How to Check Out Accounting Careers

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Accounting is a great career in any economy. Accountants help individuals figure their taxes, they help business stay on top of their finances, and they even do investigative work for law enforcement agencies. Accountants are usually comfortable with numbers and mathematics, and they have a fine attention for detail. If this sounds like a job you would love, do a little research, and check out the possibilities in accounting careers.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Consult the United States Department of Labor’s “Occupational Outlook Handbook” and read about a career as an accountant or auditor (see Resources below). You will learn that most jobs in this field require a bachelor’s degree, and people with advanced degrees find more opportunities. In addition, you may need to acquire special certification.

Step2

Work as an intern for an accounting firm or in the accounting department of a business or government agency. There is no better way to check out a career than to get in there and get your hands dirty. You may not be doing high-level projects, but you can watch and learn. The job board on MySpace has a lengthy list of accounting intern positions.

Step3

Read job announcements for accounting positions. You can learn a lot about a career from the job descriptions. CareerBuilder.com has a huge list of accounting jobs; most of the announcements include a list of skills you must bring to the position, as well as a list of advantages you will realize when you work in that field for a particular employer.

Step4

Talk to accountants. Many professionals are more than happy to talk with you about the reasons for choosing a career in accounting, good schools for accounting programs, the challenge of the professional test and finding a job.