Landing an interview can feel like a long, uphill battle. Employers want people with who can ramp up quickly, drive the profitability of the business with solid decision making and are not bringing a lot of baggage to the office. If you want to give yourself a leg up, even if you’re just starting out, use these tips to market yourself as an expert and catch hiring managers’ eyes.
“Presenting yourself via a resume, via LinkedIn, or via a 30-second elevator speech is something you practice and master. Take the time to consolidate your value effectively and efficiently so the hiring manager stops, listens and invites you back for further consideration. Everyone wants to hire A players!” says Abby Prince, Managing Director, CSS ProSearch.
Quantify Your Achievements
Take a close look at your resume. In your previous experience, do you simply list out your job responsibilities? If so, it’s time to make some edits. Focus on the results you generated and the things you achieved for each employer, even for your internships. You might say something like, “Audited 700 accounts in 30 days, saving the company $4000 in external auditing fees.” Statements like that show that you will bring real value to the table and that you have gained important knowledge with every experience.
Grow Your Digital Profile
Eighty percent of employers Google candidates before they interview them. You will be looked up throughout your search, so make sure the hiring manager will find evidence that you know what you’re talking about. You won’t look like a rookie if you’ve created blog posts about hot accounting topics, if you regularly share and comment on content from finance thought leaders on LinkedIn, and if you actively participate in discussions on LinkedIn and A&F websites.
Get Your Name in Print
There is a service for journalists called “Help A Reporter Out,” that connects reporters with experts, so they can obtain advice and quotes for stories. If you sign up as an expert accounting source, you can receive daily updates related to your area of focus, and you can connect directly with national, regional and local reporters. Getting your name in print as an authority – especially if you can land quotes in A&F trade publications – will also add impressive results to your Google search profile. When you are quoted, make sure to share the story on LinkedIn, and social media, as well.
Book Speaking Engagements
There are professional business organizations in nearly every city and municipality in the country, and those groups are always looking for guest speakers to provide short presentations for their luncheons, seminars and events. You don’t have to be a seasoned professional with 30 years in the accounting and finance field to get booked, either. You just have to have useful information to share and a unique perspective to provide. Contact groups with some ideas on speaking topics and market yourself as an available speaker on social media. Through these local engagements, you can gain exposure, expand your network and market yourself as an accounting expert. You can also start branding yourself as an expert in a niche like tax, audit, forensic, fund accounting, cost accounting, or industry-specific accounting or financial topics. Make sure to include your guest speaking engagements to your resume and LinkedIn profiles so hiring managers will see them.
If you are starting a career in accounting and you want to jumpstart your job search, contact the expert recruiters at Contemporary Staffing Solutions today. We can help you find your ideal position and get your career started on the right foot.