Should you leave a good job to find a great one?

Q: Right after graduation in 2007 I got a job working full time in the office of a small local company that is well known and respected in my community. While the position itself had nothing to do with what I studied and I knew it would eventually bore me, I needed the immediate income and health benefits as my parents could no longer support me. I intended to stay for about a year and half and then move on.

Mentally and emotionally, it is now time for me to move on but I don't know how wise it is to leave a secure job right now. I also don't know how I could network, explore career and/or graduate school possibilities, and seek a new job without my current (well-connected) employer hearing about it until I am ready to talk with him. I've grown close to my co-workers and I truly respect the owners of the company and don't want to damage those relationships. Any advice on how to find a new job while you have a full time job (and appropriate etiquette) would be much appreciated.

Thank you so much for taking the time to review this comment.

- Emily

A: Thanks for your question, Emily. A lot of young professionals are facing a similar question: whether to keep a decent job or quit and search for a dream job. 

While I am a firm believer in finding work that you love, I am also a believer in the value of work that you like. Given the fact that we are in a bad economy and you have plenty of positive things to say about your current employer, I'm inclined to recommend that you stay in your current position (with a few changes) until the economy improves.

Since you have such great colleagues and a well-connected boss, why not ask for additional responsibility, increased networking opportunities or project work that fits with your real interests? There's no harm in asking, and my hunch is that your employer would be happy to give you more responsibility. This will also help you build up your resume for when you do make a job change.

When it comes to networking for other opportunities, there are plenty of things you can do that will not set off alarm bells with your current employer. You can attend professional networking events, take classes and/or talk to your friends and family about your career goals. Start with people and organization YOU know -- not contacts who know your boss -- and ask people to meet you for informal coffee chats to talk about your career. You can also start exploring social networking groups and discussions -- such as those on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter -- to start building even more connections.

I hope this advice is helpful!

- Lindsey

If you are reading this blog post and have a question of your own, post it in the Comments section and I will answer in an upcoming post.

Can I Switch to a Career in Accounting?

Q: I am a designer and have 10 years of work experience. If I pursue Accounting study aiming to go to career in this field, will I have to start from scratch and waste my 10 years of working experiences? - Lily

A: Almost any career change is possible as long as you are willing to do the hard work and networking required to make the switch. I don't believe that any work experience is ever "wasted" as long as you have accomplished things and learned new skills in every position.

According to a recruiter I consulted from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the requirements for accounting positions vary based on the type of work being done and if a CPA certification is required. In most cases, a degree in accounting is expected or required. Thus, depending on what kind of accounting positions you are seeking, you definitely will need to complete the coursework required (check with individual employers on what qualifications you will need). 

However, it is likely that many of the skills you have obtained over the years will be useful. For instance, project management ability, change agility, a team attitude, maturity and communication skills are all transferable skills from one industry to another.

While all of these transferable skills can and should be communicated in a cover letter and resume, I also recommend that you increase your networking in the accounting field. Because you are a nontraditional candidate for an accounting position, it will be important for you to "sell" yourself and your skills in person.

Good luck!

How to Switch Into an Accounting Career

Q: My name is Marci Scott and I am a senior public relations major who is interested in becoming an accountant. What would be the best way to do this:

• Get a second bachelors
• Do a post-graduate certificate
• Get a masters

Thank you so much!!!

A: Marci, Thank you very much for the question.

According to a representative from PricewaterhouseCoopers, any of the avenues you mentioned would work. If you're serious about pursuing a career in public accounting, you should focus on the path that will ensure that you have the necessary coursework to sit for the CPA exam. The courses offered will vary from school to school, so you should research the requirements for your state accounting society and choose the path that will help you meet those requirements.  

Good luck!

5 Tips to Stand Out from the Crowd

Q: My name is Sanders and I will be graduating in May of this year (2009) . Unfortunately I feel that I may be entering the work force at the worst possible time. So my question to you is what can I do to help myself stand out from the rest of the current graduates and also what do employers look for at this particular time when judging a resume. I really appreciate you taking the time to review my question/comment and look forward to your response.

A: There is no doubt this is a very challenging time to be entering the workforce. But it is absolutely not impossible to find a job, despite the recession. Here are some tips to stand out from other graduates -- hint: it takes some extra effort:

1. Take full advantage of Career Services. Services that can cost hundreds of dollars in the “real world” are available at no cost from your school, even after you graduate. This includes career counseling, resume editing, interview prep, exclusive networking events, access to alumni databases and much more. If you’re not working with your college’s career services office, you are missing an enormous opportunity.

2. Research every organization you’d like to work for. The biggest complaint I hear from recruiters is that job candidates, especially young professionals, don’t know enough about the companies to which they’re applying.  It’s crucial to be extremely knowledgeable about any company you want to work for. This helps you stand out by showing that you’re genuinely interested in the organization and that you’re ready to hit the ground running on day one. To make sure you never miss a thing, set up Google news alerts for any companies on your target list.  You’ll then receive an email whenever that company appears in a news article, blog post, press release or anywhere else. This will keep you in-the-know about new products or services, company announcements, industry issues and, of course, job opportunities. 

3. Join LinkedIn and use it every day. Many recruiters, headhunters, small business owners and corporate hiring managers are now recruiting through LinkedIn, so make sure you are taking advantage of every aspect of this social networking site. First, set up a complete profile including keywords an employer might use to find someone like you. Join professional networking groups on LinkedIn to build your connections and become part of conversations about industry news. Scour other people's profiles to look for companies you may want to apply to, job titles or professions you didn't know about, professional organizations where you might network and people with similar interests who might be willing to offer you some job search advice. There aren't that many students on LinkedIn, so you'll certainly stand out if you actively participate in this growing community.

4. Call or email 5 contacts every day. Often the job goes to the person who is in the right place at the right time.  Stay on recruiters’ and networking contacts’ radar screens by regularly reminding them of your availability and your potential.  Some ideas: Check in every week or two with an additional idea for what you can contribute to the company, drop a note when you see the company or person mentioned in a news article, attend live events where you are likely to run into your contacts and check in whenever you have a new accomplishment to share. Just be careful to remain polite and relevant.

5. Get an industry insider to review your resume. What do employers look for when judging student resumes? It really depends on the particular employer. So, the best way to ensure that your resume will stand out is to get feedback from someone who might be assessing it -- a professional working in the field, or ideally the company, where you want to work. Don't guess what different companies or industries value in a resume -- find out for sure (this is where your networking connections will come in handy). In addition to getting expert advice, make sure your resume is 100% typo free, contains lots of keywords relevant to your industry and includes any leadership experience you've had.

I hope this advice is helpful. Good luck!

Lindsey

If you are reading this blog post and have a question of your own, post it in the Comments section and I will answer in an upcoming post.

How to Get a Job in the Recession: Your Questions Answered

Thank you for visiting the Career Resources section on PwC.tv. I hope you've found helpful advice and suggestions to help you land a great job despite the recession.

Beyond the information and videos already posted, I'm here to answer your specific questions regarding any aspect of job hunting and career management. Post your question in the Comments section below and check back soon for an expert answer.

Good luck and come back soon!

- Lindsey

Start Wherever You Are

It is never too early or too late to start thinking about your career plans. So whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, recent grad, or not-so-recent grad, it is important to make a commitment to work on your career, starting today. I recommend taking at least one career-related action every single day. As long as you're not standing still, you can rest assured that you're moving closer to your goals and dreams.

Please submit your questions here. Please note that due to high volume, it is may not possible for us to respond to every comment.