Individuals who have attained a degree in accounting should note that they will often be able to attain a government accounting job. In order to ensure that this goal is accomplished, the prospective government accountant should do all that she or he can to become the most marketable job candidate possible. While there are a plethora of accounting jobs available through government institutions such as the IRS, attaining these jobs is often contingent upon making yourself stand out as the most qualified and experienced candidate available. By reviewing the strategies listed below, you can make this happen.
1. Excel In Your Degree Program.
As many job experts know, positions in government can be highly competitive as a result of the fact that pay can be excellent and the jobs also tend to offer outstanding benefits. Since this is the case, individuals who wish to attain a job in accounting should do all that they can to excel in whichever courses they take. If a prospective employer has to choose between hiring a job candidate who made B’s or one who made A’s, she or he will likely opt for the latter candidate. With this idea in mind, be sure to include time for study and be receptive to getting help from a tutor or free study services offered at your learning institution if doing so is necessary.
2. Attain An Accounting Internship.
Completing an accounting internship is one of the best things you can do to make yourself a marketable candidate when you apply for a job as a government accountant. Accounting internships provide you with valuable skills that you can use in the workplace such as instruction in how to prepare loss and profit statements as well as cost accounting and monthly closing reports. Accounting internships also grant participants the opportunity to learn how to compile and analyze financial information and coordinate the accounting control procedures that an institution will subsequently implement.
3. Network.
Networking is an integral aspect of attaining a job. Although defined broadly, networking is basically the process of getting to know people on a professional and/or personal level and subsequently using the relationship in a mutually beneficial way that incorporate things such as the acquisition of a job. In discussing the power of networking, HelpGuide.org states that networking is a more effective way to find a job than going through employment agencies, classifieds, or online job boards. Since this is the case, you should make the establishment and maintenance of relationships with people in the government sector a priority both before and during the time period in which you begin applying for a job as a government accountant.
Accounting Statistics and Facts
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median income for accountants in 2012 was $63,550 per year (or $30.55 per hour). Additionally, the Bureau notes that the job outlook is 13%, which is as fast as the national average. At this point, the majority of accountants work full-time. And in the year 2012, around 1 in 5 accountants completed more than 40 hours within a week. Many of the jobs available within the accounting field are being offered from the government sector.
Conclusion
If you have a degree in accounting and want to work for the government, you should note that doing so can afford you a plethora of personal and professional benefits. To increase the likelihood that you will be able to attain a government accounting job, be sure to implement the strategies listed above so that you can be the most marketable candidate that your prospective employer can find.
For more information, check out ” Top 10 Best Online Master’s in Finance Degree Programs“.
