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Finding the best accounting jobs is about working hard and smart. Use these tips to give yourself an edge in your hunt.
Wouldn’t it be great to win the lottery? You could laze about all day, watching endless episodes of Lost on DVD or Netflix. Or, if you prefer a more active lifestyle, you could buy a boat, and sail around the world.
Of course, the odds of winning the lottery are pretty slim. Chances are that you’re going to have to work for a living, like the rest of us. But landing a great accounting job – one in which we don’t have to struggle to motivate ourselves or work to find fulfillment – is perhaps the next best thing. And unlike the lottery, your job search doesn’t have to depend on blind luck. In fact, there are a number of things you can do to find the best accounting jobs. Start with these three tips to improve your chances.
Map out your career (and don’t forget the destination)
Some are fortunate enough to simply stumble into the best accounting jobs. But most of us will have to create our own luck on the job market. That includes establishing a career plan or roadmap, at once through introspection and research.
And unlike the lottery, your job search doesn’t have to depend on blind luck.
The most important step in this process is determining your career goal(s). For example, perhaps you want to be a Finance Manager in a workplace that prioritizes collaboration and intellectual curiosity. The end goal isn’t simply a position or title; it also encompasses the core values that make you tick as a professional. After all, if a prospective company’s working culture and style don’t match your own, you’re likely to find yourself back at the drawing board sooner or later, looking for another job. And no one wants to have to go through this process again.
Network strategically
It bears repeating: to find truly great accounting jobs, you need to network aggressively and proactively, both within and without your organization. Internally, identify the areas of growth within your present company, along with the key decision-makers. If you think that your current company affords you real and meaningful opportunities to develop your personal and professional skillset, you may be better off staying there. It’s certainly easier to build relationships within an organization you’re already familiar with, than it is to network outside of it.
That being said, sometimes the best accounting jobs can only be found by networking outside of your established professional circles. Take a bit of time to research industries that are of interest to you. Pinpoint the key companies within each industry, and start to work your personal network to determine if any of them are hiring. Develop a great elevator pitch that sells your skills and differentiates you within the marketplace. Mine all of your resources: complete a stand-out LinkedIn profile, and connect with people in the companies you’ve identified. Even if you don’t find a job right away, networking strategically will help you transition when the right opportunity does eventually come along.
After all, if a prospective company’s working culture and style don’t match your own, you’re likely to find yourself back at the drawing board sooner or later, looking for another job.
Work with a recruiter
Teaming up with a recruiter can pay major dividends. Recruiters can be tremendous resources; among other things, they have access to well-developed networks of employer contacts. Partnering with the right one may be just the advantage your job search needs.
Use LinkedIn or other job boards to identify recruiters who specialize in your area of interest. For example, search for “Finance Manager,” and look at the different recruitment agencies that have posted jobs for finance managers. Contact these agencies so that you can start to build a positive relationship with one of their recruiters (but be sure to avoid some of the typical mistakes candidates make). Recruiters know where the great accounting jobs are and can help you find them.
At the end of the day, we all want a job that doesn’t just pay us a decent salary, but also draws us closer to our personal and career objectives. Follow these tips, and you’ll be sure to find a job that will make you feel like you hit the jackpot.
Let us know what you think! At Clarity Recruitment, we’re always interested in hearing from accounting and finance professionals like yourselves, who are ready for new, exciting opportunities that can take their careers to the next level. And be sure to follow us on Twitter (@clarityrecruits) and connect with us on Facebook for more great tips and advice!
