How to Stand Out as a Recent Accounting Grad

Competition in the job market can be fierce, so it's important that recent accounting graduates learn how to market themselves before they begin their new job search. Because many university graduates have college loans to pay off in addition to other debt and household bills, it's imperative for them to find a job in their field quickly. When you market yourself and your skills correctly, you'll stand out from other recent accounting graduates, making it easier to find gainful employment.

If you're still attending college classes, consider becoming more involved in activities that relate to the accounting field. Getting involved with an internship program can help you make professional connections and prove that you're a hard worker. Also, go the extra mile and become a certified accountant—being certified puts you ahead of accounting graduates who aren't certified. You should also look into joining some of your university's organizations. While involvement in campus organizations is important, taking on a role as leader in an organization will also show potential employers that you have leadership skills—something that not all university graduates have.

Before you begin your job search, you need to decide how you're going to market yourself. You should consider using multiple tactics when you're looking for a job in the accounting field. As one of many recent accounting graduates, you need to ensure that your potential employers' first impression of you is a memorable one. There are many tools you can use to market your skills, including:

• Social networking websites,
  
   
• Online portfolio,
  
   
• Professional resume,
  
   
• Employment websites,
  
   
• Online forums relevant to the accounting industry, and
  
   
• Local networking events.

In addition to knowing where to market your skills, recent accounting graduates need to create a professional resume and online portfolio that are eye-catching and informative. While you probably don't have a lot of on-the-job experience, you can still make a professional resume that highlights your skills and the things that you've accomplished. Here are a few things you can do to make your resume stand out:

• Writing a professional and engaging cover letter that's tailored to the position you're applying for.
  
   
• Highlighting all of your accomplishments and achievements.
  
   
• Including an objective that highlights your skills.
  
   
• Including numbers with your results rather than simply listing accomplishments.
  
   
• Listing volunteer work, jobs you've held through college, and any organizations you belong to.
  
   
• Printing your resume and cover letter on high-quality paper.
  
   
• Designing professional business cards and including one with your resume.

Some of the things you can do to make your online portfolio stand out include:

• Using a consistent and professional theme,
  
   
• Using an infographic,
  
   
• Including a link to your resume,
  
   
• Putting your strongest accomplishments and experience at the top of the webpage,
  
   
• Creating a catchy industry-related portfolio title,
  
   
• Including a professional picture of yourself, and
  
   
• Socializing your online portfolio.

Stepping out into the job market for the first time can easily become overwhelming for recent accounting graduates. However, taking the time to develop and implement a plan to find your dream job will the process a lot easier and vastly improve your chances of getting the job you want.

(Photo courtesy of adamr / freedigitalphotos.net)