What sets a great Accountant apart and how to get a job in Accounting? What’s the catch? There isn’t one, in a few easy steps you’ll be on your way to an Accounting career. Our Corporate Services division has been recruiting for the industry for more than 5 years, and have a strong background in accounting and finance.
Here are our top accounting job search strategies to start using today:
1. Craft your elevator pitch or personal branding statement
Imagine you are in the lift with your potential employer and they can offer you a dream job. What if you have 10-15 seconds to explain why you are the best fit for the role, what would you say?
As Yogi Berra famously said, “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” A good pitch should answer the following questions:
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Who you are
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Your experience
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What you are passionate about
You should tailor the pitch to them, not you. Remember to answer the question - what is in it for them? Focus on how you solve their problem.
Here is an example of how you can begin your pitch: “Hi. My name is Holly. I am an Accountant with 5 years experience in mid-tier finance agencies. I like to partner with clients to ensure they trust me to carry out the best financial solutions for them, building trust is incredibly important.”
2. Be SMART
Complex problem solving and creativity is where the future of accounting is heading. According to SEEK the following qualities are essential to get a job in accounting:
- Problem-solving abilities
- Being passionate about improving business and contribute to it success
- Understanding business objectives and being able to add value
Your resume is your sales brochure and the first point of interaction with a potential employer. You must ensure your resume stands out in the talent pool.
When updating your Resume or LinkedIn profile give examples of when you have demonstrated these critical skills Accounts should possess. Don’t forget to include a list of achievements, also don’t forget they should be tangible. Be SMARTand remember that all achievements you in include in your Resume should be:
- Specific – what and how you have achieved you goals
- Measurable – add numbers, make it tangible
- Attainable – how did you achieve your goals
- Relevant – are your achievements relevant to the job you are applying for
- Time based – what was the timeframe to complete the goal. Or did you deliver a project before expected due date
3. Develop
To begin, think about your dream job and what is required to land it. Do your research, identify opinion leaders and influencers in the industry. Then make a list of the most common skills, experiences and educational requirements.
Select one skill you want to develop and create a plan to develop it, again be SMART. Once you have decided on the skill you want to develop there are so many opportunities and options to help you. For example, you can start with enrolling in online courses, such as Udemy, Skillshare, Lynda and edX. In addition to doing online courses, join different local communities for accountants, attend networking events and meetups.
With these simple strategies you can land your dream Accounting job!
At Stellar we pride ourselves with providing mentoring and career advice that will help find your next career opportunity. Let us do the scouting for you!
