Find a Job in Accounting

An education in accounting can help you enter a long-term and stable career. There will be a need for accountants of all types as long as there are businesses. However, getting started in the field can be a challenge. With little to no work experience and few industry connections, figuring out how to find a job in accounting requires taking advantage of all resources available to you. Using university resources and searching diligently for opportunities are the keys to landing an accounting job.

Steps

Getting an Education

1. Get a degree. Today, the vast majority of accounting jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. If you don't have a degree in accounting and want this to be your career, you should strongly consider one.
   • Some bookkeeping jobs and other entry level positions can be obtained with a two-year degree or even just a high school diploma, if you show a high aptitude for math. These jobs tend to be relatively low-paying, however.
   • Some employers will be looking for a candidate with a master's degree in accounting or business administration. Some schools offer a five-year combined BA/MA program, and a program like this might be worth considering if you don't already have a degree.Template:Expertgreenbox:160980
2. Join Beta Alpha Psi. While you are in school, join your campus chapter of Beta Alph Psi, if there is one. This is the premiere honor and service society for aspiring accountants and other business information students.
   • Joining Beta Alpha Psi will look great on your resume, because it shows genuine interest in the field. It's also a good way to network with others in the field--you never know when a connection can come in handy.
3. Build your skills and learn the business. A degree is very valuable, but having knowledge and experience is just as important as a diploma. Take every chance you get to learn about and get experience in the field.
   • Volunteer to help with accounting in your community, for your church, a local charity organization, or anyone else who can use your services. This gives you hands-on experience that will help you stand apart from other applicants.
   • By the same token, learn everything you can related to business and accounting. Familiarize yourself with a range of software tools used in accounting, such as Quickbooks. Learn about business models, and how companies make profits.

Making Yourself a More Appealing Candidate

1. Clean up your resume. Before even beginning a job search, examine the strength of your resume. The formatting should be clean and professional. It must be well organized.
   • If you are a recent graduate from an accounting degree program but have no relevant work experience, place your education credentials near the top of your resume. Highlight school-related activities such as accounting societies or clubs.
   • Your resume should be no more than one page. Use your cover-letter and interviews to elaborate on details, not your resume.
2. Attend a career fair at your university. If you are a current student or a recent alumnus of a university, you should take full advantage of the career-building resources hosted there. Chief among these resources is the career fair. You should be going to these by your junior year.
   • The career fair is a great opportunity to learn more about the field and to make connections in the professional world.
   • Schools with prominent accounting programs or schools in major cities will often have a separate career fair just for accounting jobs.
   • Before attending the career fair, research the attending companies as thoroughly as possible. Knowing basic facts such as market capitalization, core strengths, and prominent clients will help you in your discussions with recruiters. If you can find out through their website which positions are available, you can explain why you'd be a good fit for their specific opening.
   • Its a good idea to follow up via a quick email with anyone you talk to at a career fair, thanking them for their insights and time. This will help them to remember you if you end up applying for jobs with their companies.
3. Join a professional organization in the accounting field. There are many professional organizations within this field, including the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the Professional Accounting Society of America (PASA), and the American Accounting Association (AAA).
   • You can often join an organization like this through a university's accounting department. These organizations host networking events that will allow you to meet and impress potential employers. Membership in an accounting organization also improves your resume.

Applying for Jobs

1. Learn about different types of jobs you can do. There are many different jobs within and related to the field of accounting, ranging from bookkeepers and accounting clerks to financial analysts and corporate controllers. Spend some time online learning about the responsibilities and requirements of different positions.
   • This will help you be better informed on your applications and interviews, and can also save you time in the long run as you'll be able to quickly sort out which positions you could be viable candidate for based on your education and experience.
2. Search for job openings online. In any field, the Internet is quickly becoming a crucial medium for job classifieds. Post your resume on job search sites such as Career Builder and Monster, and search for accounting positions on general classifieds sites like Craigslist.
   • Note that there are also numerous sites online that are dedicated specifically to accounting jobs, which you should check regularly. These include accountingjobstoday.com and accountingprincipals.com.
   • Searching for job openings regularly and applying promptly is key when competing among the vast field of online applicants.
   • When searching for job openings online, you may want to consider related positions as well. For example, if you have an accounting degree but no relevant work experience, taking a position as a bookkeeper may help you to flesh out your resume enough to later land a position as an accountant.
3. Use your connections. Contact anyone in the accounting field you may already know. A hard truth of job searching is that it is often who you know that makes the difference. If you know anyone in the accounting field--a family friend, a business contact, and of course your professors--ask them if they know of any openings.
   • A recommendation from an established accountant can be instrumental in opening up job opportunities.
4. Research companies you apply to. When you apply for a job, do a little digging to find out about the company first, and use this knowledge in your application. Caring enough to learn about the company shows interest and initiative.
   • Start with the company's website and social media pages. After that, you can look at what other people have written about it online. If you get an interview, make sure you know the business inside and out.
5. Apply to many companies. You might have a dream job or a dream company that you want to work for above all others, and that's great. But you should apply for jobs with lots of different companies to increase your odds of being hired.
   • Experts recommend applying to 15 to 25 companies to be sure of getting a job quickly.
   • One nice thing about accounting work is that it is very portable. While accountants are needed everywhere, they are most in demand in big cities. If you are willing to relocate, apply for jobs outside of where you live. You may be able to find work more quickly this way.
6. Accept a temp job if necessary. As you search for jobs, you may notice that many accounting jobs are temporary positions. If you can't secure permanent, full-time employment, taking one of these temp jobs may be a good option.
   • A temp job is a good way to learn the business and get some work experience while also making some money to support yourself while you continue to seek a full time position.
   • In accounting, temp jobs are often a stepping stone to permanent positions.

Tips

• If you are an experienced accountant looking for a management position, consider hiring a recruiter or "headhunter" to aid in your search. Management positions are fewer in number, and candidates are chosen more selectively, which makes searching on your own tougher.
• Many accounting firms will be looking for candidates who either have or have a plan to get a certified public accountant (CPA) license. If you don't have yours yet, make a plan for getting one. You may be asked about this in an interview, so being able to say "I'm hoping to be ready to take the CPA exam next year" or something along those lines will show that you are taking the initiative to improve your credentials.

Related Articles

• Get a Career as an Accountant

References

See also

• Prepare for a Banking Job
• Generate Promising Leads as a Loan Officer
• Become an Equity Analyst
• Become a Mortgage Loan Officer
• Become a Broker
• Prepare for IBPS Written Exam
• Find Legitimate Banking Jobs in Nigeria
• Get Mortgage Clients
• Become a Junior Stockbroker
• Be a Financial Planner

Read more ...

What links here

• Get a Job in Another State