Dear Tax Pros: If you’ve been promised additional help, but you check their LinkedIn page and see they’re only recruiting for on-site people…you’re being played. They know how absolutely brutal the market is for tax talent, so on-site job ads are not good-faith recruiting efforts.

The Reality of Tax Talent Recruitment: What You Need to Know

As a tax professional, it’s vital to stay informed about the current trends and practices in recruitment—especially during peak seasons. If you’ve ever been tantalized by promises of support only to discover that prospective employers are solely advertising for on-site positions, it’s essential to take a step back and reassess the situation.

It’s no secret that the tax industry is facing significant challenges in sourcing qualified talent. When companies focus exclusively on on-site recruitment, it often raises a red flag about their true intentions. Such strategies can signal a disregard for the struggles faced by tax professionals during busy periods. Instead of alleviating the workload, they may be aiming to boost their profits at your expense.

If firms genuinely wanted to ease the burden during peak tax seasons, they would likely consider more flexible options, such as remote work arrangements. By being open to different employment structures, even if that means welcoming less experienced professionals, they could begin to address the talent shortage more effectively.

In an industry where the demand for skilled tax experts is high, let’s advocate for better hiring practices. As tax professionals, we deserve support that genuinely aims to lighten our load, rather than just filling positions to improve a company’s bottom line. Stay vigilant and make informed choices about the firms you consider aligning with for your career.