Career Tip: How Grads Get Jobs

By Teya Vitu — Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen

Getting a job can require more than walking up to a business and getting hired.

Employers are looking for young workers, but often high school- and college-age youths aren’t prepared or don’t understand what employers expect in applicants.

“You have to show why you want the job and why you’re the best for the job,” says President Gary Williams of Southwest Truck Driver Training in Tucson, Ariz.

If you’ve just graduated high school, chances are good that you’re qualified for a job with less of a skill level than a recent college graduate. Jobs in retail, hospitality and tourism — cashier at a clothing store at the mall, concessions worker at a movie theater, ride operator at an amusement park — are often within reach of those with little work experience.

“You can always get a job if you really want. It may not be the job you really like,” says Raul Marquez who worked two years in a Salinas, Calif., coffee shop while hoping for an internship more in line with his college coursework. “Some people are just too picky.”

But whether you’re looking for a job serving up lattes at Starbucks or conducting audits at Ernst & Young, some of the same rules apply.

In a study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 44 percent of employers say the first thing that gets their attention is a job candidate’s general demeanor and confidence.

Business attire and a one-page, typo-free resume, even for an entry-level job where employees work in casual clothes, can tell an interviewer that you’re competent, responsible and well mannered.

“If you have two people with the same GPA (school grade-point average), the one that comes across more professional will get the job,” says Bob Piwowar, manager at Lowe’s Home Improvement Center in Marana, Ariz. “When you apply for a job, you have to show me that you’re different than other applicants.”

Young people need to be like chameleons in the pursuit and acquisition of employment, says Lee Swanson, co-owner of Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop in Fort Collins, Colo.

“It’s OK to wear pierced jewelry and big tattoos, but when you go into a place, you need to adapt to your environment,” he says. Cover up to blend in.

Creating a resume is an important exercise even if you’ve never received a paycheck with taxes taken out. You should list your contact information, three references who aren’t relatives, and the jobs you’ve had, starting with the most recent and including babysitting and yard work. You also can point out any volunteer work that you’ve done, projects you’ve accomplished in your school, church or community, and subjects in school in which you excelled. You’re selling yourself and helping organize your thoughts for any interview.

Piwowar says resumes are essential because they include a career summary and list of managers who know you and your work.

“I was interviewing 20 college kids who didn’t think it’s important to bring a resume,” he says.

You shouldn’t pop in to pick up an application as a side trip just because you’re in the neighborhood, says Colleen Wisnicky, who used to work as an employment and training specialist with the Manitowoc County Job Center in Wisconsin. Instead, the trip should be intentional, and you should be prepared to fill out an application and even have an interview on the spot.

That means coming with a pen — Wisnicky suggests an erasable pen — and with all of the information needed to fill out an application completely, including the dates of previous jobs, your supervisors’ names, business addresses and phone numbers. Also have with you names and contact information for references, easy to do if you have a resume in hand. Turn it in with the completed application.

Job seekers should realize the person with authority to hire them might be working when they stop by. It’s always wise to ask for the manager and meet that person face to face when you submit your application.

“You better be ready to be interviewed. You better look like you’re ready to be interviewed,” Wisnicky says.

And don’t forget to follow up, including sending a thank-you note after an interview, something few people do that will help you stand out.

“When you look for a job, you have to keep going,” says Director David Mathis of Oneida County Workforce Development in New York. “Get your name out now. Get your applications out. Get your resume out. Follow up in a few weeks. And follow up again.

“If you sit back and do nothing, you can pretty much be guaranteed you won’t get a job,” he says.

Contributing: Larry Parsons, The (Salinas) Californian; Jenny Munro, The Greenville (S.C.) News; Bob Mook, Fort Collins Coloradoan; Oseye T. Boyd, The (Muncie, Ind.) Star Press; Cindy Hodgson, (Manitowoc, Wis.) Herald Times Reporter; Stephen Clark, (Utica, N.Y.) Observer-Dispatch.

Focused Education Is Key to Getting Noticed

In the accounting and bookkeeping fields, you need a way to stand out from the crowd to move up to a better job. The training that is taught in the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) program gives you that edge over other applicants. The PB designation proves to employers that you have the real-world skills needed to get right to work with minimal training.

Learn More About the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

Online Obstacles: It takes more to land a new job than the Internet

By Joshua Partlow — © 2003, The Washington Post

KEVIN ELWELL took a job three years ago hoping the Internet would be a source of riches, but his job with Emergent Information Technologies Inc. disappeared along with the tech boom.

Now, after 14 months of unemployment, the Internet is giving him only headaches.

Elwell, 46, has spent more than a year peppering roughly 500 company Web sites with his resume, with little more to show for it than an inbox of automated responses.

“My general experience with the Internet is that the larger the company, the less likely you are to get a real response,” said Elwell, who has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in business. “With these gargantuan companies, it’s virtually impossible to get through their gauntlet,” he said.

For the modern-day job hunter, the Internet can be invaluable for locating job leads and submitting resumes with minimal effort. But its seductive ease has its drawbacks. Searching for work on corporate Web sites can often be intimidating and impersonal. Many times, resumes disappear into the void.

To study the experiences of people like Elwell, Mark Mehler and Gerry Crispin, who run CareerXroads, a recruiting and consulting firm based in Kendall Park, N.J., created fictional candidate Vinnie Boombotz and sent his application for an accounting job to Fortune 500 company Web sites.

Vinnie’s resume wasn’t meant to impress. It was meant to test whether applicants were being treated like individuals. Hailing from Lotsamoola, N.J., and trained as a CPA (chief protection associate), he “eliminated turnover and competition” at Bad-a-Bing Corp. If Vinnie couldn’t get noticed, who could?

When an electronic resume enters a large corporate Web site, it is generally assigned a code, scanned for content and added to the company database. Applicant-tracking software may automatically send updates about job openings to resumes that match particular keywords. The software is not designed to weed out hoax resumes like Vinnie’s, but to narrow the list of applicants for particular jobs. All resumes stay in the database, where they generally remain active and can be searched for up to two years until they are archived, according to John Dooney, consultant to the Society of Human Resource Management.

Easy application processes lead to massive response. One position recently posted on Starbucks’ Web site drew more than 1,400 applications, a spokesman said. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. said it added 500,000 people to its resume database in the past 18 months.

Vinnie Boombotz received automated e-mail responses from more than 250 companies confirming the submission. About two dozen firms told Vinnie he didn’t get the job, which Crispin and Mehler see as a positive, because it suggests recruiters read the resume and because most companies never gave Vinnie a final answer. More than 20 companies encouraged Vinnie to apply to other jobs at a later date. For example, Starbucks sent Vinnie a link to a position as an international accounting manager.

“What’s interesting about the study is that, it seems, humans are not reading the initial resume. Machines are spitting back mechanical responses. The companies are not giving much thought to how they are treating job-seekers,” Mehler said. Crispin added that the often terse tone of the automated responses can be irritating to applicants. “‘Do not bother to call us, do not bother to e-mail back, we will never be in touch unless we hire you.’ That is the message,” he said.

Lara Wyss, a spokeswoman for Starbucks, said online recruiting is vital for handling the high volume of submissions. She said she didn’t know why Vinnie was sent further job postings, but she said the system can automatically send updates to all resumes with similar profiles, such as an accounting background. “Once a resume gets to the next level, in-person contact is made by a Starbucks recruiter,” Wyss said.

The Internet clearly facilitates recruiting. A survey by SHRM of 281 corporate recruiters found 69 percent of the respondents said the Internet broadened their recruiting market and 44 percent said it made recruiting easier.

Large companies that don’t use online recruiting are becoming increasingly rare. CareerXroads found 27 companies among the Fortune 500 that did not post jobs or accept resumes. But, for most applicants, employment remains more than a mouse click away. Ardell Fleeson, who runs networking meetings for TelecomHub Inc. and Women in Technology, both in Northern Virginia, advises members to get on the phone and find contacts.

“Face-to-face interactions get jobs, not Web sites,” Fleeson said. “The work is done by gaining appointments with people who can hire you.” Fleeson recommended making phone calls and sending e-mails to people at several levels of a company.

Dooney also recommended reading job postings carefully and tailoring resumes to include specific language that corresponds. “That’s a strategy that can improve your chances,” he said.

Meanwhile, Elwell has been to several job-hunter networking sessions and got a number of interviews. He said the Internet can be effective for researching companies and finding potential contacts.

“Nowadays I don’t use the shotgun approach I used to use. Now it’s more of a rifle-shot approach, trying to be smarter and more efficient. I’ll customize a cover letter and try to direct it to a person,” he said. “This will break eventually, but hopefully not before I do.”

How To Differentiate Yourself

To make yourself stand out in a crowd, you need certification. In an ever more difficult job market, you need every edge you can get to find the top-tier jobs. It is a simple fact that if you are not where you want to be now, you must do something different than you have done in the past to get a different, better result. the Professional Bookkeeper program gives you that kind of competitive advantage. Its focus on small to medium sized businesses is unique among Accounting and Bookkeeping training. Universities teach Accounting for the largest 2% of companies. We teach Accounting and Bookkeeping for the other 98%, the most underserved segment of the market. So if you really want your resume to get results, the Professional Bookkeeper designation on the end of your name will get you the attention you deserve.

Learn How to Get the Professional Bookkeeper Designation So Your Resume Gets Noticed

Revving Up For a Job Search?

Here Are 5 Things You Should Do Before You Start

You dying to get that dream job? Everyone wants to find that perfect position that will give them the satisfaction both personally and on a professional level. You know what we’re talking about – it’s that job description you hope to find in the classifieds surrounded by an odd glow. And when you call to learn more you hear angels singing the hallelujah chorus in the background. But be honest with yourself. You probably won’t trade your current accounting or bookkeeping job in for something much better until you make a few changes. Wouldn’t you be willing to invest a little time and energy in yourself before starting the job search, especially if it could mean getting a better job with better salary? And it may not require as much as you think.

Search Your Soul
Cheesy, we know, but you should really ask yourself what you want to be doing with your life before you get another job that further anchors you to a profession. And if you’re not certain what your “life calling” is, take some self-assessments to determine your interests and personality traits and what occupations with which they best align. Perhaps you’re in the right profession but not the right position. You’re doing payroll when you want to be an accounting manager. We’re not saying that taking a test is the panacea to your career problems, but we are saying that taking the time to answer some questions about yourself may be what it takes to help you determine the direction you’d like to go.

Revise Your Resume
Of course you’ll have to update your resume. It’s always interesting to return to your resume after you’ve been employed for awhile; some may even wonder how they got hired with that resume in the first place. Research what makes a good resume and then make your resume a shining example. It’s generally in working on a resume that you recognize gaps: training and certification that you may lack or perhaps you haven’t adequately focused on the skills and experience you do have.

Remember it is the resume that will get you into the door. Find the right balance of being eye catching without being amateurish in presentation of your skills. Someone going through the interview process may only take 16 seconds or less on your resume, make sure you properly use the bulletpoints, the bolding, and the phraseology that will catch their eye and give them a reason to invest more time to digest your resume.

Research Companies and Organizations You May Want to Work for
Why let job openings dictate where you choose to apply? Be proactive and find organizations that appeal to you. You choose where you want to work and then, with diligence and persistence keep inquiring about your ideal position. What characteristics do they have? How will your employment there benefit your career? How may it work as a stepping stone to something even more spectacular?

Chart your own course; do the research that will help you find companies you would be happy to work for and then start your job campaign. The greater portion of positions in companies are filled by those who know someone, and never get into the “Help Wanted” ads in the newspaper. You may be surprised at what you find and how companies differ from one another in philosophy, benefits, salary, and other comparables. You may also be surprised at the advantage your research gives you come your job interview.

Cast Your Net
Now’s the time to look at your contacts and use networking to your advantage. If you haven’t put much time and energy into networking now’s the time to start. In fact, start yesterday! Look to associations you may be a part of, or chambers of commerce you joined, or the group you see at the gym. Networking is everywhere and you need to be looking for those opportunities to be able to make that crucial connection.

Recognize that just about every encounter is an opportunity to share what you do and possibly hand out your business card. Let close friends and family know that you’re thinking about a change and see what you might hear back. Perhaps in your networking you’ve met people who work for companies you’re interested in. See if you can find out more. Just be careful; if word gets back to your current employer that you’re unhappy and looking elsewhere, it will make a job transition difficult.

Enroll in a Training Program
You’d be surprised at how a few advanced courses, some specialized training, or a professional designation can bolster your resume and make you a very appealing applicant. Involvement in professional development shows that you’re serious about your profession and are ready and willing to run ahead of the competition. It also lets potential employers know that your skills have been proven in a rigorous educational environment.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program Can Help You Prepare
If you’re interested in a program that can get you more attention when you apply for jobs, Universal Accounting Center’s PB Program is for you. It will teach you the day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping needs of small business, enabling you to earn the Professional Bookkeeper Designation. This program will teach you the skills that enable you to skip over entry level positions and get right to those job opportunities that might take someone with traditional accounting training years to secure. And the professional designation looks nice on a resume. Take the time to get the job you really want. Enroll today!

Employees Can Expect Higher Raises, Says CareerJournal.com

PRINCETON, N.J — Workers in the U.S. can expect a 3.7 percent pay raise in 2005 — the second straight year of increased raises for employees after a three-year decline — according to a report on CareerJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal’s executive career site.

The 2005 expected increase is slightly higher than the 3.6 percent average raise in 2004, according to data compiled by Salary.com. Average salary increases bottomed out at a five-year low of 3.4 percent in 2003, after hitting a five-year high of 4.4 percent in 2001. A 3.7 percent pay raise would mean that an average worker earning $34,000 a year can expect to see an additional $24.19 per week. Those with a salary of $100,000 can expect an increase of $71.15 per week.

“We are in the early stages of an upswing,” says Tony Lee, publisher, CareerJournal.com. “The projected salary increases for this year are a ray of sunshine following several years of salary freezes and layoffs.”

CareerJournal.com offers these tips on how you can earn more as the job market improves:

• Keep track of your successes to present to your boss.
• Document your fair-market value by researching free salary data on sites such as CareerJournal.com.
• Learn the art of salary negotiation-the better you are at negotiating, the better your chances of being successful.
• Ask what needs to happen for you to earn a raise in the future, and try to get a commitment in writing.
• “Having another job offer also is a great tool in negotiating a raise with your current employer, but be prepared to leave if your employer doesn’t meet your terms,” Mr. Lee adds.

Focused Education Is Key to Getting the Best Raises

In the accounting and bookkeeping fields, you need a way to stand out from the crowd to move up to a better job. The training that is taught in the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) program gives you that edge over other applicants. The PB designation proves to employers that you have the real-world skills needed to get right to work with minimal training.

Learn More About the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program

December - For Job hunters, It’s a Wonderful Month

By Combined Wire Services

Contrary to popular opinion, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the best times to find a job, says Tony Lee, editor in chief of CareerJournal.com, the executive career site from The Wall Street Journal.

“At this time of year, companies may actually have a financial incentive to hire you because they have money left over and want to get new hires on the books before year’s end,” explains Lee. “If you are unemployed, now is not the time to take a hiatus from the job hunt.”

Many companies look to staff new projects in December so they will be prepared in January. They also look to hire temporary staff, an ideal way for job seekers to get a foot in the door while earning some extra holiday shopping money.

Positions often open up as transitioning employees quit their jobs in order to move to new positions that start just after the New Year. And competition is lighter as many other job hunters focus on holiday-related activities.

Job-hunting in November and December also may be easier because many hiring managers have a more relaxed attitude during the holiday season and there are more opportunities to network at holiday social events.

“Networking remains the single most effective method of finding a new job, and there’s no better time to network than the holidays,” says Lee.

CareerJournal.com offers these tips for job-hunting over the holidays:

• Make the most of your job hunt by sending out holiday greeting cards that include a search update letter, which is an effective way to thank people who have been helpful and let them know the status of your search.
• Prepare a brief summary of your current situation to share with others at holiday gatherings who may know of a good opportunity.
• Accept every invitation you can, from your neighbor’s open house and your professional organization’s gathering to your child’s holiday concert. Use this time to reconnect with former colleagues, distant relatives, vendors and others who may offer leads for your search.
• Don’t stop your job search, even for a couple of weeks, because it often takes longer to get motivated to start looking again.
• Make sure your holiday networking is effective by creating a two-minute summary of your goals.
• “Don’t put off your job search until after the holidays. By waiting, you’ll become part of the ‘January glut’ of post-holiday job hunters,” says Lee.

Barry Wall, student employment advisor at The Art Institute of Portland, has additional advice for December job-hunters:

• Look for jobs with companies that have departments you would be interested in working for full-time. If you get a job as a cashier at a department store but have graphic design aspirations, then do the best job that you can as a cashier and talk to people that work in the graphics department. If you build a solid relationship with your boss and other managers, you are going to be poised to find out about a position in the graphics department before it’s posted publicly.
• If you’re looking for a job with full-time possibilities, don’t discount small businesses. Small business owners will do everything they can that’s within their budget, and they tend to be more loyal. If their business is going well, they are often the most helpful resources, networking contacts and potential employers.

Jobs in Accounting and Bookkeeping

There are fantastic, well-paying jobs waiting for you in Accounting and Bookkeeping. From entry-level clerks to controller positions, Accounting is a great career that you can count on to continually generate jobs.

Learn About Accounting and Bookkeeping Careers

8 Tips in Using the Internet to Find Your Next Job

The Internet is a great technology that can enhance your job search. Unfortunately, most individuals who use the Internet in the job search don’t use it effectively. So if you’re going to join the eHunt, it’s important that you use this resource wisely; otherwise, you’re wasting your time. The following are four of eight tips on making the most of your electronic search for the perfect job:

1. Don’t put all your eggs in one Internet.
While the Internet is a great resource, you should vary your approach, mixing it up with traditional approaches as well. In an article written by Joshua Partlow entitled “Online Obstacles: It takes more to land a new job than the Internet,” Partlow explains that “for the modern-day job hunter, the Internet can be invaluable for locating job leads and submitting resumes with minimal effort. But its seductive ease has its drawbacks. Searching for work on corporate Web sites can often be intimidating and impersonal. Many times, resumes disappear into the void.” The article suggests using multiple avenues in your job search in order to balance your efforts.

2. Look at specialty sites to find jobs specific to your industry.
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. Often these more popular job banks are saturated with applicants and unsuitable jobs. Consider job banks that are specifically designed for accounting and bookkeeping professionals (see http://www.jobsinthemoney.com/).

3. Protect your privacy.
Posting your contact information online along with your education and job history makes you an easy target for identity theft. It also makes it a snap for your current employer to discover that you’re searching for another job. While suppressing this information may make you more difficult to reach, it could save you lots of trouble later. If you’re interested in protecting your privacy consider using an anonymous email address for your Internet searches. This will protect your identity while making your accessible.

4. Customize your resume and cover letters.
Some job seekers believe the more they blanket the market with their resume, the more likely they’ll get a job. That couldn’t be further from the truth. When you send a generic resume and cover letter to a batch of potential employers what you’re really sending is the wrong message. You appear sloppy, eager, and inattentive to details. Most employers can recognize a mass email when they see it. In order to really get their attention you must customize your resume and cover letter so it speaks to their qualifications and needs. While it may require more time and effort, it will pay off in the end, making you a more appealing applicant.

It’s important to use all the resources available in your job hunt, and the Internet is definitely a valuable resource. But as you move forward, it’s important that you do so wisely, using your time well as you attempt to secure interviews. Come back next week when we will discuss the final four tips:

5. Avoid applying for jobs if you don’t have the minimum qualifications.
6. Provide more than one means of contact.
7. Ensure any website you reference is professional.
8. Remember, the Internet is not magic.

8 Tips in Using the Internet to Find Your Next Job

The Internet has made it extremely easy to look for a wide-range of positions in a variety of locations. Unfortunately, too many people don’t use this tool properly, and finding the right job ends up taking much longer than they had hoped. To make your electronic job hunt more effective we’ve designed this two-part series sharing 8 tips that will help you use the Internet to find the right job for you. Last week we discussed the following 4 tips:

1. Don’t put all your eggs in one Internet.
2. Look at specialty sites to find jobs specific to your industry.
3. Protect your privacy.
4. Customize your resume and cover letters.

This week we’ll examine 4 more:

5. Avoid applying for jobs if you don’t have the minimum qualifications.
It can be tempting to apply for jobs you’re not really qualified for. The pay may be better, the job description more tantalizing, the work environment more ideal. And you may convince yourself there’s a chance the employer would decide you’re the perfect person for the job. But the truth is, when you don’t have the minimum requirements for a position, you’re wasting your time and the employer’s time. This is bad networking karma. You never know when you’ll be suitable for a position with that employer and your attempt to market yourself for the wrong position could work against you in the end.

6. Provide more than one means of contact.
Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to reach someone through the one means of contact he/she has provided. We would suggest giving potential employers an email address and a phone number when possible. If you’re concerned about protecting your privacy, both could be connected with untraceable accounts that do not display your full name. But if you choose to go this route, check those accounts daily. Protecting your privacy is one thing; avoiding potential employment is another.

7. Ensure that any website you reference is professional.
Many individuals have a personal website they reference in their resume. If you do this you must ensure everything on that website is professional and tasteful. Potential employers do not want to read your family blog or look at pictures from your last vacation. Your website can contain links to other organizations you have worked for, electronics copies of your resume, and examples of your work.

8. Remember, the Internet is not magic.
Some mistakenly believe that because they can access countless opportunities over the Internet they will magically get the job of their dreams and in no time at all. While it can be more convenient to search for openings online, just like any job search it requires a significant amount of time and energy. You must research organizations, tailor your resume and cover letters, and all else possible to share your enthusiasm for those positions that peak your interest.

The Internet is definitely an amazing tool to use in your job search. However, you must use it wisely. Otherwise you will spend valuable time on efforts that will get you nowhere. When you use this 8 tips you’ll not only work hard but smart in your job search and ultimately you will find a job that’s a good match for your expertise and skills.

Survey Shows Employability Skills and Attributes Are Just As Important as Job-Specific Skills

You’re a trained accountant and feel confident that your skills make you a competitive applicant. But what about your “employability skills and attributes”? What’s that? You ask. In an article published in the PalmBeachPost.com, career consultant Toby Loskove says that employers are equally concerned with non-technical abilities, known as employability skills, as they are with your work experience and job-specific skills. He says, “The responsibility for showing off employability skill attributes, even when the employer doesn’t ask questions that relate to these abilities, is that of the job seeker. Attitude and responses should reflect that they are a part of how you do your job.”

There are countless employability skills: teamwork, problem-solving, time-management, organization, etc. There are also countless employability attributes: loyalty, commitment, enthusiasm, motivation, etc. Chances are you possess many of each, but how do you know which are most important?

There are countless employability skills: teamwork, problem-solving, time-management, organization, etc. There are also countless employability attributes: loyalty, commitment, enthusiasm, motivation, etc. Chances are you possess many of each, but how do you know which are most important?

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) published a press release in March, 2007 announcing their Job Outlook survey results. The 267 employers surveyed named communication skills and honesty as the most desired skills and/or qualities of job candidates.

“Communication skills have topped the list for eight years, and honesty and integrity have tied for the top spot for the last three years,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. This seems to indicate more than a trend.

Employers are looking for other employability skills and attributes as well. Interpersonal skills, motivation and initiative, strong work ethic, and teamwork skills were also cited as important attributes.

“Certainly, having the requisite skill set to perform the duties of the job is critical, but much of what employers prize can’t be taught in the classroom,” says Mackes. “As a result, they look for evidence beyond grades that the candidate has these ’soft skills’ and attributes.”

Still not quite sure what employability skills you possess? There are tools available to help you determine what your strengths are, including the Employability Skills Assessment (ESA) created by the University of Georgia’s College of Education. You can find similar tools on the internet.

Once you recognize what employability skills and attributes you possess, how do you showcase them in a job interview? Development and public relations consultant Mary Beth Fleck says, “Job seekers should have prepared statements ready that demonstrate these special qualities, in addition to the required job specific or technical skills.” Her examples include, “I can be relied upon to take charge of the responsibilities immediately. My experience with fund development database systems and my ability to communicate and to establish relationships will increase planned giving efforts. Because of my energy and focus in solving problems rapidly, I can be counted on to complete each project within your time frame expectations.”

The important thing is that you communicate with potential employers those employability skills and attributes you possess. Don’t be shy; this is your chance to show employers that you are their ideal candidate!

How to Design this Powerful Marketing Tool

Business cards for success”The business card . . . is kind of an extension of yourself. It’s a little bit of giving yourself to someone else.” Ken Erdman, founder of the Business Card Museum, Erenheim, PA.

The most effective and least expensive marketing tool is literally at your fingertips. What is it? The business card. Just 3½ inches long and 2 inches wide, this small piece of cardstock packs a marketing punch when properly designed and distributed. Not only is it economical, but it’s low-tech, compact, and can have a lasting impact on those you give them to. But how can you be sure that your card will stand out while giving potential clients all the information they need?
Getting Ideas

The first thing you should do is look at other business cards. Thumb through those you have received or surf the internet to view sample cards online. Find a handful that appeal to you. What do you like about them? How do they stand out? Is the information clear and easy to find? Are there extra creative touches that you like? Maybe there’s a wow factor you’d like to incorporate on your own card. Keep these memorable business cards in mind as you design your own.

As you create the card that best represents you and your business, remember these three simple tips on business card design:
1. Make it clear

The recipient of your card should have no question as to what you do and how you can be contacted. There is critical information that should be included on every business card: your name, job title, business name, address, phone number(s), fax, email address, website URL, tagline (or slogan), product(s) and/or service(s) offered. With all this information, it’s important that the card display the information clearly. Keep fonts consistent, and remember that whatever graphic elements you want to include, content is king.
2. Make it concise

Remember, a business card is small. If you pack it with too much information, it will be cluttered and, quite possibly, illegible. If you decide to include more than what’s absolutely required, be sure it’s done in good taste and with an economy of words. And don’t trust your own judgment alone. Having designed the card yourself, you may not be objective enough to recognize flaws. Request that a second and possibly a third-party proofread the card and give honest feedback.
3. Make it unforgettable

Typically personal business cards for many professions are encouraged to be clean and minimalist. You have a bit more leeway when creating a card representing your small business. A card for your small business can be seen as an opportunity to promote your brand. The look and feel you choose should coordinate with current promotions you’re running. It should also reflect the image you want to project to potential clients. Considering all that, you should also make it stand out. Below are some creative ideas you might consider in making your business card unforgettable.
Other creative ideas

Rotarize. Create a business card the recipient can easily transfer from a wallet to a rolodex. Rotary business cards have the upraised tabs containing your business name and notches in the bottom for easy fit in a rolodex.

Make it useful. Provide information (generally on the flip-side) that many potential contacts will find useful and will frequently refer to. A popular choice is to include a calendar, but remember you want to stand out. Consider information that is accounting-related.

Include testimonials. If you’re thinking of ways to utilize the flip-side of your business card, consider including a testimonial or two.

Add incentive. Give the recipient a reason to keep and use your business card, perhaps by including some type of discount in small print.

Give it magnetic appeal. Turn your business card into a magnet. A small business will likely stick it to a filing cabinet only to be remembered when in need of your services.

Once you’ve decided how to approach your business card, start designing. And if you need a credential or two to help your card stand out, consider one of these:

UAC’s QuickBooks Specialist Designation
Become a QuickBooks Specialist and enhance your resume and your services all at the same time. By mastering the accounting software that over 80% of small businesses use, you could increase your client base by offering setup and consultation services. Not only that but you’ll help your clients prepare their data in a way that becomes even more useful to you.

5 Ways to Ensure Your Resume Makes the Proper Impression

You’ve probably heard a lot of tips about creating the perfect resume, but have you read about the most common mistakes? There are some things you can do that will ensure that your resume won’t go in the slush pile. And here are five:

1. Avoid long-winded prose
Some may believe that wordy text, especially written in first-person, will sound friendlier and more appealing than the sterile appearance of bulleted lists. The truth is, when potential employers are looking over your resume they want facts, not frill. They expect to experience your personality in the job interview not on your resume. The easier it is to find crucial information, the better. Bulleted lists enable potential employers to quickly scan resumes and find what they’re looking for.

2. Make sure your educational information is clear
While it’s important to make your resume as concise as possible, there is such a thing as over-abbreviating your educational information. Remember to include the school, city and state, and the time you attended. If you did not receive a degree, clarify how many credits you earned and in what area of focus. There’s also a rash of falsified-resumes going around; ensure that every detail you include on your resume is true and complete. Not doing so can cause you (and your employer) a lot of difficulty in the end.

3. Focus on accomplishments
Many resumes are duty-oriented rather than accomplishment-oriented. The truth is potential employers are more interested in what you have accomplishment than completed tasks. As you review your employment and educational history consider what you have accomplished and make a point to include those things on your resume.

4. Avoid overused resume templates
While you may think the resume template you’ve chosen is innovative and eye-catching, remember that potential employers see a lot more resumes than you do. Even if you choose a template you should change it up a little and make it your own.

5. Include key words
Remember that a resume is your opportunity to market yourself and your skills. The potential employer is your audience. Look at the job posting as you craft your resume and include key words they used to publicize the opening. As you use those key words to highlight your skills and abilities they will appreciate both your attention to their needs and the manner in which you showcase your employability. Not to mention, you will appear well-suited for the job.

Your resume is the first look many potential employers will get of you and your skills. You don’t want to eliminate yourself by making simple mistakes that have become fairly common. In attending to the five details above, you could get your resume the attention it deserves.