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Job application advice for young accountants

By Kate Cain / April 20, 2016

Recently Accru Melbourne advertised for a graduate accountant position. We received many applications, but unfortunately some potentially great candidates let themselves down by making basic mistakes.

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Here are five simple things you can do to make sure your job application gets considered favourably.

1.  Attach all requested information – We asked our candidates to forward a cover letter, resume and their academic results. Around 40% of applicants did not send all 3 pieces of information. This raised doubts about their ability to follow instructions.

2. Check for spelling and grammatical errors – Many applicants were unsuccessful due to misspelt words and incorrect grammar. This led to concerns about their attention to detail, an important trait for an Accountant! Where possible, have someone else proof read your cover letter and resume before you press send!

3. Address your cover letter correctly – Some cover letters received were addressed to the wrong person or addressed simply to Dear Sir/Madam. The contact person to address applications to was detailed in the ad. In this case, there’s no reason to use Dear Sir/Madam. If the contact person is female and you are unsure whether or not she’s married, take the safe route and use the title Ms.

4. Do not use a generic cover letter – Your cover letter should address the selection criteria detailed in the ad.  Also take the opportunity to research the company and include information in your letter to show that you have done so. A generic cover letter can come across as lazy. All roles are different and your cover letter should be too.

5. Present and format CV clearly and professionally – A badly formatted CV can be off-putting to potential employers. Choose a simple typeface such as Times New Roman and a size that’s easy to read such as 11 or 12 point. Ensure your CV is spaced out. An ideal length for a Graduate would be 2 to 3 pages. There are plenty of Resume templates on Google!

Get these things right and you will be well on your way to an interview!

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