IMA RESUMES/INTERVIEWING/INTERNSHIPS PRESENTATION

Nov 5 from 3:30-5pm in Caruthers 122.
Patricia Derrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Accounting
Franklin P. Perdue School of Business
Salisbury University

Click here for Accounting Firm Survey compiled in Oct. 2009-click on "Other Surveys"
-98 firms sent invite
-21 responded
-Invited firms included all areas of accounting from Clifton Gunderson, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Price Waterhouse Coopers, to local firms.

Click here for the OOH-great resource

Big 4 usually refers to the four largest accounting and auditing firms: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, and KPMG. All have recruited here at SU either at a job fair or on-campus interviews.  All are on eRecruiting.  Click here to go into eRecruitng. (russellcendicott-endicott)  Also explore the Mentors from above link.

Click here to view graduation tables.  Example tables-
-First Destination by Major
-Salary Statistics By Major
-Signing Bonus By Career Field
-Job Satisfaction

Click here for resume videos (Why You Really Need a Resume/How to Structure Your Resume)

Click here to see resume samples and other helpful information.

First some Do's and Don'ts-click here. 
 

THE RESUME

KEYWORDS:______________________________________________

-Identify Appropriate Keywords in your career area-These are words in your resume that relate to your career-I found some keywords in my profession (Career Counseling) that you can view by linking here.
Keyword examples are:
evaluate abilities, career development, personal counseling, social development of children and youth, interviewing technique, career counseling, interest and aptitude assessment tests, job search skills, strong interest inventory, focus career assessment, resume writing, interviewing techniques, emotional development needs of students, counsel individuals who are addicted to drugs, National Certified Counselor.

Make sure you look at the job description and use keywords that relate to that position.
 

1.  CONTACT INFORMATION:________________________________
-Name-14 font-address, city state zip, email phone-12 font
-Current and permanent addresses can be used
-Can use one line format to cut down space
-Click here for example.
 

 2.OBJECTIVES:_______________________________________
Write your objective to the job and make it short and specific.

 Is this a good or bad objective??
-“While I am open to any uses of my educational achievements, I am decidedly disposed that the task of the new responsibility be so oriented as to at least partially configure so as to ultimately lead to the application of more rarefied facets of financial management as the major sphere of responsibility.”

Job Advertisement:
The Director, Career Center directs the administration of career placement/development programs and works in conjunction with academic departments to establish and enhance student internships and cooperative education programs. Responsibilities include managing the administrative policies, developing employer site and student marketing, being the primary liaison with employers, academic department heads, faculty site supervisors, students and administration, being knowledgeable of related legal issues and monitoring the University's compliance; managing department personnel by staffing, supervising, training and reviewing performance; directing on and off-campus recruiting programs including staff training and marketing to students and employers; maintaining primary responsibility for the University's career and internship fairs, including consortium relations; performing career counseling and job placement advising; representing the University at professional conferences; making career-related presentations to University and community organizations; participating in University committees as assigned and appropriate; overseeing the administration of the Student Employment Program; serving as co-chair and maintaining the Employer Advisory Board and related projects; preparing University wide and departmental summary reports and outcomes assessment; ensuring the availability of appropriate technical and library resources and assessment tools; and related duties as assigned. This position may require evening and weekend responsibilities.

Qualifications: Master's degree in Student Personnel Services, Student Affairs, Counseling, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field required; minimum of 5 years of work experience as a manager or director in recruitment and/or placement, preferably in a higher education environment; must be customer service oriented; possess strong verbal and written communication skills; must have the ability to enhance the use of technology in meeting department and student needs; and must present evidence of successful leadership in career services or a related field.

GOOD OR BAD??
Objective: To obtain the Director of the Career Center at Robert Morris University to utilize my 10 plus years of experience in Career Services and to continue to be on the cutting edge of career technology

-Click here for examples of Objectives. 

3.  EDUCATION:______________________________________

-List your most recent degree first.  List your degree, major, gpa (if over 3.0 both overall and in major), date and university, city and state. 
-You can also list your school-Fulton, Perdue, Henson, Seidel if you choose too.
-Any certifications can be listed.
-Finally you can list Relevant Courses in this section or create a separate functional section for them.

-Click here for Education Examples. 

4.  RELEVANT COURSEWORK:_________________________
-List Relevant Coursework only if it directly relates to the job.  If you have other entries that are more important, use them.  Those other entries could be internships, volunteer work, related experience, awards, activities, etc.   Also you could list this section within the Education section. If you choose to use this section you can do it in 2 ways. 
1. Simply list the classes in a column format
2. List to or three courses and describe them.  Make the title of the course stand out and use action verbs in your descriptions.
-Click here for Relevant Coursework examples. 

5.  STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE/LANGUAGES:_________________

-List any study abroad experience in a section by itself or within the Education Section.  Same with Foreign Languages.
-Click here for Study Abroad-Languages Examples. 

6.  EXPERIENCE SECTION OF YOUR RESUME:________________
-Related Experience-Should be title first and title stands out-use action verbs.  Do a bulleted list or a wrap-a-round format.
-Work Experience-Same as above
-Volunteer Experience-Same as above
-Click here for Experience Examples. 

7.  HONORS/ACTIVITIES/_______________________________
-Use this section to highlight any other areas that may be important to the job.  Titles to this section could be:
*Awards/Honors
*Volunteer Work
*Community Services
*Certificates Earned
Click here for Honors-Activities-Volunteer Examples.

RESUME EXAMPLES:__________________________________

In Your Groups, I will show you each of the resumes below.  Determine if they are good or bad and why. Select a spokesperson who will record why or why not each resume is good or bad.  All members of the group will participate.

1. Resume.	7. Resume	13. Resume	19. Resume
2. Resume.	8. Resume	14. Resume.	20. Resume.
3. Resume	9. Resume	15. Resume	21. Resume
4. Resume.	10. Resume.	16. Resume.	22. Resume
5. Resume	11. Resume.	17. Resume.	23. Resume.
6. Resume.	12. Resume	18. Resume	24. Resume

Accounting Sample Resumes
1.  Resume
2.  Resume
3.  Resume

Click here for a web resume
Click here for a electronic resume

INTERVIEWING/INTERNSHIPS

Click here for interview link.

Click here for internships and here. (eRecruiting)

Click here for Internship Alerts

Interviewing for an Internship??

Top 10 Internship Interviewing Tips

Below are some tips to help ensure a successful interview, which is the next step in the internship process. By following these ten interviewing tips you will be well on your way to having a successful interview and ultimately an internship offer.
1. Be Prepared-Research, Research, Research!
You can prepare yourself for the interview by selecting appropriate interview attire beforehand (suits for business), researching the company, and preparing a list of questions you have for the interviewer. Bring a copy of your resume with you to the interview in case the interviewer does not have one on hand. Last but not least, practice answering sample interview questions to prepared yourself and gain confidence before the interview.

2. Make a Good First Impression
The interview is your opportunity to market yourself and it is the reason you prepared and sent out all of those resume and cover letters. Once you get the interview, it is your job to create a good first impression by being prompt, being yourself, attending to your nonverbal behavior such as firm handshake and maintaining eye contact throughout the interview, and by taking the first few minutes to develop rapport with your interviewer. You will want to appear poised, yet comfortable and relaxed during the interview. A good first impression will set the stage for a successful interview.

3. Emphasize Your Skills and Accomplishments
Focus on your skills and accomplishments, including: high school/college coursework, volunteer and co-curricular activities, and your computer and language skills. Previous internships and/or work experiences are important as well as describing your transferable skills: communication, interpersonal, organization, strong analytical and problem solving, etc.

4. Provide The Interviewer with Examples of Your Skills
One form of interviewing that is popular today is called Behavioral Interviewing. The interviewer will provide you with a scenario and ask how you would handle a specific situation. Preparing for these types of questions before the interview, will provide a quick reference to previous relevant experiences. (For example, Describe a situation where you were able to think on your feet and come to an immediate decision to get a project completed on time.) In this case, the interviewer is interested in your thought process and problem solving capabilities.

5. Understand The Question Before Answering
It is OK to ask the interviewer for clarification or to repeat the question. You want to know what the interviewer is looking for before you go ahead and assume that you have the right answer.

6. Follow the Interviewer's Lead
Don't' spend too much time on any one question but make sure you have answered the entire question before going on to the next one. You might want to check with the interviewer to see if you answered the entire question or if he/she would like additional information.

7. Emphasize the Positive
You may be asked during the interview to give a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Remember in these types of questions to focus on the positive. When referring to weaknesses, recognize those things you feel you need to work on and quickly shift to actions you have taken to improve in this area. Specific examples can be helpful to illustrate your progress.

8. Bring Samples 0f Your Work
If you are in a field such as; graphic design, photography, studio art, education, or communications where a sample of your work would be helpful, bring these samples with you to the interview.

9. Close the Interview with Confidence
The beginning and ending of the interview can be the most crucial aspects of the interview. End your interview with confidence. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and ask when you may expect to hear back from the employer.

10. Follow Up the Interview with a Thank You Note
Take this opportunity to clarify a topic discussed in the interview and to reaffirm your interest in the organization and the internship. Send a thank you note to everyone you interviewed with on the day of your interview.

Other Hints:
Dress like the serious professional you will soon be. If you have a suit, wear it. If not, plan to wear a sports jacket, collared shirt, tie, and slacks (if you’re male) or a pantsuit or blazer, blouse, and skirt (if you’re female). Choose dark colors—they convey an air of authority. Practice your smile, good posture, and firm handshake. Leave flashy jewelry and strong scents at home.

Rehearse/role play answers to typical questions you may be asked. Practice, but don’t memorize your responses word-for-word. You don’t want to sound like you are reading from a script! It is usually better to give up-front, honest responses rather than ‘canned’ answers you think the interviewer wants to hear.

Here are typical questions you could be asked in an interview for an internship or co-op position:

-Why do you want an internship or co-op with this organization?
-Why should we hire you for our internship program?
-Do your grades reflect your true ability? Why or why not?
-How many hours each week would you be able to devote to this internship?
-Would you be able to work beyond one semester?
-How would you handle conflicts between your school schedule and a surprise, rush job here?
-What type of supervisor do you prefer to work under?
-How will this internship help you meet your career goals?
-Who is your least favorite professor? Why?
-What are your greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses?
-Give me an example from your past that shows the following: how you dealt with difficult people; how you overcame an obstacle or solved a problem.
-Which of your courses, jobs, or school activities has prepared you for this internship?
-Prepare questions to ask. This is your chance to make sure that a particular internship will meet your needs and goals.
-Could you list some tasks and projects I would be involved with?
-Should I expect training or an orientation prior to beginning my internship?
-Would I receive a wage, stipend, or reimbursement for my expenses?
-Is there a dress code I would be expected to follow?
-Would I have regular meetings with my supervisor?
-I will need to take time off during my exam periods; is this acceptable?

Accounting Resources:

Accounting Jobs

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