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!

5 Questions to Ask Yourself at the Start of a New Year

The start of a new year is a good time to sit back and evaluate your career and see what, if any, improvements need to be made. The last thing you want to do is be passive about your position and expect things to magically get better. Sometimes just asking yourself a few questions is all it takes to evaluate your career and push it back on track. Here are 5 things to consider:

1. Are you happy?
Sometimes it can be that simple. Are you happy? While every job has its ups and downs, you should find yourself generally happy with your job: happy to wake up in the morning, happy to see the people you work with, happy to tackle your projects.

If the answer is no…
If you’re not happy, pinpoint the source of your unhappiness. Perhaps you’re experiencing personnel problems. If so, consider whether or not that can be resolved by talking with the coworkers in question. Is it bad enough for you to request a change in team or a transfer? If you’re outright miserable, it’s time to look for another job!

2. Do you feel challenged?
You can love your work environment, your coworkers, and even your job description and still not feel satisfied. A challenging position enables you to learn and grow. It can also inspire and excited you.

If the answer is no…
If you’re not challenged, that means you’re not advancing in your career; you’re stagnate. You need to change that, and quickly. And that doesn’t mean you need to start looking for a new job. Schedule an appointment with your supervisor or boss and ask if you can take on new and different projects. Better yet, ask if you can work towards a promotion. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll earn more money, but it does mean you’ll learn new skills and take on more responsibility, and that’s always good for your career in the long run.

3. Are you getting paid what you’re worth?
When your salary measures up to your experience and skills you feel respected and valued as an employee. When it doesn’t, resentment often builds and you begin to feel like a drone.

If the answer is no…
You need to research what standard salary is for your skill-set to ensure that you’re not inflating your worth. Once you have a number to compare your current salary with, and can articulate how you benefit your employer, it’s time to talk with your boss. But do not be aggressive. Nothing turns an employer off more than a smarty-pants employee who demands a higher wage. Be calm, assertive, and willing to contribute more in order to get that raise. And don’t threaten to quit if you don’t mean it. There’s nothing wrong with a statement of truth: “If I can’t make more money with this company, I’ll have to look for a company that can pay me what I’m worth.” That is, there’s nothing wrong with a statement of truth if you’re truly ready to back it with action.

4. Does your current position have potential for upward mobility?
A job is rewarding when it offers you the opportunity to learn new skills and advance, earning more responsibility and a higher wage. You don’t want to work for years at a job that promises to remain the same, day after day, month after month, year after year. A career implies growth, and if you’re not moving upward, you’re not moving anywhere.

If the answer is no…
It’s time for you to look for a job that allows you to advance. Many employees will endure a lower wage and cubicle walls for the potential to work their way up in a company. If there’s no where else to go but out, maybe it’s time you packed your desk and found something more promising. But don’t jump ship before you’ve found yourself another boat, or at least a life raft. Since you currently have a steady job, use your spare time to find something truly fulfilling.

5. Are you on the right career track?
If you’ve always wanted to be an accountant, but took a job as a bank teller to pay the bills, you might find yourself frustrated in your day-to-day work activities.

If the answer is no…
If there’s no chance that you could advance to a position that aligns more with your career of choice, then it might be time to look for a new job. And if you haven’t taken the time to make any career goals, 2007 is your year. Without a target, it’s difficult to hit the mark and progress. Write down some career goals and imagine where you’d like to be in 2, 5, even 10 years. That will make it easier for you to take the necessary actions to achieve those goals. And if there is the possibility that you could advance to a position that puts you on your career track, you need to find out what it will take to do that. Talk with your supervisor or boss and share your aspirations. Generally speaking, they will be pleased to know they have an employee who wants to advance within the company. They’ll also be able to share with you what is required in order for you to attain that position you would like.

The worse thing you could do this New Year is assume that you have no power to change your current status as an employee. You are the one in control of your career, but first you must evaluate your current job and what it offers you. Once you take inventory, you decide where you’d like to go from there and take action to get where you’d truly like to be.

Take the first steps in the process of getting yourself ready for that next pay increase, promotion or position that you see yourself at! Click here to find out more about the training that will make the difference in your career.

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.

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

Everyone wants to get on the boss’s good side. It not only makes your job experience more enjoyable, but when the boss likes you and your work, it’s more likely that you’ll be promoted. But building that relationship can be difficult when your manager isn’t the boss of your dreams. So first thing’s first, release those expectations. Unless you decide your boss is bad enough to quit your job or confront about the problem it’s time to make due. Here are 8 tips that will help you enjoy more positive interactions with your boss:

1. Speak the boss’s language

Listen to your boss. What words and phrases are prominent in his/her language? When you determine the work-speak your boss uses, you can begin to use it in your interactions with him/her. Whether or not your boss recognizes it, he/she will begin to feel that a connection has been established between the two of you.

2. Make it your business to know what’s on his/her mind

Again, listen to your boss, watch for prominent themes in his/her emails, topics of discussion in meetings, and assignments with priority status. You’ll quickly begin to recognize what’s important to him/her. Knowing that, you can focus your energy on doing what your boss feels is currently most important.

3. Make him/her look good

You’ll never make your boss happy by undermining his/her authority, talking behind his/her back, or ignoring his/her priorities. But when you make your boss look good, you win loyalty and, possibly, a brownie point or two.

4. Study his/her temperament and style

There’s no use rushing your boss when you know he/she works at a slow and steady pace. Recognizing your boss’s temperament and style will help you to interact more effectively.

5. Remember the rule of give and take

Don’t ask for any favors if you haven’t been willing to give some of your own. A needy employee is not appealing. But an employee willing to work overtime, take over a project, or go on that business trip is the employee more likely to get a little slack when needed.

6. Practice good communication

Keep your boss in the loop. Be sure to send updates on projects, share critical information, and respond to his/her requests in a timely matter. It’s not just good communication, but it good way to communicate your attentiveness as well.

7. Remember that your boss isn’t your babysitter, shrink, or buddy

Your boss doesn’t want to hear about your personal problems or listen to extensive complaints. When you have the chance to chat with your boss, use the time to build a stronger professional relationship.

8. Make your career goals clear

Don’t think you’re being too outspoken by expressing your career goals. Having strong ambition is seen as a positive characteristic in an employee. Clearly communicate you desire to learn, grow, and advance in your position with this employer. When your boss realizes your desire to take on more responsibility, you’ll be in the forefront of his/her mind when that opportunity becomes available.

You can get in the good graces of just about any boss, as long as you implement a few key strategies. The more conscientious you are of your boss, his/her wishes, and temperament, the more likely you are to enjoy a healthy interaction and, possibly, to earn that desired promotion.

Asking for a promotion is a daunting thing. It’s not something you train for. And it can be an awkward exchange for both you and your boss. So how do you make it as painless as possible while increasing your chance of success? Here are ten ways to make your quest for a promotion worthwhile.

1. Earn a Promotion

The last thing you should do is wake up one morning and decide to ask for a promotion simply because you’re in the mood for one. You can’t ask for a promotion without first earning a promotion (reference last week’s Career Tips Article Part I). A promotion is something you should seriously evaluate and prepare for. Once you’ve decided a promotion is really what you’re interested in, and have demonstrated an ability to take on more responsibility, then you’re ready to approach your boss.

2. Prepare Your Boss

Depending on your boss, it might be a good idea to express your interest in

preparing for a promotion before you actually ask for one. This may be a chance for you to get feedback and advice on career advancement. And once you’ve mentioned your interest in a promotion, your increased effort in the workplace and the ultimate promotion conversation will not come as a surprise.

3. Pick a Good Time

Don’t go to your boss during the busiest time of year. Wait for a time when your boss is relaxed and ready to respond to you positively; this applies to the time of year, and even the time of day. It’s also a good idea to ride a wave of success into your boss’s office; schedule “the talk” after you’ve made a significant contribution that is good measure of your success.

4. Pick a Method of Delivery

A face-to-face meeting is often the best method for discussing a promotion because it allows for an exchange where you can ask and answer questions. But you know your boss best and may feel an email or memo is the best approach. You want to make sure your message is clear, and that your boss knows you expect a timely response.

5. Do Your Homework

A promotion doesn’t always come with a raise, so you need to decide whether you want the responsibility without the pay increase. Write out a job description listing all your responsibilities, and then do some research to see what other are being paid for comparable work. Also see what title best matches your responsibilities. What more would you need to take on in order to move to a higher position?

6. Focus On How You Benefit The Company

Practice your approach. You don’t want to sound like you’re selfishly grubbing for more money without considering your employer’s needs. Plan out how you want the conversation to go. Get the bullet points you feel will make the case for your promotion. Stats, accomplishments on the job, goals reached, etc. would all play a part of how you deserve that promotion. Once you have that down then you can share with your boss how your promotion would benefit him/her and the company. By communicating how much you’ve contributed to the company and how much more you’d like to contribute, your boss will be more likely to grant you the promotion.

Another way to make it more certain you will get that promotion if you are able to do a cost analysis (how much you will be saving the company in that promotion) and how much money you will be making the company when you are promoted. If you are able to get solid, verifiable numbers to support this decision, your boss would be crazy to not give you that promotion you are asking for.

7. Be Specific

When you talk about the promotion be specific. How would you like to expand your current position and how much more would you like to be paid for it. When you clearly set the parameters of what you are proposing to your boss, he will know in turn exactly what he needs to make a decision on, and how it will benefit the company. If you leave it in an ambiguous mush then the decision made will reflect that. You want to give yourself the best chance for that promotion. be clear and concise.

8. Don’t Use Ultimatums, UNLESS You’re Willing To Act On Them

How badly do you want the promotion? Is this career advancement necessary for you to get you where you would like to go? Budgetary constraints may limit your current employer’s ability to promote you. IN that case, you need to consider whether you’re willing to leave if you don’t get the promotion. Either wat, you shouldn’t throw around ultimatums in attempts to bully your boss into a promotion. It will leave your boss with a bad impression and may even prevent you from ever getting a promotion or a good reference later.

9. Lighten Up

Be calm, collected, and mature. A tense or desperate tone will make the discussion much more difficult. This can be an awkward meeting for you and your boss, and if you can lighten things up a bit, it will put you both at ease.

10. Be Graceful, Whatever The Response

Remember that you shouldn’t end the discussion if your boss doesn’t offer you the promotion. That’s a good time to ask for feedback. What more would you need to do to earn the promotion? Is there a possibility of getting a promotion in the future? Walking out of the office and slamming the door won’t do you or your boss any good.

Asking for a promotion can be one of the most difficult things you do in your career. But if you approach it in just the right way it can be a positive experience, illustrating your determination to advance and succeed while taking the necessary steps to move forward in your career.

Universal Accounting Center Can Help You Earn That Promotion

In an informal poll taken by the success coaches here at Universal Accounting, we contacted 100 graduates of our Professional Bookkeeper Program 12 months after their graduation; 74% are now working in the accounting field, have been promoted to a management position or own their own accounting business. Not bad. Would you like to have those statistics on your side? Come read what our graduates have to say about the program. Visit Universal Accounting and see how we can help you begin earning that promotion today.

Back in the day, Ward Cleaver got hired to a position that promised job security and frequent promotion on his chosen career path. Life was beautiful, and all was right in the cosmos. Boy have times changed! These days, if you want a promotion you need doggedly chase it down yourself. Here are eight ways to achieve the career advancement you have in your sights:

It’s hard to get what you want when you’re not even sure what it is. Sit down and figure out where you want to be in 5 to 10 years. Once you state your career goals, write them down frame them, laminate them, whatever it takes to keep them front and center in your mind. It becomes easier to see and concentrate on what it will take to achieve them.

2. Go the extra mile
Come to work 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes late. This gives your boss the impression that you’re more interested in doing your work than you are in watching the clock. Doubly important, is perform to your best abilities, give more than asked, quicker than asked for and more professionally then those in your department.

Remember the mantra: do more than what is expected of you. Ask for more responsibility, volunteer for different duties and tasks, and be a visible team player.

3. Be proactive
Create your own opportunities by seeing what needs to be done and doing it yourself. Many just like you have gotten the promotion or the pay increase by just being observant of the processes around them and offering cost effective solutions to the management. Make sure you do it in such a way that you are not only benefitting the company, but it can be seen coming from your efforts.

4. Network
Networking not only helps you to get the job, but it can also help you trade that job in for a better one. Get to know more people within your organization and, when possible, help others achieve their goals. This increases your value to coworkers and superiors who will be more likely to sing your praises when given the chance.

5. Document your achievements
Track your achievements, measuring results when possible. While it helps to say that your proposal saved the company a lot of money, it means more to your boss when you explain how your proposal reduced production costs by 30%; numbers always speak louder than words alone. One trick I have heard about, that you can keep a “score card” of the accomplishments you were directly responsible for, and at the very least you will be able to bring that out to reference at your yearly evaluation with your supervisor.

6. Communicate
At first it may feel awkward to sing your own praises, but unless your boss knows how valuable you are, it’s difficult for him/her to give you the promotion you deserve. You need to share your achievements with your boss, maybe in a monthly email that states your progress on certain projects and lists your recent achievements. It’s also a good idea to tell your boss you’re interested in a promotion. Who better to help you achieve your career goals?

7. Act professionally
Professional is as professional does; Imagine where you’d like to be in five or ten years and then dress the part, speak the part, and act the part. Avoid complaining, take responsibility for mistakes, and be a team player.

8. Increase your skills and expertise>
Nothing shows your willingness to advance like increasing your skills and expertise. Often employers will pay for programs designed to help employees learn new skills or stay current in their field. Seek out chances to expand your skill-sets, and be sure to share your new knowledge, abilities, and enthusiasm with your boss.

A great way to increase your chances for that promotion is through Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper Program. If you want to increase your accounting skills and earn a professional designation, Universal Accounting Center has the program for you. UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program will teach you the day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping needs of small business, enabling you to become a Professional Bookkeeper (PB). The Professional Bookkeeper Program teaches you the skills that you need to skip over the entry level positions and get right to those job opportunities that might take someone with a traditional accounting training years. Your employer may be willing to pay for your tuition. Come visit Universal Accounting today.

Stay tuned for the next newsletter in two weeks for the next article,“Movin’ on up: How to Ask for That Promotion (Part II of II).”