Theres Only So Much You Can Control in the Job Search

Theres Only So Much You Can Control in the Job SearchTheres Only So Much You Can Control in the Job SearchTheres Only So Much You Can Control in the Job SearchIf youve been searching several months for a new job, or if youre unemployed and wondering when and where youll be working again, youve probably had at least one moment when you questioned your abilities or wondered why you havent been able to land a new job.Have you ever thought that it just might not be your fault?Hiring is not a science. In fact, any of the following factors can hurt your chancesThe hiring manager welches in a bad mood when he or she read your resumeYou wore a nice, conservative blue suit to the interviewbut the hiring manager just doesnt like blueYou have a funny last name, like Howerschnitzer or Flutersnoot, that elicits a snicker from a hiring managerYour name is James and there are already three Jameses in the hiring managers small department orYour last place of employment, where you made great career p rogress, happens to be the same company that fired the hiring managers wife.OK, anyone who makes hiring decisions like those deserves a huge can of whoop-ass. But those are factors you cant control. One of our favorite bloggers, Alison Green, herself a hiring manager, offers six key insights into how employers choose their job candidates. According to Alison, it all comes down to who stands out above the rest, how the candidate would get along with his or her boss and mesh with the company culture, and who really wants the job.The truth is, you cant really control the hiring managers perceptions, either. All you can do is be honest with yourself and others in the hiring process and give it your best shot.

Two Awesome LinkedIn Summary Examples (with Templates)

Two Awesome LinkedIn Summary Examples (with Templates) Two Awesome LinkedIn Summary Examples (with Templates) Your LinkedIn summary is one of the most important elements of your profile. LinkedIn gives you 2,000 characters (including spaces) to summarize your background and, besides your headline, your summary is the first thing people see. That means that many recruiters, hiring managers and potential geschftliches miteinander contacts will read this section even if they dont make it all the way through your profile.To make it easy to write a profile that covers all the key points, Im going to give you two different templates that you can customize to suit your own background and situation.The first is for you if your job search does elend have to be kept secret. The second is a slightly amended version for those who dont want anyone to know they are looking.Profile for non-secret job searchesIf you dont have to keep your search secret, its important to make clear that youre looking for a job, and to provide clear contact information. Heres my profile formulaOpening paragraph Describe the work you do and the level you do it at (executive, manager, professional, etc.) along with any special expertise (industry specialization, skills, top companies worked for, etc.). You can include years of experience here as long as thats impressive, but dont go over 15. (If its more than that, you can say 15+.)Next paragraph Describe what you do currently (or what you did most recently) and select a few impressive accomplishments to describe very briefly. You can also give a concise overview of earlier experience and be sure to include awards or honors if you have won them.3rd paragraph Heres where you describe your personal work style and important character traits.4th paragraph Summarize your education and any important work-related qualifications.Contact information Explain that youre exploring new opportunities and provide your phone number (if you have decided to include it).Lets look at a profile for a marketing manager, written using this templateIm a marketing manager with 10 years of experience in both web and traditional advertising, promotions, events, and campaigns. I have worked on integrated campaigns for major clients such as Etrade, Bank of America, Sony Music, and Microsoft and have been recognized with several awards during my career.Until recently, I led marketing for XYZ Corp, a software developer focused on middleware for the video game industry. In this role I was focused on B2B marketing, although I have done extensive B2C work in the past. Successes included creating a social media and online advertising campaign that generated enormous media buzz and was key to the successful launch of the Zwango software in 2010. Previous experience includes agency work with XYZ Partners and Red Dog Marketing.Colleagues know me as a highly creative marketer who can always be trusted to come up with a new approach. But I know that the clients b usiness comes first, and I never try to impose my ideas on others. Instead, I spend a lot of time understanding the business and the audience before suggesting ideas. I can (and often do) work well alone, but Im at my best collaborating with others.I have an MBA from New York University and a BA from the University of Southern California.Im currently freelancing while I pursue new opportunities and can be reached either through this profile or by phone at 914-555-5555.For secret searchesWhen conducting a secret search, you want to promote yourself effectively while also giving the impression of being happy in your current role. This profile template will help you to do just that.Opening paragraph Describe your current position. By opening with this, you are telling your current employer that you are content. This wont hurt you with recruiters because they will still contact you if they have a suitable vacancy. You may even seem more desirable to them because you are currently happil y employed. As you describe your current position, talk about the scope of your responsibility and, if you talk about achievements, talk about them in the context of team achievement (see below for an example). This again conveys that you are not actively looking to promote yourself, but it gives recruiters a good sense of your experience.Next paragraph Give a brief synopsis of your prior experience, again focusing on describing the facts rather than promoting specific accomplishments.3rd paragraph Describe why you enjoy your work. (This will impress employers but it will also signal to your current employer that youre content, and will therefore help you keep your search a secret).4th paragraph Summarize your education and any important work-related qualifications.Contact information Close by saying that youre always interested in connecting with colleagues or old friends. (If your boss is wondering why you created a LinkedIn profile, heres your explanation.)Heres how the profile f or the same marketing manager would look using this templateIm the Marketing Manager for XYZ Corp, a software developer focused on middleware for the video game industry. In this role I lead the companys B2B marketing efforts, overseeing a team of four marketing and schlussverkauf professionals and managing the annual spend. Our most exciting work to date was creating a social media and online advertising campaign that generated enormous media buzz and was key to the successful launch of the Zwango software in 2010. Not only did we have fun creating that campaign, but also we found it rewarding to see the results.Before joining XYZ, I worked for two marketing agencies XYZ Partners and Red Dog Marketing - and was lucky enough to work with amazing clients such as Etrade, Bank of America, Sony Music, and Microsoft.Im truly passionate about my work and always eager to connect with other marketers. While I enjoy all aspects of my job, I think my favorite stage of a project is working w ith the client or business unit leader to understand his or her business objectives. As we go through that collaborative process, the ideas start to flow and thats always the fun part.I have an MBA from New York University and a BA from the University of Southern California.Im always interested in hearing from former colleagues, managers, or just interesting creative folk, so feel free to contact me if youd like to connect.Whichever template you choose, youll be sure to end up with a powerful LinkedIn summary that tells your story clearly and concisely. if youd like to see my principles in practice, check out my LinkedIn profile here.If youd like professional help with your profile, just shoot me an email here. Id be happy to provide feedback on your existing profile along with a firm price quote to strategize and write a new one. Plus, as a reader of this blog (and therefore clearly a person with impeccable taste) Im happy to offer you a 15% discount. Just mention the blog in your email. You might also be interested in4 ways to write powerful LinkedIn job descriptionsHow to Keep your Job Search Secret on LinkedInThe Top 5 Ways to Get Noticed on LinkedIn

5 Benefits of Taking on a Job in Accounting Operations

5 Benefits of Taking on a Job in Accounting Operations5 Benefits of Taking on a Job in Accounting OperationsI spoke to some friends and acquaintances recently who work in accounting operations. Why do you like your work? I asked them. Do you have any advice for others who want to work in bookkeeping, payroll, billing, accounts payable and accounts receivable, credit and collections, financial data entry or other accounting jobs?Some are just starting in accounting. Some work as temps. Others are closing in on retirement. Surprisingly, their answers are similar. Here are the five primary reasons they gave for choosing a career in accounting operations1. Passion for the workI find numbers fascinating, and I like analyzing data so I can create reports to help my employer make better financial decisions. - Mary B., bookkeeperThe people I talked to said they like working in an office where they are appreciated for what they do well - such as being detail-oriented, analytical and good wi th information involving numbers.Mary worked as an office manager for a small company and enjoying keeping things orderly and organized. But the duties that involved numbers were what propelled her to her current job as a bookkeeper for a nonprofit organization.The passion is in the precision, she says, and she cant imagine doing anything else.Why do accountants love their jobs? In a Robert Half survey of finance and accounting professionals, 41 percent said solving problems gave them the most career satisfaction, followed by working with numbers (22 percent).2. Opportunities for advancementWith some night classes under my belt, I know I can work up to my bosss job in a few years. - Melissa P., collections clerkIts possible to enter the field of accounting operations with a high school diploma, but with higher education, training and certifications, opportunities for advancement are more plentiful in every industry.For instance, if youre an entry-level payroll clerk, you can work y our way up to a management position with a bachelors degree in accounting or finance, a certified payroll professional (CPP) designation, and proficiency with a range of payroll software.3. Increasing pay levelsI just got a new job in the same office that pays a good bit more than the last one ... - Linda C., payroll managerThe 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals shows midpoint salary projections for more than 190 finance and accounting positions, including those in operational support. Heres a samplingThe midpoint salary for credit managers/supervisors is $71,000, according to the Salary Guide. Credit/collections clerks are likely to see midpoint salaries of $39,000, and credit/collections analysts can expect $51,750.A general bookkeeper midpoint salary is $38,500. Full-charge bookkeepers who prepare financial statements can expect a midpoint salary of $43,250.The midpoint salary for accounts receivable or accounts payable clerks is $35,250. For A/R and A/P managers, the midpoint salary projection is $61,750.At the midpoint, candidates have average experience with the necessary skills to meet the job requirements, and the role may be in an industry where competition for talent is moderate. The salaries reflect starting pay only and are based on actual placements throughout the United States, as well as an analysis of the demand for the role, the supply of talent and other market conditions.Visit the Salary Center, where youll be able to adjust salaries for accounting and financial jobs in your city with the Salary Calculator, and get your own copy of the Salary Guide. 4. Supply and demandIve never had trouble finding an accounting position in any of the towns where Ive lived. - Jan T., accounts payable clerkAs the Bureau of Labor Statistics points out, software and technology improvements, such as cloud computing, have automated many office task s. But theres still a demand, as staff openings in accounting operations are being created with the retirement of Baby Boomers and the growth of small businesses.5. Flexible job optionsI get to expand on my knowledge base with every temporary placement Ive had. - Marie E., medical billing specialistA look at Accountemps job openings shows how many possibilities exist in the world of accounting operations, including full time, part time, temporary and temp-to-hire arrangements.When you take on temporary employment, you have the chance to evaluate a variety of jobs, companies, industries and cities while developing financial skills, gaining office know-how, learning new technology, experiencing different management styles and making new contacts in a particular industry. This arrangement gives you the flexibility, resources and time necessary to find the best fit for you. You might also be able to arrange your own schedule to achieve better work-life balance.If youre looking for a te mporary job in accounting operations, visit our Career Center, and find out how we can help.