The accounting industry is one of the largest in the United States. It employs more than 3 million people and generates around $300 billion annually. This means that there are plenty of jobs available for those who are interested in pursuing a career in this field.
New Jersey is one of the most popular states for accounting jobs. In fact, it has been ranked as one of the top five states for opportunities within this field by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics (USDOL). If you’re looking for an entry-level position in New Jersey’s accounting industry, here are some tips on how to get started:
1) Take an introductory course on accounting at your local community college or university before applying for an internship or other employment opportunities within this field.
2) Network with professionals who work within these organizations through social media platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook if possible so that they will know what kind of person you are before making any decisions about hiring someone new into their organization.”
Accounting Entry Level Jobs Nj
What Is Accounting Experience?
The accounting field has great variety in the types of jobs and specializations available. Some accountants may focus more on taxes, while others concentrate on bookkeeping and financial analysis. Some may specialize in payroll, accounts payable or accounts receivable. Others may delve into auditing and forensic accounting or go the government and nonprofit route. It can help to examine your career goals before you seek out experience.
Regardless of specialization, though, there are some qualities common to every accounting position. It’s important that you’re detail-oriented and organized. Your clients often might not be and will be looking to you to provide solutions. You’ll need good math and analytical skills so you can detect issues in client records and provide solutions. Communication skills are also important in accounting.
There are also some general software skills that will help you, and often there’s free or low-cost training available. For example, you might want to learn QuickBooks or Sage 50 Accounting. Having demonstrable skills with these accounting programs, in addition to a solid foundation with Excel and Outlook, can enhance your appeal as a candidate.
How to Get Experience in Accounting
Seek out jobs that align well with qualities you need to be a successful accountant. They don’t necessarily need to be in the accounting field. You do, however, need to pay attention to the ways you can describe your position on a resume to showcase skills that are important for accountants. For example, you might show that you’re analytical and detail oriented by describing how you use electronic inventory control systems to pull merchandise to and back-stock merchandise from a retail sales floor accurately and quickly. You might demonstrate math ability and your trustworthiness by working as a cashier.
Unpaid Experience
If you have the time to devote to it, unpaid experience is one way to go. You could volunteer at a local church, animal shelter or some other type of charity in a bookkeeping function. Gain experience in tax preparation by serving in a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. You can find more information about VITA/TCE programs at the IRS website. You might also be able to find internship opportunities through your college. Be sure to ask for a letter of recommendation once you have demonstrated your skills in your unpaid position.
Entry-Level Accounting Jobs With No Experience
Many job search websites allow you to filter the jobs by level of experience. Search for entry-level positions to increase your chances of being hired. Some examples of jobs that hire with only high school education include accounting clerk, tax clerk, bookkeeping assistant and collections representative. These positions typically offer much lower pay than accounting jobs for more experienced candidates. They can be a great first rung on your career ladder. Don’t disregard other paid positions at companies with accounting positions. Perhaps you could function as a receptionist, administrative assistant or even a filing clerk for a time. Communicate your enthusiasm to learn more about the accounting jobs in the company, and pursue any opportunity to enhance your skills.
