ACFE Career Connection Interview with Scott Phillips, CFE, CFF, CIA, CPA
Senior Director of Walmart Global Internal Audit Services (this year's Career Connection sponsor)1. How many open positions are you hoping to fill in the near future? The number of positions we fill depends on a number of factors. We typically fill between 10 and 20 positions each year. We currently have a number of openings at various levels that we intend to fill immediately. 2. What are you looking for in a new recruit?We look for candidates that exhibit an outgoing personality and can demonstrate that they work well in teams that change frequently. We also evaluate a candidate’s ability to collaborate well with others and the candidate’s willingness to consider multiple approaches to business solutions. Walmart is a company focused on continuous improvement and change is constant, so candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are flexible and adaptable. 3. What usually catches your attention first about a candidate when meeting him or her in person for the first time?The candidate’s genuine personality is usually the first thing that grabs our attention. Even though we work hard, we have fun doing it. At Walmart, we believe our culture is a competitive advantage and we are looking for candidates that we feel will be “keepers” of the company’s culture. 4. Some of our members are seeking jobs for the first time in many years. What advice can you share with these fraud examiners who have the necessary skills and experience in the field, but who may be a bit rusty at job hunting, résumé writing or interviewing?For candidates that are not currently employed, as with all candidates, it is important to demonstrate a number of competencies:• That you are motivated to build a career• You have maintained your skills and kept up with changes in the profession• You have the personality, attitude, and work ethic to be successful in our organization. 5. What do you look for on a job candidate’s résumé? What can people do to enhance their résumé and have it moved to the top of the pile?We look for demonstrated experience in the résumé. Résumés that just state, for example, “Conducted fraud examinations in a number of industries” will not grab our attention. A résumé that provides an example of a how the candidate made a contribution to detecting or preventing fraud, the dollars involved, and if the evidence collected by the candidate was used in a successful conviction is something we would want to learn more about.6. What are some common mistakes résumé writers often make that might cost them an interview?Candidates should always have their résumé reviewed by a professional or a colleague. Résumés that have spelling and grammatical errors do not normally receive further consideration. Also, the candidate should provide examples of his or her experience in the document. One to three well-formatted pages for a résumé is acceptable. 7. Can you offer readers 1-5 tips for a successful résumé and interview?1. If the candidate does not have experience, demonstrate during the interview that you have an outgoing personality and strong work ethic that are both consistent.2. Be able to share specific examples that demonstrate good judgment, the ability to develop others, flexibility, adaptability, and the strong ability to influence and communicate.3. A position that is a good fit for a candidate should be one that allows the candidates to bring skills to the table, but also one where the candidate can experience new concepts and ideas. A good candidate will be interested in discussing both of these subjects during an interview. 8. What all should job seekers bring to meet with you at the Career Connection?Candidates should bring a résumé that allows us to determine if you have demonstrated experience in the competencies and roles that we are trying to fill. However, in my opinion, a résumé is a tool to get you in front of the hiring manager. At the ACFE’s Career Connection you will have access to Walmart associates that are in the same roles we are looking to fill, associates that participate in our hiring decisions, and one of our corporate recruiters. This will allow candidates to meet associates they will potentially work with, learn detailed information about working for Walmart, and have an opportunity to make that first impression on associates involved in the hiring decision. We are excited about the opportunity to meet and speak to interested candidates about opportunities in Walmart Global Internal Audit Services. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners assumes sole copyright of any article published on www.fraudconference.com or www.ACFE.com. ACFE follows a policy of exclusive publication. Permission of the publisher is required before an article can be copied or reproduced.
1. How many open positions are you hoping to fill in the near future? The number of positions we fill depends on a number of factors. We typically fill between 10 and 20 positions each year. We currently have a number of openings at various levels that we intend to fill immediately.
2. What are you looking for in a new recruit?We look for candidates that exhibit an outgoing personality and can demonstrate that they work well in teams that change frequently. We also evaluate a candidate’s ability to collaborate well with others and the candidate’s willingness to consider multiple approaches to business solutions. Walmart is a company focused on continuous improvement and change is constant, so candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are flexible and adaptable.
3. What usually catches your attention first about a candidate when meeting him or her in person for the first time?The candidate’s genuine personality is usually the first thing that grabs our attention. Even though we work hard, we have fun doing it. At Walmart, we believe our culture is a competitive advantage and we are looking for candidates that we feel will be “keepers” of the company’s culture.
4. Some of our members are seeking jobs for the first time in many years. What advice can you share with these fraud examiners who have the necessary skills and experience in the field, but who may be a bit rusty at job hunting, résumé writing or interviewing?For candidates that are not currently employed, as with all candidates, it is important to demonstrate a number of competencies:• That you are motivated to build a career• You have maintained your skills and kept up with changes in the profession• You have the personality, attitude, and work ethic to be successful in our organization.
5. What do you look for on a job candidate’s résumé? What can people do to enhance their résumé and have it moved to the top of the pile?We look for demonstrated experience in the résumé. Résumés that just state, for example, “Conducted fraud examinations in a number of industries” will not grab our attention. A résumé that provides an example of a how the candidate made a contribution to detecting or preventing fraud, the dollars involved, and if the evidence collected by the candidate was used in a successful conviction is something we would want to learn more about.6. What are some common mistakes résumé writers often make that might cost them an interview?Candidates should always have their résumé reviewed by a professional or a colleague. Résumés that have spelling and grammatical errors do not normally receive further consideration. Also, the candidate should provide examples of his or her experience in the document. One to three well-formatted pages for a résumé is acceptable. 7. Can you offer readers 1-5 tips for a successful résumé and interview?1. If the candidate does not have experience, demonstrate during the interview that you have an outgoing personality and strong work ethic that are both consistent.2. Be able to share specific examples that demonstrate good judgment, the ability to develop others, flexibility, adaptability, and the strong ability to influence and communicate.3. A position that is a good fit for a candidate should be one that allows the candidates to bring skills to the table, but also one where the candidate can experience new concepts and ideas. A good candidate will be interested in discussing both of these subjects during an interview.
8. What all should job seekers bring to meet with you at the Career Connection?Candidates should bring a résumé that allows us to determine if you have demonstrated experience in the competencies and roles that we are trying to fill. However, in my opinion, a résumé is a tool to get you in front of the hiring manager. At the ACFE’s Career Connection you will have access to Walmart associates that are in the same roles we are looking to fill, associates that participate in our hiring decisions, and one of our corporate recruiters. This will allow candidates to meet associates they will potentially work with, learn detailed information about working for Walmart, and have an opportunity to make that first impression on associates involved in the hiring decision. We are excited about the opportunity to meet and speak to interested candidates about opportunities in Walmart Global Internal Audit Services.
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners assumes sole copyright of any article published on www.fraudconference.com or www.ACFE.com. ACFE follows a policy of exclusive publication. Permission of the publisher is required before an article can be copied or reproduced.