Tuesday, November 26, 2019

What Not to Do When Youre Applying for Jobs

What Not to Do When Youre Applying for JobsWhat Not to Do When Youre Applying for JobsThere are many things you should do when youapply for a job, but theres an equally long lists of donts. Thats because some actions and behaviors can really hinder your job hunt and are best avoided. From oversharing the details of your job search to making a typo in a cover letter, heres what not to do when you apply for a job. Submit a Job Application, Resume or Cover Letter with TyposCheck your resume, cover letter, and every single email you send for grammar and spelling - even if its just a quick email, LinkedIn message, or Facebook message to a networking contact. If you submit a job application with a typo, it can knock you out of contention for a job. This means writing in full sentences, andchecking spelling and grammar. Always, always triple-check the spelling of company and contacts names, too - those mistakes are particularly eye-catching. Dont Know Your Employment HistoryWhen you appl y for jobs, whether its zugreifbar or in-person, employers expect you to know your employment history, including dates of employment, job titles, and company information for each job youve held. What can you do when you dont remember your exact dates of employment? Heres how you can compile yourpersonal employment historywhen youre missing all the details. Tell Everyone Youre Job SearchingIt can be a good idea to tell everyone you know youre job searching - if youre unemployed. If you have a job and you want to keep it, be very careful who you tell that youre job searching. Also, make sure that youre using tools tokeep your job search confidential. You dont want your boss to hear youre looking and possible jeopardize the job you currently hold. Take Advantage of Your ConnectionsIts appropriate touse your connectionsto help you get a job. However, its not appropriate to try to bypass thehiring processin order to try to get hired. Use your connections carefully and make sure they are advocating for your candidacy in a professional manner. Dress InappropriatelyDont wear jeans or shorts, tank tops, crop tops or anything too low cut (cleavage is not a good thing when youre job searching) or too short. Make sure youre not showing too much skin i.e. your belly should not be showing. Dont wear spike heels, platforms, flip flops, or your favorite pair of old ratty sneakers. It is always important to be neat, tidy, and well-groomed and to present a positive image to the employer. Heres what youshould be wearingto apply for a job. Forget Your ResumeWhen applying for jobs in-person and when einstellungsgesprching, bringing extra copies of your resume is a good idea. Also, consider bringing your transcript as well if youre bewerberinterviewing for an academic-related position. Keep Your Phone OnFilling out a job application or an interview isnt a place to sneak in a few texts. If your phone is constantly beeping or ringing, it creates a very distracting environment and re flects poorly on you. So, make it a priority to turn your phone on silent and stow it away in your bag or pocket. Walk in with Headphones OnAlthough you might be dying to catch the end of your favorite song, take your headphones out and turn off your music-playing device. Stash both in your purse or briefcase before you walk in to apply for a job or go on a job interview. Bring Food or DrinkPlan ahead and grab a coffee or other beverage or a snack either before or after your interview, because it isnt professional to eat or drink during your interview. Finish (or throw out) your coffee or food before your interview. Also, while you want to have fresh breath during the interview, make sure to spit out your gum or finish your mint before you enter the building. Bring Your Parents or FriendsApplying for jobs or going to a job interview are solo activities. Leave your parents, friends, or significant others at home. If youre applying for a retail job and youre with friends have them wai t outside the store or elsewhere. The only time this would not apply is if you and your friends were applying at a company that was hiring for several positions. Act UnprofessionallyNo matter how difficult your job search is, make an effort to greet your interviewer kindly, and be active and engaged during theinterview process. Be outgoing and positive, even if you dont feel that way. Dont Be Upfront About When Youre AvailableBe honest with your prospective employer about when its feasible to work. If you cant work evening shifts, for example, dont hedge during the interview. You dont want to end up taking on more hours than you can handle or commit to a schedule that wont work out, inconveniencing both yourself and your employer. Ask for MoneyI cringe when someone tells me theyve asked for a certain salary when they havent even been interviewed yet. Avoid mentioning compensation until you have a job offer or, at least, until the employer brings it up. Even then, be careful as to ho w younegotiate salary. Top Job Search MistakesWhat are the worst job search mistakes you can make? Some are major mistakes that can halt your job search before it even gets going. Others are small ones that, given a competitive job market, can be enough to knock you out of contention for a job. Be sure to avoid the top job search mistakes, so youre in the best position to effectively job search.

Friday, November 22, 2019

5 Reasons to Have a Professional Facebook Profile

5 Reasons to Have a Professional facebook inc Profile5 Reasons to Have a Professional Facebook Profile2After LinkedIn, Facebook is another avenue hiring managers use to do some research on you before an interview. Thats why its a smart idea for everyone to have two Facebook profiles. You can still keep your old personal profile with all your friends and family vacation photos. But your business profile, on the other hand, should be just that, strictly business.Here are five reasons why everyone should have a professional Facebook profile.1. It increases your online presence. With over 1 billion users currently on Facebook, thats a lot of potential eyeballs who can view your previous work experience and skill set. Creating a professional profile allows you to increase the odds of someone- like a hiring manager- landseeing your profile and reaching out for a preliminary interview.2. It separates the professional from the private. The biggest reason to have a second profile is, of cours e, the privacy issue. Lets say you were doing the Harlem Shake at your nieces wedding- and a snap-happy uncle tagged you in the photos on Facebook. You dont want potential employers to spot the photos. Having another profile allows you to be tagged in fun family photos without worrying that they might be seen- and misinterpreted.3. You can speak your mind. You have strong opinions and you like to voice them with like-minded friends on Facebook. And you occasionally post fun, silly images as well on your profile. But would you state unterstellung opinions or show these funny photos during an interview with a potential boss? Probably not. This way, you can keep speaking your mind- in the safety of your own circle.4. Your info is for a targeted audience. Lets say youve won several awards for your work in your industry. Or you want to let people know about a great new software program that can help workers in your area of expertise. Sharing that knowledge might be a waste among your cur rent FB friends, but announcing it on a professional profile makes more sense. It can also show those in your industry that your knowledge is current and that youre in the know.5. It allows you to network.On your professional Facebook profile, you can announce that youre looking for work. Or you can reach out to people across your field to establish connections. They will be more apt to add you as a friend if they see that youre posting solid information and have a friends list that boasts fellow colleagues as well as industry insiders. Thats why your second FB profile will enable you to network more efficiently and professionally.Its easy to create another Facebook profile that will help you promote your knowledge and skills while you search for a job. A second profile can definitely help you in your job search.Readers, do you have two Facebook profilesone professional and the other personal?

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How CPAs Can Move to Management Positions

How CPAs Can Move to Management PositionsHow CPAs Can Move to Management PositionsFinance professionals rarely stay in one job for life. As CPAs get experience under their belts - in corporate accounting, public accounting or financial services - many naturally want to take on more responsibilities and move up to management orts.But promotions to management seldom drop in your lap. You have to gain experience, prepare and work hard for them. Whatever your ort, you can take the career path now toward a job in management with these eight steps1. Aim for a target in managementDo you dream of becoming an accounting manager? How about a job as a supervisor in payroll, budget analysis or tax services? Maybe you have your eye set on a CFO career path. The first step in pursuing a position in management is to determine exactly what role you want to strive for. Then you can take actions and gain the experience that will get you closer to your goal.2. Get some management educationYears of re levant experience are a prerequisite for a management job, but many upper-level roles give preference to candidates with graduate degrees, such as an MBA or Master of Accounting. A law degree is a great resource, especially for tax management or corporate compliance. A business systems manager could benefit from a degree in an IT field.In addition to your CPA license, consider working toward aleidher accounting and financial certification. Almost every industry specialty has its own preferred credentials. For example, the American Bankers Association administers the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), an important certification for a position in anti-money laundering enforcement, risk management and, of course, regulatory compliance.3. Lay the groundwork for managementAccording to a Robert Half survey, 85 percent of CFOs polled have faith in millennial workers abilities to climb the corporate ladder. With that said, entry-level and mid-career CPAs still need to convince their bosses they have what it takes to excel in a management job without the years of experience.You can take this important step by first planting the seed that youre interested in such a position. Meet with your manager to discuss your future within the company. Share your career goals and explain how you plan to achieve them. Then ask to be considered for smaller supervisory roles, such as spearheading a project or leading a team. When its time for your performance review, be sure your manager is aware of your achievements, and reiterate your desire to move to management.4. Build the technical experience of a managerAs you prepare for a future position in management, make sure you know the ins and outs of commonly used software. For starters, you need proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel. SharePoint is useful for those who oversee complex projects and have a job in business intelligence. Another resource is MS Project. The higher you go as a manager, the more knowl edge youll need in ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems and other financial software, which save time and minimize mistakes when closing the books and creating year-end reports.If you work with someone on your team whos a whiz at big data analysis, count your lucky stars. Figuratively sit at their feet and get all the insight you can from them. Take online tutorials or in-person seminars to boost your software proficiency. Many employers are happy to help their staff gain technical skills, so ask your boss if the company would reimburse you for the cost of courses.5. Dont forget interpersonal skillsIt takes more than IT savvy to land a management job. You also need soft skills training so you can advance your career with diplomacy and the ability to communicate well, both with your team and beyond. Finance professionals who go far within a company also possess a strong work ethic, astute judgment and top problem-solving abilities.According to the Robert Half survey, 60 percent of the executives polled said their firms offer onsite training to enhance their millennial workers leadership skills, and 42 percent use online courses. So take advantage of all the professional development opportunities available for your position.6. Act like a managerYou know the common advice Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. A corollary to that axiom is to behave in such a way that demonstrates you have management potential.Take a look at how youve built your leadership skills, which manifests itself through your speech, attitude, appearance and body language. When you walk into a room, what do others see? If that mental image doesnt align with the position you want to project, then make some changes. You might want to upgrade your wardrobe, improve your posture and seek out public speaking opportunities to build your confidence.7. Learn from a mentor who is a managerOnce youve identified your ideal position as a manager, its a good idea to pick the brain of so meone who already fills the role. If your workplace doesnt have a formal program, then take the initiative to find a mentor who is also a manager.To do that, first get your career goals in order. Then choose as a resource someone who works in your area of interest and whose personality fits your own. Theres no need to limit your options to your firm also consider a manager in another organization. And when you interact with potential mentors, always be respectful and professional, even if they decline the offer.8. Play the management gameTo land a management position, you may need to get involved in office politics - the right way. Another Robert Half survey of U.S. office workers found 76 percent of respondents believe playing office politics is necessary to get ahead at work. If you must get involved, though, you want to be seen as the diplomat, not the mudslinger.Take note of whos who at your firm. What do they know that you dont? How did they land their position? Who do they kn ow? You may need to get some professional networking tips, especially if schmoozing doesnt come naturally.If youre just a few years into your accounting and finance career, youre not quite ready for the corner office and the title of manager. But that doesnt mean you can just bide your time and wait for upward mobility to come your way. Right now is when you should be preparing for a move to management - so when the opportunity arises, youll be more than ready.Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build a successful career in accounting and finance - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW Steve Saah Steve Saah is the executive director for Robe rt Half Finance Accounting, the worlds first and largest specialized financial recruitment service. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide. He is responsible for leading worldwide operations and is based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.