Resumes for Accountant

							                     Facts
• Most good jobs require a college education
  (good in terms of pay, stability, opportunities
  for advancement).
• Most of these good jobs will be filled based on
  three things: application letter, resume, and
  interview.
           Goals of this Unit
• Help you write a resume and application
  letter.
• Help you enhance the resume and application
  letter you already have on file.
• In either case, you leave with a resume and
  application letter you can use and adapt to
  help you land a good job.
                 Definitions
• Résumé—a detailed list or outline of a job
  applicant’s work history and other
  qualifications/skills

• Application Letter (Cover Letter)—a letter that
  accompanies the résumé and that provides a
  persuasive introduction to the résumé
              Some Resources

• IVCC Career Services Office
  http://www.ivcc.edu/cs/
• Monster.com
  http://www.monster.com/
                     Initial Tasks
• Identify a specific job or position for which you
  plan to apply.
• Identify skills and qualifications to include on
  résumé.
   –   Career Objective
   –   Personal Information
   –   Education
   –   Experience/Military Experience
   –   Specialized Skills or Credentials
   –   Honors and Awards
   –   Community Service
   –   References
           Career Objective

• Brief statement of career plans
• Example: To secure a rewarding position in
  a stable marketing firm.
• Example: A full-time position as a staff
  accountant.
• Use for résumés designed for specific jobs
  or positions.
• NOTE: May limit effectiveness of résumé
            Personal Information
•   Name
•   Address
•   Phone Number
•   Fax Number
•   E-mail Address
•   NOTE: No birth date, race, religious affiliation,
    marital status, social security number, height,
    weight, health, etc.
                   Education
•   Name and Address of Institution(s)
•   Program/Degree/Certificate
•   Dates of Attendance/Degree
•   Classes/Projects
•   Honors
•   GPA
•   NOTE: Typically, no high school
                 Experience
•   Job Title
•   Dates of Employment
•   Name and Address of Employer
•   Job Duties (Use ACTION Verbs)
            Military Experience
•   Branch
•   Dates
•   Highest Rank
•   Noteworthy Travel, Duty, Accomplishments,
    and/or Honors
    Specialized Skills or Credentials
•   Licenses
•   Certifications
•   Foreign Language
•   Technology Skills
•   Any other skill that doesn’t “fit” elsewhere
            Honors and Awards
•   Dean’s List
•   Merit Citations
•   Medals
•   Safety Awards
•   Scholarships, etc.
•   May place under education or experience.
            Community Service
•   Volunteer Work
•   Membership in Clubs, Organizations, Churches
•   Dates
•   Offices Held
•   Accomplishments
                  References
•   3-5 Professional, Positive References
•   Supervisors, Teachers, etc.
•   Ask Permission
•   Send upon Request
•   NOTE: No relatives or friends
        Guidelines for Résumés
1) Make Résumés Visually Attractive

  – Typed, quality print
  – 8 ½ x 11, standard bond, white paper
  – Creative, professional use of CAPS, boldface, and
    white space.
2) Clearly Label Information

   – Education, Experience, Honors, Community Service,
     etc.
   – Use boldface, CAPS, etc.
   – Use lists, especially bullets
   – Consistent presentation


3) Include All Necessary Details

   – Names, addresses, dates, etc.
   – BE HONEST.
4) Use Reverse Chronological Order

   –   Education
   –   Experience, etc.


5) Typically Limit to One Page
6) Make Mechanically Perfect

  –   No Grammar Errors
  –   No Sentence Structure Errors
  –   No Spelling or Punctuation Errors
  –   No Typos
  –   No Spacing or Format Inconsistencies
 Organizational Patterns for Résumés
• Chronological
  – Highlights Education and Work History in Reverse
    Chronological Order
• Functional
  – Highlights Skills/Areas of Competence
• Combination
  – Highlights Skills and Includes Chronological
    Detailing of Background
 When Should I Use the Chronological
             Pattern?

• Do I already have experience in my field?
• Does my job history show progressively more
  responsibility and accomplishment?
• Am I seeking the same type of job that I have
  held previously?
• Are my previous employers well-known?
   When Should I Use the Functional
             Pattern?

• Do I have a lot of different work experience
  that is not all in the same field?
• Have I changed jobs or careers frequently?
• Do I have frequent gaps in my job history?
• Am I new to the job market?
 When Should I Use the Combination
             Format?
• Do I have a lot of different work experience
  that is not all in the same field?
• Have I changed jobs or careers frequently?
• Do I have frequent gaps in my job history?
• Do I want to target my skills toward a specific
  job while still highlighting my work history?
             Application Letters
•   Accompanies each copy of a résumé
•   A persuasive introduction to the résumé
•   Often read first, before the résumé
•   Can distinguish applicants by the quality of
    the writing and the way in which it customizes
    the résumé
                 Guidelines
• Uses full block format
• Typed, quality print
• 8 ½ x 11, standard bond, white paper
• Length of one page—maximum
• Addressed to a specific person, position, or
  department
• Mechanically perfect
                 Components
• First Paragraph (One to three sentences)

  – Your purpose: applying for the job (specific title or
    position)
  – How you found out about the job
  – Why you want the job (what skills and background
    you bring to it)
• Middle Paragraph(s)

  – Summary of your experience, education, and
    other qualifications
  – Provide details not included on the résumé
  – Highlight noteworthy qualifications that might
    set you apart from other applicants
  – Explain special circumstances
  – Connect your qualifications to the employer’s
    needs (use a reader-centered perspective)
• Closing Paragraph

  – Thank the employer for considering your
    application
  – Request an interview
  – Include any necessary contact information