Applying for a job

You've graduated from college, the first major step in your CPA career. Now comes the challenging part — completing your education, passing the CPA and ethics exams, plus a year of work experience.

Once you find a job that seems to be what you are looking for and for which you are qualified, prepare your self to apply. The application process is your first chance to make a good impression on your potential employee. Be sure that you are ready.

Your resume and cover letter must promote and market your skills and abilities. Remember, your resume and letter are direct reflections of their author. If you need help writing your resume or cover letter, trust the professionals — visit you career center or read a career guidance book. Happy job hunting!

Cover letter pointers

Try to address your letter to a specific person. If an ad doesn't mention a name, make a quick call to the company to see who is handling the hiring process for that position.
Limit your letter to one page maximum.
Use spell check and grammar check.
Make every sentence count.
Try to address any specific requirements mentioned in the ad.
Visit your school's career center for additional pointers.
Don't forget to say, "Thank you."

What to include in your resume

The following will help to enhance your resume:

Professional objective: Brief statement on the position you would like to acquire.
Education: List of colleges attended, major and GPA, if excellent.
Experience: List relevant full- and part-time jobs, including summer jobs and internships. A brief list of responsibilities can be included.
Extracurricular activities: List community service, leadership positions and programs in which you participate.
References: "Furnished upon request."

Resume review

Keep your resume to two pages maximum.
Make your resume easy to read. Use a readable type size and keep the font simple. Be sure to have margins and headings.
Be concise. Use phrases, not lengthy sentences.
Check grammar and spelling. Even the most qualified candidates have been tossed aside because of a spelling mistake.
Use a high-quality paper in a neutral color (white, ivory, gray, tan, etc). Don't use brightly colored paper or pastels.
Always keep a resume current.
Assess what your resume says about you for each job to which you apply. For instance, a potential employer in industry accounting may be interested that you covered the groundbreaking of a plant for your school newspaper. A public accounting firm may be more interested in another extracurricular activity.

Resume language

Be sure that your resume is filled with strong action words, such as:

Administer
Demonstrate
Produce
Advise
Establish
Promote
Assist
Generate
Report
Attain
Improve
Teach
Collaborate
Maintain
Compose
Motivate
Delegate
Organize