21 Ways to Improve Your Resume
Whether you are a CPA employed in industry, government, not-for-profit or another area who wants to find a new position at another organization, or work in public practice but want to move to a different firm or gain new clients, a good resume is an essential business tool. Most CPA's do not effectively market their skills. That can slow down the effort to find a new position or expand your client base. Today's business environment is so competitive that most resumes receive only a 15-second glance. There are a number of common mistakes--easily eliminated-that can quickly knock a candidate out of the running. These include resumes that are too long (for example, the average length of controllers' and chief financial officers' resumes I've seen runs on to three or four pages), are too vague and general, include personal history or date of birth or use the phrase "references upon request." To stand out from the crowd, a resume must illustrate your accomplishments--including items such as productivity increases and cost savings for which you were responsible--and quickly demonstrate that you can do the work and do it well. A WINNING RESUME The following tips will help create a resume that stands out (see page 85 for a sample resume targeted to the position "auditor" . They cover the kind of information that should be included and how the resume should look for best results; both aspects are important in helping you get an interview. 1. Start with a summary of your qualifications. This should be up to five or six sentences long and encapsulate your experience and the strongest, most important skills you are offering. The summary is the first part read and when it is well written, prospective employers and clients start paying attention and give its author more serious consideration. 2. Sell your skills. Prospective employers and clients want to see results. Use statistics, percentages and numbers and note any increases, decreases and cost savings for which you were responsible. Outline the actions you took and emphasize the resulting benefits. Contributions to productivity and cost-cutting skills are very important to those hiring CPA's. 3. Target your resume. Vague, general resumes that cover many possible job options or areas of specialization often get lost among the competition. Tailor every resume for a specific job tide, type of firm or client. For example, create one resume for "accountant" and another for "financial analyst" and incorporate in each only the information pertinent to that particular job. It's also a good strategy to emphasize any specific industry experience you have when it's relevant. For example, stress your knowledge of taxes for not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) if the prospective employer is an NPO or has many NPO clients. Include only essential information so you don't bog down the reader with irrelevant facts. When crossing over into a new industry or niche, expound on the financial strengths you bring. 4. Be concise. No one will read a 10-page resume; I've found that one page--short and to the point--works best. Employers only care about your latest skills, so emphasize your most recent experience, such as the last five to seven years, and give only a line listing job title and company to earlier positions. Be a skillful editor and delete portions that are not relevant or that are least helpful in securing the particular position. 5. Be clear. Don't use generalities. Say exactly what you mean, using the fewest words that will make your point. 6. Be accurate. Describe your skills, qualifications and experience as positively as possible without exaggerations or misstatements. However, if your job title doesn't adequately describe your responsibilities, use the appropriate tide. Some titles don't mean much outside a particular organization. If you are a "staff supervisor" but accounting manager" best describes your responsibilities, use "accounting manager. …