Job Hunting in 2016: It’s Complicated

GUEST BLOGGER

Kathy Lavinder
Owner and Executive Director of Security & Investigative Placement Consultants

Job hunting used to be so simple. Put together a career history résumé, proof it for errors, fax or mail it out, go for an interview or two, and negotiate a salary and start date. That scenario is so last century! Any fraud fighter looking to make a job change these days had better prepare for a lengthy, and sometimes frustrating, process. 

The number of applicants for every position remains high but that’s just one of the challenges. Putting together a résumé that will get past the Applicant Tracking Systems most employers use is probably one of the biggest hurdles. Key word matches are paramount, along with a résumé that has been carefully tailored to the opportunity to reflect relevant experience. Producing a new version of the résumé for every opening is essential and can make the difference between getting traction and being ignored. 

Job seekers also have to continually update and refine their career messaging on LinkedIn and continue to expand their networks on the site, while checking specialized LinkedIn groups for job leads. If you want to be viewed by the fraud-fighting community as someone who is in touch with current issues you’ll also have to share articles on LinkedIn and start discussions about fraud-related topics.

The interview process always begins with an initial telephone screening, either with an external or in-house recruiter. Preparation is the key for clearing the phone screen. Smart job seekers distill their message, succinctly highlighting how their experience is a match for the role. Doing research on the employer, as well as seriously considering the specifics of the role, can lead to insightful questions that cast a job seeker in a good light.

At the in-person interview stage expect a very lengthy process that involves multiple meetings with one or two key decision makers. Finalists can also be asked back several times to meet with individuals across the organization. The jobs website Glassdoor reports that a few years ago it typically took companies 13 days to hire a new employee. It’s now up to 23 days, but even that is much quicker than what I have seen over the past year.

Companies also are more likely to require personality inventory testing to better understand how an applicant thinks and functions within a team. Fraud roles will often include a test that probes on integrity issues. Interviewees may be asked to make a presentation to a panel to demonstrate communication skills and subject matter knowledge. It’s not unusual for finalists to be expected to wait in the wings while an internal dialogue plays out in which one person is selected and a job offer finalized. You won’t know if you’re that person until the phone rings.

The process doesn’t end with an accepted job offer. Any offer is contingent on a successful background screening, and in some cases, a drug test. This process usually takes 10 days to two weeks. Patience, determination and perseverance are necessary to land that dream job.

Listen and Learn: 7 keys to an effective fraud-fighting career

FROM THE PRESIDENT

James D. Ratley, CFE
ACFE President and CEO

We begin our careers with optimistic plans. But as you move from position to position, you might find that success is eluding you. Maybe it's time to reevaluate and learn from a master fraud fighter.

Steve Albrecht, the author of the latest Fraud Magazine cover article, is an academic who has spent as much time in business offices as classrooms. He's consulted with numerous organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, major financial institutions, the United Nations and FBI, among many others.

Until July 2008, he was the associate dean of the Marriott School at Brigham Young University (BYU). And before that he was director of the BYU School of Accountancy.

Steve's research in fraud and accounting is renowned. When this association was in its gestation period, Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, founder and Chairman of the ACFE, approached Steve for his counsel. Steve's professional DNA is woven into the fraud body of knowledge: the Fraud Examiners Manual, the Certified Fraud Examiner credential, plus our seminars and conferences.

I normally don't extoll the high points of a person's résumé, but I'm emphasizing that you should listen to this man. He knows what he's talking about.

"Fraud fighting is an exciting career," Steve writes in the cover article. "However, not all fraud-fighting professionals are equally successful. Whether you work for a company, are an independent consultant, an expert witness or perform other fraud-fighting and forensic accounting work, here are seven of the most critical things you can do to further your career and success."

Here are Steve's lessons:

• You must make a business case for your services.
• You must help others understand that there are no small frauds; just large frauds that are caught early.
• If you want to build a successful fraud-fighting business, you have to make yourself visible and build a good reputation.
• Always deliver a high-value and helpful product to your client.
• You must understand business concepts to become an effective fraud fighter.
• You must always perform high-quality work that has higher value than your competitors.
• Be a good listener.

I like all of Steve's points, but that last one is probably the most important lesson. "As a fraud-fighting professional, you're always working for someone else — perhaps an employer, a law firm or a large corporation," he writes. "You must listen carefully to understand expected outcomes and what they expect you to do — don't assume anything. Don't just hear the words but understand and connect."

Listen to this man. And learn.

Riding the Anti-Fraud Career Wave

GUEST BLOGGER

Kathy Lavinder
Owner and Executive Director of Security & Investigative Placement Consultants 

As 2014 begins, it’s a good time to consider the outlook for anti-fraud professionals. As a recruiter, I see the professional opportunities as abundant and improving. Here’s why:

1) There are still a lot of messes to clean up from the financial sector meltdown. As injured parties seek restitution, investigators who can determine if assets still exist, and find them if they’re hidden, are in demand. Professional services firms are doing pre-litigation asset searches across the globe and probing the wreckage of failed businesses and relationships for recoverable funds. Aggrieved parties, stung by Ponzi schemes and other criminal activities, are turning to fraud investigators to ferret out information. 

2) Enforcement activity has ratcheted up and will continue to be aggressive. The Securities and Exchange Commission made it clear that it intends to pursue more cases against individuals, not just corporations, and it will litigate more cases in court, and pursue larger fines against companies. The U.S. Dodd-Frank Act will present new challenges for businesses and new enforcement avenues. 

3) The playing field is global. Internet frauds obliterate boundaries and will continue to proliferate. If anything, online fraudsters exhibit extreme creativity and are usually several steps ahead of even the most cautious of consumers and most aggressive investigators and law enforcement personnel.

In tandem, corporations looking for growth in new international markets have hurdled into problematic areas that are rife with audacious frauds and endemic corruption, which increase corporate exposures and put financial and reputational assets at risk. As a result, multi-nationals are confronting substantial operating issues and potential landmines relative to fraud and potential violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act. 

4) Data is leaking all over the place. There’s no need to rob a bank when you can get more information, and therefore more funds, by stealing electronic data. Criminals know this and are exploiting weak defenses everywhere they can. With so much data being stored in the cloud, expect this trend to intensify. And hackers aren’t just attacking big businesses. They are hacking networks of small businesses and stealing proprietary data for fraudulent uses. Don’t expect that to change. There are too many potential targets to attack, and the barricades are too easy to overrun. 

As a fraud fighter, you’ll need to stay abreast of developments in this dynamic landscape in real time. Certainly there are geographical and industry variation as the marketplace calls for more specialized knowledge, education and experience. Therefore, continuing education, specialized training, networking with peers, and monitoring relevant publications and websites will be critically important in the year ahead. The key to long-term career success as a fraud expert is to remain highly engaged in the professional community and to be alert to emerging trends and systemic vulnerabilities.