Grace Carter
Your resume is the first impression you make on a hiring manager, and you only get one chance. Your resume needs to get their attention right away so that they read on to see how qualified you are for the job. Read on to find out how to write an an accountant resume that gets noticed.
Basics
Start off with a resume summary or resume objective to grab the hiring manager’s attention. A resume summary works best for experienced accountants, while those with less experience are better off using a resume objective. The most important thing with either is to focus on your accomplishments. When it comes to your experience section, the key is to read over the ad and mirror it in the way you describe your experience. Highlight the qualities they are looking for, and list off your most impressive career achievements. Remember to use bullet points, and have your most recent job first.
Formatting
Your best option is to write your resume in a chronological format; this is the best way to organize your information and highlight your most recent accomplishments. Use easily readable fonts such as Calibri, Helvetica, Cambria, Georgia, and Garamond. Use size 12 or 13 font, but remember to make your headings three or four font sizes bigger than the main body. Leave plenty of white space on the page to make it easily scannable, and save it as a PDF file.
Honesty
Make honesty a priority when you describe the scope of your previous jobs and achievements. Avoid hyperbole, colloquialisms, and humor. It’s common for people to embellish their skills and experience on a resume, but really it should be an honest reflection of your experience and abilities. You should be able to back up anything you state on your resume.
Show off your skills
Just as with your experience, tailor the skills you list off to match the ad that your are replying to. Look over the technical, software, and interpersonal requirements and see how you stack up, then mention them specifically in your skills. “Don’t be afraid to include soft skills, they can be very important. Communication, team-building, attitude, and organization are some possible ones you may want to include, especially if they are mentioned in the ad. Shy away from talking about your hobbies or listing skills that are not relevant,” recommends Betty Clayton, resume writer at Academized.
Length
A recent survey found that about half of senior managers said they preferred a one page resume, while the other half preferred about two pages. For executive positions, half of managers said two pages was ideal, while 20% still preferred one page. These results make it a bit tricky to decide on your resume’s length. The best approach is to think of your resume as a foot in the door, you want to present your information as a way of making the reader interested in learning more. Once you’ve been contacted, you can always offer them an expanded version.
Use online tools to improve your writing
Your resume needs to be well written, edited, and proofread. It’s common for people to struggle with those skills, but luckily there are many tools available online that can help. Here are some good ones you can check out:
- ViaWriting & MyWritingWay: These are a few helpful grammar resources. It’s easy to mix up grammar rules, so don’t be afraid to get some help to make sure you’re not leaving errors in your resume.
- Resume Service: Try out this resume service for help writing an accountant resume that gets you an interview.
- BoomEssays & Assignment Writer: Check out these online proofreading tools, suggested by UK Writings review, so your resume is polished and professional looking.
- StateofWriting & SimpleGrad: These are career writing blogs. They are full of ideas and suggestions for improving your writing, including tips specifically about resumes.
- EssayRoo & EliteAssignmentHelp: Give these editing tools, reviewed by Essay Help Services, a try. Your resume needs to be flawless, a single mistake can get it thrown in the trash by a hiring manager.
- WritingPopulist & Academ Advisor: These are writing guides that make the job easier by breaking down the process for you.
Conclusion
Your resume is more than the sum of your skills and experience, it’s equally about how they are presented on the page. Formatting, length, and tailoring your resume to the position are all crucial to getting an interview. Highlight your strengths, but remember to keep it honest. Follow this guide to write an accountant resume that gets noticed.
Grace Carter works as communications manager at AustralianHelp and Do My Assignment websites. She also is a part time writer and editor, her freelance tasks include press release writing, editing and proofreading. Grace teaches writing at OX Essays service.