• The official blog of Abacus Group — a place to share our knowledge and thoughts on trends in recruiting •

To kick off An Accounting Of’s new interview series, we sat down with Jason Fleischer, Partner and newly appointed Head of our New York Accounting & Finance Division. We discussed his career journey, time at Abacus Group, and thoughts on the current job market.

Let’s start with your career journey. What did you do before joining Abacus Group and what made you want to become a recruiter?

My professional career before recruiting consisted of public accounting, corporate accounting, and corporate finance. There were a series of events that led me to be introduced to Abacus Group. I actually wasn’t considering being a recruiter but was considering a career change. The stars aligned with timing: my career, like Abacus Group, was specialized in Accounting & Finance. Taking that initial meeting and becoming a recruiter was without a doubt the best career decision I’ve ever made. It’s why I’m always encouraging people to take an interview or a call; you never know.

When you started at Abacus Group, was there any advice or guidance you received that has stuck with you over the past 14 years?

Someone told me early on, “People can hear a smile through the telephone”. That always stuck with me. Beyond that, treat people the same way you want to be treated and be consistent. It’s not a difficult concept. You definitely don’t have to be pushy or a jerk to be successful in this business.

From Associate to Partner and now Head of the New York Accounting & Finance division, you have had some monumental successes at Abacus Group. What are some of the biggest highlights of your career?

The best part and highlight of this job is meeting so many candidates and playing a part in their career decisions. Then watching their successes, both professionally and personally. As I approach my 14th year in search, I’ve watched candidates go from junior level roles to running large teams and becoming some of my best clients. I’ve seen candidates and clients get married and start families. We’ve kind of grown together in that way, which has been very special.

Abacus Group’s team-focused environment has fostered a positive and supportive community amongst its’ employees.  What is your favorite part about coming into the office every day?

It sounds cliché, but our team. In my 14 years here, I don’t think that there’s ever been a day I haven’t laughed in the office. Laughing is good for the soul.

It’s no secret that 2020 was a rough year for the job market. Now entering 2021, what is your advice for job seekers as well as companies looking to hire?

Do we have still have to talk about 2020?! In our space, the job market finished the year strong for a number of reasons. One of which is that candidates and clients adapted to the new style of interviewing, hiring, and being onboarded – in most cases, 100% virtually.
I continue to encourage candidates to cast a bigger net, especially since things are still, for the most part, being done virtually. It has been a bonus for clients as well, as I believe they are seeing more candidates as a result. This has been one of the silver linings of 2020, and it could be here to stay.

Finally, for those working in the staffing industry, what advice do you have for building lasting relationships with candidates and clients alike?

Be accountable, be honest, and be a good listener. Putting the candidate and client first, especially when it means not making a placement. People are smart and they want to work with folks they trust.