Accounting is a broad field that can lead you to a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a tax or staff accountant, a financial analyst, a compliance professional, a financial planner or a loan officer. Each path has it’s own unique responsibilities, but they are built upon the same foundation: numbers. If you are a math geek with a passion for economics, a career in accounting may be the right fit for you.

Education

Bookkeepers or accounting clerks that hold an associate’s degree may be able to advance into junior accounting positions without additional education, but most entry-level positions in accounting require a bachelor’s degree and many employers prefer a master’s degree.

A bachelor’s degree in accounting covers microeconomics, macroeconomics, personal finance concepts and fundamentals of marketing. Classes also cover ethics and the relevant laws that accountants need to be aware of.

Accountants with a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience are eligible to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The exam is broken up into four sections: Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulations. You must pass each section of the exam in order to become a certified CPA, allowing you serve the public and provide assurance services.

Career

The responsibilities of someone in accounting depend largely on the specific career path they choose. However, someone in this field typically examines financial statements, computes taxes owed and makes sure they are paid properly, inspects accounting systems, maintains financial records and suggests ways to cut costs and improve profits.

Salary and Job Outlook

According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants is expected to grow by 11 percent from 2014 to 2024. The median pay for accountants in 2015 was $67,190 or $32.30 per hour.

 
Want to learn more about accounting? Take our “Careers in Accounting” course!

Your resume is the first impression you leave with a potential employer. Before the interview, they’ve already reviewed your skills and accomplishments. Don’t let a bad resume be the reason you can’t get your foot in the door. Follow these tips to help you create a stellar resume as you take the next step towards your dream job.

A well constructed resume includes the following sections:

Summary statement. This is the first section of your resume and it should be short and sweet. Just a quick blurb about who you are and what experience you have to offer. Ex. “Public relations professional with 5+ years experience using innovative social media tactics…”

Notable skills. Now is your chance to tell your potential employer what useful skills you have that make you the perfect candidate for the position. You can include soft skills such as teamwork and time management, but most employers expect that from all candidates. Try to highlight the specific skill sets you have and include software you are familiar with.

Professional experience. Where have you worked, what have you done and how have you used the skills you mentioned? You do not need to include every job you’ve ever had. Only include relevant experience to the position you’re applying for and make sure you are honest. Omitting irrelevant experience is fine, including experience you’ve never had is not.  

Key projects and accomplishments. This section can actually be included as a subsection for your professional experience. Describe impressive projects you’ve worked on, especially if you received recognition or an award for your accomplishment.

Additional experience. Include volunteer work, internships, freelance and consulting work. Make sure you describe the work and create a connection between your skills and your professional experience.

Education. Where you went to school and the degree you received should typically be the last section on your resume. Unless you are using your resume to get an internship or entry-level position, your major and GPA are often less important than the experience and skills you’ve acquired.

Don’t overshare.

Believe it or not, some people put everything on their resume, including their favorite color and how many kids they have. Stick to skills and experience and leave the personal details about friends, family and non-professional hobbies out of your resume.

Remember to proofread for spelling and grammar and keep things consistent. This means using the same punctuation, using either paragraph or bulleted format, not both, and keeping text the same size and style throughout.

Take Next Step Academy’s “Career Readiness” course for more professional and career building tips.

A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education has found that college graduates holding a bachelor’s degree now make up 36 percent of the workforce, making them the majority for the first time in history.

Until the 1980’s, 70 percent of the workforce consisted of people with no college education. In the past, people without a college degree could work their way up to mid-level positions with higher pay and benefits. Those positions are becoming harder to find as employers make higher education a requirement for entry-level positions.

Since the recession ended, 11.6 million new jobs have been added to the economy. Of those jobs created, 11.5 million went to people with some level of higher education, with 8.5 million jobs going to people with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Only 80,000 new positions were filled by people with no higher education.

This trend is going to force some substantial changes to education in the future. While college graduates across the board have lower unemployment rates, there is going to be a push to cut liberal arts programs. Colleges need to create more focused programs and get more students to graduate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Education is also going to need to become more accessible so less affluent families can get access to higher education and therefore employment.

Additionally, with more people having a bachelor’s degree, simply having a college education is soon not going to be enough to be a standout candidate. Next Step Academy seeks to give students and employees an edge with life skills and professional development courses. These courses are quick, informative and help learners become better employees — and better in life in general.

Ready to get started? Try one of our life skills courses today!

We all want to become better at something. After all, learning new skills is necessary to give yourself an edge as you develop your career. For many years the 10,000 hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell has been the standard for mastering skills. If you do the math, 10,000 hours equates to about 90 minutes of practice every day for 20 years!

The truth is, to reach a reasonable and useful level of skill proficiency, you only need to commit yourself to 20 hours, not 20 years. Whether you want to become better at public speaking or learn HTML, you can develop the new skill by dedicating yourself to just 40 minutes of practice each day for one month.

So how exactly do you learn a new skill with the 20 hour rule?

• 1. First, you need to decide what skills will help you on your career path. Then, you need to pre-commit to 20 hours of dedicated practice. The 20 hour rule is a good way to gauge interest in the skill. If you aren’t willing to schedule 40 minutes a day to learn a particular skill, then you should consider learning something else.

• 2. Once you’ve committed to learning a new skill, break it down into smaller more manageable sub-skills. This eliminates the tendency to feel overwhelmed, making it easier to get started. You can break down a skill like HTML into first learning how to place tags, then how to manipulate text, then how to create links, and so on.

• 3. After you’ve broken up a skill into sub-skills, decide which sub-skills are most important and focus on those first. By dedicating your early practice to the fundamental sub-skills you’ll notice a significant increase in your performance after just a few hours of commitment.

Need ideas for a new skill to develop? Check out one of Next Step Academy’s job skills courses.

Having a career in education doesn’t limit you to teaching, you can also choose to pursue an administrative position. This typically includes assistant principals, principals and superintendents. People in these positions are leaders that play a vital role in making sure school districts run efficiently.

Education

School administrators need to complete a master’s degree in education administration or a related field and already have teaching experience. (Read our blogs on elementary education and secondary education to learn the education requirements for teaching). A master’s degree will typically take two additional years of education to complete. The courses you take will emphasize leadership, curriculum development and education laws and ethics. Many programs require students to complete an internship where you work directly with school administrators so you can develop skills in a real-world setting.

While a doctoral degree is not required to become an education administrator, this level of education will give you a better foundation for a career in this field. A doctoral degree can take up to three years to complete after graduate school and will require research and thesis work.

Most states require administrators to acquire an administrator or principal license. This varies state-to-state, but usually it involves passing a written test and background check. Some states also require administrators to take continuing education courses to maintain their certification.

Career

Assistant principals and principals take care of the administrative duties for a specific school. They are in charge of developing curriculum, evaluating teachers and disciplining students. They also act as a liaison between the school and the community.

Superintendents help manage the entire school district. Typically, they work with a board of trustees to develop goals for the district and oversee administrators.

Salary and Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics school administrators earned a median salary of $90,410 in 2015 and the field is expected to grow 6 percent over the next decade.

Explore a little more with Next Step Academy’s course “Careers in Education: Administration“

You’ve nailed the interview, they offered you the job, now you’re tasked with navigating a new office and work environment. Here are five tips for being successful when starting your new job.

1. Arrive on time. Nothing gives off a worse first impression than being late on your first day. Try to arrive at least five minutes early. That means in the office and ready to go five minutes early, not parking five minutes before the work day begins.

2. Know the dress code/code of conduct. Make sure you know how to dress and act in your new work environment. Don’t show up under-dressed, but also don’t overdress for the position. Get a feel for how people act in the office and match their level of professionalism.
   

3. Get to know your fellow employees. Work will never be truly enjoyable if you don’t like or get along with your coworkers. Take the time to get to know the people you work with. The ability to work well with other employees will be important in all facets of your professional life.

4. Ask questions. Your new employer wants you to be a self-starter and able to take charge of projects, but they also want you to know how to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you don’t understand a task or need a little more direction. Your employer will appreciate your dedication and moxie.

5. Give it time to get yourself adjusted. Work is work, but it is also a social and cultural institution in your life. Anytime you jump into a new circle of people and a new set of tasks and expectations, it takes time to get adjusted. Don’t get stressed if you aren’t totally comfortable in your job right away, give yourself time, you’ll get there.

For more professional development tips visit hr.nextstepacademy.com

With the digital world presenting new opportunities and constant change, education can no longer end with a formal college degree but rather continue throughout a person’s life. MOOCs offered through institutions such as Coursera are likely the future of lifelong learning.

MOOCs — massive open online courses — are programs offered by a university, available to people worldwide via the internet. MOOCs are free, with some offering the option to pay a small fee in exchange for graded coursework and a certificate or credit upon completion. Courses are short and engaging, consisting of videos, readings, problems to solve and forums to facilitate discussion between students.

The skill sets required for jobs in the digital age change faster than Apple releases a new iPhone. That’s where MOOCs come in. Institutions like Coursera partner with colleges and universities to offer courses that teach both hard and soft skills. You can learn a new programming language or how to improve your interpersonal communication skills. There is also the opportunity to deviate from skill development and simply learn more about topics of interest like history or music.

In addition to career development, MOOCs make higher level education available to people who previously may not have had access. Higher level learning is no longer a privilege of the financially stable, but available to people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

MOOCs also promote general education to people on a global scale. A MOOC course provider called edX has developed a program called Open edX which allows countries to use the edX platform to launch their own MOOCs. Countries like Saudi Arabia have used Open edX to launch education campaigns with the goal of helping women gain access to education.

Next Step Academy offers similar online courses, offering learners of any age and background knowledge about careers-in, life skills and professional development. Courses are quick, mobile and informative. To find out more about Next Step Academy, register and start taking courses, visit NextStepAcademy.com

Pursuing a degree in secondary education allows you to enter a career as a teacher at the high school level. High school teachers tend to teach students about a single subject. They work hard to prepare students for post-secondary education and entering the workforce after graduation.

Education

Students who want a career in secondary education need to complete a bachelor’s degree, which will take about four years to complete. You’ll be expected to focus on a specific subject, such as math or history. You can also choose to focus on a more specific area of study, such as economics or politics, or special subjects such as art or foreign language.

A bachelor’s degree in secondary education usually includes field work, such as student teaching, which is often completed at the same time as teaching certification requirements. Teaching certification differs state-to-state, so you’ll need to find out what your state requires. Some states require you to receive a master’s degree after initial teacher certification,  which sometimes can be earned while teaching full-time.

Career

Secondary school teachers typically work with grades 9-12, but depending on the school district you may work with grades 7-12. As a high school teacher, you’ll need to create lesson plans that you can adapt to different class sizes. You will need to create a curriculum that prepares students for standardized testing, challenges them personally and academically and — most importantly — holds their interest.

This career also includes grading assignments and exams, which you may have to complete at home, and communicating with parents, fellow teachers and other staff. In the age of information, you’ll most likely be expected to upkeep a website to post assignments and coursework as well.

Salary and Job Outlook

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in 2015 for secondary school teachers was $57,200. The profession is expected to grow by 6 percent by 2024, about as fast as average.

Explore a little more with Next Step Academy’s course “Careers in Education: Secondary Education“

A degree in elementary education allows you to enter one of the most rewarding professions, teaching young children and preparing them for future schooling. An elementary school teacher works hard each day to develop the minds and attitudes of future generations. This career path requires compassion, patience and a desire to help children learn.

Education

The first step towards a career in elementary education is a bachelor’s degree, which will take about four years to complete. Over the course of your education you’ll learn how to work with young students of different ages and abilities and how to create lesson plans.

A bachelor’s degree in elementary education often includes field work, such as student teaching, which is often completed at the same time as teaching certification requirements. Teaching certification differs state-to-state, so you’ll need to find out what your state requires. Some states require you to receive a master’s degree after initial teacher certification to teach.

Career

Elementary school teachers are typically certified to teach preschool through sixth grade, but this also varies state-to-state. As an elementary school teacher, you will cover multiple subjects throughout the day and teach important concepts such as problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration. There is also the opportunity to teach special classes, such as art, music and physical education.

Dedicating your life to educating will require you to be creative. You will need to make lesson plans that keep young students engaged in learning and can be adapted to their needs. Teaching also requires patience and the ability physically, mentally and emotionally keep up with students.

Salary and job outlook
According to BLS.gov, elementary school teachers earned an average of $54,550 per year as of 2014. The field is expected to grow about 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as average.

Explore a little more with Next Step Academy’s course “Careers in Education: Primary Education“

Interviews can be the most stressful part of getting a job, with your future employment dependent on the impression you leave with a total stranger. The key to having a great interview and landing the job is being proactive and confident.

Here are five tips for having a successful interview:

Research. Read up on the company before the interview. Make sure you know exactly what position you are interviewing for and learn about the company’s history and values. This will help you stand out from the beginning of the interview. Bonus points if you learn the names of your interviewer and the higher-ups in the company.

Dress for success. Make sure the clothes you wear to the interview are clean, wrinkle-free and professional. Think you’re under-dressed? Call ahead of time and find out the company’s dress code and use that as a guideline for what to wear to the interview.

Arrive on time. Do not be late, but also don’t arrive too early. Aim to walk into the office five minutes before your interview. Not parking five minutes before, but in the office and ready to shine five minutes before your scheduled interview time.

Come prepared. Review common interview questions and have answers ready. Consider practicing a mock interview with a friend or family member. Bring multiple copies of your resume, a notebook and a pen. Also consider bringing a list of questions you have for the company. Employers tend to ask at the end of the interview if you have questions for them. Make sure you ask something thoughtful like where they see the company going in the next five years — but leave the conversation about salary for the follow-up!

Send a thank you. Follow up with the interviewer by sending a thank you note. An email is adequate, however a handwritten note adds a personal touch and will help you stand out. The best advice I ever received was to write the thank you note BEFORE the interview, and slip it in the company’s mailbox on your way out!

Want more tips for nailing your interview and getting your dream job? Take the Next Step Academy course “Interviewing Skills” to learn more.