The Second Half of Our Self-Employability Quiz

If you’ve ever considered becoming a freelance accountant you need to ask yourself some serious questions before taking the plunge. There are a lot of variables to consider when becoming self-employed, and very few of them have to do with your accounting skills. Last week we posed the following five questions:

1. Are you self-motivated?
2. Are you a go-getter?
3. Are you organized?
4. Are you flexible?
5. Can you manage uncertainty?

This week we’ll talk about the final five questions of our self-employability quiz:

6. Are you patient?
Most likely you won’t have a flood of clients come through your door as soon as you hang your shingle. Building a solid client base will take time, and you will need to exercise patience throughout the entire process. There are other things that may require your patience as well: going full-time with your business, having enough money to hire staff employees, and collecting payment from some of your clients.

7. Can you promote yourself?
When it comes to contract work you must be able to promote yourself. Clients won’t come and find you; you must find them first and then illustrate why your services are better than any others being offered. Not only must you be able to promote yourself, but you must also believe in what you’re promoting: YOU!

8. Do you appreciate your business value?
When you recognize your business value, a lot of things will happen. One, you’ll emanate a confidence that will put clients and potential clients at ease. Two, you’ll be able to charge what you’re worth. And three, you’ll keep plugging away even when things get difficult.

9. Can you set clear boundaries?
With a traditional full-time job you work from 9 to 5 and then go home where you’re generally not expected to continue working. The difference with contract work is that your schedule can be more fluid, enabling you to work whatever hours you choose. This will require a bit more flexibility as you respond to client emergencies, etc. However, you will have to set some boundaries to avoid being taken advantage of. And once you set boundaries, be sure to abide by them.

10. Do you have enough knowledge and skills?
There’s no higher authority you can consult if you run into a complicated or difficult issue. As a freelance accountant you’re the higher authority. If you don’t have the knowledge or skill to run your own accounting practice, that’s your first order of business. Look for quality training programs that will help you gain the expertise you need.

Universal Accounting Center Offers Quality Training Programs

Last week when we introduced the first five questions of our self-employability quiz, we also shared our special professional package, designed to help people like you open a successful accounting practice.

The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program
Regardless of your expertise, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or expert accountant, the Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program will teach you small business accounting, enabling you to promote your service to a large niche market. You’ll learn everything you need to know to help your clients’ businesses become more profitable. Imagine gaining the reputation as a Profit Expert, granting the Midas touch to every business with which you work. The PB Program will give you the skills to analyze a company’s finances and determine how they can best increase their revenue and become more profitable. Once the word gets out you’ll have more work than you can handle.

The Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program
But getting the word out is sometimes problematic. While accountants may be comfortable crunching numbers, they generally are not comfortable marketing their services. Wouldn’t it be nice to learn a proven system for marketing your newfound small business accounting skills? Universal knows how to do that, and we want to teach you! For years we’ve been offering the Universal Practice Builder Workshop, designed to train you how to market your practice in order to experience significant growth and profitability. You had to attend this two-day workshop in order to glean all the amazing information offered. Now, to accommodate students and make this information more convenient we have turned this workshop into a DVD program. Imagine all that you could learn from our experience training thousands of individuals like you!

Receive a Free Gift
But wait, there’s more! We want you to take advantage of this offer so you can realize your potential. And what better way to help you accomplish that than by combining these two powerful programs with another profit-building program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, for FREE!

UAC has created this amazing program to teach you how to use QuickBooks to generate more clients. You’ll be trained in a proven system of how you can use QuickBooks to attract larger numbers of potential clients offering expert QuickBooks services. Learn how to leverage your time, meet potential clients and offer them services that will help them reduce taxes, increase profits and put money in the bank. With this added service you’ll become even more valuable to all those clients, securing their loyalty and the longevity of your business.

There is a certain amount of risk involved in starting your own business. But when you’ve proven your skills by earning a professional designation your chances for success rise significantly. Do all that you can to prepare for your success. Purchase this professional package today!

Where the “Opportunity Things” Are

Gain Control of Your Career

I was recently reading “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak to my kids for a bedtime story. I was stricken with how similar this well-known story line reflects what we all go through when pursuing our professional goals.

In the story Max is sent to his room, feeling constrained by those who are in authority over him. He imagines for himself a world where he has the control of what happens. How often have we, sitting in our little cubicles, had those same imaginings about our careers? How many of us have imagined what it would be like to gain the control necessary to steer our careers in the direction of success and happiness? How many of us have imagined that happy, yet seemingly unattainable position of empowerment, where we are in charge of our professional futures?

Most of us can imagine being able to dictate what we do, how we do it and for how much we will do it for. We imagine a place of business where we are not only invaluable to the company we work with, but an indispensable part of that company’s success. Or perhaps we imagine working for ourselves, determining our own schedules as we grow an accounting practice that we manage.

Unlike Max who, after creating his ideal world, went back to the reality of his own room, will we settle for this dissatisfying stage of our careers? Or will turn our dreams into reality?

The corporate world can really be a jungle, and for those in our field we need to be gaining the right tools that will help us clear a path to the places we would like to be in five, ten, or fifteen years from now. Where are your “Opportunity Things”? What tools can you use to take advantage of that next promotion, pay increase or business opportunity?

Universal Accounting Has the Answers

The Professional Bookkeeping (PB) Program is designed specifically for those in your situation, those who need the experience and training necessary to move forward in their chosen career paths. The PB coursework will supply you with the materials, training, and support that will enable you to become a certified Professional Bookkeeper. The PB Certification will get you the experience and knowledge that has been used by more than 30,000 others, just like you, to make their professional dreams a reality. This comprehensive program can be completed in as little as 60 hours, allowing you to learn at your own speed while acquiring the tools necessary to catapult you to the professional future you’ve been imagining.

Building your own accounting practice will require exceptional marketing skills. And when you couple the PB Program with the Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program you practically have a ready-made business at your finger-tips. The UPB Program will train you in more than 12 proven marketing strategies, teach you how to get 15 to 25 qualified leads per month, help you create a customized marketing plan, and enable you to earn $30,000 more in annualized billings in just 12 months.

Isn’t it time to make a move on your career? What’s holding you back from turning your dreams into reality? What is separating you from those who have gotten where you want to be? Stop allowing others tell you how much you can make, what responsibilities you are qualified for and how far up the corporate ladder you can go. With Universal’s training and practical, hands-on experience, the steering wheel is in your hands, and you can decide where to take your career. Enroll now!

You finally scored that interview and are ready to dazzle and amaze the interviewer. How do you prepare? One way is to formulate answers to the most common interview questions. There are quite a few out there, but here are 10 of the most popular ones:

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
While this is the interviewer’s attempt to put you at ease at the start of an interview, it is not an open invitation to blather on and on about your childhood or to recap your resume. This is, however, your chance to highlight your experience, expertise, and skills, and how they relate to the position for which you are interviewing.

2. Why did you leave your last job?
Be honest. Whether you quit, were laid off, or fired, you need to be honest and upfront about it. But be brief and as positive as possible. Complaining about your previous experience will not leave a good impression. Conclude by saying that you are looking forward to new and rewarding work experiences.

3. Why do you want this position?
This is your chance to align your career objectives with this position. It is important that you display passion and excitement for the job and what you bring to it. And when discussing your qualifications, ensure that they align with the job description provided.

4. Why do you want to work here?
This question may seem similar to the one above, but there’s a fundamental difference. The previous question was asking about the position. This question is asking about the employer for which you might be working. The interviewer is interested in learning what you know about the organization and whether or not you value what it has to offer you. Be sure you’ve done your homework. What do you find appealing about this particular employer? If you can’t answer that question now, you should be prepared to do so before the interview.

5. Why should I hire you?
Some people feel uncomfortable selling themselves in an interview, but this is exactly what you need to do. And this particular question is begging for you to tell the interviewer how you can benefit their organization. What strengths do you have and how will they work to strengthen the company? As always, be sure that your points align with the job description.

6. What’s your greatest weakness?
The last thing you want to do is share your greatest weakness and leave it at that. Or worse, tell the interviewer that you are unaware of any personal weaknesses (This is a definite red flag: everyone has weaknesses, and if you claim to be unaware of them, you’re either lying or delusional and arrogant). This is your chance to demonstrate how you have acknowledged a weakness and worked to overcome it. For example, if you’re too detail-oriented, explain how you have worked to step back and see the big picture. Or, if you procrastinate, explain what you have done in order to motivate yourself to slowly work towards completing projects on time and on budget.

7. What are your salary expectations?
This is another question that requires a little research. Considering your experience and expertise, what is a realistic salary range? Search on the Internet to find out. And do a little research on the company as well. Is it reasonable to expect them to pay top dollar? Or should you expect a more modest salary range from this employer? But before you answer this question in your interview, ask if the interviewer can provide a salary range with which to base your response. If not, answer the question based on your research.

8. What do you like in a boss or supervisor?
This isn’t a trick question. The interviewer wants to know whether or not you are a good match for the individual supervising this position. I remember being shocked at an applicant’s response that he liked being micromanaged. And because I was not the type of supervisor who could micromanage my employees, and because he would not have felt comfortable working independently, it was exactly the answer I was looking for. So be honest (and positive) as you describe your ideal working arrangement.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Regardless of your desire to be independently wealthy and touring Europe in 5 years, you should answer this question in regards to your career goals. The person asking this question is interested in knowing whether you have any goals and how ambitious you are regarding them.

10. Do you have any questions for me?
The answer to this question should always be “yes.” It shows that you have been attentive throughout the interview (unless, of course you ask a question that has been answered through the course of the interview) and know enough about the company to compose thoughtful questions. It also gives you the chance to illustrate your interest in the job; if nothing else, ask about the next step in the selection process. Will they be conducting second interviews? If not, when could you anticipate finding out whether or not they will be hiring you.

Note: If salary has not already been discussed, this is not the time to ask how much they pay; at this stage, when you focus on compensation it looks as if that’s your primary concern.

While job interviews can be stressful, you can prepare for the most common questions. Going in with positive, thoughtful, and genuine responses will give this potential employer a good impression of you and your abilities.

Now That You’ve Got Your Feet Wet

Recently we discussed what you needed to do to get yourself started in the right direction and moving your career path to where you want it to end up. You’ve put in the time and researched what you needed to, which type of a position within the accounting field most interests you. How much that person in that position stands to make and you have even looked up what type of experience you are going to need to be even eligible for your desired position.

You’ve identified what you have right now in terms of skill sets and experience already under your belt. And what work experience is just at-your-fingertips if you were to stretch yourself and step up to grasp ahold of it. You’ve started looking for those ways to network… find other like minded individuals who are in the profession that may have a different accounting responsibilities. You never know when you are going to make at least a lateral step from one company to the next. Always good to keep your options open for you.

We’ve also chatted about the training you can get to further your career. We’ve talked many times before about the pros and cons of going to a four year university, verses other forms of education. This fact is something that Universal Accounting took into serious consideration. What benefits do you receive with a four year university that makes you a better accountant? After several months of research the conclusion was found that if you were looking to be a big corporate accountant, then the four year option was for you. That’s only what they prepare you for, and teach you to do, in those accounting majors in the higher education institutions.

So What Benefit Can I Realize With Universal’s Training?
Very good question. It first all rests on the conclusion we came to when we started offering this training program. We saw that for most in the profession, accountants and bookkeepers were finding a greater opportunity for higher pay and advancement in those companies that were classified as small business operations. These opportunities have only grown over the years, from 85% of all businesses being in that small business category to approaching 91% of all business transacted are with companies with 100 employees or less.

Secondly, we found the then existing training available nationwide did little or nothing to prepare those who were in those businesses. A great need for the right accounting training was there for us to service. With Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program you are able to get hands-on instruction so that you can portray your accounts within a company the way they need to be for effective tracking and record keeping. In the training we teach what is the single best indicator of a company’s financial health.

Tested and proven techniques that will make your job easier and prove to your boss your expertise in helping the company to stay sound, financial viable and best yet, profitable! We’ve been down in the trenches, tested these strategies and methods in real time and have done the trial and error for you. Within 60-90 days you two can know, and put into practice what it took us years and years to perfect. Click Here to find out more about the training itself.

The “So What…” Factor
“So what does this mean for me?” you may be asking. What does the right and immediately applicable accounting and bookkeeping training going to do for your career? Frankly, it gives you more. The training affords you the ability to have the confidence in whatever may come your way in a company’s accounting needs that you know or can get the answer to it readily. This training allows you the opportunity to be able to apply what you’ve been trained in ANYWHERE to any company you come in contact with.

Most importantly, the Professional Bookkeeper Training Program gives you the luxury to be able to dictate what you can get paid, which position you will be able to occupy, and which type of lifestyle you can create for yourself and those around you.

The right training opens the many doors of accounting opportunities, and you choose for yourself which option to take!

Don’t Hesitate Another Day
Procrastination for your tomorrow is doing you no good. Take control of where your career is heading, don’t allow it to be dictated by someone else! Click Here to enroll today in what will be the difference in your earning potential, your job satisfaction and the type of things you will have access in doing throughout your life with your greater earnings. Enrolling in the Professional Bookkeeper Program gives you what you need tomorrow… today!

Want Another “Door” to Open to You?
UAC’s Professional Tax Preparer Certification May Be the Key. Check out Universal’s tax training is not only a great way to boost your resume, but it can also offer an added income stream come tax time. You’ll acquire expertise that most employers will appreciate, and you’ll be able to make money in your spare time as a tax preparer. You’ll also be able to earn a professional designation which is always a good selling point in any job interview. Don’t wait to make those career changes that you’ve been thinking about. Consider the PTP Certification your exit to success.

By Andrea Kay — Gannett News Service

It seems every job hunter has a “what-will-they-say” or “how-it-will-look” phobia.

The typical job hunter worries, for example about what “they” will say about the fact that he or she hasn’t worked for two years and wants to get back into a particular field. Or the worker frets about “how it will look” that he or she is older than the average person in this field.

We need to put this phobia to rest right now.

It’s pointless to put an ounce of energy into worrying about this. First, just who are the “they” you’re worried about? You could end up talking to most anyone in a job hunt - from former associates and vice presidents in your industry to neighbors and relatives. It’s impossible to pinpoint everyone you might have contact with.

And it’s impossible to predict what each person will say or how your goal will look to him or her. Some will think you’re over-the-hill or crazy. Others wouldn’t blink an eye. Your situation will look different to everyone.

Besides, who cares what they think? If you want to go into a particular field at your age or back to doing something you did five years ago, that’s your business.

Base your future on what you want, not what others might think. The only two questions to ask are: How do you want it to look? And what do you want them to say?

Here’s what I mean. Let’s say you’re a 55-year-old marketing professional. How do you want that to look to others? You want there to be no question that you’re quite the catch.

You want to be seen as a vibrant, knowledgeable, innovative, results-oriented marketer. You want to convey the impression that you are a mature leader with hands-on experience and a phenomenal track record in introducing new products or services to the market, a skilled professional who can propel a company into the global marketplace or turn around a low-performing product line.

And you’re going to give them plenty of evidence to prove it. Like the time you developed and implemented a marketing strategy for a new product at your last company that led to first year sales of $8 million, 75 percent over the projected goal.

What do you want them to say? When they’re through talking to you, you want them to be so wowed they say, “Now that’s someone I’d like to hire. She’s got the energy, skills, expertise, experience and mindset we need.” Or, “I need to tell so-and-so about her.”

I’m not suggesting you don’t anticipate objections. For instance, you may be worried someone will say, “But you’ve been away from this field for five years.” You do want to have a reply ready, or bring it up before they do.

But this is not the first thing to focus on nor the reason you don’t follow through on what you want. It’s just comes with the territory. So get over it and get on to what matters most: How you want to be seen and what you’re going to tell them so they do.

Career consultant Andrea Kay is the author of “Greener Pastures: How To Find a Job In Another Place,” “Interview Strategies That Will Get You the Job You Want,” and “Resumes That Will Get You the Job You Want.” Send questions to her at No. 133, 2692 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45208; www.andreakay.com. She can be e-mailed at: andrea(AT)andreakay.com.

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

By Carol Kleiman — Chicago Tribune

Career outcomes and satisfaction levels are the same whether MBA grads move around or stay put.

What’s the opposite of going to work for one company right out of high school or college and staying there until you retire? The answer is a “broken path.” This terminology is found in recent research on holders of MBA degrees.

“Only one-third of 116 MBAs we studied moved up the unbroken career ladder with the same firm,” according to a report by Joy A. Schneer, chairman of the management and human resources department at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., and Frieda Reitman, retired professor of business at Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y.

The researchers, whose findings are published in the Journal of Managerial Psychology, studied the career paths of managers who earned MBAs between 1976 and 1980.

They found that fully two-thirds of the MBA graduates in that time period experienced “broken career paths” as a result of downsizings and restructurings.

But “broken” isn’t always so bad, as least in terms of work/life balance. The study shows that career outcomes and satisfaction levels, whether the MBA grads moved around or stayed put, were the same, according to the researchers.

And another hopeful finding, especially in light of the fact that I believe the “broken path” is here to stay: Though research shows that women with MBAs were less likely to marry or to have children during their careers than men with MBAs, Schneer and Reitman found evidence that the “broken path” — moving around from job to job — may be more supportive for women in terms of marriage, having children, income equality and top-level management positions. The reason: the opportunities to negotiate flexibility that a “broken path” provides.

The “way” for singles. Despite the very prevalent belief that “the onset of parenthood is the driving force behind employees’ quest for flexible work arrangements, 20 percent of 500 women and men we studied who are seeking flexibility are childless,” according to Nadine Mockler, president of Flexible Resources Inc., a consulting and staffing firm specializing in creating flexible work arrangements for professionals. The company is based in Greenwich, Conn., and has four branch offices.

According to Mockler, the recent survey of job candidates who came to her firm also shows that 53 percent of those 25 to 35 years of age, the group known as Generation X, had requested a flexible arrangement from their current employer — but only 38 percent of the baby boomers had done so.

“Those who were refused by their employers often began their job searches shortly thereafter,” said Mockler. “And most employers have no idea why they lost valued employees.”

Walking the outplacement talk. When parents lose their jobs, the entire family is devastated — and that includes the other parent and the children. And that’s why I urge outplacement firms to include everyone in the outplacement process: Just as family-friendly companies invite the worker’s family to come in for a visit and to look around, it’s important to do the same when the worker is unemployed. It helps alleviate the stress every member of the family feels, not just the job seeker.

Peggy Isaacson is a part-time consultant with DBM, a human resource consulting firm based in New York with 225 locations worldwide. Recently, Isaacson, who is based in Orlando, Fla., invited the family of a client to come in and tour the office. It was an excellent idea.

“The family met the staff and was able to talk about what they were going through as a result of the job loss and how the change was affecting them emotionally,” said Isaacson. “They said they felt mad, sad and uncertain. But as a result of the visit, they also felt more bonded as a family in dealing with the process of finding another job. They said it helped them to talk about it with each other and to be more supportive of each other to get through it.”

Now, that’s really family-friendly!

The trouble with job boards. Robin Ryan of Newcastle, Wash., a career coach and head of a consulting firm, thinks most job seekers are wasting their time applying for jobs on Internet job boards. Ryan says that “applying online is equivalent to entering a cyber black hole where hardly anyone lands a job. And it’s even harder for white-collar workers such as professionals, engineers, managers, executives and association directors to find jobs that way.”

The problem, Ryan says, is that there are so many applicants for every job that yours might get lost in the volume of submissions.

“No hiring officer can possibly go through them all,” she said. If there’s a position you want on the job board, “send your resume to the company’s direct Web site, instead — after checking to see if the job still is listed. And always send a hard copy too.”

By Dana Knight — The Indianapolis Star

Recruiters spend less than 20 seconds looking at your resume.

For every position open, only 10 percent of resumes get a second viewing after that initial scan, according to Monster.com. About 3 percent of resumes lead to interviews. And one person gets hired.

The odds are against you - big time.

“They’re looking for reasons to reject you,” says Irv Orenstein, president of Orenstein Advertising in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., who has provided job-hunting guidance for more than 30 years. “They can only consider a few. If you give them the right reason to dump yours, they will.”

So you’re thinking this is advice for the novice — a job-seeker who has never typed up a resume.

It is. But it’s for the workplace veteran, too. You would be surprised what the recruiters are saying about professionals with real jobs.

“Even when written by professionals, most resumes read like obituaries, and that’s why they get buried,” says Orenstein.

No one seems to be immune to a pathetic resume.

“We still get the resumes of people that put their pictures in with their height and weight,” says Janet Hambrock, a recruiting manager with ExactTarget, an Indianapolis software company specializing in e-mail marketing. “Don’t do that.”

Hambrock hires everyone from software engineers to salespeople. Among her biggest pet peeves: resumes written in third person. She also warns against listing personal information or hobbies.

“For the most part, that seems pretty harmless,” she says. “But the more they know about your personal life, the more they can discriminate.”

One way that can happen is with an e-mail address. If you have a personal e-mail like Partyer11@aol. com or HotMama@yahoo.com, that could be a problem. Opt to create another e-mail address to list on the resume, using your first and last name or initials.

Orenstein has his own list of common errors, mistakes that even the professionals make.

Most resumes are too long. The standard rule is to write one page for every 10 years of experience, says Orenstein. He suggests that all prospective job hunters offer a resume that is just one page.

Orenstein says another mistake is listing your salary requirement. The hiring team doesn’t know you or know how valuable you are, so it can only seem too high to them.

Don’t be me-oriented. Write the resume to please the reader. Let him or her know why hiring you will be good for the company.

Use a chronology. Orenstein suggests showing the progress you have made — starting with your first job and ending with the most current. It’s human nature to follow things in chronological order, he says.

Many resumes aren’t convincing. If=you say you doubled sales in a short amount of time, be specific so they know it’s the truth.

Which sounds better? “Worked diligently to surpass sales quota on an ongoing basis” or “exceeded $1 million quarterly sales quota by at least 25 percent for six consecutive quarters”?

Numbers are good, according to Monster.com, which provided the above example.

And, above all, forget the stiff, formal language. Write the way you talk. It’s more approachable. Less uppity.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Because your resume has so little time to make its point, you need a point of differentiation, something unique. The Professional Bookkeeper designation is just the thing to add credibility and get your resume noticed!

Learn More About the Professional Bookkeeper Designation

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!

Will Your Current Career Track Achieve Your Long-Term Goals?

Most workers have experienced frustration in the progress that their career is making, or NOT making. When you find yourself doing the same thankless tasks day after day, you strive to break out of the grind and achieve something better, but how do you do it? How do you rise above the shackles of your present job? You think, “There has to be a better way,” one that can really deliver.

What Are Your Options?

All of your life you have probably had someone drill into your head the misconception that if you want to get anywhere in life, you must have a college degree. They certainly meant well, and education is a great way to improve your chances of success. Most university accounting programs prepare you well for a job in corporate accounting. But what if you want to experience variety and excitement in your career? Things that are rarely spawned in a cubicle? What then?

The simple fact is that in order for a wage worker of today to achieve their financial potential, they must either augment the income they receive or strike out on their own by starting a business. Working at a traditional job puts dollars in your employer’s pocket, and sometimes what they reap is equal to what they pay you in salary and benefits. What was once known as expected perks like retirement and good health benefits are continually watered down. Do you feel that you want to take control of your future? You can, and thousands are already reaping the benefits of getting off the job treadmill in order to turn their goals their reality.

Let’s take a minute to compare a tradition job with contract work to see which will better provide you with the control, flexibility, and financial potential that you seek:

Universal Accounting Center Can Help You Do This!

Your financial future is in your own hands. When you start your own successful accounting service, your success is your own. If you can find the courage to take the first step, we will give you the tools, support, and training you need to start your own profitable accounting and bookkeeping service.

The Professional Bookkeeper PB Program

While universities and other accounting training programs prepare students to work for large companies, over 85% of accounting opportunities are with small businesses that need accountants who understand their unique needs. For over 25 years UAC has been training individuals like you who are looking to become contract accountants.

The Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program

One you have the skills, you’ll need to market them to a niche market. For years we’ve been offering the Universal Practice Builder Workshop, designed to train you how to market your practice in order to experience significant growth and profitability. You had to attend this two-day workshop in order to glean all the amazing information offered. Now, to accommodate students and make this information more convenient, we have turned this workshop into a DVD program. Imagine all that you could learn from our experience training thousands of individuals like you! You could earn $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months, learn tactical goal planning and setting, and be trained in generating 15 to 25 qualified leads per month!

Receive a Free Gift

But wait, there’s more! We want you to take advantage of this offer so you can fulfill your dreams. And what better way to help you accomplish that than by combining these two powerful programs with another profit-building program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, for FREE! Learn how to draw more clients to your business using QuickBooks.

This offer won’t last long. Get yourself an early Christmas present and enjoy a profitable business in the New Year. Order now!

Contract employee, freelance accountant, self-employed bookkeeper. They’re all basically the same thing. When you do contract work, you are in business for yourself, working for clients who can choose to employ your services long-term or temporarily. There are many perks to consider when weighing the pros and cons of contract work. But before making any rash decisions you must determine whether or not you’re ready to run your own business.

I’m a freelance writer so I’m familiar with contract work. There are perks. You can spend the entire day in your bunny slippers. You can work early in the morning and spend the afternoons with your children. You can labor hard and long one week only to take it easy the next, controlling the ebb and flow of your workload. But there are also some serious differences between contract work and full-time employment. And I wouldn’t call them cons, but they do have a significant impact on your life should you choose the path of self-employment. Ask yourself these 5 questions to determine whether or not you’re ready to become a contract employee:

1. Are you self-motivated?
The biggest difference between contract work and full-time employment is the paycheck. When you have a full-time job you can expect a paycheck every week, two weeks or once a month, depending on the pay schedule. When you are a contract employee you only get paid for billable hours, meaning you won’t get a paycheck until you submit invoices. This means you are responsible for managing your time, prioritizing your work and finishing projects. As a contract employee you’ll have no boss (other than yourself) to crack the whip and see that you get it done.

2. Are you a go-getter?
I can promise you that work won’t fall from the sky into your lap (or onto your laptop); you must be willing to find work when necessary. This means changing your perspective so that you recognize an opportunity (or potential client) when you see it, and more importantly, go after it.

3. Are you organized?
You must be able to prioritize projects and allocate your time well. And don’t forget that some of your time must be spent building good relationships with your clients. It also helps to have all your files in order so you can minimize wasted time by finding what you need quickly and efficiently.

4. Are you flexible?
The 9 to 5 schedule is out. You must be willing to rethink your work schedule to accommodate some clients and projects (and of course, your family). Learning how to juggle all those interests will require flexibility (and a hearty dose of creativity).

5. Can you manage uncertainty?
As mentioned in number one, there’s a certain amount of uncertainty or risk involved in becoming a freelance accountant. But any investment requires a certain amount of risk, so don’t let that scare you away. The best way to deal with uncertainty is to have a contingency plan that anticipates problems before you encounter them.

Universal Accounting Center’s Special Business Package

Another way to manage the uncertainty is to ensure you have all the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed. Universal Accounting Center (UAC) can help you appeal to a lucrative niche market: small business. Not only that, but we’ll train you how to market those skills and build a significant client base that will ensure your success.

The Professional Bookkeeper PB Program

While universities and other accounting training programs prepare students to work for large companies, over 85% of accounting opportunities are with small businesses that need accountants who understand their unique needs. For over 25 years UAC has been training individuals like you who are looking to become freelance accountants. And it doesn’t matter how extensive your experience; our program is designed to help beginner, intermediate, and expert accountants.

The Universal Practice Builder (UPB) Program

Once you have the skills, you’ll need to market them to that niche market. For years we’ve been offering the Universal Practice Builder Workshop, designed to train you how to market your practice in order to experience significant growth and profitability. You had to attend this two-day workshop in order to glean all the amazing information offered. Now, to accommodate students and make this information more convenient we have turned this workshop into a DVD program. Imagine all that you could learn from our experience training thousands of individuals like you!

This new program offers the following:

• $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• Tactical goal planning and setting
• The generation of 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• Phone marketing instruction and training
• Training in the benefits of newsletters and websites
• 12 proven marketing strategie.
• Financing options

Receive a Free Gift

But wait, there’s more! We want you to take advantage of this offer so you can realize your potential. And what better way to help you accomplish that than by combining these two powerful programs with another profit-building program, QuickBooks Made Profitable, for FREE!

And if you don’t recognize what a valuable offer this is, let us tell you! Over 80% of the small businesses that use accounting software have chosen QuickBooks. But knowing that is not enough to build a bigger client base. UAC has created this program to teach you how to use QuickBooks to generate more clients. You’ll be trained in a proven system of how you can use QuickBooks to attract larger numbers of potential clients offering expert QuickBooks services. Learn how to leverage your time, meet potential clients and offer them services that will help them reduce taxes, increase profits and put money in the bank in such a way that you will be asked the question that we are all longing to hear: “How much do you charge for your services?”

With this one investment you’ll not only achieve your potential but you’ll surpass it! Your practice will grow and become more profitable than you could have imagined. Take advantage of this special package quickly, before we run out of inventory. We expect them to go fast, so order now!