Don’t Do ________ = You’re Hired For This Accounting Job

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You won’t believe some of the things I’ve heard this week about the best things to do when finding you’re first accounting job. I can’t think of another week where I’ve heard more people tell me about the advice they’ve received, and it’s terrrrrrrible…

Here are two:

#1 Only apply for 5 companies

When I heard this, I had to compose myself. One of my resume reviews with a Bean Counter fan was going well until she told me that her plan was to only apply for only 5 companies.

She’d been told that it takes time to research the company and prepare a great application. Therefore, you should only focus on 5 firms and do them each well.

Hogwash.

It does take time. A lot of time.

But it’s worth it. Sometimes there are hundreds of people applying for a handful of positions and you may be incredible, but only giving yourself a shot at 5 companies seems crazy. To get 1 job you need a 20% conversion rate!

I normally recommend people get to the career fair 10-minutes before the doors open and speak to every single company AND multiple people at the firms that are your top choice.

If you limit yourself to 5 or 10 firms, you’re missing out on meeting people that you don’t even know and could love!

#2 Leave the career fair early to handwrite thank you cards

Apparently, someone is advising accounting students to meet people at the career fair, then leave early and go to their car. Once in the car, prepare hand-written thank you letters for every person they met in the career fair.

Then, head back into the career fair hand them out to everyone you met an hour or two earlier.

First off, the whole thing seems like a logistical nightmare! Does that mean you can’t stay for the entire career fair? Should you still try and speak to every firm? Do you change clothes, or still wear your suit?

The whole thing seems a little bizarre and comes off a bit desperate.

Remember, however you act towards them, they think you’ll do the same thing with their clients. Keep that in mind.

I don’t know about you, but I’ll stick with my beautifully formatted follow-up email the day after at 8am! So few people even do that.

I always want people to stand out, but I don’t want you to be weird!

So my advice? Don’t do #1 & #2 above and you’ve got a MUCH better chance at finding a job this hiring season!

¡Buena Suerte! (Good Luck!)

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