Get an Accounting Job

Before we begin, it is very important that you know that getting a job is much easier when you are already employed. Do not quit your accounting job before you have a replacement confirmed. Not only does it show the hiring accounting business you are employable, but if they really want you, they will have to offer something better than your current employer.

This also applies if you think your job might be unsecure. It is always good to have other options in your back pocket in case an unforeseen recession hits and lay-offs happen.

To get an accounting job you want, you must first know where to find it. Don't expect to browse through the newspaper classifieds and have a job offer next week. Here are different places to look:

• Job listing website like CareerBuilder.com
  (create an account and it will suggest possible accounting jobs for you)

• Newspaper classifieds

• Head Hunters like OnlineRecruitersDirectory.com
  (they deal more with executive accounting positions)

• Local Staffing Agency
  (they deal more with entry level accounting positions)

• Talk with friends & former classmates
   (you could get an accounting finance job working alongside a good friend)

• Networking Website like Linkedin.com
   (get connected with a friend of a friend who has a tax accounting job)

On to the resume
Here are several steps that you can do to improve your resume and get better results:

• Each employer will be interested in different attributes of your experience. They often indicate it by the items they describe in their accounting job ad. Emphasize the experiences that you've had that relate to the skills being sought and the functions you will perform in the job.

• Employers are more interested in recent accounting experience, rather than small business accounting you did many years ago. Use more space in your resume to highlight recent experience, rather than things you did before George W. Bush became President.

• Describe your successes or achievements concretely with specific, measurable examples. Reducing costs is nice, but reducing operational costs globally by 2% is more powerful. Increased departmental sales by 27% resulting in . . . You get the idea. Use action verbs wherever possible.

• Ask someone you trust to critique what you’ve written. Too often, people believe that they can do everything by themselves without asking for help. Ask a friend in small business accounting, tax accounting, or accounting finance to critique what you’ve written to insure you’re on target.

Do your homework
• Find out who the contact person is for accounting jobs (start with Human Resources Department)

• Know the company's history (how/when it started and some stats of recent achievements)

• Know who to follow-up with and what method (phone or e-mail)

Stop just a moment. I want to emphasize this last point: Follow-Up. So few people do this and fewer do it correctly. If you submit an application electronically, call the business to make sure it was received(if it is a small company) and ask who you may contact for a follow-up. If this is done politely, it speaks volumes for your desire for the position while solidifying your professionalism.

The interview
• Be Early

• Be Polite

• Be prepared to mention 1 or 2 unique and memorable things about yourself

• Be confident, relax, and have fun


It is important to monitor your finances during the employment transition. To help with this, you will want to use a personal finance spreadsheet


About the author:
Joe Coffee is an entrepreneur for the online marketing firm, Web Shepherd. He has written many articles about accounting, but is not a certified public accountant and any laws or procedures referenced should be verified with a tax professional before they are used.