What Successful People Do Within the First 10 Minutes of the Workday

What Successful People Do Within the First 10 Minutes of the WorkdayWhat Successful People Do Within the First 10 Minutes of the WorkdayHow you deal with the initial 10 minutes of the workday largely can determine how effective and productive you will be the remainder of the day.Below is a list of 10 things the most successful individuals do within the initial 10 minutes of the workday1. They ReflectAccomplishing your top goals will require you to reflect upon where you have been, where you are, as well as where you are going. Successful individuals build quiet time in and use solitude to do this first thing in the morning. Theyll ask themselves What did I achieve toward my goals thus far this week- or the past week? Whats the status of my present projects? What will I have to achieve today in light of this?2. They Make Themselves ComfortableSuccessful individuals take time at the start of the workday to be certain their chair is properly adjusted and the objects they access frequent ly- phone, keyboard, computer mouse- are all within comfortable reach. Make sure you have the right lighting. Your day is going to go well if you create an ergonomic environment that is functional.3. They Review Their To-Do Lists and Make Necessary AdjustmentsThis assists them in remembering the necessity of sticking with the plan and concentrating on the tasks that are truly important, not just urgent. Taking a mental note of the day also assists successful people in visualizing success, tremendously boosting confidence levels. Also, it can help you see where potential challenges might lie with how you have scheduled the day, in buchung for you to make the needed changes.4. They PrioritizeA positive result of some big-picture reflection includes the capability of better prioritizing your to-do tasks. Go above and beyond merely creating a list and challenge yourself to develop a realistic hierarchy for your tasks.5. They Take the Time to Greet the TeamThis is especially crucial if y oure a leader. However, no matter what role you are in, it is critical. Checking in and visiting with your team and boss will assist you and other people in kickstarting their day. In order to advance your career, you cannot skimp on people skills. You may be the most technically savvy individual inside the room, yet your attitude might amplify or chip away at your technical skills value. Being friendly the first thing in your morning will make the work environment more pleasant for everybody- and that humanistic approach is going to be contagious.6. Theyll Take a Temperature Read of Co-workers and StaffA strong manager takes a minute in the morning to briefly talk to his or her staff to make sure they seem motivated and engaged. At one glance, these savvy experts often can get a cursory reading of the job satisfaction and energy level of their team. If things seem awry, theyre better dealt with later in the day.7. Theyll Organize Their WorkspaceNot having the ability to locate thin gs is a big office time waster. Therefore, while you might pride yourself on hopping into the fray without any down time, clutter is going to catch up to you. Facing a clean slate on your desktop is going to better clear your mind for that days projects.8. They Strategically Check Their EmailThe emphasis is on strategically, because schmelzglas can quickly become a time-wasting distraction. Checking your email may become one of those activities that makes it feel like youre achieving things, but it creates the risk that you arent attending to priority items and are allowing other people to set your schedule.9. They Avoid and Anticipate DistractionsAll of us face some of the exact same distractions at the beginning of the day. Successful business people know how they can mitigate these distractions to maximize their initial minutes at their office. The distractions might involve unneeded meetings, low-priority calls, chatty co-workers, social media, incoming texts or emails, or other unimportant alerts- all of which will challenge you to concentrate on your days strategy.10. They Take Time to Be GratefulOne excellent way that successful individuals begin their day includes identifying something they are grateful for, and it might be business-related or personal. It is motivational and will remind them to put small tasks in perspective.More From Inc.Why Being Positive Is the Best Tool in Business23 Must-Read Twitter Feeds for 201525 Companies That Are Changing the WorldPhoto of woman opening shades courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Get a Job as an Accountant

How to Get a Job as an AccountantHow to Get a Job as an AccountantIf youre thinking about becoming an accountant or pursuing a career in accounting, its important to make aya you have the right education, experience, and background skills before jumping into the field. Heres a look at some of the key requirements for accountants, including what to expect from an accounting job and how to land the position. Accountant Education and Licensing Most accountants complete at least a bachelors degree with a focus on accounting. Individuals who want to work for public accounting firms must pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Almost all states require accountants to acquire at least 150 college credits in buchung to sit for the CPA exam. In addition to completing an undergraduate degree in accounting or a related discipline, most candidates take additional graduate work, often culminating in an MBA to complete the remaining credits. To find out the requirements relevant to yo ur state, visit the American Institute of CPAs(to learn more about how to become a certified public accountant in your region. Accountant Skills Accountants work with numbers, so they need to have strong mathematical skills.Accountants should be diligent and detail-oriented, as the job requires combing through volumes of financial data to search for problems and irregularities. Because accounting is governed by various rules and regulations, accountants must be able to learn and apply complex principles that are likely to change over time. If you want to become an accountant, a strong thirst for knowledge will serve you well. Public accountants audit the finances of a vast array of businesses, governmental entities, and non-profit organizations.They must be able to quickly learn how these operations are conducted and gain familiarity with the specific regulations that apply in these sectors.Accountants spend considerable time working alone and must be comfortable in this mode. T hey also must interact and communicate with staff at client organizations in order to secure the information necessary to conduct audits and understand business practices. If youre overly sensitive, an accounting career might not be for you, as accountants are sometimes treated coolly by staff members who fear that their mistakes may be uncovered by the accountants work. In addition, accountants need solid analytical and problem-solving skills in order to discern flawed financial processes and to recommend better practices.Accountants need a strong sense of ethics to structure appropriate controls and apply standards to their organizations. What Employers Look For When hiring candidates, employers will look for evidence of success in accounting coursework as well as overall academic achievement.The big four public accounting firms generally interview candidates with a 3.5 GPA or higher.However, they will consider many other factors including the overall rigor of the curriculum, GPA in accounting coursework, and a pattern of improvement over time.Candidates who have excelled as universittsgelnde leaders, athletes or worked many hours while in school may get selected with somewhat lower GPAs. How to Get a Job as an Accountant unigelnde Recruiting Programs. Accounting candidates are heavily recruited through campus interviewing programs.Campus interviews for graduating students take place early in the fall of their final year. Heres information on college recruiting programs. Intern to Hire. Students who have completed accounting internships in their junior or senior year will have a distinct edge in landing post-grad jobs. Campus recruiting for internship positions takes place in the winter and spring. If youre still in college and considering an accountant career, check with your career office during the spring of your sophomore year to discuss strategies for finding an accounting internship. Networking. Even though many accounting graduates will land jobs through campus recruiting, networking is still an important strategy for landing jobs.Start your networking efforts during your sophomore year in college.Ask your career office for a list of accounting alumni who you could contact for information and advice. Conduct informational interviews with as many alumni as possible. If you hit it off well with an alum, ask if you might shadow them over a school break to solidify your connection.Reach out to faculty, family, friends, neighbors and former supervisors. Ask for referrals to accountants they know for informational consultations. These informational interviews can often lead to referrals for internships or jobs if you make a favorable impression. Get to Know Your Professors. Cultivate strong relationships with accounting faculty. Offer to help them with research projects or administrative tasks. Meet with them during office hours and ask for career advice.Offer to tutor beginning accounting students. Employers will often ask a ccounting professors to recommend strong candidates. Search major job sites like Indeed.com and Simplyhired.com by common accounting job titles to generate a list of leads.Tap specialized finance and accounting specific job sites to access more listings. Interviewing for an Accounting Job Interviewers will often probe for your knowledge of accounting and may ask you some questions about accounting concepts or approaches.For example, they might ask What are some of the challenges in constructing a statement of cash flows? or Describe the accounting problem or project that tested your knowledge the most. Employers may also ask why you have chosen the field in to see if youre a good fit for the company.Make sure that you have spoken to many accounting professionals, asked them what they like about their work, and then matched those findings up with your own interests. You will often be asked what will make you a good accountant.Think of five to seven strengths that will qualify you to succeed in the field. Prepare anecdotes and examples of how you have applied those skills, whether it is in part-time jobs, internships, extra-curricular activities, or academic work. Your informational meetings with accounting professionals can also help you to prepare for this type of question.Ask them what it takes to excel in their job and look for the overlap with your strengths. Many accounting recruiters will ask behavioral questions to evaluate whether you possess the ideal characteristics to succeed in the field.They may ask you to describe situations where you met certain challenges or to give examples of how you have applied certain skills. Review each of your resume citations and think about the successes you generated in those situations. Be prepared to reference the strengths you used to achieve those positive results. Credibility is critical for accountants.Recruiters will be carefully evaluating you to make sure you have the right image to inspire confidence in t heir clients.Dress for success with a conservative interviewing outfit.Consult with your career office staff if you have any questions. After the Interview After the interview, take the time to follow up. Send an email thank you glaubenszeugnis that clearly states your strong interest in the job, how it is an excellent fit for you, and how thankful you were for the opportunity to meet.If you have multiple interviewers, try to think of something different to mention in your letter to each interviewer to show your attention to detail and interest in the job. Accounting Keywords for Resumes A - C Abandonment ValueAccelerated DepreciationAccelerating Month-End Closing ProcessAccrual Basis AccountingAdjusted Present ValueAdjustmentsAnalyzing Financial StatementsAutomating Journal Entry ValidationAutomating ReportsBudgetingCapital AcquisitionsCash Flow AnalysisCash Flow StatementCash ManagementClean AuditContract ManagementCost Basis AccountingCost AccountingCPA D - I Debt Refinancing Detail OrientedEliminating WasteEnsuring Compliance with Regulatory StandardsEstablishing Risk Management PoliciesEvaluating/Upgrading Business Enterprise SystemsFinancial ModelingFinancial ProjectionsForecasting RevenuesGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)General LedgerIdentifying Flaws in Financial StatementsImproving Collection of Accounts ReceivableIncome StatementInitial Public Offerings J - Q Management AccountingManaging Audit RelationshipsMergers and AcquisitionsNegotiating Vendor AgreementsNet Present ValueOptimizing Levels of InventoryOverseeing Investment PlanningPayrollPayroll ReportingPower User of ExcelPreciseProfit and LossQuickBooksQuick Ratio R - Z ReconciliationReducing Audit FindingsReducing ExpensesReducing Journal Entry TimeResponsive to Staff Needs for Financial InformationReturn on Assets (ROA)Return on Equity (ROE)Return on Investment (ROI)Sarbanes OxleySaving MoneyStatement of Changes in EquityStatement of Financial PositionStraight-line DepreciationStreamlining the Accounting ProcessTakeoversTax FilingTax PlanningUnqualified OpinionUpgrading Financial ControlsYear-End Reporting?

Best interview questions to ask potential employers

Best interview questions to ask potential employersBest interview questions to ask potential employersPicture this The job interview is (almost) over.Youve answered all their questions.Youve jumped through all their hoops.Youve taken all their tests, assessments and personality profiles.Meanwhile, your brain hurts from over thinking. Your butt is numb from over sitting. And by now, youve managed to sweat right through that crisp, new white shirt you bought just for today.Just hire me already You think.Not so fast. Theres mucksmuschenstill one thing left to doWalk out of that interview in a blaze of gloryToday Im going to teach you a job-hunting strategy that will instantly make you more approachable hireable employable promotable buyable bookable unforgettable and, most importantly, call-back-able.And all of it hinges on your ability to respond effectively to one of the most common (yet one of the most under leveraged) interview questionsSo, do you have any questions for me?Prospecti ve employers almost always ask this one especially at the end of the interview. And most job-hunting books, interviewing resources and career coaches will advise you to respond with intelligent, creative questions such asWhy is this position vacant?Do you promote from within?Do you have a formal training program?What are the future goals of the company?How will I know that I have met your goals?Why did you choose to work for this company?How would you describe your companys culture?How will my performance be evaluated, and how often?What is the average work week of the person who will fill this job?Will I be hearing from you or should I contact you?Those are great questions to ask in an interview. Theyre smart, focused and goal-oriented.Theres only one problem Everybody else asks them, too.And that instantly eliminates the probability of standing out.Heres the realityThe less boring and normal you are and the more rules to which you are the exception the more hireable you will be come.So, try this Next time your interviewer asks, So, do you have any questions for me? I triple-dog-dare you to answer with one of the following responsesDo you see any gaps in my qualifications that I need to fill?Are there any reasons Im not fully qualified for this position?Is there anything Ive said today that might hurt my chances of being hired here?Now that youve had a chance to meet and interview me, what reservations would you have in putting me in this position?What have I accidentally said or done during todays interview thats inconsistent with your perfect candidate for this job?Heres why this strategy worksYou put the interviewer on the spot. After all, youre not the only one being interviewed here. So, turning the tables in this manner helps you maintain power because contrary to popular conditioning the listener controls.You prove counterintuitive thinking. I dont care if youre applying to work the night clean up shift at Reggies Roadkill Cafe employers love peop le who think this way. Not just someone who is unexpected but someone who actually thinks unexpectedly.You demonstrate openness to feedback. My great friend, Joe Rotskoff, HR manager at Crescent Plumbing Supply in St. Louis, was the person who first educated me on this interview approach. The secret is twofold, Rotskoff said. First, you schirm openness to how others experience you. Second, you show a dedication to improving self-awareness. And thats exactly the type of employee companies seek to hire in this tough economy.You exhibit dedication to personal improvement. Which makes you an employee who adds value to the net worth of her human capital and, therefore, the net worth of the companys assets every day. Wow.You close the sale. Job interviews are sales calls. Period. Youre selling the company on you, your skills and your long-term potential as a valued asset to the team. So, when you ask closer questions like behauptung, youre essentially asking for the sale. And youre doi ng so in a professional, tactful, confident manner. How could they not say yes to you?Now, heres the worst thing that could happenLets say you ask one of these questions. And lets say the prospective employer (unfortunately) responds with an answer that indicates youve done something wrong. Or missed the mark. Or come up short in regards to the position.Fantastic Youve just received specific feedback that you can leverage to add value to yourself and become more hireable in the future.So, if this is the case for you, heres my suggestion Physically write down his response to your questions, right then and there. This demonstrates active listening and further reinforces your openness to feedback.Then, when you write your thank-you note to the interviewer later that evening, be sure to1. Thank him again for the helpful feedback on your performance2. Explain what your commitment plan is for remedying that inadequacy in the future. Hey, he might even change his mind after thatBut heres t he best thing that could happenPicture this The interviewers jaw hits the floor, his pen falls to the ground, and he stares at you like you just told him that his company was going to be featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.Then, once he mops up the puddle of drool on your job application, he racks his brain trying to come up with an answer to your powerful question.But he cant find one.Because there isnt one.Because you, my unemployed friend, are pretty amazing.And you deserve this job a hundred times more than every other candidate who walked in the door befThats what happens when you stick yourself out there. Thats what happens when youre approachable.You walk out of that job interview in a blaze of glory.And then, come Monday morning, you walk back into that same building. But this time, youre not there for an interview youre there to see how spectacular the view is from your new office.