The old adage is true . . . that the only thing constant is change. Times are changing; are you keeping up with the changes or are you becoming obsolete?
Buggy Whips — a Lesson in Obsolescence
At one point in time, selling buggy whips was a lucrative income. Once the automobile came into being, buggy whip industries vanished. Over time, people learn to fix automobiles and even as recently as the late 70′s, a mechanic’s job was no where near as complicated as it is now. The carburetor disappeared and in comes the fuel-injector. What does that mean? It means that the mechanic’s skills became outdated in just a few short years. Today, computers have infiltrated the automobile to the point where auto mechanics needs as much or even more training in electronics and programming than they do in the workings of the mechanical side of things.Speaking of computers, when’s the last time you found out that your software or operating system needs to be updated? Until recently, on my home computer, I’ve been using Windows Me (Millennium) which came out only five years ago. Already, several of the latest versions of software that I use cannot be used on a Millennium machine. I had to upgrade to Windows XP. Just in the 3 years that I’ve been in school to learn computer programming, my future-scheduled classes have changed 4 or 5 times. Every few months, a new software or programming language becomes the emphasis because it’s gaining market-share. In fact, the information learned in one of my classes is almost obsolete only two years later.People who work in the call-center industry are having to learn new skills because of the recent laws that impact the way businesses can communicate with customers. The list of changes and updates to the world as we know it is constant and never-ending.
An Industry Where You Don’t Have to Re-Tool Every Few Years
The point is that in most major industries, auto-mechanic, computer programming, business management, technology, etc the industry changes and employees are constantly needing to “re-tool” and learn new skills, and employers are constantly looking for the person with the best skill set. Unfortunately even if you are the best buggy-whip manufacturer and designer in the entire universe as we know it, you are not likely to find employment that will meet your income and lifestyle needs.So the question you must be asking yourself at this point is “what’s the point of training if I’ll be obsolete by the time I’m done training?” Well the answer is that there is at least one industry out there that hasn’t changed for over 500 years . . . Accounting and Bookkeeping.If you want a stable job in an industry where you won’t be obsolete in a few years . . . accounting.If you want a skill that EVERY business not only needs, but must have by law . . . accounting.If you want a career where your boss can’t afford to lose you . . . accounting.
Accounting Hasn’t Changed Much in Over 500 Years!
The first person to put into print the accounting concepts that are still used today was an Italian monk named Luca Pacioli (pronounced pot-CHEE-oh-lee), in the year 1494. However, the concepts were not even created by him; they were actually a description of a system used by merchants during the Italian Renaissance. He described the same accounting cycle that we used today: journals; ledgers; inventories; assets; liabilities; income; expense accounts; year-end closing, etc. He even made the observation that until the debits equaled the credits, do not go to sleep.The reason this system has survived for so long is because it works! Because of it’s stability and consistency, according the US Department of Labor, Accounting opportunities will grow by 20% by the year 2014.
So it would seem that it’s clear that accounting is a safe field to go into, but I’m going to guess that you weren’t born knowing how to be a bookkeeper, and like most people would need some training to move into this field. Or you might be lucky enough to already be in the field, but you need to fine tune your skills or have that piece of paper that proves to your boss that you’re worth more than he’s paying you.Well you basically have two choices; you can either spend four years getting an accounting degree or you can take a condensed accounting course like we offer here at Universal Accounting Center. According to our students, you’ll find that you will learn more in our 60 hour course than you will in a four year degree; plus it’ll only take you four weeks, not four years.Read a Detailed Comparison of the Professional Bookkeeper course vs. traditional university trainingA good friend of mine who happens to be a business owner and a CPA has a saying that he always used when it came to the training and disciplining of his staff . . . “If you can’t change the people, change the people.” Of course, what he meant by that was that if you couldn’t change the behavior of the people (change the people), then get new people (change the people). Unfortunately some people end up in situations where they can’t upgrade their skill sets fast enough to keep up with the demands of the job market. When that happens, the new guy right out of college with the newer more updated skills get the job when the company “changes the people.”If you don’t want to be the one being changed by the company, then change yourself. Get into a career that is stable and has proven itself for the past 500 plus years . . . ACCOUNTING. This is what we do best. We help you change, so you don’t have to be changed. We offer the best accounting and bookkeeping training money can buy.
“This economy has a need for well trained accounting personnel and Universal Accounting is supplying just that. The intensive training your graduates receive is a highly marketable asset in today’s market. Dollar for dollar I have found no better educational value than Universal Accounting program.”—Brett Thompson (AccountTemps Staffing Manager)
Less Expensive Than University Training
Many students in the Professional Bookkeeper program were amazed when they found out how much less expensive that distance training can be compared with traditional university training. For less than you would probably pay for a single semester of college, the Professional Bookkeeper program trains you in the complete range of small to mid-sized business Accounting.Learn How Much Less You Will Pay With Professional Bookkeeper Training
Get Started Today!
Now is the time; this is the place. Don’t wait any longer to get into a career that is stable and in high demand.
Accounting has been called the second oldest profession in the world. The need to track income and expenses has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, and considering how businesses are growing, the need for accounting will continue to exist for hundreds of thousands of years to come. Do you want a job that offers that much security? 
You’ve probably already heard that accounting and bookkeeping jobs are growing at a quick pace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2008 accounting jobs will increase by 20%! That’s just two years from now. “In addition to openings resulting from growth, the need to replace accountants and auditors who retire, or transfer to other occupations, will produce numerous openings in this large occupation,” the bureau said in a recent report. Imagine how many jobs that represents. And imagine how many of them you could choose from.A Four-Year Degree is Not requiredBut I don’t want to put my life on hold while I take four years to get a university degree Is that the thought running through your mind? While accounting and bookkeeping positions do require specialized education, accounting instruction does not have to take place on a university campus. Nor does it require a degree.Small Businesses Are Looking for a Few Good AccountantsOver 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for corporate accounting which doesn’t address small business needs. More than 50% of small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to lack of accounting expertise. Imagine contributing to the success of small business, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security. But how do you go about it?UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program Has the AnswerAt Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. We’ve helped people like you advance their career in small business accounting for over 25 years. With a curriculum designed specifically to address the needs of small businesses, Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. And depending on your schedule and situation, it will only take you 60 hours to complete. Does that career path interest you?Endless OpportunitiesThe Professional Bookkeeper Program will enable you to advance in your current job. Even non-accounting positions can be enhanced with accounting knowledge; this designation alone could impress your boss and earn a promotion.Or maybe you’d like to start your own business offering bookkeeping services to clients of your own. This one program can open doors you might not have known existed.In an informal pole 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.Visit Universal Accounting Center Today!If this sounds good to you, right down your line of thought and your plan of action don’t procrastinate taking the next step. Learn more about our Professional Bookkeeper Program today.We’re so confident that our program will work for you that we offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If, after completing all of the learning activities, you do not feel that you have received your money’s worth, simply return the materials to Universal Accounting Center, for a complete refund. There aren’t many universities out there that would make that promise to its graduates.Don’t wait another day to change your career and change your life.
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:
1. Determine your career goals
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 mileCome 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 proactiveCreate 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. NetworkNetworking 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 achievementsTrack 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. CommunicateAt 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 professionallyProfessional 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).”
550,000 new businesses…Wow! A study sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
showed that the number of small businesses in the U.S. grew by 550,000 per month from 1996 to 2004, despite swings in the economy.*
This is Good News for You as an Accountant and Tax Professional
Most bookkeepers will tell you that along with the great income they earn, one of the most satisfying things they do is create the bookkeeping system for a brand new company. The ability to establish practices that directly effect the bottom-line of a new business is very rewarding.Its no secret. Successful business owners know what’s going on inside their business. To really understand any business, you need to have a sense of the numbers and what they are telling you. Unfortunately, many business owners put too much trust in accounting software to give them that understanding.Why do I say unfortunately? Because using any accounting software for data entry without an understanding of the accounting process gives you an incomplete picture of what the numbers are telling you. Worse still, it might give you the wrong interpretation.Without an understanding of what the numbers mean, business owners are making decisions based upon faulty data. For a small buisnesses’ profitability, that’s dangerous at best.Often, limits of the software, limits that are necessary to make the software easy for a layman to use, create a false sense of security for the business owner. With a complete understanding of the accounting process, a qualified and skilled bookkeeper/accountant provides a business with the proper interpretation of what their accounting software tells them.
The Bookkeeper – One of the Most Important Members of the Team
Savvy business owners understand and appreciate the value of their bookkeeper/accountant and treat him or her as a trusted and respected advisor.In his book In the Black:Nine Principles to Make Your Business Profitable, Allen Bostrom, President of Universal Accounting Center states, “Minimally, you should plan to have one accountant for every 10 employees. If you have fewer than 10 employees, you should consider outsourcing the service to a professional bookkeeper or accountant.”In today’s marketplace, business owners must pay more attention to their financial progress to keep competitive. You might find it interesting to know that when seeking financing, banks determine the strength of your company by your understanding of the following:
- The condition of your accounting system
- Your awareness of your current financial position
- Your plans for future growth
With New Businesses Starting at an Incredible Rate – Now’s the Time to Start Your Bookkeeping and Accounting Practice
You don’t need to take my word for it, there are literally hundreds of graduates of the Professional Bookkeeper Program who are watching their businesses grow. The number of new small business start-ups every month make this possible like never before. They find that the rewarding and exciting business of Professional Accounting and Tax Preparation not only provides a very valuable service for their clients, but it creates the professional and personal success that they have been looking for.Follow the link below and find out just what a career in accounting and tax preparation will do for you and your family.Click Here to See What a Career in Accounting and Tax Preparation Can Do for You
*The study, conducted by Robert W. Fairlie of the University of California, Santa Cruz, who drew on Census data and Bureau of Labor Statistics for the study, indicates that entrepreneurship in the U.S. has remained relatively constant over the past 10 years.
Starting your own accounting and tax practice can be terrifying and exciting at the same time.There are lots of pluses in working for yourself: you can work when you want to, uncap your salary, and wake up every morning to a job you love.
But you aren’t being realistic if you don’t also consider the negatives: you bear all the responsibility and risk, you face potentially long hours, and no there’s guaranteed salary. Those last few thoughts could be enough to paralyze anyone from taking the plunge. But you can be realistic about starting your own accounting and tax practice while preparing for potential glitches and obstacles. Here are nine questions to help determine whether or not you’re truly ready to start your own business.
1.Are you self-motivated?
If you start your own tax practice, you’ll be your own boss, and if you need a boss to tell you what to do and when to do it, then you probably should continue to be someone else’s employee. But if you’re self-motivated, proactive, and dynamic, you’ll be able to manage your practice rather than have the practice manage you.
2. Are you passionate about accounting and tax preparation?
If you answer “no” to this question, than go back to the drawing board. You should be passionate about your business, otherwise you’ll dread the work you do, regardless of how skilled you are. But if you are passionate about accounting and tax preparation, it will exude from you, drawing more clients who trust your enthusiasm and confidence.
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
List them if you have to. What are you good at and what holds you back? Once you know your strengths you can capitalize on them. Once you know your weaknesses you can either work to overcome them, or enlist the help of others. Maybe you just need a little training to give you more skill and knowledge.
4. It is financially feasible for you to quit your job to start your own business?
This is where you ask yourself if you should continue to grow your practice in your spare time, or if you have enough clients to quit your full-time job and support yourself. Maybe you’re ready to quit regardless, but do so with a well-padded savings account that can fill in the gaps until your income can sustain you.
5. What are your business goals?
You should articulate your objectives. Defining your goals will help you determine the steps necessary to accomplish them. It will also help you assess your success and continue to progress, setting new goals once you’ve achieved your original goals.
6. Do you have a marketing plan?
If you’re not sure how to market your practice, you need to develop a plan before you open your doors to business. Don’t expect your three good clients to carry you into retirement. A successful business person is good at maintaining relationships with current clients while doing what’s necessary to get new ones. That’s how you grow a business that will be satisfying and financially rewarding.
7. Who would your competition be and what would you offer that they don’t?
You should do a little market research to see if the area can sustain another accounting and tax practice. What are they currently doing that you could improve on? This could also be where you get some ideas on marketing. How are they drawing clients and how could you improve on those methods?
8. Will your family support your decision?
This is not the type of decision you casually break to your spouse. “Honey, guess what I did today?” In order to succeed, you’ll need your family’s support. Be sure to discuss all the pros and cons together before making any decisions, because in a crunch you just might need to enlist their help in order to succeed.
9. Will you be happy working for yourself?
Ask yourself if you’re truly interested in being a financial service provider. Will you enjoy managing the business-end of your practice? Is this something you will enjoy doing everyday? If you’re unhappy having your own practice, then nothing else will compensate for your dissatisfaction. But, on the other hand, if it’s something that will challenge and excite you, then pursue it with gusto.Asking yourself the right questions can determine whether or not you’re ready to start your own tax practice. And just because you don’t have the right answers now doesn’t mean you can’t open your practice later. It just means that you have a bit more to do in order to prepare for success.
Universal Accounting Center Can Help You Finance Your Small Business
There are ways you can finance your new business venture, relieving some of the financial stress associated with starting your own business. Universal has a manual and CD called Financing a Small Business. It contains everything you need to know about funding your new venture, for one low price! Don’t wait to prepare for entrepreneurial success. Order now!
By Andrea Kay — Gannett News Service
Some rumors just won’t go away. Take the one that your resume is only supposed to be one page long. Since the late 1980s, I have given speeches and workshops to get workers to stop fretting about length and focus on content. I even wrote a book on it. But the rumor prevails.So here, from my you-may-think-it’s-true-but-it’s-not file, is why you should erase this crippling belief from your mind.Whenever someone brings up the one-page resume rumor — which is usually the first thing when I’m trying to help him or her develop a new and improved version — I ask, “Why do you think that?” Responses are always the same: “Employers only spend 10 seconds reading your resume.”Ten seconds? I don’t know about you, but I can only read about 30 words in 10 seconds, let alone a one-page resume. What could an employer possibly glean from a 10-second read?What these busy managers who are inundated with hordes of resumes are more likely to do, is glance, not read. They take a quick scan of the document to decide if it’s worth actually reading at a calmer moment in their day.To get them to that point with your resume, a short document is not the solution. Shoot for creating an enticing one.In addition, if you’ve got experience, a one-page resume can’t do you much justice. Let’s say the employer is looking for someone with ten years in public relations. If you’re worth your salt, a one-pager does not leave room to summarize your knowledge about media and community relations and expertise in employee communications over 10 years.Glance they do. That’s why you need to highlight the most relevant information someone in your industry cares about with lively language in an easy-to-read format that helps the reader quickly see you’re a contender. Even with the tendency to scan, if you can say boring things in an interesting way, zip up descriptions of yourself and share juicy facts that show you’re a star, the manager might even forgo e-mail to read for three minutes.One way to get and keep their attention is to offer a bird’s-eye view of yourself in the first section of your resume where they will probably glance first. This is where you describe your experience, mention that you’re self-motivated and can evaluate complex legal cases and express ideas succinctly and have a reputation for prosecuting difficult patent cases. You’ll get into details of where you did all this in the experience section and later, show examples of how you made a difference.If it captures your individuality, downplays potential liabilities and gives proof you have what it takes to do the job you want, then make your resume more than one page. So what if it takes two or three pages to separate you from the pack? If you don’t get noticed, what’s the point?It’s unfortunate that so many people are conditioned to create a short resume, believing the employer will give only a 10-second read. It would be much wiser to develop a document that easily captivates an employer upon first look so that he will give you the time of day.
How To Differentiate Yourself
To make yourself stand out in a crowd, you need certification. In an ever more difficult job market, you need every edge you can get to find the top-tier jobs. It is a simple fact that if you are not where you want to be now, you must do something different than you have done in the past to get a different, better result. the Professional Bookkeeper program gives you that kind of competitive advantage. Its focus on small to medium sized businesses is unique among Accounting and Bookkeeping training.Universities teach Accounting for the largest 2% of companies. We teach Accounting and Bookkeeping for the other 98%. This segment of the market needs your help the most and has the fewest bookkeepers well-qualified to serve their needs. So if you really want your resume to get results, the Professional Bookkeeper designation on the end of your name will get you the attention your skills deserve.Learn How to Get the Professional Bookkeeper Designation So Your Resume Gets Noticed
These days it’s called an alternative work schedule, a compressed work week, or a flexible work arrangement. Regardless of what some may call it, many view these alternative work schedules as appealing options. It enables employees to better balance their work and personal lives. And it can also increase productivity and save employers money. But how does it work and can you get your boss to approve?
Flex-Time
First, let’s explain the differences. A flexible work schedule allows employees to work the traditional eight-hour workday but at a less traditional time. Many choose to start working their eight hours earlier in the day, for example, from six in the morning until three in the afternoon. Or perhaps they begin their work day later in order to end later, let’s say from ten in the morning until seven in the evening. Regardless of the schedule they choose, these employees are expected to be at work Monday through Friday at their predetermined times.
Compressed Work Schedule
A compressed work schedule allows employees to work longer hours each workday in order to shorten their work week. These employees are still expected to put in their full 40 hours but in a compressed work schedule. For example, a four-day work week requires employees to work 4 10-hour days. A three-day work week requires employees to put in 13 hours and 20 minutes for three days in order to enjoy a four-day weekend.
Getting Employer Approval
Obviously, your employer has final say in whether or not you can adopt one of these alternative work schedules. But there are ways to broach the subject in order to appeal to your employer and have a better chance at approval. Here are just a few do’s and don’ts:
DON’T get personalInstead of approaching your boss with all the reasons a flexible work arrangement would benefit YOU (more time with your family, the opportunity to earn a degree, the chance to participate in hours of community service), identify how it would benefit your employer. Not only do alternative work schedules enable employers to better recruit and retain quality employees, but studies consistently show that employees with flexible work schedules are happier and more productive.DON’T wing itIt’s important that you prepare your case in advance. Expecting to walk in and woo your boss without any forethought or study will not do yourself nor your boss any favors.DO anticipate the employer’s concernsConsider all the factors that might concern your boss. How will the altered work schedule affect your responsibilities, your performance, the coworkers who rely on your position, and your ability to interact with key constituents? Anticipate all his/her concerns and prepare your proposal accordingly.DO prepare a coherent and persuasive proposal Determine the schedule you would prefer and prepare your proposal as you would prepare a speech. Include key talking points that would appeal to your boss and iterate employer benefits. Emphasize your dedication to the company, and how that won’t change with an altered work schedule. Also remind your boss of your past work performance and how that has already benefited the company. Leave a hardcopy of your proposal so your boss can revisit your argument as a final decision is made.If your boss is resistant, DO suggest a trial periodAn employer may be uncomfortable with instituting an irreversible flex schedule without first seeing how well it may work. He/she may be more receptive if there’s a trial period; if the arrangement doesn’t prove beneficial to the company, you can resume your traditional work schedule. View this trial period as the opportunity to prove just how beneficial this can be, not just for you, but for the employer and other employees who may want to follow your lead.
In approaching your employer remember that you are part of a team, and your proposal is a genuine reflection on how an alternative work schedule benefits everyone involved. A happy employee is usually a productive one who, in turn, makes the employer more productive and more profitable.References“Flex Schedules Can Balance Work, Home Times,” by Tory Johnson, ABCnews.com”Plan Your Negotiation Strategy,” WorkOptions.com
May Not Be As Scary As First Thought 
We’ve all gotten stuck in rush hour traffic, gridlocked going in a direction that you decide, too late, isn’t the best way to go. You begin to feel that your exit is much too far away. The same exact thing can also happen to your career. You may get going in one direction, going along all nicely then suddenly realize that you’re gridlocked in the wrong accounting and bookkeeping track, seemingly with no exit in sight. But don’t panic. Here are five things you can do to switch lanes and find your way off the road you’re currently traveling and onto the road that’s a better match forwhat you want to do in the accounting field.
ResearchFirst, do your research! A change should only follow much thought and reflection, and a little internet research wouldn’t hurt. It’s important that you take the time to study out the new accounting track you want to enter. Know what’s required for those employed in those type of positions, the experience and expertise needed, whether or not you would be able to move up, and where you might find those types of jobs.
And don’t leave your current position on a whim because you’ve heard collections specialists or credit managers are all the rage. Switching jobs simply because it’s trendy or a friend thinks it’s the most lucrative job around are not good reasons to risk the security of your current position. Change careers because it’s something you really feel strongly about.
Take InventoryBecause you are in the bookkeeping and accounting profession already, many of your skills and experience are transferable. Take inventory of what you now do and, following the research encouraged above, see how it might apply to the position you would like to get. Remember, a lot relies on how you present your skills and experience. If you know what a job requires you can often communicate your ability to do it by showing how your expertise can be properly applied.
A lot of your experience has nothing to do with accounting or bookkeeping but is still seen as valuable by potential employees. Do you have any experience with startups? Small businesses? Big businesses? Large projects? Unsupervised projects? High-pressure work environments? Difficult clients and/or coworkers? Remember these experiences when selling yourself to a potential employer.
NetworkLook at your contacts to see if there’s anyone with connections to the type of position you’re looking for. Make an effort to meet people in this new field of interest. You can learn more about general job satisfaction and requirements by talking to others. And once you make solid contacts, they can keep you informed of any openings they become aware of.
Moonlight Some of the experience that may be required could be obtained after your day job, either in the form of a part-time job or through freelancing work. Not only will this added effort look great on a resume, but it will also show how willing you are to extend yourself in order to break into a new field. That speaks volumes to potential employers of your dedication.
Get Some TrainingIncreasing your skillset is always a plus. And some of that required experience and expertise can be obtained through a training program. Again, that looks great on your resume and reminds employees of your dedication.
By Amy Lindgren — Knight Ridder Newspapers
When people get stuck in their job searches or career changes, it’s sometimes because of poor technique.Their resumes need revision or they interview poorly, for example. These problems are relatively easy to diagnose and repair, provided the individual is not too discouraged to keep on trying.But sometimes the problem runs deeper. If jobs are difficult to find, should the job seeker switch fields, or dig in and try harder? If a new career requires relocating, should the person go for it or hold off until the kids have graduated?In my experience, almost every “stuck” job search has at its root an unmade decision.Career changers who don’t actually change careers but spend years complaining about their current work have not made up their minds to stay or leave. They live in limbo instead, finding it easier to suffer loudly than to accept the situation gracefully or act to change it.Likewise, job seekers who don’t send out resumes or who won’t network are practicing a type of job search sabotage that stems from not being committed to the work they are seeking.If you don’t really want the job, it’s very difficult to motivate yourself to go after it. That’s not to say these job seekers don’t want to work — they just haven’t decided which job they want and what they will do to get it.In truth, the act of deciding is more difficult for most of us than the process of implementing whatever decision we make. Part of our problem stems from a lack of training in the practice of decision-making itself. Following are two books, from two very different viewpoints, that may help you develop this key skill.Decide! How to Make Any Decision, by Karen Okulicz, 2002, $10, available at www.okulicz.com or 1-888-529-6090. Okulicz’s approach to decision-making is extremely simple. In her slim book, she outlines just three steps that relate directly to that task and five more steps to help the reader act on a decision.The decision-making steps are: exercise, to clear your mind; make a list of current problems and the solutions to those problems; and ask yourself yes-no questions.The implementation steps include standards such as visualizing the outcome and putting away doubt and fear. On the one hand, this approach is bound to frustrate someone on the horns of a dilemma.Not sure about relocating? In step three you are instructed to ask yourself, Should I move? And accept the first answer that comes into your head, yes or no. This advice is the equivalent of having an exasperated friend shout, “Just decide already!” Which may be Okulicz’s point.As she notes in the book’s final chapters, most bad decisions are either reversible or redeemable. If you choose the wrong training program, you’ll still learn something. If you took the wrong job, you can take another one. At least you will have moved forward in some way.The Problem Solving Journey: Your Guide for Making Decisions and Getting Results, by Christopher Hoenig, 2000, $20. Hoenig’s approach to decision-making is as complex as Okulicz’s is simple.His six steps all involve graphs and case studies, drawing on resources as diverse as ancient Chinese cultures and modern capitalist product launches. He even includes a scale to help you determine your personal problem-solving style and the flaws and strengths of your style.As the title indicates, this book is more about problem solving than decision making. In the world of job search, the two are different, though intertwined disciplines.Your problem may be unemployment, but the decision that will help you solve that problem is which job to go for and how. Or your decision may be whether to solve the problem with a job or through self-employment or some other means.While this book is not specifically about employment, it does a nice job of differentiating the problem-solving and decision-making steps. This is a good book for those interested in the larger dimensions of problem solving and the decisions that flow from that process. Hoenig’s writing is clear and literary, with practical applications of a very theoretical subject.If, on the other hand, you’re just trying to make a decision and move forward in your life, you might be better served by the simple, motivational approach described by Okulicz. Can’t decide? Call the library and see which book is available. Then get started.Amy Lindgren, the owner of a career-consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn., can be reached at alindgrenpioneerpress.com.
Stuck In Your Career? How to Get Moving Again
Without constant forward motion, careers stagnate. We find it easy to do what we have always done, and get what we have always gotten. So how does one break out of the rut that they have found their career in?When your employer sees you, is their vision limited by what they have seen you do in the past? You need something to get noticed. It is an established fact that if an employer cannot picture you in a role, they will not put you there either. If you work in Accounting, Bookkeeping, or a related field, the best way to get noticed is with additional training. And the best way to get accelerated training is with the Professional Bookkeeper program. In just 60 hours of video-based teaching that you learn at your pace, you will learn the full Accounting process that will make your boss notice you and picture yourself in internal promotional opportunities as they arise.Maybe even more important is that upon successfully completing the Professional Bookkeeper course, you will be able to add the PB designation to the end of your name. Bearing the PB designation states boldly to potential employers that you have what it takes to do the entire Accounting process from clerk to Full Charge Accountant with emphasis on small to mid-sized business accounting. The PB designation proves that you have the hands-on skills to work in a variety of Accounting tasks and can be called upon to perform a broad range of Accounting and Bookkeeping responsibilities. With the PB designation, you show that you know!Learn How to Accelerate Your Career With the Professional Bookkeeper Program
Nike does it. Starbucks does it. Even Nabisco does it. In fact, it’s all the rage. Branding. And before you say that branding is only for businesses, let me clarify by saying that branding is all the rage in career advancement.When a company brands their products and services they are making a public promise that they will live up to the name, or the brand they have created. The same idea can apply to a person trying to advance is his/her career.Ten years ago Tom Peters first introduced the concept of personal branding in a FastCompany.com article entitled “The Brand Called You.” He said, “Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”So how do you create your own personal brand? Here are three simple steps:
1. Define Your Brand
Ask yourself, what makes you different? In what ways do you rise above your colleagues and offer more to employers? And don’t confine yourself to your current job description and job title. Consider what you’ve done this month, this week, today, in order to stand out and make a statement. The characteristics that make you different also define your brand.Peters explained, “You’re every bit as much a brand as Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop. To start thinking like your own favorite brand manager, ask yourself the same question the brand managers at Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop ask themselves: What is it that my product or service does that makes it different? Give yourself the traditional 15-words-or-less contest challenge. Take the time to write down your answer. And then take the time to read it. Several times.”These 15 words are the start of your own personal brand. Use them to focus your efforts as you move through the next two steps.
2. Enhance Your Profile
Perhaps you feel that your brand could use a little help. Never fear. You can always enhance your profile in order to create a more powerful brand. In what ways would you like to stand out? Define those areas and then take action to enhance them. Volunteer for new responsibilities in the workplace, take a community enrichment course, enroll in a professional training program, or earn a certificate or professional designation. It’s never too late to build a brand of your own. And while you enhance your profile you’re also promoting your brand by letting your current employers and all your colleagues know what you wish to do well. For example, if you enroll in UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program, you’re telling employees that your brand has expertise in small business accounting; you’re also telling them that you’re willing to enhance your skills as you enhance your brand. This is a great step in the direction of promoting your brand.
3. Promote Your Brand
Once you’ve determined what, exactly, your brand is, you must take measures to promote it. Like any business, you must market yourself in such a way that your brand takes on a life of its own, becoming memorable and attractive. Consider all the ways you can showcase your brand and all those characteristics that make you a unique employee. Volunteer for specific projects at work, teach an enrichment course in your community, write an article for a local publication, or join a panel discussion. Any of these things would get your brand more exposure as you focus on letting others know what makes you distinct.As Peters said, “It’s over. No more vertical. No more ladder. That’s not the way careers work anymore. Linearity is out. A career is now a checkerboard. Or even a maze. It’s full of moves that go sideways, forward, slide on the diagonal, even go backward when that makes sense. (It often does.) A career is a portfolio of projects that teach you new skills, gain you new expertise, develop new capabilities, grow your colleague set, and constantly reinvent you as a brand.”
Universal Can Help You Enhance Your Brand
Let Universal Accounting Center help as you consider all the ways you can create a personal brand. Our DVD 4 pack is designed to let people like you discover those skills that can make you a more valuable employee. The DVD 4 pack includes the following DVD’s:
Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program–Learn how becoming a Professional Bookkeeper will improve your accounting skills and help you in your accounting career.
Introduction to the Professional Tax Preparer Certification–Learn how becoming a Professional Tax Preparer will improve your tax skills and help you in your career.
Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service–Learn how to make over $80,000 per year working from home while getting more clients than you can handle. Know how to charge your client so you can afford to take that next vacation while they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you.
The Art and Science of Getting Clients–Learn proven marketing strategies designed to help accountants market their skills in order to get more clients.Each of these DVD’s can help you better define your own brand. Order now and save nearly $25.00 on this valuable set. For less than $20 you can be on your way to a valuable personal brand.
