Four Mistakes People Make When Hiring an Accountant

Four Mistakes People Make When Hiring an Accountant Hiring an accountant sounds like it should be pretty straightforward doesn’t it? If the qualifications are more or less the same, and the services offered are more or less the same, how hard can it be to just pick one from a list of Google search results? Or even from an ad in the local paper. True, it’s not hard to do that but if you make the wrong choice, then it can be a very hard lesson learned. We thought it might help to go over some of the key mistakes which people make when hiring an accountant, based on conversations we’ve had with our clients over the years. There are of course more than four possible mistakes, but these certainly seem to be the ones which people can most relate to from their own experiences. Mistake 1 â€" Assuming that all accountants are the same Just as all companies are not the same, all accountants are not the same either! It’s true that all businesses have income and expenditure, but that’s about where the similarity ends. As a contractor, you need a firm that not only understands the small business environment â€" as opposed to dealing with larger organisations but also one which has specific experience in dealing with contractors. This is especially important when it comes to giving advice on things like IR35, and other accountancy issues which only affect those working in the contractor marketplace. Mistake 2 â€" Picking the first high street accountancy firm you come across Despite the world of eCommerce and online shopping being thoroughly mainstream these days, when it comes to buying ‘services’, people still have a tendency to stay close to home. Whether that means looking in the local paper, asking a friend for a recommendation or even Googling what you want, followed by the name of your home town. But closer isn’t always better when it comes to accountancy. As already mentioned above, contractors need specialist services so prioritise that, and don’t worry about where the right firm might be based. Mistake 3 â€" Choosing a company that doesn’t quote a fixed fee This one is really vital. Part of what you need from an accountant will be a set of specific services â€" tax return, VAT return and so on â€" but a good accountant will do far more than that. You need someone who you can pick up the phone to, if you need some advice or to chat about any aspect of your finances that might be bothering you. And if you do that, you don’t want to be charged extra for the privilege. A good accountancy firm will wrap all of that into a fixed monthly fee, so you always know where you stand. Mistake 4 â€" Accepting a service which doesn’t provide a dedicated accountant As a contractor, you’re going to be busy all day, every day â€" but somehow you still have to deal with the admin side of running a Limited company. But if your accountancy firm doesn’t allocate a dedicated accountant to you, then you might find yourself spending more time on the phone reminding them who you are and what your situation is, than actually dealing with issues that need to be addressed. With a dedicated point of contact, who gets to know you and your business from day one, you’ll save time and you won’t feel like it’s Groundhog Day every time you speak to them. So there you have it. We hope this gives you some insight into the process of choosing an accountant, and helps you to make an informed choice, based on other people’s experiences. If you’d like to know more about SJD Accountancy, a specialist contractor accountancy services, we’d love to hear from you. Author: Rachel Smith is a technical writer for SJD Accountancy, a specialist contractor accountancy firm, serving the needs of contractors and freelancers since 1992. Image: Shutterstock

Resume Tips For a College Student With One Job Experience Expired

Resume Tips For a College Student With One Job Experience ExpiredWhen it comes to filling out a resume, what kind of resume should a college student with one job experience to be writing? In this article, I am going to show you exactly what kind of resume you should write for college students. For the most part, the rules for this resume are pretty much the same as they are for any other college student. It may seem like a lot of work to apply for college and then get in, but it really isn't all that hard.The first thing that you need to do is decide if you want to be a college student or a graduate. If you do, that will make a big difference in how you will handle your resume. Some students choose to go straight to a graduate school and earn their degree in that field. Others will apply to both undergraduate and graduate programs. This is a good option for them if they have a good interest in working in a variety of fields.Now that you know what kind of college you are going to atte nd, the next thing that you need to do is determine your student's skill level. There are many different paths that a student can choose from in order to further their education. These can include programs such as English as a Second Language, nursing, online courses, and more.If you choose to take a program at an online school, make sure that you check to see what the difference is between online programs and regular programs. Online schools tend to offer more flexible schedules for their students in order to fit their busy lives. The best way to determine whether or not online schooling is right for you is to simply ask yourself if you can be successful in such a type of program.The final step is to come up with your name. The easiest way to do this is to use a pen and a piece of paper. Make sure that you have all of your names spelled correctly, as well as the college name that you are applying to. It will also help if you pick something that doesn't require too much typing, so t hat you don't waste a lot of time correcting typos. Use this sample resume for a college student with one job experience to apply to.When it comes to resumes for college students, you have to be creative. If you're trying to get into a big business school, you'll have to write a different resume than if you're trying to get into a smaller school. You may even want to look into transferring to another school, so that you can use that school's name on your resume. It's okay to use an alternate spelling of the name as long as it's not offensive.Another thing that you can do to be a college student is enrolled in the college that you would like to attend. In this case, you'll need to start your own individual resume. This should contain your educational information and academic history. You should also include your personal information and that of your spouse, if you are married.Writing a resume for a college student with one job experience expierienced will be similar to writing a resu me for any other applicant. Follow these tips and you will have no trouble filling out a resume for college students.

Making The Salary You Deserve How to Make Sure - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Making The Salary You Deserve How to Make Sure - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There comes a time in everybodys career when you begin to wonder if youre being paid enough for your hard work. It can be intimidating to try and find out what youre actually worth, but doing so is invaluable for your salary and career. Asking for more from your employer can sound scary, or like a good way of making you sound pushy or demanding. However, the trick is all in how you go about obtaining the salary you deserve. Try out these tips and see how much more you could be earning: Know what youre worth. Before you do anything else, make sure you know what youre worth. Ask yourself a series of questions to find out exactly what you bring to a company. What are others in my industry making right now? What skills can I bring to my job? If I left my job today, would another company snatch me up? To check out what others are making, try an online tool such as TheLadders Job Market Guides. Youll be able to search what others are making in your field, and determine whether your pay is too low. Track your achievements. If youve found in your initial research that youre making too little, now is the time to start thinking about a raise. Before you ask, though, start tracking your achievements within the company. Your boss may not know about everything you do, so start putting together the evidence of what a valuable employee you are. To start tracking your achievements, try out this accomplishments worksheet. It will help you ask the important questions about what you contribute, your history within the company and what other evidence you have. Practice and prepare. Once youve decided to ask for that raise and gathered your evidence, its time to prepare. Think of the upcoming meeting as a job interview. Youre looking to get across just why you deserve this pay raise, and what your employer will gain in giving it to you. Practicing what youre going to say, and how youre going to say it, will give you confidence when the time comes. Follow the tips in this Gen Y Planning article to prepare for all eventualities. It covers what evidence to use in your favor, as well as what to do in unexpected circumstances. Try a ‘power pose.’ Body language is important during the interview, not just because of what it says to your employer, but for your own confidence too. Research has shown how adopting powerful poses can affect our testosterone and cortisol levels, which can increase our performance. Try a power pose just before your interview to increase your confidence. If you want ideas for power poses, try out Business Insiders list of poses for a variety of situations. The Performer pose is designed to make you feel more confident just before you step into an interview. Negotiate It may feel like youre going into that meeting to demand the pay raise you deserve, but instead youre negotiating it. Employers often actually expect their employees to negotiate for a higher salary, rather than simply accepting the one theyve been given. Try the Briefcase Technique when youre looking to negotiate. The technique makes you do 80% of the work before you even step into that interview. It also has you consider the needs of the other person, so you can both come to a reasonable conclusion. Check that youre paying the right amount of tax. Something that could be eating into your salary could be your tax contribution. While dealing with tax issues is never pleasant, it could be that youre paying an incorrect amount, which will be affecting your salary. Try out the IRS Withholding Calculator to see if you need to make any changes to your tax. Put in your details, and the calculator will be able to tell you whether you need to submit a new W-4 to your employer.   If knocked down, try again. If your employer says no to a pay raise, dont be disheartened. It could be a number of things that are stopping them, not simply your abilities. The trick is to dust yourself off and try again. Reschedule another meeting in six months’ time. While youre waiting, work on your abilities, track your accomplishments again and look to make yourself even more valuable. This time, they may not be able to refuse you. If you are refused, try asking for feedback. The Muse details just how to get and act upon honest, useful feedback that will help you in your next attempt. Refusal to negotiate salary can cost women up to half a million dollars in their working life. If youve earned that pay raise, whats stopping you from going out and getting it? Have you ever found you were paid less than you were worth, or negotiated your salary? If so, please let us know what you did in the comments.

Are You a Problem Solver or Problem Creator for Employers

Are You a Problem Solver or Problem Creator for Employers by Jennifer Parris, career writer for FlexJobs When it really comes down to it, there are two types of employees. There are those who create problems (and, perhaps, unnecessary drama) in the workplaceâ€"and then there are those who solve them. No matter what type of industry you work in, what type of job you have, or where you’re headed in your career, it’s essential to be able to objectively assess which type of worker you are. After all, your level of success (and happiness) in your career really depends on which category you fall into. Here are some examples to determine if you’re a problem solver or a problem creator for employers. Problem Creators: Bring bad experiences and memories with them from job to job. In your last job, you had a micromanaging boss from hell. Not only would she pass by your cubicle at least 10 times each day, but she would sit on your desk (yes, sit on it) while you tried to work. She would incessantly check up on you, read through your emails over your shoulder, and constantly pried into your plans for the weekend. You swore that no boss would ever, ever do that to you again. As a result, you’re cold and cut off from your current boss, and you get upset whenever she comes by your desk because you assume that she, like your previous boss, is trying to micromanage youâ€"and you’re not having it. Problem Solvers: Leave old baggage at the door when they start a new job. You know that with any job, there are bound to be some pros and some cons. Even if you had a tough boss in the past, (and frankly, who hasn’t?), you know well enough that no two bosses are the same, and you have to treat your current boss with the respect that she deserves. (Plus, you know that there are ways in which you can manage your boss!) You view each new job as a fresh, blank slate, and give both your boss and new colleagues a chance to get to know them before making any harsh judgments. Problem Creators: Present problems to employers. You just found out that your colleague is pregnant and doesn’t plan to return to work after her maternity leave. Also, a competitor has just created a logo very similar to your company’s. And the copier is brokenâ€"again. For a problem creator, there is a never-ending well of woes that can be presented to a boss. From personal problems (to personnel problems), and everything in between, nothing is off-limits for problem creators, who love to share any negative issues with their bosses. Problem Solvers: Present problems and solutions to employers. As you’re working, you discover a glitch in the program that you’re using. But your first inclination is to call IT, not tell your boss that you can’t work and ask to go home for the rest of the day. Problem solvers know that issues will arise as they go about their workday, and they are prepared to work through them. They understand that approaching their boss with a problemâ€"and a solution in handâ€"is the best way to handle tough situations at work. Problem Creators: Refuse to adapt or learn new skills. When you first applied for your remote job, you were told that you would have a certain set of responsibilities. Now that you’re in your position for a few months, your boss meets with you and wants to give you a few new duties. Even though it wouldn’t require a lot more work, you’re unhappy with the changes in your jobâ€"and your surly attitude is sure to let everyone know it. Problem Solvers: Grow with the position. Sure, you were hired for a specific type of job, but it’s virtually impossible to think that you’ll be performing the same duties day in and day out every single day until you leave the company. Jobs, like people, change and grow over time, and as a rock star employee, you will probably be expected to grow with the position, too. But if your job changes so much that you are no longer doing what you are hired for, then scheduling a meeting with your boss to go over the changes to your position and find a resolution is a much better option than to become passive-aggressive and not do what you’re supposed to do in your job. It’s in every employee’s best interest to beâ€"or becomeâ€"a problem solver. You will learn to deal with issues as they arise in the workplace in a much more professional manner, making you a more well-liked, respected, and above all, happier employee. Jennifer Parris is a career writer for FlexJobs, an award-winning service that helps job-seekers find professional opportunities that offer work flexibility, such as telecommuting, freelance, part-time or alternative schedule jobs.

Job Search Tips For Writing Resume

Job Search Tips For Writing ResumeHere are some helpful tips for writing resume. It is a lengthy document and should be as clear and simple as possible. But that does not mean that you should ramble on and be monotonous, it should be thoughtful and with a point of view.It should have a good focus. First of all, ensure that you understand the type of job you want. It could be a job as a web designer, a job as an analyst, a job as a database administrator or as a programmer. All of these require different approaches and methods and you must know these in order to write your resume effectively.After this, you should clarify your main points by giving details about your career. Some jobs are based on details such as: management, knowledge, experience and so on. When you give details of your skills and experience, you will highlight the great qualities you have which will result in a better resume.Do not forget to use the 'why' phrase in your resume. This will help you explain why you are qualified for the job. Again, this will make your resume more interesting and will help in retaining the attention of the employer.Lastly, if you have a professional look for your resume, then you can definitely get a job. Always make sure that your resume will stand out from the crowd.This means that your resume should be able to catch the eye of your prospective employer. Try to include your skills and your professionalism in your resume. The more unique the content of your resume, the more likely will you get the job.Resume writing tips should also include a summary. A summary should include all ofthe information that you have presented. At the end of the resume, make sure to include your contact information.Thus, when it comes to job search, this is one of the best tips for writing resume. It is important to follow these tips in order to ensure a good job.

FREE Personal Branding Ebook From Tim Tyrell-Smith and Job-Hunt.org - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

FREE Personal Branding Ebook From Tim Tyrell-Smith and Job-Hunt.org Check out the latest addition to Job-Hunt.orgs list of  12 (and counting)  free job search ebooks on topics ranging from personal branding, interviewing, and career reinvention, to  salary negotiations, working with recruiters and more. Tim Tyrell-Smith,  creator of the Tims Strategy approach to job search  and Job-Hunts Personal Marketing Expert, authored the newest ebook, How To Create A Personal Marketing Plan: The 5 Powerful Steps To Bringing Your Brand To Life. What is personal marketing?   Tim explains: It is the work you do once youve created a personal brand. You know who you are and, importantly, know how you are different from others wanting to play the same role in the world. You have to expose your brand and ideas to people in a way that gets them leaning in. Not turning away. So you have to be smart. He further notes two universal truths: 1. Marketing is hard. To do it right, anyway. 2. Marketing takes time. Only in rare cases will your brand become viral overnight (or even over a few months). People who rush in are making mistakes. And those mistakes can be costly. Giving you a reputation thats hard to shake. Tim is a wonderfully engaging writer. The ebook is quick to read (only 12 pages) and will give you actionable advice and resources,  along with  the tools you need to make your promise of value known to the world. Tim takes you through 5 steps to create and execute your personal marketing plan: 1. Build a Personal Marketing Hub 2. Learn to Engage with People 3. Start Building Social Credibility 4. Inspire Sharing of Your Ideas and Successes 5. Take a Few Calculated Risks Download the free e-book now. Tim and  Job-Hunt  welcome you to share it freely with your friends or networks. Related resources: My ebook, 23 Ways You Sabotage Your Executive Job Search and How Your Brand Will Help You Land . . . A practical guide to executive branding, marketing your ROI value and navigating the new world of job search My free Job-Hunt ebook,  Smart Personal Branding with for Executive Job Search 00 0

Why your boss thinks criticism is more effective than praise... and is wrong! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Why your boss thinks criticism is more effective than praise... and is wrong! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I just discovered a great article by Linda Hill Kent Lineback on why criticism seems more effective than praise in the workplace but isnt. From the article: This is one of those areas where the lessons of experience arent obvious ? and can even be misleading. Your observation that criticism is more often followed by improvement is probably accurate. But whats going on isnt what you think. In fact, its something called regression to the mean and if you dont understand it, you and your people will be its victims. Basically, the article argues that we all have an average performance level over time but actual performance varies from day to day and task to task. But we tend to forget this: If you track someones performance task by task, youll discover that a great performance, one thats far above the persons average or mean, is usually followed by a less-inspiring performance thats closer to the mean. It works the same the other way. A terrible performance is usually followed by something better. No ones making or causing this to happen. Its part of the variability built into human activity, especially when doing something even moderately complex. Consequently, when someone performs worse than their own average and you criticize them for it, they will tend to perform better afterwards, simply because they return to their own average. They would have done so, even if you had said nothing. For the same reason, when someone performs better than usual and you praise them for it, their next performance will tend to be worse. And this means that: Even if you dont notice these apparent connections consciously, youre aware of them intuitively. And the most likely consequence will be that you criticize far more than you praise. This is a brilliant insight and the lesson is that we must shift our focus from increasing performance on individual tasks to raising peoples average performance. And this is done more effectively by focusing on what people do well. A lot of evidence suggests that positive reinforcement ? identifying and building on strengths ? will produce better results than a relentless focus on faults. This is important. To improve, people need positive feedback. Its just as important to recognize and reinforce their strengths as it is to point out where theyre falling short. And you need to understand why praise can seem dysfunctional, so you dont withhold it. Read the whole article its brilliant and it reinforces the point weve made again and again that praising people for their good work makes them happier AND more effective. Related posts #h5yr and #h5is ? find out how these two cryptic twitter tags promote happiness at work. Happiness and elephants How Richard Branson celebrates his employees Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Client Case Study Juliana Finch - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Juliana Finch - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series!  I just love me some  Juliana Finch, who I worked with aaaaaaaaaaaall the way back in 2010. Shes smart, driven, funky, talented (her music!), and oh so creative, and I looooove seeing how (and when!) she turns her creative passions into income streams and businesses. Swoon! Why did you decide to work with a creative career coach? When I started working with Michelle, I felt a little bit lost, and as though I couldnt focus on the artistic pursuits I wanted to because my concept of free time was nonexistent. I had worked in coaching environments before and knew I did really well with an Accountability Buddy situation. I thought working with her would help me accomplish a couple of big goals. What were you doing work-wise when we started our sessions? I was working for a startup tech company in an office. The company was awesome and I really loved the culture there, but even being able to be a creative in that environment, I realized I wanted more time to work on my Big Dreams. Im still on great terms with them but I did leave my day job while working with Michelle, which was scary and exciting! What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? The biggest takeaway from our work together wasnt actually something I realized at the time. It came a little later, after I had internalized some of the work. It was this my career doesnt have to look like something that is already being done, or that has a mold I can fit into. Its OK if I am some weird mashup of things because the world may just need that exact combination, and the fact that Im not seeing it out there yet doesnt mean its too crazy to work.  I still go back to my journal entries from that time, and my worksheets, just to check in with myself and see how things are going when I start to feel a little off-track. Was there anything else you tried to do as a career between the time we stopped our sessions and what you do for work now? If so, how did it inform your current career? Right now I work entirely for myself as a performer, musician, and event coordinator. While I have a couple of things that are my careers, they all function together and work toward my ultimate goal of operating a retreat center. Since working with Michelle Ive released two full length albums and gone on a national tour! What would you tell someone now that was in your shoes when we first started working together?  Whats your best tip to allow them to make a grown-up living doing what they love? Its totally ok to be scared, to feel like youre at a plateau, and to have absolutely NO IDEA what you are doing. Some of your best stuff is going to come out of those uncertain times, once youre done panicking about it. Whats on the horizon for your  business? This year I started my company, Tomboy Events. My tagline is Weddings Events for non-traditional gals and tomboys of all genders. Im super excited to be able to offer coordination and planning packages for people planning non-traditional weddings and events on a small budget. (What the wedding industry considers a small budget is bonkers to me, so lets just say a normal budget for people who would like to someday spend money on something other than a wedding!).  I also went  on tour in the northeastern U.S. at the end of April with Sarah Donner, a wonderful musician I toured with last November. I LOVE hearing that Juliana reads her coaching notes from 6+ years ago to inform her current career goals!  If you want that kind of one-on-one attention and long-term results, check out my new coaching page!