Provisional Accounting Blog

When applying for a job, you may believe all you need to do is submit a resume and a cover letter, then wait for a call for an interview. However, you need to put a little more effort into the process if you want to stand out from the other candidates.

No one wants to read a generic resume you could use to apply for hundreds of different jobs. Tailoring your resume is a great way to show the hiring manager you’re truly interested in the position and not just looking for any job you can get.

3 Ways to Tailor Your Resume for Specific Job Listings

Ready to add a little customization to you resume before submitting it for a job you really want? Use the following three tips to tailor your resume for each position you apply to:

1. Speak the Company’s Language: Many companies use computer systems to scan resumes for certain keywords, only reviewing those with a certain percentage match. Therefore if you happen to use similar-yet-different phrasing, you’ll be passed up. Avoid this by tailoring your resume to include keywords used in the job description. Make sure it flows naturally, as you don’t want your wording to sound awkward.
2. Change Your Objective: Write a new objective for each and every job you apply to. This simple little one or two sentence introduction allows you to add an element of customization to your resume, showing the hiring manager you took the time to personalize your application. Demonstrating a high level of initiative from the start can be the difference between getting an interview and having your resume tossed aside.
3. Switch Up Formatting: Chronological and functional resumes are both perfectly acceptable formatting structures, so choose the one that makes the most sense for the job. For example, if you’re applying for a job as an auditor, but you haven’t working in auditing for 10 years, you’d want to use a functional resume. However, if you’re applying for a job as a senior accountant and you’re currently working as a tax analyst, use a chronological format.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. Gain access to more professional accounting job opportunities than any other Northwest employment service – guaranteed!

The second half of the year has officially arrived. Whether you’ve been looking for a new job for awhile or have recently begun searching for new opportunities, it’s important to keep up the momentum as we head into the remaining six months of 2014.

It’s easy to become distracted, discouraged or both when the job search takes longer than expected, but don’t let it get you down. The more energy you put into your efforts, the better your chances of landing the job you’ve been wanting.

4 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Second Half of 2014

Need a little inspiration to keep up the momentum for your job search during the second half of the year? Follow these four tips to keep your spirits up:

1. Don’t Take a Break: While the summer months traditionally bring slower hiring periods for many industries, this doesn’t mean you should slow down. In fact, it’s important to keep sending your resume out, as this is when recruiters may be able to devote extra time to reviewing your resume, rather than losing it in a stack of others.
2. Regularly Evaluate Your Progress: Take the time to reflect on how far you’ve come at the end of each week. Celebrate your accomplishments and review your missteps to adjust your plan of action for the week ahead. Acknowledging even the smallest steps you’ve made toward getting a great new job help to keep you motivated.
3. Learn Not to Take Rejection Personally: It’s hard not to feel bad when you really want a job and someone else is chosen for the position. However, it’s important to view these situations as a learning opportunity. Think of it this way, you were able to polish your interview skills so you’re better equipped to impress the hiring manager at the next company.
4. Join a New Networking Organization: Gain exposure to an entirely new set of connections by joining a new networking organization. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet new people who may be able to help you find the job you’ve been looking for ─ you’ll also get to have a little fun while doing it.

Looking for a rewarding new job opportunity? Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing today. We are the leaders at matching specialized accounting talent with top local companies, offering temporary/contract, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire opportunities.

When interviewing at a company, the hiring manager isn’t the only one with a big decision to make ─ you also have to choose whether you want to work for the organization. It’s important to try to find out as much as you can about what daily life at the company is like, so you don’t find yourself miserable after accepting the position. It’s never a good feeling to realize a few weeks into the job that you’ve made the wrong choice.

3 Ways to Get to Know an Organization During the Hiring Process

Want to know what it will be like to work for a company you’re interviewing at? Use these three tips to find out:

1. Ask the Interviewer Why They Enjoy Their Job: One easy way to find out whether you’ll enjoy working for the company is to find out why the interview does ─ or does not. If they can easily list a number of reasons why they enjoy being employed by the organization, take this as a sign that it’s a great place to work. However, if they hesitate and seem to have a difficult time coming up with any specific benefits of being employed by the company, you may want to think twice about accepting an offer.
2. Find Out Why the Job is Available: Inquiring about the previous employee who held the position may be more telling than you realize. If the person left the job because they were promoted, take this as a great sign that the company recognizes good talent and hires from within. However, if the person quit after a short time on the job, this may be an indication that working conditions aren’t great.
3. Closely Observe the Hiring Process: Pay close attention to seemingly little things, such as how quickly the hiring manager returns your messages. A hiring manager who responds to your messages in a timely manner, likely has it all together. Conversely, if you’re having trouble getting in touch with the organization and never know what the next step is, the company is likely a chaotic place to work.

Looking for a new company where you’ll really enjoy going to work each day? Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing today. We are the leaders at matching specialized accounting talent with top local companies, offering temporary/contract, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire opportunities.

These days, hiring managers don’t always pick up the phone when they want to speak with you. Instead many savvy companies email and text candidates with questions, comments, and important interview information.

While business communication methods have become a bit more relaxed, it’s still just as important to mind your etiquette when corresponding with a hiring manager. Allowing yourself to become too relaxed can quickly take away the credibility you’ve worked hard to build, making you appear unprofessional.

4 Tips for Professional Emails and Text Messages

Need a little help understanding professional email and text etiquette? Follow these five tips when crafting your next message:

1. Never Use Shorthand: While abbreviations like “lol” and “how r u?” have become standard when emailing and texting friends and family, communicating in this manner with a hiring manager is a huge don’t. Spell all words and phrases out in their entirety, without exception.
2. Double Check Spelling and Grammar: When you’re trying to send a text message or an email from a mobile device, the screen is much smaller, so it’s a lot easier to make spelling and grammatical errors. Always take the time to double check your message prior to sending, to ensure it doesn’t contain any errors.
3. Steer Clear of Emoticons: Many people enjoy sending a smiley faces and other emoticons to help convey the tone of the message. While this is a perfectly acceptable practice for personal emails and texts, it is absolutely never okay for a professional correspondence. No hiring manager will take you seriously if you return their text with a winking face.
4. Respond Promptly: Hiring managers are well aware that most candidates have their mobile devices with them the majority of the time. Therefore, it’s important not to wait more than 24 hours to respond to a message ─ less if at all possible. Waiting too long to return the message makes you appear disinterested, which certainly won’t help your chances of getting the job.

If you’re looking for an exciting new career opportunity, contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. We are the leaders at matching specialized accounting talent with top local companies, offering temporary/contract, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire opportunities.