The Struggle Is Real.
If hiring right now feels like trying to find a parking spot in Central London on a Saturday, you’re not alone.
- Top candidates have 3-4 job offers at any given time.
- Salaries are climbing faster than your annual budget review.
- People are ghosting interviews like bad Tinder dates.
The market is brutal, and businesses everywhere are scrambling to attract the right talent—especially in finance and accounting, where skilled professionals are in ridiculously high demand.
So, what’s the secret? What are the businesses who ARE hiring actually doing differently?
Let’s break it down.
1. They’ve Stopped Trying to Hire Unicorns
Every employer wants a Finance Director who is a strategic mastermind, Excel wizard, stakeholder whisperer, and part-time magician.
But here’s the thing: Unicorn candidates don’t exist.
And even if they did?
- They’re probably not looking.
- If they are, they’ve already got five offers.
- And you’re probably underpaying them anyway.
What smart businesses are doing:
- Focusing on potential, not perfection. Stop looking for a “plug-and-play” candidate and hire for capability.
- Loosening rigid job requirements. Do they really need that MBA? Do they really need 10 years of experience?
- Looking beyond their industry. A great Commercial Finance Manager in retail could absolutely thrive in tech with the right onboarding.
Rule of thumb: If your job spec reads like a fantasy novel, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
2. They’re Paying Properly (And Being Upfront About It)
The days of listing “competitive salary” and hoping candidates will be pleasantly surprised are over.
Reality check:
- If your salary isn’t in the top 25% of the market, someone else will poach your best candidates.
- If your competitor is offering £10K more, you’ve lost before you’ve even started.
- If your job ad doesn’t include a salary range, you’re getting fewer applications.
What smart businesses are doing:
- Using salary benchmarking (hi, We Do Benchmark!) to ensure they’re offering the right pay.
- Being transparent from the start. No one likes salary negotiations that feel like a game of poker.
- Considering total compensation, not just base salary. Hybrid working, bonuses, equity, and career progression all matter.
Rule of thumb: If you’re trying to save £5K on salary but taking 6 months to fill the role, you’re losing money anyway.
3. They’ve Made Their Hiring Process 10x Faster
If your hiring process looks like this, you’re in trouble:
- Week 1: Application review
- Week 3: First interview
- Week 5: Second interview
- Week 7: Candidate gets another offer and ghosts you
- Week 9: You go back to square one
Meanwhile, smart businesses are hiring in half the time.
How?
- Speeding up decision-making. They’re not letting “one more stakeholder” delay the process.
- Keeping interviews to two rounds max. If a Finance Manager has to meet 6 people before an offer, they won’t wait.
- Making offers within 48 hours. Candidates are moving fast, and so should you.
Rule of thumb: If your hiring process takes longer than an M&A deal, you’re losing candidates.
4. They Know That Employer Brand Matters
Top candidates are doing just as much due diligence on you as you are on them.
Before applying, they’re:
- Checking Glassdoor reviews
- Looking up LinkedIn employee turnover
- Reading your company news
- Asking their network about you
If they find bad reviews, high turnover, or a vague, uninspiring employer brand, they’ll walk away before you even speak.
What smart businesses are doing:
- Owning their reputation. Encouraging happy employees to leave real reviews.
- Fixing internal issues. If turnover is high, figure out why before hiring more people.
- Showing off their culture. Employer branding isn’t just a marketing buzzword—it’s the reason candidates choose you over a competitor.
Rule of thumb: If your business looks like a great place to work, great candidates will want to work there.
5. They’re Selling the Role (Not Just Asking Candidates to Sell Themselves)
Too many businesses treat interviews like an interrogation.
❌ “Tell me why you want this job.”
❌ “What makes you a good fit for this role?”
❌ “Why should we hire you?”
Sure, those questions have their place, but remember: candidates are also evaluating YOU.
What smart businesses are doing:
- Selling the opportunity. What makes this role exciting? Why is it a great move for their career?
- Showing candidates what success looks like. People don’t just want a job—they want to know how they can make an impact.
- Letting candidates meet the team early. Culture fit works both ways.
Rule of thumb: If your interview feels one-sided, don’t be shocked when they choose another offer.
6. They’re Using the Right Recruitment Partners
Let’s be real—if your internal team is already overloaded, expecting them to run a fast, effective hiring process on top of everything else is wishful thinking.
The best businesses know when to call in reinforcements.
What smart businesses are doing:
Partnering with recruiters who actually know their industry (hi, We Do Group!).
Using benchmarking tools to set the right salary (hello again, We Do Benchmark!).
Tapping into networks that they wouldn’t otherwise reach.
Rule of thumb: If hiring is taking up too much time, you need a better system (or a better recruiter).
Final Thought: Hiring in 2025 Is Hard—But Not Impossible
Yes, the market is tough. But businesses that adapt are still attracting the best talent.
✅ They’ve stopped chasing unicorns.
✅ They’re paying the right salaries.
✅ They’ve made hiring faster and smoother.
✅ They’re building an employer brand candidates actually WANT to join.
✅ They know when to bring in expert help.
If you’re still struggling to hire? Let’s talk.
We Do Group helps businesses like yours hire the right finance talent—without the stress.
We Do Benchmark makes sure you’re paying the right salaries—without the guesswork.
Stop losing candidates. Start hiring smarter. Get in touch today.
