Workplaces are becoming casual and employers are eager to showcase their relaxed culture with new or potential hires. Offices have ditched professional attire to allow employees to wear casual clothing all week long, not just on specific days of the week. Leadership teams are also becoming more accepting of varying work schedules, allowing employees to create a personal and work-life balance. This flexibility leads to a casual work environment ... more
Professional Development
How to Use LinkedIn Effectively
When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? It’s important to regularly update your profile and check-in with your followers, not just when you’re looking for a job. An up-to-date profile is a reflection of who you are and the organization you work for, and can also be used as an effective business development tool. Optimize your LinkedIn profile by making sure it’s up-to-date, by connecting with others in your industry and engaging ... more
Develop Your Career with Professional Communication
Whether you’re applying for a new job, just starting off in your career or are an established professional, the way you communicate matters. Written communication can become sloppy and unprofessional if we aren’t careful. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re communicating professionally within the work place or when applying for a new position. Email Etiquette Professionals consistently communicate through email in the workplace. Emails can be ... more
The Importance of Being Organized at Work
A lack of organization can be a real problem in the workplace. It can affect your productivity levels, and hinders your professional appearance to colleagues and clients. It isn’t just about your professional reputation; implementing daily habits to remain organized can have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. Feeling unorganized can produce unnecessary work-related stress which, as a result, sacrifices the quality of product ... more
How to Ace Your Next Interview
Do Your Homework With an interview in place, it’s now time to learn as much about the firm and position as possible. Gathering background information allows you to tie your qualifications back to the firm during your interview. The employer will expect you to know a few things about the firm and if you will fit in well with their culture. Your research should help you answer questions like “Why do you want to work here?” and “What do you know ... more
How Social Media Impacts your Career
Social media is a widely popular tool for employees and job seekers to post about professional accomplishments, accreditations and even volunteer activities. Unfortunately, an outdated social media account could cost you an interview or hinder your chances of getting a job. Are your social media channels outdated? If so, it’s a good idea to clean them up for your job search and for your professional career in general. Check out these tips to ... more
Big CPA Firm or Local Firm: Which Career Move is Best For You?
After years of late nights, hitting the books to earn your degree while doling out an unfathomable amount of money to pay for that education, you are finally ready for your first career position in accounting. Now what? Perhaps you’ve already passed a couple of parts of your CPA exam and are on your way to being licensed. Or maybe not. Instead, perhaps you prepared a few tax returns or participated in auditing a company while apprenticing at an ... more
The Evolution of a CPA’s Career
The skills a CPA needs at the beginning of their career shifts over the years and depends heavily on the path chosen. Let’s a take a look at that shift as a CPA career progresses. Early Stages of a CPA’s Career In the beginning of a CPA’s career, the skills and expertise are developing and growing. It can seem a bit intimidating when you’re just getting started but there’s no need to panic. Just set a few goals to achieve each year and in just ... more
Five Ways to Add Inspiration to Your Accounting Career
Like anything in life, a career ebbs and flows. You go through stages where you feel invincible and ready to take on the world, but there are also those times where you may feel like you don’t have the same fire as when you started out. These are the times when being creative and proactive can add some fresh inspiration into your accounting career. Connect with a mentor or become a mentor No matter what stage you are at in your career, a mentor ... more