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July 22, 2022

How to Make Your Accounting CV Stand Out?

With the accounting and finance industries booming in Canada, companies are flooded with job applications and CVs every day. The competition can be tough and most accounting graduates are finishing University with the same levels of knowledge and training.

You may see your CV as merely a piece of paper telling a company who you are and what you are all about, but in reality, it is the only thing that can land you an interview for that ‘perfect job’.

It is essential that you present a great CV to prospective employers and that you make yourself stand out as a ‘top applicant’ against other accounting job seekers. Your CV primarily needs to show your qualifications, achievements, skills, and experiences. Everything on your CV must be relevant to the job that you are applying for and it is advisable to remove anything that is not relevant as far as the reader (prospective employer) is concerned.

Some of the golden rules are: use bullet points and use spelling and grammar checks, make every effort to get your hands on a job spec for a vacancy, and explain all gaps on your CV.

1. Create a Personal Statement 

At the top of your CV, you should have a personal statement. It is the first thing that any prospective employer will see as they pick up your CV and it is imperative as to whether they will read the rest of your CV or not. Your personal statement is a few lines that should cover who you are (education and skills), what you can offer the company, and what your career goals are. Keep the job description in mind whilst writing this personal statement and remember that every job you apply for this is going to be a little different. Make your statement unique to you and emphasize relevant skills and abilities. Personal Statements tend to be 4-5 lines in length.

2. What Is Your USP?

If you are applying to a job that you feel you are almost perfectly suited for, then what is your USP? What have you previously done or what can you bring to this role that other candidates can’t?

Everyone has something that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd, you just need to reflect on what that something is and then tailor it to suit the job in question. For example, if you volunteered to teach Mathematics to disadvantaged youths for a year during College, this shows you are hard-working, trustworthy and a great communicator. If these types of traits are requirements for the job in question, do not be afraid to list on your CV your real-life achievements and experiences.

If you have links to any work, blogs or websites, etc that you have created previously, be sure to list these on your CV too.

3. Keywords

Sometimes you do not have to send your CV to a company to get found. Now more than ever companies themselves are searching online for the perfect candidates to fill available positions based on their skills, experiences, and whether they are open to new opportunities or not. This is especially the case via job sites such as LinkedIn, Seek, and Indeed.

This doesn’t mean that you have to litter keywords relevant to your career all over your CV, but it certainly helps to be mindful of them as you write it. Keywords that employers search for are often based around the job title they are recruiting for, its duties, required skills, and your education training.

If you are open to new opportunities when you are writing your CV look at various job descriptions and words used in roles that you are suitable e.g. accounting graduate, or payroll officer.

4. Match Your CV To The Job

One of the most time-consuming aspects of job hunting is that to stand out and be considered for a role, you do need to customize your CV for every job that you apply for. Whilst this can be a tedious and frustrating process (as most people apply for many jobs at once) it will definitely be worth it once you land your perfect role!

Alter your CV in line with the job you are applying for – research the company, see what they value and look for, and use skills, attributes, and relevant experiences that match the job description. Your CV is your one chance to sell yourself, and unless you can make the employer see why you are a great fit for the job in question, they will move on to read the CV of the next candidate in their pile.

5. Format and Grammar

When you are writing and sending out your CV please ensure that it is formatted correctly and that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Whilst you may be the perfect candidate for a job in terms of your education and experiences, if you present to an employer a CV that is messily put together or one that is scattered with spelling and grammar mistakes, it is unlikely that you will be considered for any available roles. Take the time to make sure your CV is neat, accurate clear, and concise.

Courses to enhance your resume

If you are still struggling to get your CV right, get in touch with us here at Get Trained Get Hired. We offer Career Skills Courses that train you on all aspects of the job search process including CV Writing, Cover Letters, LinkedIn for Job Search, 1st round interviews & Assessment Centers.

Depending on what career you’re heading into, you could benefit from taking additional certifications to help you get your foot in the door in a new job, or work your way into more senior job roles, once you’re in your first job.  

If you’re looking to undertake professional training to land your first job or advance your career, call our team. If you have the right skill set for the job you can find a way to apply them that will also suit your personal strengths and personality. If you need any assistance in preparing your resume or you need more specific interview guidelines that best suit your personal requirements to have a breakthrough in the Canadian job market reach out to Gettrainedgethired.com to book a free 30-Minute career counseling meeting. At Gettrainedgethired.com we provide you with the necessary training to learn practical skills to become an accountant. Our training is based on practical real-life cases.  After the training, we work on your resume and try to place you in accounting firms through our network. You will also get access to like-minded individuals who are looking for jobs through our WhatsApp group. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Or call us at 647-275-7150

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is intended to provide general information. The information does not consider your situation and is not intended to be used without consultation from professionals. Salman Rundhawa and Gettrainedgethired.com will not be held liable for any problems that arise from the usage of the information provided on this page.

Author

Salman Rundhawa

Salman has a strong desire to help others succeed and believe in passing on the knowledge. He likes to mentor others and wish to play part in other people success.
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