Avoid Common Job Search Mistakes at CPA Firms

By Jill Dequaine, PHR

“Pick me, pick me!”

This is what is going through your mind as you click “apply” on the website of the employer of your dreams. You wait and wait. Then suddenly you receive an email that says, “Thank you for applying. We will be in touch if you meet our qualifications.”

How do you set yourself apart from other applicants? Here are a few tips for a more successful job search — prior to applying — so you don’t become just another applicant.

A clear, concise cover letter

Your cover letter is your first opportunity to show your written communication skills, and this may be your first test from the employer. Do your best to grab their attention, and condense your thoughts into concise sentences. Attempt to pique their curiosity so they want to learn more about you and your accomplishments.

Personalize the cover letter, and be sure to address it to the correct employer. Some companies don’t require a cover letter; but be prepared for employers who do, and use the opportunity to make a great first impression.

Polish your résumé

Your résumé is critical to your job search and needs to be updated as you progress in your career. In one page, tell your story. Share what you studied in school, your volunteer work and the sports teams or extracurricular activities with which you were involved.

List any jobs you had throughout college and any roles you may have taken to support a cause you believed in. All of this gives the recruiter a sense of who you are. It offers them some commonalities for identifying people they may want to connect you with at the company, and it also provides great topics for conversation.

Choose formatting wisely, and use it consistently in both your cover letter and résumé. Most importantly, proofread. Be sure there are no typos. Have someone else review your résumé before you start applying.

Tap your network

You have your cover letter, and you have your résumé — now meet some people. Technology has enabled connection via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. LinkedIn continues to be an impactful professional networking tool and job search platform. Be sure to set up an account and tap into a few LinkedIn learning sessions to become proficient.

Think about your connections and who is in your “circle of influence” — people who could connect you with your future employer. Ask to meet with leaders of organizations you admire who are currently in the seat you hope to occupy someday. This can provide you with an opportunity to create ongoing mentorships prior to and during your employment. Many executives will make time to give a little guidance or insight into their journeys.

Networking is a great way to get to know more about a company and its employees even before you apply. Their insights could help you decide if the company is a good fit for you. Proceed with caution, and post wisely on your social media accounts.

Evaluate the culture and prepare

Get to know the companies you’re most interested in by doing research. Most companies have a business strategy, but it’s the culture of a company that makes it unique. Decide what you’re looking for in a company, what’s most important to you and the culture that would be the best fit for you.

Preparation is a critical step for successful interactions with recruiters. Connect on LinkedIn with the company representatives you are meeting, check out the company’s website and spend as much time as it takes to properly prepare for your interactions with them. By doing your research and attending recruiting events, you will get a good feel for a company’s culture.

Follow up

Regardless of whether you applied for a position online or connected with someone in your network who made an introduction for you, follow-up is critical. A simple thank-you email or card to the person who made the introduction will go far.

It’s common to follow up with an employer after you have applied for a position. This shows you are genuinely interested in the position, and it’s a demonstration of your follow-up skills, which are important in the customer service industry.

Recruiters continue to see a trend in applicants accepting multiple offers and then having to revoke their acceptances as the start dates near — or even worse, applicants who have accepted an offer and then ghost the recruiter or don’t show up for orientation. This is a great way to establish a not-sogreat reputation in the industry.

Reconsider accepting multiple offers; instead, maintain constant communication with the recruiters of the companies you’re most interested in. Recruiters would prefer you take the time to accept the right offer — the one you really want — than to accept the first offer you receive. Recruiters, career and professional development staff, and faculty at your university are well connected. Keep those bridges strong.

If you create an awesome cover letter, put together a stellar résumé, research the companies you’re interested in and connect with your network before applying, you’re on the road to avoiding some common job search mistakes.

Jill Dequaine, PHR, is regional campus director for CLA in Green Bay. Contact her at 920-996-1449 or jill.dequaine@CLAconnect.com.