The hiring manager faces a daunting task in his search for the best accounting resume. He/she often has to weed through hundreds of submissions to find the handful of candidates to interview. You want your accounting resume to make the cut.
To do that, you have to do two things. First, you have to demonstrate you have the required skills and experience. Second, you have to stand out by being original. This article will discuss how to be original with your accounting resume.
Accounting Resume Format
Let’s face it. Accountants tend to be a boring bunch. We like order. We gravitate toward conservatism. While it would be dangerous to sway too far from the norm, giving the hiring manager something fresh and new to review will definitely get his/her attention.
Take some time to find an example that fits your personality. Companies hire people. Don’t be afraid to show a little of yourself with this first impression.
Accounting Resume Form
Ninety-nine percent of the accounting resumes a hiring manager receives will use Ariel or Times New Roman and every single one of them will be black ink on white paper. Even a slight departure from this will not only make your resume look quite different, it will draw attention and set a different tone.
There are hundreds of available fonts on your word processor so why limit yourself to the default? While you are reviewing the company’s website and their annual report *, determine which fonts they use. One of the best approaches to getting an interview, and an offer for that matter, is to look like you were made to work at the company. You may also want to consider a different font color, but don’t go overboard. While a red font will get you noticed, it won’t necessarily demonstrate that you’re a good fit.
Most accounting resumes are sent electronically today, so the paper choice is less important than it was in the past. However, you should choose the paper with care for those times when a paper resume is needed (e.g., at the interview). Most candidates will print their resumes on standard printer paper. Your accounting resume will show more attention to detail with a good selection of paper (color and grade).
Accounting Resume Content
With the growth of the Internet there has been a shift away from the old norms. In the past, the general rule was to limit yourself to two pages. Hardliners would say one. Now, the rule seems to be much less stringent and accounting resumes can run on for three or more pages. This is your opportunity to differentiate yourself yet again.
Hiring managers are very busy people. More is not always more and if you can’t say it in a 30 second elevator speech, you don’t deserve the audience. Hit them with the content that matters before they have an opportunity to shut off. Most hiring managers won’t be paying attention after the second page anyway.
What really sets you apart from the other candidates is not the particular skills you have, but how you gained those skills. If the job listing requires candidates to by bilingual, then all of the candidates that are applying, or most of them, will be. Take time to show how you obtained and have maintained that skill. I’ll present an example below:
Standard Accounting Resume Example
See how basic that is? Yes, it conveys that you have the skill, but without any personality whatsoever.
Best Accounting Resume Example
See the difference? Who would you rather call in for an interview?
Accounting Resume Missteps
You want to craft a unique accounting resume. However, it is very important that you steer clear of gimmicks. Don’t put pictures or graphics on your resume. This is an accounting resume, not a dating website profile. Remember that you’re targeting a very structured audience so it doesn’t take much to set yourself apart.
Accounting is a profession built around a primary trait; integrity. As tempted as you may feel to pad your resume with a skill or certification you lack, don’t do it! Instead, focus on the compensating experiences. Most hiring managers are used to some give or take if they like what they see otherwise. The risk is just too high for any accountant to accept. You are an accountant aren’t you?
* It might be a stretch to assume that all candidates review a company’s website and annual report prior to submitting a resume. If you don’t do this, you’re making a significant error. While most recruiters will encourage you to do this before an interview, I’d encourage you to do it before you even bother to apply. What you learn is not only critical to know when writing a resume, it might just keep you from applying at the wrong companies to begin with. Measure twice, cut once, as the saying goes.
