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Job Search Guidance
This is a comprehensive guide to finding a job, sending
the perfect cover letter and resume and knocking their
socks off in an interview.
Employers have the opportunity to post job openings and
TSCPA members can post their resumes through our partner
CareerBank.com. You will also find links to Web resources
to further assist you in your career search.
Post your resume or search
for a candidate
If you
wish to post your resume or if you are an employer and
are seeking candidates for a position follow this link
to the TSCPA Career
Center. This new feature is operated by our partner
CareerBank.com.
Search
TSCPA Classifieds: Job Openings
Post a job
Members may post openings at their
firms or companies free of charge on this page. Call 800.428.0272
ext. 250 or e-mail ddeakins@tscpa.net
for more details. Members can also post a basic job posting
to the TSCPA Career
Center.
Job Market Hints and Tips
Job Hunting
Tips
Writing
cover letters
It is important
to remember that a cover letter can serve as an employer's
first impression of you. The following will help you write
and convey the proper message when constructing a cover
letter.
Cover
letters are typically one page and usually contain three
main pieces - an introduction, a description of what you
have to offer and a call for action on the part of the
employer.
-
The introduction tells the employer who you are and
why you are writing. This is also the proper place to
tell the employer how you heard about the job opening.
-
When describing what you have to offer, it is important
that you do not rehash you resume. Instead, find key
aspects or successes from your background to focus on.
-
Finally, as you close your cover letter you should include
a call to action. This is where you thank the reader
for their time and consideration and either commit to
a telephone call as a follow up to the letter, or request
that the reader contact you to schedule an interview
or gather additional information.
The
final tip to creating a winning cover letter is to check
and recheck your letter for typos or grammatical errors.
See a sample cover
letter.
Resume Writing
There are two main focuses to creating or updating a resume
- the content and the format. The following tips will
help you develop an effective resume and avoid any mishaps
along the way.
Content
- Above all, be truthful. Don't misrepresent your education
or career background.
- Focus on listing your previous experience and education.
Be sure to include activities in professional associations
(TSCPA) if they relate to the job opportunity.
- Customize your resume to fit the specific requirements
of the job opening.
- Describe how your significant contributions affected
the bottom line.
- Don't include personal information such as social
activities, marital status and hobbies.
- Leave salary information off of the resume. If an
ad requests salary requirements, include them in the
cover letter.
Format
- Use white
or ivory bond paper and black ink. Avoid colored paper
- it does not copy or scan well. If you are e-mailing
your resume stick to a simple font or send it in ASCII
format.
- List your
work experience in reverse chronological order (most
recent position first) followed by your education.
- Use bullet
points when describing your job duties. Bullet points
are easier to read than paragraphs.
- Don't overdo
the text formatting with a lot of bolding or underlining.
- Give previous
positions with experience relevant to the job opening
more room for description.
See
a sample resume.
Interviewing
Now's your chance to show your potential employer that
you're the candidate they've been searching for. It's
critical to be well prepared so you can remain calm under
pressure. Here are some tips to help you get ready for
the big day:
- Give yourself
plenty of drive time to get to the interview location.
- Know the
exact time, place and interviewer's name before going
to the interview.
- Spend some
time on the Internet or in the library researching the
company. Learn what business the company is in, what
products/services it offers, who it's competitors are
and the mission, values and vision.
- Review your
resume before the interview.
- Bring additional
copies of your resume and a list of references with
you.
Once the interview
is underway, it is important to stay on your toes and
be ready to answer questions about your experience. The
following hints will help you communicate clearly and
stay focused:
- Look the
interviewer in the eye while speaking.
- Early in
your interview, ask the interviewer to describe the
position and the responsibilities so you can focus your
responses to relate to the job.
- Elaborate
when possible. Don't just say "yes" or "no."
- Communicate
your rationale for leaving previous employers professionally.
Avoid negative remarks about previous and current employers
or managers.
Remember, an
employer might throw a curve ball that could leave you
tongue-tied and stammering. Here are some suggestions
for handling a couple of tricky questions:
Tricky
Question 1: Why
should I hire you?
How to respond: Try being just as straightforward as the
interviewer when responding. Describe your most significant
strengths and accomplishments.
Tricky
Question 2: Tell
me about yourself.
How to respond: Focus on how you can benefit the employer
not just autobiographical aspects. You can begin by summarizing
your background and then outline your strengths and accomplishments
that relate to the job opportunity.
When it's time
to wrap up the interview you will most likely be asked
if you have any questions of your own. This is a great
opportunity to show the interviewer that you are hungry
for more information and that your interest in this position
is high. However, sometimes your mind goes blank and you
might think they've answered all of the questions you
already had. Here are a few sample questions to help jog
your mind:
- What are
some of the challenges of this position?
- What are
the expectations for this position?
- How do you
think I match up to this job opening?
- What's the
next step in the interview process?
As you finish
your meeting remember to stay positive and be enthusiastic
about the job and the company. It's always a good move
to reiterate your interest and thank the interviewer for
his time in a follow-up thank you note.
Web Resources
The
following Web sites offer additional job searching tips
and further resources:
CareerBank
Accountemps
AICPA
ResumeMatch & JobMatch
Career Journal
Corestaff Services
Net-Temps
Next Wave Staffing
for Tax & Audit Professionals
Piper-Morgan
Associates
Recruiters
Online Network
Robert Half
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