Getting into accounting

It’s not easy to get a job these days in any field. Specifically in the area of accounting, you actually stand a better chance of getting employed if you already have a job than if you are out of work.

Why? It’s just another one of those employer quirks – they’d rather hire someone whose skills they see as “fresh” than an unemployed person, who they will perceive as being rusty. It gets trickier, too – much like in many other industries, they will want you to have experience in their specific field, be comfortable with managing the software used by that particular company, and other such specialised knowledge.

If you are holding all the tools, then congratulations; you’re probably receiving offers and counteroffers to your heart’s content. Unfortunately, that’s not true of the vast majority of people. So, what can you do if you haven’t got it all down? Well, here are some skills to focus on that will make you more attractive to employers:

-          Sharpen up your financial and business analysis. Analysts are seeing raises across the board, indicating that they are in high demand, so skills in that area will make the job market easier to crack.

-          Look into forensic accounting. It sounds and is cool – you get to forage into accounts to track and investigate fraud.

-          Hit other public accounting areas. Getting training in areas such as taxes and financial planning is going to make your employability skyrocket as the government is always creating more jobs to keep up with demand, and small to mid-level businesses expand, requiring more help with their accounts.

-          Get an advanced degree. You’ll be likelier to tip other less qualified candidates at the post and, once there, you’ll find it easier to move up to senior positions.

None of these things will guarantee you a job, but all you can do is try your best to make yourself more employable. Let the rat race begin!