Graduates advised to start small

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 2005

For accounting graduates, landing a job at a Big Four firm or large corporation has been the traditional first step in their careers. Yet, the word from financial executives surveyed by Accountemps, Menlo Park, Calif., a specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance, and bookkeeping professionals, is to "think small." Forty-six percent of chief financial officers advise entry-level professionals to begin at small to midsized companies. Another 30% recommend starting with small to midsized accounting firms.

"Working at smaller companies--public accounting firms or otherwise-may provide finance and accounting professionals with more opportunities to assume expanded roles and increased responsibilities at an earlier stage in their careers" confirms Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career for Dummies. "Employees at small businesses frequently wear many hats because internal resources are often limited."

Moreover, "The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related corporate governance mandates have placed heightened emphasis on the accounting function. This has resulted in strong demand for individuals with expertise in a wide array of accounting and finance disciplines to handle ongoing work, ranging from processing journal entries to performing account analysis and reconciliation."

How to Get a Job

Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, offers the following job-search suggestions for recent graduates:

Do your homework. Before applying for an opportunity, research the business and its industry. Annual reports, the Internet, and local business journals are excellent sources of information.

Get involved. Expand your network by participating in industry associations and alumni activities.

Tap your alma mater, College career centers are valuable resources for networking, learning of employment opportunities, and researching various companies, industries, and professions.

Be proactive. Instead of sifting through job listings, identify companies that appeal to you and contact them directly. Employers want people who show a genuine interest in working for their organizations.

Highlight soft skills. More and more companies today seek professionals with a combination of top-notch accounting knowledge and strong interpersonal abilities. Emphasize your communication skills and any training received in your resume and cover letter.