Career burnout is a very real thing impacting millions of Americans. High levels of on-the-job stress can have a profound impact on your personal and professional life. In fact, it can even lead to a host of health issues, including insomnia, alcohol abuse, chronic headaches, high cholesterol and depression ─ just to name a few.

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to make some serious changes immediately, before your suffering gets even worse. Career burnout won’t fix itself, so it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to combat it.

5 Ways to Recover From Career Burnout

If you’re feeling burnt out from stress at work, use the following five methods to regain your focus:

1. Take Breaks Throughout the Day: It may seem counterintuitive to take breaks when your schedule is jam-packed throughout the day, but having a few minutes to yourself can actually make you more productive. When you’re feeling stressed, get up from your desk for a five minute walk, you’ll be surprised how much better you feel when you return.
2. Go on Vacation: Are you one of those people who never uses their vacation days? If so, it’s time to cash them in. Whether you embark on an exotic trip or opt for a staycation, having the chance to separate yourself from work for a few days is a great way to clear your mind and refocus your priorities.
3. Stop Multitasking: While working on a project during a conference call may seem like a great way to maximize your time, you’re not actually helping yourself. Your mind never gets a chance to relax when you’re constantly going in several different directions at once. Complete one task at a time to regain your focus and improve the quality of your work.
4. Combat Issues That Can Be Fixed: Is the source of your career burnout something easily fixable? If you’ve been stressed over a lack of feedback, long hours in the office or a less-than professional colleague, talk to your boss about it. The two of you may be able to work together to come up with a solution that works for everyone.
5. Accept That You’re Not Perfect: There’s a big difference between always trying to do your best work and striving towards unattainable perfection. If you’re constantly burning the midnight oil trying to go an extra ten miles on each project, it’s time to scale back. Accept your best work as truly the most you have to offer and stop trying to attain a level of perfection that doesn’t exist.

Feeling burnt out in your current position and looking for a new opportunity? Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. We have been the Northwest’s leader in specialized accounting recruiting and staffing services since 1994! In fact, Seattle Business Magazine voted us one of the “Top 100 Employers to Work For” – in both 2012 and 2013.

The current job market is a very competitive place. Dozens ─ sometimes even hundreds ─ of candidates are often competing for the same position. This means you need to bring you A-game to every aspect of the candidate selection process, to ensure you’re not passed over.

If you think all the hard work is behind you now that you’ve made it to the job interview ─ think again. This is your opportunity to show the hiring manager you’re more than just good on paper, so take the time to properly prepare in advance.

5 Interview Strategies Guaranteed to Impress

Preparing for an upcoming interview? Gain an edge on the other candidates by using the following five strategies:

1. Research the Company: If you want to impress interviewers, you need to do your homework on the organization. While you don’t need to worry about memorizing detailed information, having a working knowledge of the company history, products/services and mission will show that you’re genuinely interested in the organization.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice!: You certainly can’t predict everything an interviewer will ask you, but preparing responses to common interview questions is a great start. If possible, enlist the help of a friend or family member to ask you the questions, serving as mock interview to prepare you for the real one.
3. Dress to Impress: Even if you were told the company is very casual, it’s still advisable to dust off your finest suit and wear it to the interview. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
4. Ask Questions: Always ask questions when the interviewer invites you to take the floor. Rather than focusing on generic inquiries that could be asked of any hiring manager, use the research you conducted prior to the interview to pose pointed questions. This gives you the chance to gain additional insight on the company and will certainly make a good impression.
5. Be Mindful of Nonverbal Cues: It’s inevitable that you’re probably going to be a bit nervous, which is only natural. However, it’s important to be aware of the nonverbal cues you may be unknowingly sending out of nervousness, such as crossing your arms, fidgeting and looking down, as these behaviors are guaranteed not to impress the hiring manger.

Ready to find a challenging new job you truly enjoy? Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. We have been the Northwest’s leader in specialized accounting recruiting and staffing services since 1994! Our firm uses a consultative approach to provide customized accounting and finance staffing solutions, which includes temporary/contract, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire placements.

Your resume is the first impression you make on a hiring manager. If it’s good, they’ll keep reading and call you in for an interview. However, if you don’t present yourself as the ideal candidate, it will be quickly discarded. Therefore, putting a great deal of time and effort into your resume is essential, as it’s your first step towards getting a new job.

5 Ways to Make a Great Impression with Your Resume

Planning to enter the job market soon? Use the following five tips to touch your resume up, to ensure you land on every hiring manager’s interview list:

1. Customize It: No one wants to read a generic resume that could be for any position, at any company. Use the objective section to write a sentence or two about your fit for the specific opportunity you’re applying for. Include the name of the company and the exact title of the job.
2. Choose an Appropriate Format: Presentation is key ─ even when you’re sharing the same types of information. Chronological resumes are best when you have recent, relevant experience making you a great choice for the job. Conversely, a functional resume is a better choice if your most applicable experience isn’t your current job or if you’ve been out of work for a period of time.
3. Ensure it’s Flawless: This may seem obvious, but you may be surprised at the number of people who fail to proofread their resumes. Submitting a CV with spelling and grammatical errors makes you appear careless. No one wants to hire someone who cares so little about the job that they can’t even be bothered to make sure their resume looks great.
4. Include Relevant Keywords: Many companies use software to screen resumes for specific keywords ─ automatically rejecting those that don’t contain a certain percentage. Carefully review the job description and take note of any words used frequently. Find a way to add them into your resume in a way that makes sense and sounds natural.
5. Provide Detailed Contact Information: It used to be acceptable to simply provide a home phone number on your resume, but things have changed. Make it easy for the interviewer to contact you by including a few different ways to get in touch, such as your cell phone number and email address. You don’t want to miss out on an interview invitation because you’re impossible to reach.

Searching for the Next Step in Your Career?

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 accounting opportunities.

LinkedIn has become one of the most popular ways for recruiters to search for candidates. With just a few clicks, they can find talented professionals from across the globe ready to fill their open positions. If you’re currently searching for new opportunities, it’s essential to have a very active presence on the site. However, as of April 2014, LinkedIn has more than 300 million users, so you have to get a little savvy to make yourself stand out.

5 Ways to Get Noticed by Recruiters on LinkedIn

Tired of getting passed up by recruiters on LinkedIn? Use the following five tips to enhance your presence on the site and attract all the right people to your profile:

1. Complete Your Profile: Make sure your profile is 100% complete to maximize its effectiveness. Provide thorough details in all sections, including work history, skills, education, summary and any additional relevant info, as you never know exactly what keywords will trigger a recruiter to contact you. Be sure to upload a professional headshot for your profile photo, to present yourself as a polished candidate.
2. Build Your Connections: Send LinkedIn invitations to business associates ─ past and present ─ that you’re not already connected to. Not only does having a large network make you appear more credible, it can also increase your chances of showing up in search results as a second or third degree connection to recruiters.
3. Write a Catchy Headline: While a headline reading “tax accountant” may be accurate, it won’t make a recruiter take a second glance at your profile. Instead, sell yourself by writing “Detail-Oriented CPA Specializing in Tax Accounting” or “Seasoned Tax Accounting Expert.”
4. Join Groups: Recruiters frequently search relevant LinkedIn groups for prospective employees, so be sure to find a few credible ones to join. Diversify your membership by joining a few groups relevant to your profession, geographic area and alma mater.
5. Post Relevant Content: Show your dedication to keeping up with the latest industry trends and developments by regularly posting articles on LinkedIn. Recruiters look for candidates who are truly passionate about their work, not someone simply trying to earn a paycheck.

Searching for 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!

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