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If you want to receive a higher salary than most professionals, why not become an accountant? Though accountancy may be viewed by other people as a boring job, the truth is, you can get lucrative earnings, and still be able to enjoy challenging work, dependent upon the kind of accounting you want to do. Take note that there are several types of accounting jobs that you can choose from to ensure that you'll never be bored when holding an accounting post.

Some Basic Information On Accounting

Accounts Interview Questions for the big 4

Entry Level Accounts Interview Questions

Entry level accounting jobs can be tough to get as you would probably face the most stringent competition any discipline of a job has to offer. Mostly as the post “junior accountant” you might get into working for the government, regular small and large scale businesses, CPAs and sometimes Non Profit organizations as well. There is an ocean of opportunities in accounting provided you have the education or the experience or if you are lucky enough, both.

Step 1.

The internet provides the majority of the opportunities and chances for prospective employees. As you may already have figured out, there are lots of job sites for fresh accountants all over the internet. Apart from the big guns you might also want to try out small communities and forums for openings. Free websites without registration can also be a part of the huge job bank available. Post your resumes in the local CPA network and you might get your first call.

Step 2.

You have to build up a very strong network for yourself. Get to know people who are interested in hiring new accountants and maintain a social interaction in clubs and meetings of accountants. Getting to know honchos in accounting field might lead you to use their references when you apply for a job. Also, tell your neighbors and friends that you want to be placed in an accounting position. You might be surprised to find out what people can offer unexpectedly. Who can tell, your next door might be your first leap into your accounting career.

Step 3.

Try to build your resume as professionally as possible and with the proper combination with the good interview you might as well bag the job easily. If you don’t get calls as much you might want to recheck your resume and also brush up your interviewing skills.

Step 4.

In the interview, be punctual and provide answers to the point and try to play with numbers whenever you have the slightest chance. Remember there are different types of accounting jobs and you must be sure where you want to go. If you have done your homework and know which accounting job and accounting career gets you maximum money, try not to put it very blatantly.

Step 5.

Take your accounting internship very seriously. Remember that, not only takes you into the feeling of the field you are about to set your foot in, but also will provide you with a tremendously helpful work experience. Try to get contacts and make priorities into your social network to make the best of every chance possible.

Do not hesitate any opportunity that might come into your way. Accounting salaries are varied according to the type of job and position. Do not get disappointed if you start with something as little as data entry. Everything has its own value and accounting salary will rise up proportionally to your expertise and experience. Put all of these in mind and apply wherever you see yourself in.

Accounts Telephone Interview Questions

If you have impressed the reader with your CV and application, you may be invited to do a telephone interview with the company you are applying to for your next Accountancy Job. Companies may decide this is the best first option if you live far away from the offices.

A telephone interview should be treated in the same way as a normal interview and should taken as seriously. However, it could be seen as being a little easier as you are not sitting right in front of the interviewer. The person you speak to will have a series of questions that they will want to ask you and will certainly want to elaborate on your CV. 

Before you are scheduled in to conduct the interview, jot down all the answers to the most commonly asked questions and have that in front of you so you can then refer to these. Try however, to answer them in a natural way. 

Also note down in a list all your accountancy skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job and keep in mind what they are actually looking for so you can tailor your answers accordingly. Think about the skills required for an Accountancy Job including numerical skills, organisation, presentation etc and make sure you show you can perform these skills.

Make sure you have your CV and application form that you sent to the company in front of you. You then know what they know and can refer to it if necessary.

Be professional and do not speak too quickly. Do not use slang and certainly do not interrupt or talk over the interviewer. Keep smiling at all times as there have been studies to show that this has a positive effect on the person who is listening. 

Finally, keep in mind that the interviewer is only human and it is not an interrogation. At the end, if you want to ask questions about the Accountancy Job you are applying for, then do.

Accounts CV Tips to Secure an Interview

Here are just 10 top CV writing tips to help you find a new Accountancy Job…

Keep it Simple
A CV is your first and possibly only chance of securing an interview in an new accountancy role. It is therefore vitally important that it works for you and not against you. Use it to draw attention to your strengths, achievements and accountancy skills.

Lead with Achievements
Make frequent use of active verbs, such as, achieved, set up, managed, responsible for, led. Don't use bullet points to describe jobs, prose is easier to read and you can be more descriptive. Show what accounting tasks you have been involved in and where you have achieved the most.

Work Reverse Chronologically
Start with your current employment, and work back, remembering to include the name of your employer, start and end dates, your job title and a brief description, plus your accomplishments. If you are looking for your first job, list any relevant accountancy work experience first, paid or unpaid.

Be Honest
Lying on your CV is a waste of your time as well as for your prospective employer. Adding six months to your time in a job can seem like a good idea, but if you are caught out you will have lost the job for sure. But don't sell yourself short. If you think the three summers you spent working for a local accountant learning about their practices and procedures is important, you should say so.

Specific Skills
It could be a good idea to list all IT software packages that you can use to perform your accountancy job and show how familiar you are with these. It could be impressive that you are knowledgeable about online programmes. Ensure you mention other very specific accounting skills that are important to the job.

Education
Give equal attention to achievements while at University - but not if you have been in the job market for more than two years. Captain of the debating team, student union rep, set designer for the university play all show you to be enthusiastic, a self-starter and full of initiative.

Don't Overcrowd Your CV
Don't feel you need to keep your CV to one page. If it's three pages then that is better than it all being on top of each other, as long as the content and layout is appropriate. If your potential employer has to work hard to read your CV, they will quickly lose interest.

Spelling
No employer will want to hire someone who can't be bothered to check their own work and typos and grammatical errors mean your CV goes straight in the bin. Don't rely on the spell check to pick up any mistakes, read it over thoroughly.

Two Pairs of Eyes
Ask someone else to proof read your CV for you, as a fresh eye is useful to spot mistakes or offer suggestions. Once you've read your CV three or four times, it's difficult to stand back and look at it objectively. Never try and finish your CV in one sitting, always go back to it after a couple of days.

References
Check with referees before you use their names. There's nothing worse than using someone who has either moved on or holds a grudge against you. The best people to use for references are your current employer or a professor or teacher at your college/university.

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