Hope for Accountants and Auditors

Right now’s a hard time to get hired as a tax preparer, even though the unemployment rate is 2.2 % for auditors and accountants.  It’s too far along into the tax season for new hires. 

This is because accounting firms hire for tax preparation from June to October.  This way they can train new staff about the company’s procedures.  So what do you do in the meantime to keep a roof over your head?

First off, remember that unemployment in this sector’s usually short term.   And, luckily, the phrase “being over qualified” isn’t heard to a large extent anymore.  In fact, having a degree in a complicated subject makes you more desirable often for a different kind of job.  So take any work in the meantime, especially if it involves a cash register. 

A cash register deals with money and money deals with accounting.  Also, managing a cash register is management.  The fact that there’s no title is easily overcome on a resume when listing your responsibilities as cash management.

And there are still a lot of jobs to be had, though they’re not on an accountant’s pay scale.  The fact is that people who are trained in advanced subjects don’t want to apply at McDonalds for work.  The real fact of life is that there are no guarantees to life and no employment’s demeaning.  Chances are if you’re young, with a new degree, you can make it at a McDonalds until the season for hiring opens up again.

This is because most young people don’t have the responsibilities of middle aged people.  If you’re middle aged, looking for work as a tax preparer, this is tougher to deal with; of course, but downsizing your life style in areas is an option while you take a lower paying job because, frankly, unemployment for too long is bad on a resume.

It’s a hard thing to do for those who are facing piling expenses, working jobs that don’t pay well until hiring in accounting picks up again, but there are no silver bullets.   However, one thing that helps here is defining needs as compared to wants.

Remember too, creditors don’t want your possessions.  Often they act because they’re ignored, so don’t ignore them; negotiate with them before it goes to a collection agency. 

Also, bad credit’s devastating to getting an accounting job.  If you sell a house at a loss that pays off your debt, you can start anew with a good accounting job.  Try to save a house and you could still lose it and your credit anyway; and you'd still have no house and now a severe lack of career opportunities in accounting (There would still be some hope.  The times are bad enough that employers are more generous on this than they used to be)..

Another thing to consider as an accountant graduate is getting a CPA during any downtime in employment.  If you have the finances where you can make it until hired; start taking the courses now.

Accounting graduates often assume that they will take the Certified Public Accountant courses when hired by a firm, but again, no guarantees exist in life.  Though the field of accounting and auditing is growing, if you live in an area with lower than national averages of employment, you could wait awhile for a job.  The courses in becoming a CPA set you on a path where time becomes a friend, not an enemy since it fills gaps in a resume. 

Too, applying for jobs in cities improves your chances for employment.  I have linked this site to a website that lists 10 areas where accountants and auditors are being hiring most frequently. 

Finally, now’s the time to touch up cover letters and resumes.  Have friends read them for errors.  The sunshine of June is coming.