Cole Sperry
Founder, Optim Careers | Former VP Talent Management & Accounting & Finance Recruiter
$165/Session
15 Reviews
Areas of Expertise: Interview Preparation, Job Search Strategy, Resume Writing, LinkedIn Optimization, Salary Negotiation
About Cole
My goal is simple. Give accounting and finance pros inside knowledge of the recruiting process to eliminate job search frustrations and give them a roadmap to position themselves for future opportunities. My coaching philosophy is the same as my leadership philosophy and that is to teach you what will lead to success and why it will lead you to success, dot in some examples for context, and help you come up with your unique “how” to get you the success you desire.
I have over 20 years of experience as a hiring manager and 6 years of experience as an accounting and finance recruiter. I’ve been fortunate to have been trained by Big 4 CPAs, CFOs, and some of the largest names in recruiting. I’ve spent my career helping accounting and finance professionals get their foot in the door with companies, navigate interviews with ease, and negotiating better salaries for candidates I represented.
And now I’m passing that knowledge on so you can find rewarding work, increase your salary, and simplify your job search. I’ve helped tens of thousands find their next job faster and with less headaches and I can do the same for you.
Let’s chat. I’d love to walk you through a tricky situation or help you open more doors to better jobs. After 20 years of hiring, I’ve seen it all, and I know one thing for certain… there is more opportunity available to you than you may realize. Let’s unlock it together.
My Background
Current Position
Founder, OptimCareers.com & Managing Member, Optim Recruiting LLC
Previous Positions
Director of Talent Management, Roark Mar 2018 - Apr 2019
Recruiter & Business Development Manager, Accounting Principles Oct 2015 - Mar 2018
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Indiana University
Professional Associations
Former President, Inland Empire Institute of Management Accountants
Reviews
I wasn’t sure at first about spending the money on coaching, but the session I spent with Cole was worth every penny. I would have torpedoed my job offer if it wasn’t for Cole’s redirection. With Cole’s help, I was able to ask for more money without losing the job. Money well spent. I highly recommend a session with Cole for anyone looking to negotiate their next salary.
Andrew, Senior Financial Analyst
July 20, 2021
It’s been a great experience working with Cole. He was very thoughtful and delivered a great resume ahead of schedule. He sent me a draft on Thursday, I applied for a few positions over the weekend, and secured 5 interviews by Monday. Quick turnaround. Great resume. Wonderful experience. Highly recommend.
Josh, Finance Manager
July 20, 2021
I was making it to final rounds and getting rejected by so many companies. Then I met Cole. He had a way of comparing the interview to regular experiences in my job and helped me articulate my experience into value. Within one week of working with Cole, I had several offers and landed a great job.
Cynthia, Account Manager
July 8, 2021
I did a resume review with Cole. He was very knowledgeable and helped me make changes to my resume. I immediately started receiving great feedback. Even some of my recruiter friends said my resume was excellent.
Lukas, Accounting Manager
July 6, 2021
Cole understood my needs. He recognizes what employers are looking for and offered great advice for interviews. He was very supportive and stayed in touch after my coaching sessions. Even better, I received a new job within a month of being laid off.
Rachel, Accounting Manager
June 29, 2021
Cole was great to work with. The whole process was fast and easy. Most importantly, I saw results in less than 24 hours of using Cole’s final product. My resume was getting much better hit rates. Best investment I’ve ever made.
Andrew, Director of Finance
June 24, 2021
Cole’s resume workshop was a career saver. It was my first time working with someone on my resume since college. Cole is knowledgeable about what recruiters are looking for and how to put together a good summary of my work experience.
Patricia, Investment Analyst
June 22, 2021
Cole has helped me improve as a job candidate both directly and indirectly. In helping me rework my resume and salary negotiation he helped me become more confident in my abilities which translated into better interviews. He provided great feedback and ideas in our first meeting. I will be working with Cole again when I’m ready to make another transition. Thanks, Cole!
Alex, Senior Accountant
June 16, 2021
Really loved Cole's resume workshop! I'm an HR professional with many years of experience and always hungry to learn and improve. This workshop really provided clear ideas of what recruiters are looking for and specific guidance on how to achieve it. I had a few follow-up questions after the workshop and Cole was very responsive, which is very appreciated. Super happy I attended and grateful for the guidance. Thanks Cole for supporting me and others in their endeavors!
Penelope, Human Resources Manager
June 16, 2021
Cole worked with me on improving my resume to leverage my skill set to apply for a position I really want outside of my current industry. Cole is knowledgeable about what recruiters would be looking for and what the best way to present your resume would be. He was right on time for our sessions and packed plenty of information in the amount of time scheduled. Amazing services and I would recommend him to anyone needing help on their job hunting journey!
Ahrianna, Analyst
June 15, 2021
Cole clearly knows his way through the job-seeking process - start to finish. The interview prep I did with Cole allowed me to walk into the interview with confidence and walk out knowing I had left an unforgettable impression with the panel. I landed the job and increased my salary. I highly recommend Cole to anyone who’s looking to make the next step in their career.
Roy, Financial Analyst
July 30, 2020
I worked with Cole Sperry very briefly but I could tell right away that he knew his stuff. While I am not in the accounting field, his understanding of what employers look for is invaluable. Highly recommended.
Carol, Collections Specialist
June 30, 2020
Cole has some amazing insights and offers great advice. He helped me polish my cover letter and gave me some great advice on structure and ideas on what to add. I highly recommend working with him! Thank you again Cole!
Lennette, Operations Coordinator
June 18, 2020
Cole is very professional, full of ideas, resourceful, and always positive. He helped to polish my LinkedIn profile and resume, and provided lots of practical and brilliant ideas on how to promote myself as well as how to answer interview questions. Those suggestions and ideas are different from those "general suggestions" you can find online, and instantly helped me to get connected with many recruiters and I was able to land a job very soon. Therefore, I definitely recommend Cole to help with the job search.
Kiki, Audit & Assurance Senior
June 12, 2020
I definitely recommend Cole and his expert advice. He helped me see big the picture and the problem with my network tools. He gave me great suggestions on improving my resume, interview prep, and networking. Thank you Cole!
Celina
June 11, 2020
Book A Session With Cole
Schedule a 50-minute 1:1 coaching call
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Walk away with a personalized plan to advance your career