Relocation 101: Finding a Job outside Your Residence

(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

While most would admit it’s much easier to find a job when you search within the city where you reside, it is possible to find one outside your current residence. Whether you’re looking within a specific area or for “anyplace but here,” you can find what you’re looking for as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Here are 7 things you can do to increase your chances of finding work in another city:

1. Use online job search engines

The internet has made the world a much smaller place. Many companies post jobs to sites like www.monster.com and www.careerbuilder.com. In fact, there are even job sites that specialize in the accounting profession like www.jobsinthemoney.com and www.accounting.com. You should start searching these sites to see if you can find a good match for you.

2. Search want-ads

But not all companies use the internet when looking for job applicants. Many still post openings in the want-ads. And just because you live out of town doesn’t mean you still can’t access this valuable job-search tool. Here’s an internet site where you can find want-ads in just about any city: http://www.newspapers.com/

3. Consider working with a recruiter

Good recruiters are well-connected when it comes to job openings. They will be aware of more opportunities than you would find in the want-ads or through the internet. Unless they work for a specific company, you’ll need to pay them a flat fee to match your skills with the type of employer you’d like to work for.

But the cost is often well worth it. If they do work for a specific company, you need to realize that they’re working to fulfill the company’s needs rather than yours.

4. Post your resume and mention your desire to relocate

You’ll get even more exposure as a potential job applicant if you post your resume to the internet. This can be done on most job search sites. Potential employers that you would not have considered may contact you in reference to a position. This can multiply your options.

5. Get help from contacts, and network any chance you get

Now’s the time to look at everyone you know, professional and personal contacts alike. Let everyone know of your plans to change jobs and see what leads you get.

Also be sure you continue to network, especially when traveling for job interviews, etc. It will be the perfect time for you to meet other professionals who might be aware of job opportunities that match your interests.

6. Reduce employer risk

You become much more appealing to potential employers if you can reduce the risk they take in hiring you. Tell them upfront of your desire to relocate, and if you’re in the process of moving, let them know. This will assure them of your intention to move. And if you can afford it, let them know they need not reimburse you for the cost of the move. Many companies will offer a relocation package that will pay a certain amount of your moving costs. But this makes you the more expensive candidate and may deter some employers from hiring you.

7. Offer unique skills

One of the best ways to get a leg up on local competition is by having unique skills or job-related credentials. Consider ways you might enhance your resume, because employers will probably hire local applicants unless you have something more to offer.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Designation Can Help

In less than 60 hours you can complete the Professional Bookkeeper Course which will train you in the practical application of small business accounting. The Professional Bookkeeper Program also offers you the opportunity to earn a professional designation, which will strengthen your resume, showcasing what might give you the lead on the competition. Don’t wait to increase your value to potential employers. Learn more about the PB Program today. Purchase our introductory video for $9.95 or watch online for free.

It is possible for you to get a job outside of your current residence, you just have to work a little harder to find what you’re looking for and to convince potential employers that you have more to offer than the candidate down the block. Don’t be intimidated by the challenge. Get busy and get hired!

Tools of the Accounting Trade

Learn what is all involved in the coursework and materials of the Professional Bookkeeper Program

You’ll find 3 Modules designed specifically for you:

• Accounting Made Easy — Getting to you the foundational steps you need to have to be able to properly and effectively service the company you work for. Ledgers and Journals as well as Subsidary Ledgers that each professional will need to be familiar with.
• Practical Small Business Applications - Hands-on practice on the various types of accounting you will run into within your career. Getting to you the experience accountants like you need to be exposed to for well-rounded training.
• Advancing Your Account-”Ability” — Gets into the nitty-gritty of setting up books from scratch and properly establishing books for existing businesses. Plus much, much more.

Below you will be able to view a sample of what you can expect in your training course and the quality of the instruction you will receive from the leaders in the industry. This brief rundown of what is in Module I, featuring Allen Bostrom, President of the Universal Accounting Center, details for you the first stages of instruction which Module I contains. The beauty of learning this way, is being able to rewind and view the material as much as you need to.

Create for yourself a learning atmosphere and let all of the Professional Bookkeeper’s valuable instruction to seep in. You can do it!

Please allow (according to you’re Internet link - Dial-Up verses DSL) time for the video to load so you will not have any interruption in the playing of the video clip.

Click On The Play Button To Start

How Does This Benefit You?

You can work on gaining the knowledge and practical application at your own pace! You control how quickly you go through all of what the instructor is teaching. You tailor the course instruction to what is best for you and the style of learning you learn best with! By getting the right foundation for your Accounting career, even if it turns out to be a refresher course, you know that you are getting started out on the right foot. The confidence of knowing you have the knowledge and the wisdom the right training can provide is crucial to how you perform your duties. And rest assured, with the Universal’s course you will have that confidence to take you to that next promotion!

“This course offers a comprehensive review of the accounting process, as well as providing a system to help you help yourself. The instructors not only teach, but offer an unheard of level of support. I woul highly recommend the course to anyone.”
—Laura Ogden

“After graduating from this course I now feel competent to run my own bookkeeping/accounting business. I want to thank the staff at Universal Accounting for the outstanding course of instruction.”
—Gary Hamblin

“I wish I had taken this class five years ago. I’ve been working in the accounting field for over 10 years and didn’t know half of what I learned in one month in this class. I feel completely qualified now to accept a position of great responsibility with a large organization or to be self employed. I’m excited about the potential for money making that this course has given me.”
—Kris K. Trout

What’s Next For Me?

As a professional pursuing the best accounting training possible, you don’t want to leave anything to chance when it comes to your financial future and your career path. We work on the philosophy that you only get one chance to make a good first impression, and when you are going into your employer (potential or current) and start the negotiations for your next step up in your career, you want to have the surety that whatever the situation as a “Certified Professional Bookkeeper” you’ll be able to confidently handle it for the company.

Click Here and find out more about how to get that self-assurance through Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program.

Using the Internet to Find Accounting / Bookkeeping Jobs

Looking for a job requires a lot of work. No one has to tell you what’s involved: searching job listings, networking, hunting down potential employers. It takes a lot of time and energy to get that one good interview. Using the Internet to enhance your efforts can speed up the process while presenting more opportunities than you would find in a regular job search. Here are three ways to webify your approach:

1. Search Listings

Many people look for job listings in the Sunday paper or other classifieds. Not only can you find those same listings online, but you can also use general search engines, job banks, and professional associations to look for jobs.

Classifieds
You’ve probably already discovered your local paper online. What about the paper two counties down? Or the newspaper in that big city you’ve always wanted to live? You have access to hundreds of classified if you just let your fingers do the walking, on your keyboard, that is.

Search Engines
Yahoo, Google, MetaCrawler, and AltaVista are just a few examples of search engines you can use to find jobs. And if you type in the right key words (see our next newsletter on good online searches), you can narrow the search and find your way to a potential employer’s inbox.

Job Banks
There are many job banks like monster.com, America’s Job Bank, and careerbuilder.com that allow you to post your resume and search their listings for jobs anywhere in the country. Usually membership is free and after joining a job bank service, some will notify you when a job description matching your interests is posted. Many job banks also offer tutorials that could help prepare you for even the most daunting job-search hurdle. And there are job banks that are designed for accountants and bookkeepers (see The Marketplace for Accounting and Financial Professionals).

Professional Associations
Joining professional associations can put you in contact with influential colleagues while keeping you current in your field. While you may have to pay membership fees, these associations can be a great resource for jobs and networking. The Tax and Accounting Sites Directory has a great list of places to check out.

2. Network

You’ve heard the adage, “It’s not >what you know, it’s who you know.” Your knowledge and skills will help you prove yourself, but sometimes knowing the right people will give you just that chance to show your stuff. When you make the right connections online, in addition to the networking you do face-to-face, you increase your opportunities to impress.

So where do you network online? There are many newsgroups, mailing lists, and professional forums you can join to meet new people. You never know where you might find that one person who will put you in touch with your future. UAC’s forums are a good place to start.

3. Find Potential Employers

Now is a good time to ask yourself where you’d like to work. Which companies appeal to you? Go to their websites and see what listings they post there. You can also find out what the organization is about and get a feeling for the type of work you might do for them.

But maybe you don’t know where you’d like to work yet. Searching the yellow pages online can help you find local companies you might like to work for. And the yellow pages you thumb through on the Internet give you access to more companies than you’d find in your local phone book; you can search in any city, in any state to find potential employers. Sometimes the listing includes a link to the company website where you might find openings.

Preparing for the Interview
Now don’t turn off the computer just yet. Once you’ve scheduled that interview you can use the Internet to study the company website and find out what’s important to them. Nothing impresses a potential employer more than knowing that you’ve done your homework and can ask intelligent questions about their aims.

Universal Accounting Center Can Help Increase Your Computer Skills
If you haven’t yet enhanced your bookkeeping or accounting skills by working with QuickBooks, Universal Accounting has the course for you. Whether you want to work as a small business accountant or as a freelance accountant or bookkeeper, QuickBooks does it all. Its streamlined workflow helps you get done sooner. And QuickBook skills are a great thing to include on a resume. Register for our QuickBooks training today!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Changing Jobs in the Accounting Field

Perhaps you began your accounting career with the idea that you would move up or quickly switch to a job more compatible with your interests and goals. Whether you’ve been in your current job for ages and need a change, or if you’re just interested in the opportunities available, accounting is a wide field that offers many options. From controller to tax manager, from senior accountant to senior analyst, from credit manager to bookkeeper, the job possibilities are endless, so there’s no reason to feel gridlocked in your accounting career. But as you consider a change in occupation, remember the following Do’s and Don’ts:

Don’t be rash simply because you’re unsatisfied with your current employer. Sometimes we want a change because the current situation is undesirable. If this is the case, take the time to consider whether it’s the employer or current work environment that’s unappealing rather than the job itself. In this case you may consider switching employers rather than switching occupations.

Don’t worry if the thought of changing careers makes you nervous. Change of any kind, especially in a career, makes most people nervous. It’s perfectly normal and shouldn’t scare you away from accomplishing what you desire. Taking it slow and creating a plan will help ward off any fear you might be experiencing.

Don’t get discouraged. It may take awhile to 1) discover what you really want, and 2) find that perfect job for you. Recognize that changing jobs will take time and require patience.

Don’t rule out staffing agencies. Sometimes you have to date a few employers and jobs before you commit to just one. There are staffing agencies that specialize in accounting and by taking a few months to test drive a few employers and occupations you’ll get a good idea of which might be best for you while getting your foot in the door.

Don’t begin applying for jobs before you’ve considered exactly what you want. Again, you don’t want to be rash. Switching from one job to the next without careful reflection will do you no good.

Do take the time to research and consider all the possibilities. Take the time to consider your interests, your objectives, and your ultimate career goals. Do the research necessary to determine which job and employer will be right for you.

Do take advantage of all your networking contacts. This is where your contact list will come in handy. Call around and talk with your contacts. This can accomplish three things: one, it will aid in your research to determine which accounting occupation could be right for you; two, it can help you discover job opportunities you may not heard about otherwise; and three, you might win an advantage on a job you’re interested in.

Do find a mentor. Once you determine the occupation for you, find a mentor who can help you move through a job search most effectively. A good mentor will provide encouragement, advice, and networking opportunities.

Do remember your transferable skills. Because you’re moving from one accounting job to another, recognize that your transferable skills are invaluable. Update your resume so that it targets your desired occupation while highlighting those transferable skills.

Do get training that will help you advance. Often you’ll have a better shot at getting a job if you’ve had advanced training. For example, enrolling in UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program could give you the advantage in finding just the job you want. It will bolster your resume and give you a talking point in those crucial interviews.

Whichever occupation you choose in the accounting field, the important thing is that you find the right one for you. In following this list of Do’s and Don’ts you will have a better chance of doing just that.

Learn More about the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

If you would like to see how the PB Program could benefit your career, order our DVD “Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program.” For less than $10 you can advance your career and open yourself to more accounting possibilities than you may have otherwise imagined. Don’t delay professional success. Order your copy now!

Serving Subscribers with Our Free Newsletters

We enjoy sending you information that we hope improves your efforts to advance your accounting career. Our three newsletters, AB Tips, Tax Tips, and Career Tips, are intended to help professionals like you advance in whatever their current position in the financial field. The AB Tips Newsletter is designed to share accounting and bookkeeping tips with subscribers. Intended for individuals with their own accounting practice or for those who would like to start their own practice, we specifically include tips on how to market your services, how to streamline tasks, how to organize your office space, etc. Our Tax Tips Newsletter is for tax preparers or those interested in tax preparation. We provide tax news, information on starting your own business, tips on building your clientele, etc. And finally, we have our Career Tips newsletter, for those of you who work or would like to work in the accounting field. In this newsletter we include information on getting the right job, advancing in your field, moving into management positions, etc.

As we learn more about your needs, we alter our approach in order to better serve you. We’re adding a few things to the newsletter that we hope you enjoy. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and how we hope it helps you.

Two articles

Since we began running our free ezines over two years ago, we have included two articles every issue that offer accounting and tax information, tips on running and marketing a small business, career guidelines and promotional pieces. The newsletters provide us with the opportunity to share our products and services with those we believe they best serve. Universal’s programs are top of the line and life-changing; we promote them because we know they help people like you achieve career goals and realize your business dreams.

We also use the newsletter as an opportunity to expose you to our many free resources, including personalized information from our President and CEO, Allen Bostrom in Allen’s Blog, UAC’s accounting and tax forums, the newsletters, and the Universal video tour.

Recently we’ve responded to requests for purely informational pieces as well. Last summer we asked newsletter subscribers to tell us what you wanted to read about. For the past six months we’ve tried to include articles on all suggested topics. Each newsletter contains one, if not two, informational pieces. We continue to welcome your feedback as we write articles intended to help you improve your accounting career. Please visit our forums for a chance to give us feedback on past articles and suggestions for future articles.

Press Releases and New Products

We want you to be in the know about everything Universal, so we include all press releases, enrollment offers, and information about new products in our newsletters. From our new interactive testing center to our customized Professional Bookkeeper Program for Canadian residents, we want you to be the first to know what’s happening at Universal Accounting Center.

Quotable Quote

Everyone could use a little inspiration now and then, so we like to include a quotable quote in each issue of our newsletters. Funny quotes, somber quotes, quotes that make you want to get up and accomplish something, we try to include a variety that inspire and uplift.

“The Bottom Line”

And last but certainly not least is an upcoming addition to our newsletters: a video clip we call “The Bottom Line.” In the serious world of financial statements, taxes, and projected profits, the bottom line is that we like what we do and can enjoy a good laugh about our profession. The humorous clip is intended to help lighten your load and improve your day. We hope you look forward to this new feature and share it frequently with coworkers, family, and friends.

We want our newsletter to help you move forward in your goals as a financial professional.So stay tuned as we continue to improve our newsletters so that they can better serve your needs. We appreciate your support.

Avoid 8 Common Newbie Mistakes

(Part One of a Two-Part Series)

Being the new kid in the cubicle can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. You want to make a good impression and fit in all at the same time. Annie Fisher, senior editor at Fortune Magazine, reported that according to research performed by the Employment Policy Foundation, one-quarter of new employees don’t last a year in their new jobs. 46%, nearly half, don’t last 18 months. Statistics don’t favor the newbie, but that doesn’t mean you won’t last in your new position. One way to increase your longevity with a new employer is to avoid common newbie mistakes. Take care to avoid the following four of eight common missteps:

1. Disrespecting corporate culture
The saying goes, “Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.” Every company has its own culture and often a new employee’s inability to recognize and appreciate that culture can get him/her into trouble. An article run by CollegeRecruiter.com discussed an Office Team survey revealing that 17% of employers named ignorance of corporate culture as the most damning new employee mistake. From talking too loudly on the phone to addressing colleagues inappropriately, if you’re not careful the little things you do can draw negative attention you way. The best way to avoid this mistake is to step lightly those first few weeks; watch and listen to get a good feel for that corporate culture so that you can respect its subtle nuances.

2. Not asking enough questions
A Chinese proverb says “He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.” You’re new; people expect you to ask questions. You may want to shine by being a quick study, but blindly going about your job may jeopardize your standing. When you try to tackle new tasks and projects without getting the guidance and direction you need, you risk doing things incorrectly, causing more harm than good.

3. Lacking integrity
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A little integrity is better than any career.” And it looks like you’d be hard pressed to succeed in your career without it. A lack of integrity is a character flaw that quickly becomes an employability issue when a boss recognizes that a new employee isn’t trustworthy. There’s no need to employ individuals if their honesty and ethics are questionable. In the words of Alan Simpson: “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

4. Not following the rules
Mavericks make good movie fodder. They don’t usually make good employees, especially when they’re new. You may not agree with certain rules and believe the company would be better off without them, but until you’ve proven yourself as a stellar employee you have no place exhibiting rebellion in order to make a point or stand out.

Regardless of the statistics, you can make a positive impression at your new place of employment. And if you’re paying attention you can ensure that you avoid common pitfalls that could put your job in jeopardy. Come back next week to read the final four mistakes new employees often make.

References
—. “Rookie Mistakes Lead to Most Common New Hire Slip-ups.” CollegeRecruiter.com
Accountemps. “Top Five Mistakes When Starting a New Job.” July 2007. SmartPros.com
Fisher, Anne. “Fatal Mistakes When Starting a New Job.” 2 June 2006. Fortune. CNNMoney.com.

Self Employment:
A New Career In Four Short Weeks

As seen in The Salt Lake Tribune

Most students who attend the unique training courses offered by Universal Accounting Center are looking for a change. Perhaps they want to move u in their current job and take on new responsibilities. Possibly they are unemployed and want to enter a new career, or find better employment with a higher earning potential.

Or, perhaps they’ve decided the time has come to start their own business at home - and they need training and encouragement to take that first step toward greater independence and security. If you fall into one of these categories, in less than a month you’ll find the accounting and bookkeeping training and confidence you need at Universal.

For nearly 20 years, graduates of Universal have been thrilled as their income improved and their career opportunities increased. In fact, Universal’s exclusive courses have developed a nationwide reputation for providing an effective, fast-track education in accounting and bookkeeping.

What does it take to be a good bookkeeper? According to Allen Bostrom, CPA and president of Universal, it takes someone who likes to work with numbers, and who has a good mind for details. Bookkeepers and accountants should be people with high ethics - they’re the people who record and handle the finances for businesses.

Good bookkeepers always look for ways to help their companies improve financially, and are a great asset. Bookkeepers should like to help people, because they are the ones upon which everyone else in the company depends.

“Accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll are the areas that seem to be in particularly high demand in the Salt Lake area. We receive lots of calls and requests for employees with these skills,” says Bostrom. “All a person needs to do is look under the accounting and bookkeeping sections of the classified ads to see the multitude of jobs from which to choose.”

How much may one expect to earn? Accounts receivable and accounts payable clerks’ salaries will generally range between $16,500 to $26,000 per year. Payroll clerks will range between $20,000 to $26,000 per year, according to the Robert Half 1998 Salary Guide.

There’s a great need for “full-charge” bookkeepers as well - those who can manage the entire bookkeeping process, including preparation of financial statements at month’s end. These highly skilled employees can make between $26,000 and $40,000 per year, depending on background, training and experience. No college degree is generally required for these great positions.

People who have decided it’s time to open their own bookkeeping and accounting business can make between $20 and $50 per hour, when doing the work on a contract (self-employed) basis. Since they usually work out of their own home, the start-up costs are low - often not much more than the price of acquiring a business license, calculator, business cards, stationary and sometimes a computer - although a computer isn’t mandatory. Bookkeeping can be done quite well by hand.

They can start their business while still employed at their “day job”, and do the bookkeeping on their time off, or they can jump into their new business full time and build it as quickly as they choose.

One of Universal’s students who opened her office at home had all the clients she and her husband could handle working full-time, within two months. In fact, many students have their first clients before even finishing the four-week class. This often happens when the students are excited about their new direction. Students who choose to start their own accounting and bookkeeping business are thrilled with the independence, freedom and income that working at home provides.

Universal has new classes starting soon that can prepare you to take charge of your life and find a new, rewarding career. You’ll find the classes are small and offer a lot of personal attention. Also, they consist of a variety of people: those with non experience: those with years of on-the-job experience: and those with various degrees of professional designations. Even CPA’s are enrolled in the classes almost every time they are offered.

No matter what your experience level, you’ll gain much from the classes. The information would take you years to acquire on your own. From debits and credits, to dealer financing, to construction, manufacturing and retail operations - you’ll gain hands-on, practical experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

Students’ satisfaction is guaranteed, or their tuition refunded in its entirety.

Get Started!

Why You Should Always Negotiate a Better Wage

While women have advanced considerably in the workplace, there still exists a significant difference in salaries when compared with their male counterparts. While gender discrimination may be one cause of this disparity, a lack of salary negotiation may be another.

In his article entitled “For Women, a Failure to Negotiate,” Pallavi Gogoi reports that while women represent nearly 50% of full-time professionals, including executives and managers, they only make 72% of what their male counterparts make. And while many may assume that’s gender discrimination residue, executive coach Lee E. Miller argues it may simply be the result of a lack of negotiation. “Most women hardly negotiate when they get a job offer,” says Miller, co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating. “That’s because they look at the offer as the goal, not the beginning of a relationship.”

That 28% represents a significant difference that adds up over a career-time. Joann Lublin discusses this in her Wall Street Journal article “Paying the Nice Price.” She references Linda Babcock, a Carnegie Mellon University economic professor who calls it “the accumulation of disadvantage.” Babcock explains that a 22-year old professional who fails to get her first job offer of $25,000 increased by $5,000 will lose more than $568,000 by the time she reaches retirement.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, you don’t want to loose half a million dollars by failing to negotiate. It’s important that you acquire this valuable skill. Here are five things to remember when negotiating for a better salary:

Avoid desperation. No matter how badly you want the job, curb your enthusiasm. Employers can smell desperation and will use it to their advantage by offering you a lower salary. The more confident and self-assured you are, the more appealing you will be to potential employers. When they sense that you won’t settle for less, chances are they won’t offer it.

Be enthusiastic. When purchasing something, like a car or home, experts tell you to act like you don’t want it; you’ll get a better deal that way. This concept doesn’t apply to the job hunt. If an organization senses apathy on your part, they’ll choose someone else. So it’s important that you be enthusiastic and show your interest in the employer and their position.

Show them why you’re the best fit. To get the best salary you should illustrate why you’re the best candidate. When you shine above and beyond the other applicants you become the best person for the job, and as such, the person deserving the best wage.

Wait until you know they want you. Don’t start talking about salary before they’ve made it clear that you’re the candidate they want. Once they make an offer you can be assured that you’re their best pick and now that the ball is in your court, you can begin negotiations.

Keep looking. It’s important that you don’t become emotionally invested in one job. Regardless of how much you want a particular position, don’t stop searching. In fact, one good way to negotiate a better salary is when you’ve received competing job offers.

All professionals, men and women, need to be able to negotiate a better salary. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but we promise that it will pay off in the end. Literally.

References
Gogoi, Pallavi. “For Women, a Failure to Negotiate.” 22 April 2005. BusinessWeek.com
Lublin, Joann S. “Paying the Nice Price.” The Wall Street Journal

Joining Professional Organizations Can Help Your Job Hunt

Professional professionals: If you’ve ever for one moment thought that joining a professional association in your field would not help increase your chances of finding a job, consider this:

A whopping 79 percent of 1,300 hiring managers and executive recruiters nationwide believe that ”applicants who belong to professional organizations are higher-quality candidates. Those who belong to such groups tend to have more experience and education.”

That’s the finding of a recent study by the American Marketing Association, based in Chicago. And the membership of the marketing association itself encourages the supposition that such networks attract top performers:

Eighty-five percent of the organization’s 40,000 members worldwide have at least five years’ experience and 59 percent have a graduate degree, according to Lynette Rowlands, the association’s interactive marketing manager.

For its own membership, and other marketing and public relations professionals, the association has introduced the Marketing Career Network, an online hiring job board.

For more information, go to www.marketingpower.com/postjobs. Or call the association at 800-262-1150.

Salary statistics: Most of us don’t need anyone to tell us that salary increases are at a record low this year, averaging 3.3 percent for salaried nonexempt employees and nonunion hourly workers, 3.4 percent for salaried exempt employees and 3.7 percent for executives.

Hewitt Associates, a global human resources outsourcing and consulting firm headquartered in Lincolnshire, Ill., says the salary boosts of 2004 “represent some of the lowest increases ever recorded in Hewitt’s 28 years of gathering and analyzing this type of data.”

However, the firm says its study of 1,185 companies nationwide shows that “salary increase projections for 2005 are slightly higher.” By “slightly,” the consulting firm means that “no increase will be higher than one-tenth of a percentage point.”

Deadly resumes: Too many resumes read like obituaries, and “that’s why they get buried,” observes Irv Orenstein, president of Orenstein Advertising, which gives job hunting guidance to job seekers worldwide.

Orenstein, whose offices are in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., has been giving advice on resumes for more than 30 years — and he says the deadly resumes he has seen could fill a giant trash bin.

“An obituary is merely a recounting of past accomplishments, which might be quite wonderful, but a resume, much like an advertisement, should point up what you can do for the company,” Orenstein explained. “That’s a significant difference.”

So if you don’t want your resume buried in a pile of other dull resumes, make it proactive, positive and geared to what the hiring company needs.

In other words, advertise yourself.

Just a job? “Either you view your job as simply a way to make money . . . or else you turn your work into something that somehow enhances your life,” observes Alexandra Robbins.

Robbins is the author of “Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis: Advice From Twentysomethings Who Have Been There and Survived” (Perigree, $14.95).

And if you’re in a job that makes you “feel dead inside eight to 10 hours a day,” Robbins has this advice: “If you want more from your job than a paycheck and your current position isn’t providing that, then it’s time for a change.”

Improving Your Image and Your Job Prospects

To get the respect that leads to better jobs and promotions, one must stand out from the crowd. The Professional Bookkeeper program gives you a distinct edge with its emphasis upon learning by doing and the practical application of the Accounting process. Knowing that you have done the full range of Accounting tasks gives you the confidence to apply for a job with confidence that you will get it.

Learn More About Accounting Training With the Professional Bookkeeper Program

A Successful Job Interview:

A Checklist for Interview Success

It can be the most exciting and excruciating meeting ever: the job interview. How do you prepare to dazzle and amaze a potential employer, or at least manage your nerves long enough to sell yourself? Here’s a checklist that will help you not only survive the interview, but rise to the top and leave a lasting impression.

•Expect to be nervous

It’s pointless to try to avoid the interview jitters. Accept that you’re going to be nervous and even jokingly acknowledge it with the interviewer if you feel that will help. Know that just about every job applicant has felt just like you at one point or another.

•Dress the part

Now maybe it’s okay to wear jeans and a Gap t-shirt to a Baskin Robbins interview, but you’ll want to dress the part for a more professional job. Shop around for tailored outfits that you would feel comfortable wearing to interviews, realizing you may not be expected to power-dress all the time after you’re hired.

•Bring copies of your resume

While your interviewer should have a copy of your resume on hand, it’s good to carry your own copy as a reference.

•Maintain cordial, not creepy, eye contact

Eye contact communicates confidence and ease. Smile and look your interviewer in the eye when appropriate.

•Don’t interrupt

Sometimes a bad case of nerves and the desire to impress can make applicants a little skittish and quick to answer interview questions. But be patient and wait for the interviewer to complete the question before you jump in. And there’s nothing wrong with waiting a second or two to compose your thoughts before answering. A pregnant pause or two is expected, and can even communicate thoughtfulness.

•Answer briefly

Job applicants are often so anxious to impress that they’ll go on and on about their achievements, hardly letting the interviewer get a word in edgewise. Keep your answers brief, and ask follow-up questions if necessary to ensure you’ve provided enough information. A good gauge is to talk 30% of the interview.

•Ask questions

Come prepared to ask 4 or 5 questions. A few are bound to be answered in the course of the interview, so that should leave you with one or two to ask at the end. A standard interview question is, ‘Do you have any questions about the company or the position?’ It’s always good to respond with at least one inquiry (and be sure to ask about more than just salary).

•Don’t be shy, sell yourself!

This is your chance to shine. Don’t be afraid to praise yourself when appropriate. A job interview is a good place for self-promotion, but be sure it’s directed at what your skill-set can contribute to their success.

•Know their business

Do your homework. Study their business and their competition. Know their objectives and what helps them be successful. This will not only impress your interviewer, but it also helps you better frame your responses to interview questions.

•Say ‘thank you’

Good manners never hurt. Thank your interviewer for the opportunity to talk about the position and their business. In fact, sending brief thank-you notes or email messages can be a polite gesture and a reminder of the time you spent with them.

Universal Accounting’s Professional Designations Can Boost Any Applicant’s Sell-ability

If you want to increase your skills and add a professional designation to your resume, UAC has two certifications for you: The Professional Bookkeeper, and the QuickBooks Specialist. Both programs will increase your confidence as they increase your abilities, and will act as good speaking points in any interview.