I’m a .com

My Real Job

I still haven’t given up on my shallow-wish-list job requirements! After prolonged attempts to get a job in NYC I discovered that most accounting jobs have been outsourced to NJ and Westchester County. In addition, there are a very few entry-level positions listed in NYC and all of the like are significantly better compensated in Jersey City, Paramus, NJ or White Plains, NY. The primary obstacle of my getting an accounting job in NYC was a lack of experience, thus I started where I’m going to be able to acquire as much experience as possible.

I accepted employment at AboveNet, Inc. as a Staff Accountant; a much better position that the ones offered me by New York Life Insurance and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae. Both of the latter companies, located in NYC, offered me just an entry-level position that was not quite named accountant, more like an IT assistant and an office boy for an absurd compensation, especially considering the location of their offices!

Kate was joking that this is my real job because of its “from-the-movies” corporate-office-job attributes. The very first day I was given a sticker for a company paid parking (the lot is directly across the street form our office), a picture security badge with a little stretchable string that attaches to the belt, and was welcomed to the team at a 4:30 meeting. I also have my own cubicle and a direct phone line.

Some of the additional features that differentiate this job from my previous employment at the bank include but are not limited to, 2 kitchens on the floor with company provided, unlimited supply of coffee, milk, condiments, plasticware, napkins, paper towels etc. There’s a sink and a toaster oven so that I can wash my mug and shaker and don’t have to reheat everything in the microwave. Moreover, I’m going to have a lot of work but I can do it on my terms, I don’t have to deal with screaming customers, if I happen to be late AboveNet will continue to function and won’t need me there to open, I can go in early or stay late or vice versa if I need, I HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, I truly have an hour lunch break in which I can run to the gym if I have to, I have particular set of tasks assigned to me so that if “Maria” is slacking and don’t feel like working the teller line I don’t have to pick up the slack simply because I have a responsible nature and work ethics.

Job Search Tips

Here are some important and basic tips on landing an accounting or finance job in NY or in anyplace else for that matter.

1. Poke around and have a clear idea of the type of positions you are interested in as well as the ones you certainly aren’t.
2. Make sure that you find the current resume format and have as many people revise your resume as possible; they don’t all have to be professional the idea is for the info on your resume to tell a clear story and to contain no mistakes. Use fancy resume paper, it’s delicious you’ll see.
3. Post your resume on Monster.com!!! Nothing is more important than that, trust me!
4. * If you’re looking for a job in NY, contact the McIntyre Group and look for Megan Collins (203) 750-1111 Ext. 132.
5. Also Contact Robert Half International and Michael Page International; Upload your detailed information on their websites and get an appointment.
6. Don’t count on the recruiting companies to get you the best position; their job is to make your resume fit the employer’s needs. Also don’t forget that they only make money by you getting the job and they won’t hesitate to push you into any job.
7. Google a targeted group of companies and send your resume to them.
8. For accounting positions don’t forget the pertaining state society of CPA’s, always a powerful tool.
9. Network! Tell absolutely everyone you know that you are actively job searching. Also find a way to mentioned it in every conversation while looking for an opportunity to give them or electronically send them a copy of your resume.
10. Research and be prepared with compensation amount and ranges. Have a clear idea what’s the very minimum salary you’re willing to accept.
11. Last but not least, make absolute sure that you always send thank you notes and letters for the time and consideration to anyone that you are in contact with. Buy some nice paper, envelopes, cards, and stamps.

P.S.: Spare a considerable amount of time reading about the entire job search process with all of its components, letters and documents. In case you are using an example for let say a cover letter or a thank-you note keep in mind that a lot of them are written poorly and require a second revision. Monster.com provides a lot of info on the subject but another quality source is Vault. If you have any questions the best people to seek advise from are your recruiter agents; make sure that you have a good rapport with them.

What Did It Take to Get a Job in NY

Today was my first day of employment at AboveNet. As you know I moved to NY the last weekend of April and a day later, on May 1st of 07, I had my first job interview with the MSG. today is July 23, 2007. That makes for 2&1/2 months of job search. When you say it eh, only 2&1/2 months it doesn’t sound so bad, but if you take into account the following that might change your view on the subject.

It took me:
* A total of incoming and outgoing emails – a little fewer than 500.
* I applied for over 120 positions with almost as many different companies.
* In order to keep accurate track of my search and stay on top of it, I’ve created over 45 folders containing over 90 documents.
* I used 7 job-searching engines including Monster.com.
* I worked with 8 different recruiting agencies and over 12 respective recruiting agents.
* I wrote and mailed over 20 thank-you notes and letters.
* I attended a monster.com job fair and 10 job interviews.
* I was offered humiliating jobs and ridiculously low compensations.
* I was turned down by my most desired employer and haven’t heard from the MSG yet.
* I reworked my resume about 5 times
* I had to learn everything about job searching from where to look, through how to write a cover letter, thank-you notes, and professional lingo, to how to interview (sell my skills and abilities), bargain, choose between job offers, and how to decline an offer politely.