subject: After Accounting Training Getting Your Foot In The Door To A New Career [print this page] After completing your last round of exams in accounting training, a new challenge will arise: securing your first job as an accounting professional. Here are some tips to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Get started before graduation
If you know that you are finishing accounting training in April, then you should begin your job search in January.
Just as you probably did with your assignments in accounting training, break your job search into a series of smaller, easier-to-manage steps:
-write your CV
-evaluate your CV
-meet with a career advisor
-choose an interviewing outfit
-etc.
Bonus tip: Some business colleges offer internship programs. Students who take advantage of these programs will have more real life experience to add to their CV. This shows potential employers that you have truly mastered the concepts addressed in accounting training. Accounts receivable? General ledger? Accounting software? No problem!
Writing your CV: Use action verbs
Get started on your CV early, while still pursuing accounting training. Think carefully about how to describe your experience and training. In addition to listing the courses that you took (in bookkeeping, business writing, etc.), describe your relevant volunteer and employment experience, using such words as:
-conducted
-budgeted
-produced
-implemented
-performed
Most accounting schools and business colleges provide counseling or advice on how to write a CV, which brings us to our next point
Using your resources wisely
Think back to when you were first contemplating pursuing accounting training. At that time, you probably spent a lot of time on the web, checking out the services and programs at your areas business colleges. The accounting schools that stood out probably offered job boards and career counseling for new graduates. Now it is finally time for you to take advantage of these perks:
-make a regular habit of checking out the job board for accounting training graduates
-make an appointment at the job placement service
-make an appointment with your favourite teachers to discuss your employment options
Students at business colleges can also help one another out by:-taking turns role playing interview questions with fellow students-reading one anothers CVs-sharing information on the job market for accounting professionals-making arrangements with fellow classmates in accounting training to stay in touch after graduation Interviewing: Minding your Ps and QsIn todays fast paced economy, sending a thank you letter by snail mail is no longer normal protocol. Instead, make sure that potential employers know that you appreciate their time and consideration by sending a thank you email with twenty-four hours of each interview. Whether you are looking for work as an accounting clerk or a bookkeeper, taking a step-by-step approach to your job search while you are still pursuing accounting training could pay off in the long term.by: Rima Hammoudi
