Expert: Shirley McAllister, CPP, PHR - 8/28/2010

Question
Hello,i have finished my first year in accounting diploma and i have one more year to graduate.Would you please give me some tips about how can i find an entry level in the accounting field so i can add some experience to my resume.
All jobs i have looked at  require a two years experience at least or more.
Thank you for your time and help.

Answer
One of the easiest and quickest ways to gain experience in the Accounting field is to serve a paid internship under an accountant or an accounting firm or in the accounting department of a company.

You do not need experience to serve an internship and although you will not be paid well during the internship you will be paid. Make sure it is a paid internship and not an unpaid internship.

The other way to gain experience is to start out as an entry level assistent in payroll, accounts payable or some other facet of accounting and gain experience and possibly work your way up to a higher position.

You also can take a short class at H&R Block or another tax service and spend a year doing income taxes which gives you accounting experience while you are being paid.

You might also find a small business, motel, auto repair, restraunt that needs a part time bookkeeper and can't pay much but will hire you without experience and you won't earn a huge wage but you will earn experience.


We all have to start somewhere and we usually do not start at the top, I certainly did not.

Shirley