Recruiting Market Report - June 2024

​​​Find out what we are hearing from candidates and clients and get our predictions for the future of the hiring market in the June 2024 edition of The ASP Team Market Report:

Quinn Finnigan - Recruiting Services Leader

Joss Stokke - Recruiting Practice Leader

What are we hearing from candidates?
"I'm dug in…" It's been over a year since Amazon issued its (in)famous return-to-work mandate (February 2023). Many companies in the region followed suit and shifted their work location policies either fully or slightly, hoping that over time the workforce would realize things were returning a bit back to normal pre-pandemic conditions and comply. Well that has not happened. Candidates now, more than ever, are digging in and mostly refusing to budge on whatever work location setup that they discovered fit their life during the pandemic. That's not to say that any specific candidate's preferences will not change over time, we need to remember these are individual life-specific choices and make no assumptions when it comes to recruiting. Companies should keep this in mind as ask their applicants up front to avoid any confusion down the line.

What are we hearing from clients?
"Turnkey, please!" Every hiring decision calls for some line to be drawn between must-have and nice-to-have qualifications. Companies usually want someone who checks as many qualifications boxes as possible, and who can blame them, while most candidates are seeking stretch roles where they meet <100% of the hiring criteria but can grow into the role. Companies have lately been asking for 'turnkey' candidates, or those who have most/all qualifications boxes checked and who can come in on day 1 and step into a role, unphased. Keep this in mind if you're a candidate applying to positions; modify your resume or write a cover letter to show how turnkey you may be.

What am I feeling about the hiring market?
Waiting…but for what? Amid very slight month-over-month changes to major economic indicators (like unemployment rate, job ads, productivity rate, inflation, and interest rates) for the past several months we are still in a bit of a slow hiring time, which feels unnatural. Many recruiters I speak with are waiting for something to change, but we're not sure what it will be. Economic conditions are not tumultuous (there have been no large disruptions causing reticence to hire), so we're waiting for... something to change. In the meantime, companies who are willing to hire quickly are capitalizing on others who are waiting.

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ASP Hiring Statistics - 2024
35 - Days to Place (avg.)
$160,993 - Avg. Placed Controller Salary
35% - Percent of Diversity Hires
89% - Percent of time we get interviews for our clients

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Recent Placements
Controller - Dealership group - Spokane, WA 
Staff Accountant - Nonprofit - Seattle, WA
Controller - Manufacturing - Vancouver, WA

View Our Current Openings

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Top Candidates
Take a look at some examples of accounting and finance candidates we are working with currently.

View Our Top Candidates

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Hiring Smarter with The ASP Team
Check out the latest episode of our accounting and finance recruiting podcast!

Episode 4 - Hiring a Unicorn Candidate