The accounting and financial fields offer a great deal of opportunity for those seeking entry into it. Accountants and banking professionals often carry the big responsibility of managing money and assets for individuals, businesses and corporations. Top level executives and Financial Planners may possess accounting degrees. However, the first step to reaching such a lofty goal will be to land an entry-level job. To accomplish this task, prospective accounting job candidates will need to impress potential employers with a solid resume. The following is a brief article highlighting five important tips individuals hoping to break into the accounting business can utilize to best craft their resumes.
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Author A Solid Summary
In many instances, among the most important sections of a resume are the candidate’s relevant work experience and intended career goals. For a prospective entry-level accounting or financial industry job candidate, this could present a double whammy. First, an individual seeking their first significant job might not possess much germane work experience. In addition, career goals for financial industry professionals are often wide-ranging and interchangeable. Presented with such a situation, those seeking entry-level accounting positions are encouraged to focus on and craft a comprehensive summary highlighting his or her most noteworthy skills, major accomplishments, knowledge of the industry and whatever experience they may have, including internships.
Highlight Honors and Other Accomplishments
Many employers will realize an individual pursuing an entry-level position will not have a plethora of experience. However, they will likely be more desiring of a candidate who has been recognized for displaying leadership qualities, or has stood out in some way; either academically or socially. Prospective candidates should not be bashful about listing if they held an elected office in a particular club or organization, or served as a captain of an athletic team they competed for. In addition, highlighting any awards of honors he or she was bestowed might also provide an edge in comparison to someone who does not.
Display Computer Proficiency
The accounting field, perhaps more so than many other industries, relies heavily on specific software. Those employed in entry-level positions will typically be expected to display extensive knowledge of the latest accounting software. Proficiency in any and all software packages should be an integral part of a prospective candidate’s resume.
Know The Job You Are Applying For
Ground-level positions in the accounting field are not one in the same. Depending upon what sector the job is located (private industry, the government, non-profit agencies), the particular company or entity might adhere to specific accounting protocols, laws and regulations. One’s candidacy can receive a significant boost by familiarizing him or herself with these important issues.
Use Language That Stands Out
When crafting a resume, a prospective candidate should use powerful words to convey a sense of greater responsibility and authority in describing his or her previous activities. For example, if a candidate served as a supervisor on a given project, it would be more advisable to say he or she spearheaded the effort in lieu of words such as oversaw or lead. In a case where a candidate might have fixed a specific item, his or her resume should read they upgraded it.
Landing an entry-level accounting position can be challenging. However, a skillfully crafted resume can provide a prospective candidate with a powerful tool potential employers will view favorably.
