Beyond Book Smarts

Beyond Book SmartsBeyond Book Smarts*/Read the infographic text.BEYOND BOOK SMARTSHow prepared were you for your first accounting or finance job out of college?*56% Somewhat prepared14% Not at all prepared29% Very preparedIn what ways were you unprepared for your first accounting or finance job?**49% Knowledge gained in classroom didnt translate to the job33% Didnt know how to handle office politics23% Lacked technology skills or software knowledge20% Had inadequate functional accounting skills15% Had inadequate soft skills11% OtherSource Accountemps online survey of more than 2,400 accounting and finance professionals in the United States.*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.**Respondents who said they were somewhat or not at all prepared. Multiple responses were allowed. 2015 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

Survey Employees say this type of music boosts productivity

Survey Employees say this type of music boosts productivitySurvey Employees say this type of music boosts productivityWhile research has found that millennials who feel like their finances are secure are mora likely to listen to classical music, a new survey from staffing firm Accountemps shows that among office workers who say listening to music at work helps them get mora done, pop is the top genre that boosts their productivity.But overall, 85% of those surveyed who were allowed to tune into songs while at work saidthat they like to do so, compared to 15% who say that they do not.In terms of how the survey was carried out, An independent research firm polled more than 1,000 adult office workers in the U.S., and Accountemps came up with the survey.Workers say these genres boost their productivityAmong workers who say that music helps them work better, heres the full list of thegenres that contribute to the feeling1) Pop2) Rock3) Country4) Alternative5) Classical6) Hip hop/rap7) Jaz z8) Blues9) Heavy metal10) OtherHow people fare at work when they can hear musicHeres how people with the option to listen to music at workweighed inMuch more productive 39%Somewhat more productive 32%Somewhat less productive 6%Not productive at all 1%Has no impact on my productivity 22%Its clear that listening to music impacts people to varying degrees in the office.Keeping this in mind, Michael Steinitz, executive director of Accountemps, commented on the research in a statement.While music can be a stress reliever or source of motivation for many workers, it can be a distraction for others Those who want to listen to music in the office need to be aware of company policies and considerate toward their colleagues, he said.But while 44% of workers overall said that they can listen to tunes at work without restrictions, 38% also say they can, but have to do things like plug in headphones because of existing rules around this. Plus,nine percent said listening to music isnt permitted in their workplace, and 10% said they werent sure. These responses were rounded.Either way, if youre someone who likes to listen to your favorite music at work, you might want to check out these tips for using it to bump up your level of productivity.

Why No one is Calling You Back (and What to do About It)

Why No one is Calling You Back (and What to do About It) Why No one is Calling You Back (and What to do About It) The most common complaint I hear from job seekers is this Im sending tons of resumes out and no one is calling me back.I know how frustrating this can be from personal experience. Ive been there myself back before I had my own business. You see the perfect vacancy you just know you have all the right skills for it and you are sure they will call you as soon as they see your resume. So when the phone doesnt ring, you wonder what on earth happened. Did your resume get through? Is it trapped in a spam filter? Is the recruiter just too stupid to see how great you are?But actually, the answer is usually pretty simple. They didnt call you back because they dont think youre right for the job.But I am I hear you cry. Im perfect for it I believe you, really I do. But trust me, your resume isnt communicating that. If it was, youd have an interview lined up already.I know this bec ause, having spent years hiring, I know how desperate recruiter and managers are to find the perfect fit for the vacancy. They want this PIA off their desk so they can get other stuff done. When they see a resume that looks just right, they act immediately. If theyre leid acting immediately, they dont think youre a good fit.And since we know you are a good fit, the problem has to be one of communication. (If youre applying to jobs where youre not a good fit, then you wont get an answer and nothing I say can help. Stop doing that Its a waste of everyones time).So if youre not getting responses to your resume, scrap it and start again. Study job postings, identify the important themes, and then craft a resume that addresses them. If you need help, check out my free resume writing course. No spam just a series of emails that will help you improve your resume right away.Photo courtesy of rocketace