difficult to move forward in your career. We’ve devised a guide to help you acknowledge what might be obstructing you from getting to that crucial next stage. (Psst! We’ve written all about the GROW method and how it can help your career in […]

Today, we speak to our past Aldrich & Co candidates Sophia Everitt and Amelia Tulloch. Sophia and Amelia first met at secondary school, and they have remained great friends ever since. They have also been colleagues for a large part of their friendship, working first at Goldman Sachs in London and then at Aravis Capital. This is Sophia’s second interview […]

“I feel like I’ve been interviewing for a load of jobs recently, and everyone tells me that’s a good position to be in but it feels pretty frustrating to be invited but not to get past that one last hurdle. It feels like I’m “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”! “I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong at the interview […]

Larger organisations often have built-in career plans, which can lead to a truly rewarding future within the firm. If you’ve been invited to a promotion interview at your company, here is how you can ace it! Six simple ways to set yourself up for a great interview for a job promotion. 1. Read the room – before you’re in it! […]

Sometimes the questions that seem easiest on the surface end up being the most difficult to answer. “What are your goals?” ranks high among them! Setting goals might be daunting, but it can also be exciting to look into the horizon. It’s a time to think, and it’s a time where you might really be able to change something in […]

We’ve all seen them: CVs with typos, CVs that don’t have any contact details on them, CVs with formatting that seems to dance to the beat of its own drum. We asked our fantastic team about the CV blunders for finance positions that make their toes curl – we aggregated our favourites below! Fussy or in-your-face designs “Those overcomplicated, Adobe-designed […]

The hiring process should be equitable, and many companies in the finance sector are working at equalising the playing field with Returnships – programmes in which people can return to work after a break where they might have raised a family or cared for loved ones.   Want to get back to work after a period of leave but struggle […]

Most of us will try to second-guess what our interviewers might ask us. Whatever the interview is for, you can put your money on it starting with the age-old question that isn’t technically a question: “Tell me about yourself.” It may seem a simple request, but what is a recruiter actually looking for in your answer? Avoid preparing for it […]

The pandemic has led many of us to re-evaluate everything about our lives. Understandably, this includes where and how we spend our time each day. We’ve been so inspired by candidates who have come to us having thought deeply about what gets them out of bed in the morning. But there comes a time when even the most motivated people […]

Negative feedback is a double-edged sword. Our kneejerk reaction to it might be embarrassment that we’ve been doing something wrong – and that our colleagues know about it. It’s natural to have these feelings. What’s important is that we understand criticism can help us to grow. When we get feedback, any feedback, we have an opportunity to strengthen our weaknesses because […]

The interview room is the perfect stage for job candidates to promote themselves. Here’s how to use it wisely. Get clear about your USP You’ll want to stand out for the right reasons at the interview, and we find it helps to go in with a clear idea about which of your strengths and skills you want to ‘sell’. These […]

We don’t hear it often in our offices(!) but we know the question’s out there: Why should I bother using a recruiter? Here’s a little insight into what we do, and why you should consider approaching a recruitment agency to help you land your next job.  What does a recruiter do? Companies use recruiters to spot talent. We’re taking a […]

So, you have a gap in your career. First, don’t panic! Since the events of 2020, businesses have become much more open to people who need to take time out. Besides, gaps are not something to be ashamed of. Lots of people have gaps in their career, especially now that more and more jobs are becoming contract or short-term positions. […]

As recruiters, a question we get asked a lot is, “What if I don’t know the answer to an interview question?” Get your interviewers on your side with these techniques to nailing tough interview questions. This article is part of our series for young professionals, “Get Started in Finance”. Read other articles in the series:  ·      How to network for your career ·      How […]

This month we talk to Yariv Haim, Founder and CEO at Sparrows Capital, a private investment office that manages core liquid asset portfolios. We were thrilled to interview this forward-thinking entrepreneur about what his work day looks like and how he feels about operating his business in the city of London. * Thank you for taking the time to speak […]

There’s no such thing as ‘too much’ research! And yet too few early-career professionals are really diligent in their research into companies before their interviews. In this article, we show you where to get intel on your future employer, and how to interpret what you find at the interview and beyond.  * Where to find information about a company (the basics)  A company’s […]

You need a job, and you know what you need to get there. But after a period of trying and hearing nothing back, it can be hard to stay motivated. You need a job, and you know what you need to get there. But after a period of trying and hearing nothing back, it can be hard to stay motivated. […]

After graduating from Barnard College, the women’s college at Columbia University, Sophia Hotung performed IT audits for a Big 4 accounting firm, then ran crisis communications at a boutique PR house. In 2019, she moved away from this traditional career path in the UK and to a new future in Education in Hong Kong. As the KG Group’s Product Manager, Sophia […]

We love to keep in touch with our past candidates. Today, we speak to Ann Drew.  Ann has held senior level positions in the corporate world of financial services and the not-for-profit sectors. With roles spanning sponsorship, marketing, media communications and change management, she has in her career had key responsibilities in refocusing companies’ activities during critical periods, so we […]

Mid-career moves can be tricky to navigate. Suddenly, the world seems much more open to you. You no longer have to worry about the old Catch-22 of not having enough experience for entry-level jobs that require work experience. Having so much more at your feet should be a positive thing. But the opening out of the world of opportunity can […]

“I am going to graduate this year with a degree in finance. I’ll be new to the job market, and even though I know that the market is hardly in a good way right now, I want to think of my career and a life beyond the pandemic. A friend of mine who already works in the City warned me […]

These are truly interesting times. Despite real fears for the political and social climate in the UK, the majority of large international banks in London have only increased the number of people they employ. Early worries about an exodus of roles to the continent have not been realised. As City recruiters, we have seen no reduction to this growth. Nevertheless, […]

“I am in my late-thirties and have several years of experience already behind me. I’ve worked my way up, but the process has been slow and steady (emphasis on slow). “I’ve been in the same company for years, and I’m bored and frustrated in my current job, so something has to change. But though I’ve applied outside the company to several […]

If you find it hard to write cover letters, then you’re not alone. The same questions persist: How can you make yourself stand out? What should you – and should you not – include? Should you repeat yourself across the documents you send, or should every document contain unique information? First, let’s get the real cover letter no-nos behind us! […]

With pitch decks, the goal is to draw your reader to the relevant points – it’s the same for job applications. Job applications. They’re not easy to write, and they don’t ever seem to get easier, no matter how many you submit. We’ve found an alternative way to think about them so that the next application you write feels like […]

This article is part of our “Get started in finance” series for young professionals. Here, you’ll find tips and tricks to help you get your foot in the door.  Building quality contacts won’t happen overnight, but here are some tips to increase your chances of getting the response you want to your networking efforts. Read more from our “Get started” […]

Taking the time to build your network will serve you well in an industry saturated with bold personalities. Building quality contacts won’t happen overnight, but here are some tips to increase your chances of getting the response you want to your networking efforts. Find people online whose work you admire This isn’t an age for shrinking violets! Many people will […]

© IntoUniversity 2020 “Research shows that young people from the UK’s most disadvantaged postcode districts are nearly five times less likely to go to university than those in the most advantaged areas.” IntoUniversity Even in times of stability, it is harder for less advantaged young people to succeed. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic is poised to widen this gap – a […]

You have a job offer – time to celebrate! But before you plan your leaving party, here are five actions you should take to ensure that your transition goes as smoothly as possible.  This is the final part of our three-part series on navigating recruitment, from surviving the interview to what to do once you’ve got the job offer. Part […]

Many of our candidates feel surprisingly relaxed about remote interviews. But a phone interview can be one of the most critical stages of securing a job. Often, they’re your first touchpoint with the company, and there is a craft to getting them right. To help you increase your chances of getting hired, we’re publishing a three-part series on navigating recruitment, […]

Placing our handpicked candidates is always an exciting moment for the Aldrich & Co team – every time we find someone a new role, we know exactly how much hard work has gone into their recruitment success. To help you increase your chances of getting hired, we’re publishing a three-part series on navigating recruitment, from surviving the interview to what […]

At Aldrich & Co we’re delighted to be helping candidates to get virtual interview ready. So here’s  our best tips to help get you there. 1. Line up your technology and test it VC such as Zoom and Teams (with video turned on!), is preferable for a fully virtual meeting as it allows all attendees to be seen and it […]

Are you frustrated by the impact of lockdown on your search for a new role? Here are a few pointers to get you going and help you to be proactive for when the time comes to apply!  Now’s the perfect time to refresh, tweak, or even start again on your CV to ensure you stand out when it matters. 1. Make sure it’s […]

Got time on your hands during lockdown? Position yourself for success once it’s over, by investing in your skills now. Here’s our pick of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to learn online. 1. YouTube: a good place to start, but has its limits YouTube is perfect for when you need a quick ‘how-to’ for a particular task, like creating […]

Here are some of our favourite tips for staying happy and productive when you’re working from home. Check out our special offer below for a fantastic online course to keep you honing your skills from home! 1. Be prepared to over-communicate When everyone’s working from home, you need to make an extra effort to stay in touch with colleagues. So […]

Hello, Emily from Aldrich & Co here. Whilst we’re all in lockdown it might feel like life is on hold. But I just want to say, this is not the time to put your goals on ice. Now is absolutely the right time to listen to yourself and identify what you want from your future. I have had a career […]