The better technology gets the better a resume must be. In days gone by, a company would put an ad in the paper and maybe they would get 15-20 responses if they were lucky. With an online posts it is not unusual to get hundreds of resumes on one post. As a hiring manager, sitting down to go through all of those can be quite wearisome. So wearisome that you accidentally skip over good candidates. This is why your resume must be at its best. I want to share with you 3 ideas on building an effective accountant resume.
1. You must speak the lingo. There is no room for generic statements or trying to cast a wide net. If you want a resume that gets noticed, then you must spell out your experience in great detail. This is important for an accountant resume to be effective. Do not just say that you handle the entire accounting cycle and think that it will be adequate. Employers are sometimes looking for specific skills. Also, most resumes get imported into a resume database. Hiring Managers and Recruiters alike will search for certain keywords. You will not be found if your resume does not have those words listed even if you have the experience and expertise!
2. You must spell out all the software applications that you know. Accounting resumes must also include any and all software programs that you know. Many employers put a heavy premium on software experience. One reason is because accounting and IT are becoming more and more integrated as technology increases. Another reason is that time is money and companies do not want to waste time training if they do not have to. On any and all accountant resumes you must listed out your software experience.
3. You must sell your accomplishments. If there is one major area that most Accountants struggle it is in this area. Most accountants do not like talking about themselves. Most people consider accounting to be on the opposite spectrum from sales. I would generally agree except for public accounting. Therefore, most accountants gravitate to accounting because they feel more comfortable working behind a computer than spending their day selling. That being said, it is still does not get rid of the need for selling on a resume. A resume is a sales brochure about you. While you do need to keep it in check, most accountants do not describe enough accomplishments. If you need some ideas to get started look for some accounting resume samples for ideas. I have a good sample accounting resume in the resume makeover section of this site.
So, what do you need to have a stunning accountant resume? Just incorporate the three steps above and you will be on your way to getting better results. As always, I am available for either a resume critique or a full resume makeover. Just click on the resume makeover button above.
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Jonathan is an Executive Recruiter/Career Coach that has successfully placed hundreds of Accounting & Finance Professionals. If you are currently struggling in your career, he is available on a limited basis for personal 1-on-1 career coaching and for resume makeovers.
