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Discover the best of our job search and career journalism
How to Transition From Accounting to Finance
A common question many accountants come across in their careers is how to transition out of accounting and into finance or FP&A roles. Benjamin Wann, CPA, CMA, MBA answers the question in this article.
Putting Together an Elevator Pitch and Answering the Question, “Tell Me About Yourself.”
Here’s how to answer the question, “Tell me about yourself” in an interview.
What Is A Resume Review And Why You Should Consider One
Ben Wann, CPA, CMA, MBA is an experienced Controller and the author of “Getting Shit Done, The No-Nonsense Framework for Closing the Strategy Execution Gap.” After meeting on LinkedIn, Ben challenged Cole to see if he could improve Ben’s resume. The following is Ben’s commentary on the process and result.
How To Be The First To Get An Interview
How do you get an interview before others even know there is a job opening? In many ways, hiring managers are very similar to job hunters. When an opening happens, they want to fill it as quickly, painlessly, and cheaply as possible. Sounds familiar right? You want to find a job as quickly, painlessly, and cheaply as possible.
Book Leadership vs. Real Finance Leadership
Mihai Tiplea & Cole Sperry discuss what real-life finance leadership looks like. Everything from authenticity, obtaining buy-in from your team, hiring, on-boarding, and Mihai's L.U.E.
Everything Old Is New, Getting The Attention Of Hiring Managers
An unsolicited resume will go straight to the trash bin. Hiring managers get hundreds of emails per day. But how many actual letters do they receive? Here's what you should be writing to get the attention of those with the power and desire to hire you.
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.
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.
Five steps to fast-start your job search
Here are five steps you can take right now to jump-start your job search.
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…
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?
Referencing your conversation to reinforce value in your follow up.
Follow up is king when you’re in the job hunt. But how you follow up with the interviewer can impact your success rates. In this video, you’ll see how to leverage your interview conversation to reinforce the value you bring to the table.
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.
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.
Why did you leave that job?
If you’re trying to explain why you left each job on your resume, press the brakes!
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.
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.
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.