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Interviews Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim Interviews Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim

Answering “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?”

There are over a thousand possible questions that could be thrown at you during an interview. One question that deserves some extra attention is the infamous “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?” Most people freeze at the mention of the question and advice from career coaches is all over the place. So how do you answer this question? Find out in this article.

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Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim

What Should be in the Header of Every Resume?

There are very few hard and fast rules that apply to writing a resume, but one standard you should always follow is including your name and contact information in the header. By including the information in the header, you will ensure it carries over to every page. The last thing you want is someone carrying a stack of printed resumes (yes, people still print), dropping them, and now your resume is missing a page.

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Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim

Why you shouldn’t post your resume online

Post your resume on internet job boards, sit back, and let the jobs come to me! Seems so simple. Yet, this is the most ineffective way to actually find a job. In fact, it’s by far the worst possible strategy for your job search. Let’s put things in perspective…

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Nathan Liao, CMA Nathan Liao, CMA

CMA vs CPA: Which Accounting Designation is Right for You?

Unsurprising, there is a lot of confusion about the difference between the two financial and accounting designations; more and more as the CMA rises in popularity.

So what is the difference between a CPA and a CMA and how will this affect your decision to choose a designation right for you?

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Interviews Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim Interviews Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim

When do I follow up on a job opportunity?

Are you following up after you submit a resume and after your interviews? Less than 20% of individuals do this and those that do - stand out! But many of us struggle with the rules of following up. When is it ok? How do we do it so we don’t sound desperate? See the answers to these and more in the video.

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Interviews Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim Interviews Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim

How much talking should I do?

Interviews are nerve-racking enough. Talk too much and you’re rambling. Talk to little and you can appear arrogant or uninterested. Here’s how to make sure you ace your next interview.

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Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim Cole Sperry, Founder & Managing Member at Optim

Rules for all resumes

There’s no right and wrong way to write a resume; however, there are some rules that generally apply to all resumes.

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Spencer Jones via LinkedIn Spencer Jones via LinkedIn

30 Skills for Auditors

Auditors do not wake up one day with all the skills necessary to do their job. They need to develop the necessary skills through study and deliberate practice. I ran across this list a long time ago and have used it to develop myself and advance my career. I would recommend reviewing this list and selected 4-5 skills that you would like to develop over the next year and put a plan together to accomplish that.  Opportunities will present themselves and doors will open when you invest in yourself and in your skills.

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Cole Sperry Cole Sperry

Six seconds, what do they see?

On average, your resume gets six seconds before a recruiter or hiring manager decides to read more or move on to the next resume. Six seconds! That’s not a lot of time to make an impression. What are the top three things they skim for?

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Cole Sperry Cole Sperry

What certification fits your finance career plan?

Approximately 40% of accounting and finance professionals have a specialized certification. It’s no secret that certifications can give you an advantage in the job market. It demonstrates commitment to your profession and expertise. Most everyone knows of the CFA, but there are other options you should explore.

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Cole Sperry Cole Sperry

Is a certification and education worth having?

Although having an advanced degree or certification is not necessary to achieving career success, there are some statistics you should be aware of when deciding how much education or what certification may be right for you and your path. It’s possible to advance your career without degrees and certifications. I have many clients who don’t have a bachelor degree, are in a management level role, and earn over $100,000 each year - that’s a rewarding career in my opinion. But having the right education and certification can certainly make your career advancement easier and earn you more money at the end. Here’s the stats from our latest survey.

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Cole Sperry Cole Sperry

What certification fits your accounting career plan?

Approximately 40% of accounting and finance professionals have a specialized certification. It’s no secret that certifications can give you an advantage in the job market. It demonstrates commitment to your profession and expertise. Most everyone knows of the CPA, but there are other options you should explore.

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Cole Sperry Cole Sperry

Why size matters in public accounting.

Public accountants assist with filing taxes, creating tax strategy, reviewing financial records, creating financial statements, and providing solid accounting advice to their clients along with many other things. So you think public accounting may be your career path? Select your firm carefully. Each comes with different pros and cons.

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