Industry experience highly valued

December 4 2004 - A recent survey finds that industry experience can make all the difference in getting a job. More than a half, 55%, of chief financial officers (CFOs) polled by Robert Half International Inc., a major staffing service specializing in the accounting, finance and information technology fields, rated industry-specific experience as the most important characteristic, compared with just 1% for people skills.

Conducted by an independent research firm, the poll includes responses from 270 CFOs from a stratified random sample of Canadian companies with more than 20 employees.

CFOs were asked, "If two candidates interviewing for an accounting or finance position had similar skills, which one of the following additional qualifications would you find most valuable?" They gave the following responses:

"Executives value job candidates who understand the issues and challenges specific to their industries and who can contribute immediately to the company's success," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc. and author of Job Hunting For Dummies(R) (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).

Messmer added, "As organizations face mounting pressure to meet corporate governance regulations and ensure the security and integrity of their financial data, technical aptitude becomes particularly important. Employers seek accounting professionals who are proficient with the latest database applications and enterprise resource planning programs and also can collaborate with IT staff in implementing upgrades and systems conversions to increase operational efficiencies."

Robert Half International Inc. has more than 330 locations throughout North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and offers online job search services at www.rhi.com.

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