Finding an Entry Level Accounting Job
Accounting is a very important subfield of finance. If you're looking to break into accounting, you must find a company who is willing to take on an entry-level employee. That means scouring Internet job search engines to find employers eager for fresh talent.
In today's example of how to find entry-level accounting jobs, let's pretend you're searching for a job in our nation's second largest financial center outside of Wall Street: Charlotte, North Carolina.
North Carolina is one of the most beautiful and geographically varied states in which to live. From the Great Smoky Mountains in the west to the lush pine forests of the central and east regions and on to historic Kitty Hawk and the Atlantic Ocean beaches, the state offers temperate weather and many things to do. Its proximity to major East Coast attractions including South Carolina beaches, Virginia history, and Washington, D.C. makes the state especially attractive.
Charlotte is located in the southern part of the state. In addition to its place as the second largest financial center, the city is also home to the NASCAR Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Role of Computers in Searching for a Job in FinanceUntil recently, the job search required applicants to physically print out dozens of resumes to mail and hand out to potential employers. Though I've sent my share, my career in technical writing began at the very inception of the Internet revolution back in the mid-to-late 1990s; thus, I really can't say I know what it feels like to perform a job search without the aid of a personal computer.
These days, the computer is absolutely essential to a person's job search, even in the financial profession. Whether you use your own computer, or a computer at the public library, or a friend's machine, getting your resume online via at least one of the main Internet job sites out there is an absolute must.
If you don't have an e-mail account, you must first register for one via your Internet service provider or one of the free Internet-based e-mail systems such as Yahoo!, Google Mail, or Hotmail. This will allow you to communicate with potential employers and to receive job notifications.
Searching for Entry-Level Accounting Jobs via the InternetLet's take a look at how to search for entry-level accounting jobs using three of the more popular job search websites: Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, and Yahoo! HotJobs. Again, in today's example, we'll look at how to search for a job in Charlotte, the United States' second largest financial center outside of Wall Street.
Monster.comMonster.com is probably the most widely known of the Internet job search sites. While some may believe Monster is good only for tech jobs, the reality is that it's good for all types of jobs. Follow these steps to search for an entry-level accounting job using Monster.com:
1) Point your Web browser to www.monster.com.
2) In the Keywords field located in the Job Search bar at the top of the page, type accounting. Alternatively, you can click the Occupations drop-down list and select Accounting/Finance/Insurance, then select your field of work (e.g., Tax Accounting).
3) In the Locations field, type charlotte.
4) Click the State drop-down list and select NC.
5) Click the Radius drop-down list and select how far you're willing to drive to work every day (the standard selection is 20 miles).
6) Click the Search button to go to the Job Search Results page where you can view all applicable finance jobs in the Charlotte area. Note that finance jobs include a wide array of positions: controller, CFO, finance inside sales, etc.
7) On the left hand side of the page, under Refine your results, click Career Level and select Entry Level to display all entry level accounting jobs in Charlotte.
Careerbuilder.comCareerbuilder is the second most popular Internet job search site. Here's how to search for an entry-level accouting job using Careerbuilder:
1) Point your Web browser to www.careerbuilder.com.
2) In the Keywords field, type accounting.
3) In the Location field, type charlotte,nc. Alternatively, if you know the zip code, you can enter it here.
4) Click the Find Jobs button to go directly to the Search Results page.
5)Note on the left hand side of the page, under Narrow Search, you can click on your applicable job category (e.g., Banking) to narrow down your search results to your specific area of finance.
6)Peruse the job listings to see which ones are marked as "entry level."
Yahoo! HotJobsI recall back in the mid-1990s when HotJobs.com was one of the hottest sites on the Web to look for a new job. Now, it's owned by Yahoo! and renamed, "Yahoo! HotJobs." It's a great place to search for a job in accounting, and many local newspapers are plugged into Yahoo! HotJobs as well for their job listings (for example, the Dallas Morning News).
1) Point your Web browser to http://jobs.yahoo.com.
2) In the Enter Keyword(s) field, type accounting.
3) In the City & State or ZIP field, type charlotte,nc. Alternatively, if you know the zip code, you can enter that here.
4) Click the Search Jobs button to display the Featured Job Results page.
5) Below Cities Included, note that you can narrow your search by Job Categories.
6) On the left hand side of the page, scroll down to Experience and select 0-1 Years.
WikipediaLog on to www.wikipedia.org and type in your city to get a good feel for accounting jobs and employers in the region.
Other Job Search Strategies1) To add to your job search, read the city newspaper (physically or online) respective to the town you're targeting; or visit the local unemployment office for job leads. The unemployment office also offers various classes on resume writing, job searching, and interviewing strategies.
2) Use social networking sites to your advantage. Remember to remove questionable pictures or comments from your Facebook or MySpace account. Twitter is also a great tool to use when looking for a job because it allows you to broadcast your availability.
3) Don't forget about word of mouth; many jobs these days are filled because someone told someone else who told their boss that you're looking for a job. Networking is key!
