Quick and Dirty: What Cranky Recruiter looks for on a resume first #throwbackthursday

Hi Friends,

This was originally posted back in 2012, but it is as relevant as ever.  I originally wrote it in a hurry, so please excuse any mistakes, errors or crankiness.  Those who regularly read my blog will understand that last part. 

I am always being asked for advice with resumes.  Happy to help, when time permits.  Right now time is of the essence.  But I thought I'd give you the quick and dirty version of what I, and most hiring managers, look for in a resume.

1.  A resume that is appropriate for the position.  If I've posted a job and I get a resume out of left field that doesn't match the description at all, it tends to get very little interest.  I do understand that I often post positions and note that I also recruit on other jobs in the wine industry.  So, I do want to hear from job seekers out there, and am happy to get your resume--it just may be reviewed later than a resume that is spot on.  Patience, my friends.

2.  Location, location, location.  I look at where someone is living and consider that heavily in their ability to take the job I'm working on.  Yes, people relocate all the time for work.  People also get through the entire interviewing process all the time and decide that, no, they don't really want to leave (insert home town here).  This really doesn't help me, and can hurt my business, so I do weigh a person's current location in my decision to contact them about a position.

3.  Education.  I want people to have a Bachelor's Degree at least for most jobs.  I do understand that going to school and working can be hard, but do it.  Get that degree, even if it takes 10 years or more.  I love seeing it on a resume.  AA degrees and advanced degrees are also great to see.  But yes, if you have been going to an institution of higher learning for the last 15 years and have no work experience I worry about your ability to work in an industry job.  Just saying.

4.  Lengths of employment.  I like people who have been in a job for a few years.  More than two.  If less, I may wonder why, and sometimes know why, but give me a good 4 years at your last employer, and I'm in heaven.

5.  Gaps of employment:  You hear about this problem.  Yes, I wonder why you weren't working for 2 years.  I often will contact you, but you better be able to address it.

Remember,  no one is perfect.  I understand if your resume doesn't meet my top five points exactly.  I'll often give you a chance.  But just thought many people would like to see what my eye scans when I open up a resume.  Hey, five minutes and five talking points--not bad.  Back to work. 

WineTalent Classifieds: Financial Controller in St. Helena, CA

WineTalent is working with our client Long Meadow Ranch to find a Financial Controller in their St. Helena office.

Long Meadow Ranch is a family-owned agricultural enterprise producing grapes and wine, olives and olive oil, grass-fed beef and lamb, fruits, vegetables, and eggs in the Napa Valley, Anderson Valley and Marin County. The Long Meadow Ranch operations also include an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, a general store and wine tasting bar in the historic Logan-Ives House, an outdoor cafe, a farmer's market, a working garden and a variety of unique event spaces all located at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch.

Long Meadow Ranch has a unique opportunity for a Financial Controller to join our administration to provide quality customer service to our ranch and winery management team, our business partners, our customers and our vendors. Reporting to the VP of Finance, the Financial Controller will be responsible for review and forecasting of cash flow, implementation and monitoring of policies and procedures, recommendations for continuous improvement, and general accounting functions for multiple affiliated entities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This position requires ethical conduct and thoroughness, along with critical thinking, attention to detail and time management.

Responsibilities
Implement, maintain, and follow a comprehensive set of policies and procedures, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
Prepare journal entries and perform reconciliations in support of monthly and year-end close
Manage daily accounting tasks including: accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, bank reconciliations, and daily banking tasks
Supervise periodic inventory counts and maintain perpetual inventory system for non-financial inventory reporting
Assist with the budgeting and cash forecasting processes
Approve and monitor billing activity as processed by the Accounts Payable Specialist, ensuring accuracy of accounts payable coding by departmental managers
Ensure accuracy and completeness of company sales in financial accounting software, reconciling monthly
Record intercompany accounting transactions as deemed necessary
Monitor, track and report on all required external compliance
Participate as a team member on key business initiatives, including cost accounting, workflow management, and customer correspondence protocol
Evaluate, recommend and implement policies, procedures and systems related to company efficiency, productivity and internal controls
Solicit and act on feedback from manager, peers, and other business partners
Contribute ideas, energy, enthusiasm and support to the continuous improvement of the process
Perform other duties as assigned

Education, Experience and Requirements
Minimum of 5 years of experience in accounting and finance
Wine, consumer beverage product or manufacturing accounting experience strongly preferred
Farming and livestock specific accounting experience, a plus
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related discipline
In-depth knowledge of accounting software, NetSuite and QuickBooks experience a plus
Experience with ecommerce and POS systems, Truvi or WineDirect preferred
Proficient in MS Office including PowerPoint with advanced MS Excel skills
Sharp attention to detail with good oral and written communication skills
Able to work in a team environment as well as operate independently
Able to lift 40+ lbs.
Valid driver’s license and maintain a safe driving record
A pre-employment background check is required

Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, salaried position.
Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical/dental insurance, paid vacation and 401(k).

To Apply, please complete the online application process here. 

All Inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

WineTalent:  The Right People for the Job 

Book Review: Admissions by Henry Marsh

Quick book review while I'm on the road in New Zealand.  New Zealand is quite a big place, and over the last week I've covered about 1500 miles of road on the south island.  During this time, my husband has done an excellent job of keeping us on the left side of the road while I've been reading aloud from Dr. Henry Marsh's newest book, Admissions.   This book follows on the doctor's wildly successful book, Do No Harm which I reviewed a few months ago.  Click here for a link to that review.

This book was a great read, and especially so if you have read Do No Harm.  Knowing a bit about his life and work when reading this book, you can see how his retirement from his full-time brain surgery work in England and his fear of being stricken by Alzheimers in his advancing age have led him to reflect on his life and career in this book.

This book again talks about surgeries and their outcomes for the doctor, the medical staff, the patient and the patient's family.  It also talks about Dr. Marsh's volunteer medical work in Nepal and Ukraine.  He discusses his post retirement medical work and his ongoing spiritual journey.  Additionally, the doctor works hard to get back into a big personal love of his, woodworking.  The woodworking is secondary to his purchase of a run-down shed in the town he grew up in.  While he is rehabilitating the property, he is also reminiscing about his past and looking forward to his future putterings in his workshop.

Admissions is also a confessional of sorts.  Henry Marsh discusses surgeries gone wrong, past indignities he's suffered and the torment he has put others through.  Throughout the book the doctor shows great empathy for his fellow man, and in a way is making things right in his past.

This book is a great read about a man's professional and personal life.  It is full of wit, shocking medical situations and a caretaker's perspective on life as well as death.