Selling yourself to a prospective employer can be nerve-wracking whether you’re a candidate or an already-established CPA. Our employees share their favourite advice for standing out at networking events, on resumes and during job interviews.
Heart racing. Head spinning. Palms sweating.
We all know what it feels like to be nervous. Whether you’re perfecting your resume at 3 a.m. or being interviewed in a corporate boardroom, selling yourself to a prospective employer can be extremely stressful.
However, there are a few ways to reduce those jitters and put your best self forward.
“Friends, classmates, CPA colleagues and mentors are your personal source of knowledge. Ask for their advice. Learn from their experiences,” says InsureCPA CEO David Filewich. “They’re happy to help, and their insights can help you prepare, both on paper and in person.”
Below, we’ve collected the best advice our InsureCPA colleagues have to offer when it comes to building your career. Good luck!
Network with Confidence
You signed up for a networking event. Walked through the door. But now you find yourself standing in the corner, unsure how to spark conversation in a room full of professionals. Sound familiar? Try this:
- “Don’t feel like you need to attend every possible event. Focus on a few that actually mean something to you, and do your research before you go. Once you’re there, try to connect with as many people as you can. Hiring decisions usually involve input from several people, so don’t just aim for the most senior person in the room. They’re often not the ones who will remember you later.” – David
- “Break the ice by complimenting someone while in line registering, getting drinks or serving food. These brief personal exchanges showcase your personality and typically lead to continued conversations. Plus, professionals get nervous when networking, too! As the event goes on, they’re more likely to gravitate to someone they’ve already connected with.” – Amanda
Your Resume Tells a Story
Employers sift through a ton of resumes, so it’s important to make sure yours stands out. There are a few ways you can tackle this:
- “Take the time to really understand what matters to the company. Understand their goals, values and culture, and think about how your own story fits into that. When you can show that your values align with theirs, you show you belong and can contribute to the company’s growth and culture.” – Anna
- “Always connect on a personal level. It makes a memorable impression. Resumes aren’t just about your work history; they demonstrate what you did, learned and accomplished. They tell the story of who you are and what you bring to the table.” – Sydney
- “Focus on the value you delivered and the impact it had. Don’t just list a bunch of duties. Convince them with outcomes, numbers, and evidence, along with your personal learnings.” – Michael
Lead Interviews with Personality
Lastly, when it comes to interviews, the most memorable individuals are the ones who have a distinct point of view or personality. Perfection is forgettable, but personality builds connection.
- “Use storytelling. In an interview, reference your experience—academic or professional—with soft skills that the relate to the role. Then, be specific about your tasks. Share how you managed them, what the results were, and the impact they had on the business.” – Moacir
- “Interviews are a two-way relationship: You’re learning about them as much as they’re learning about you, so be yourself. Candidates often think they need to project total confidence. But genuine curiosity— asking smart follow-ups, showing interest in how the business works—does more to make you likable and hireable than confidence ever will.” – David
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