Resources to Bookmark

Handshake Event Calendar UPO Office
Tippie Career Services Accounting Department Tippie Toolkit

Explore

  • Learn how the Pomerantz Career Center can connect you to major and career exploration resources

  • Meet with a Career Coach at the Pomerantz Career Center to explore occupations in accounting and review the outcomes dashboard

  • Learn about the accounting major and connect with your UPO Academic Advisor or your Pre-Business Academic Advisor

  • Explore accounting positions or positions an accounting degree qualifies you for in Handshake or on the outcomes dashboard

  • Register for the Accounting Professional Seminar ACCT:3100 to hear from professionals and learn about accounting careers

  • Fill out the My Preferences tab on My Career Path and explore suggested activities

  • Explore accounting careers using Pomerantz Career Center major and career resources

  • Utilize resources available on the accounting department website, within the TCOB library, Tippie Toolkit, and Pomerantz Career Center resources to learn about careers in accounting

  • Set up an informational interview or job shadow with a professional working in accounting

  • Explore accounting student organizations, such as Beta Alpha Psi and Iowa Accounting Society

  • Begin attending Iowa Accounting Society meetings to learn more about career opportunities

  • Attend Meet The Firms Night sponsored by Beta Alpha Psi (Fall Semester)

  • Complete your Handshake profile and explore current accounting positions available to identify interests

  • Use Pomerantz Career Center resources to investigate salary ranges for jobs that you are considering

Prepare

  • Participate in accounting-related volunteer experiences, such as VITA

  • Meet with your advisor to develop your academic plan and consider enrolling in ACCT:3600, 4100, or 4300 during the summer to increase options for completing a winter internship during spring semester

  • Explore and consider participating in fall/spring/summer accounting leadership programs when offered by firms

  • Participate in virtual learning sessions offered by firms throughout the academic year

  • Participate in additional volunteer experiences related to business or accounting, such as budget management for a non-profit

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center to learn about accounting roles with a variety of prospective employers

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored job fairs

  • Participate in a Mock Interview, Big Interview, or Case Coach to polish your interview skills

  • Create your resume using Pomerantz Career Center or VMOCK, and highlight your accounting courses, projects, and tailor your bullet points to accounting

  • Have your resume reviewed by a Peer Career Advisor at Pomerantz Career Center

  • Initiate a conversation with your accounting faculty to expand your knowledge about the major, industry, and careers

  • Start a LinkedIn account and create a profile; get a professional headshot at Tippie or Pomerantz Career Center, join the Iowa Accounting group, connect with accounting alumni working in roles of interest to you and follow accounting companies

  • Be aware of events offered by the University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, Pomerantz Career Center, and Handshake

  • Network with accounting firms tabling on campus, hosting virtual information sessions on Handshake, hosting office hours at the Pomerantz Career Center, or sponsoring events at Tippie College of Business

Experience

  • Complete your Tippie RISE requirements

  • Participate in at least 2 of the following:

    • Business/accounting internship

    • Accounting case study

    • Accounting externship/job shadow/ informational interview

    • Alternative spring break

    • Employer-sponsored summer accounting program

    • Part-time/summer job in accounting

    • Study abroad/international volunteer experience

    • Accounting research opportunity

Take advantage of additional opportunities to gain experience:

  • Participate in professional development activities (i.e. Coursera or LinkedIn Learning)

  • Participate in a career trek offered by the Pomerantz Career Center or your department for exploration and networking opportunities

  • Work a Student Employment job on or off campus to gain general work experience and build skills transferable to the accounting industry

  • Take on a leadership role or volunteer for accounting responsibilities within a student organization

  • Attend workshops/activities sponsored by the accounting department

  • Participate in suggested activities from My Career Path to explore additional opportunities

While you gain experience, continue with the following:

  • Collect and keep samples of your work from projects or internships to create an accounting portfolio

  • Participate in Mock Interviews, Big Interview, or Case Coach to further develop your interview skills

  • Update your resume and highlight your accounting courses, projects, and tailor your bullet points to accounting

  • Write a sample cover letter focused on your accounting knowledge, skills, and experiences and have it reviewed by a Career Peer Advisor at Pomerantz Career Center

  • Attend Meet The Firms Night sponsored by Beta Alpha Psi (Fall Semester)

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center and connect on LinkedIn with recruiters of employers that are of interest to you

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored job fairs

  • View undergraduate career leads to identify opportunities of interest to your career goals

  • Use Handshake and other accounting-related sites to search for accounting internships/jobs

Achieve

  • Plan to invest at least 10 hours a week toward your job search (average student may apply to 50+ positions)

  • Apply for full-time accounting jobs beginning in August/September prior to graduating in May or begin applying for full-time jobs in the Spring if graduating in December – keeping in mind the job search can take 6-9 months

  • Create an individual job search plan with clear targets and action steps

  • Update your Handshake profile and use Handshake to conduct a job search

  • View undergraduate career leads to identify opportunities of interest to your career goals

  • Create a “saved search” or “search agent” in Handshake tailored towards your career interest areas in accounting

  • Continue to update and tailor your resume and cover letters to highlight your accounting experience, knowledge, and include when you will meet the 150 credit hour threshold to sit for the CPA, if pursuing public accounting

  • Prepare a list of references/seek recommendations from professors and other professionals

  • Attend Career Fairs sponsored by Pomerantz Career Center and connect on LinkedIn with recruiters of employers that are of interest to you

  • Attend Meet The Firms Night sponsored by Beta Alpha Psi (Fall Semester)

  • Attend other student organization-sponsored fairs and networking events

  • Attend workshops/roundtables/activities sponsored by the accounting department and seek contact information from speakers

  • Continue to network with accounting firms tabling on campus, hosting virtual information sessions in Handshake, hosting office hours at Pomerantz Career Center, or sponsoring events at Tippie College of Business

  • Use LinkedIn to continue connecting with professionals in the finance industry and follow companies of interest

  • Use LinkedIn to connect to alumni who work for companies that don’t traditionally recruit through fairs or postings on campus

  • Join accounting-related professional organization(s)

  • Participate in accounting Mock Interviews (fall), general Mock Interviews, Big Interview, or Case Coach to polish your interview skills

  • Once an offer is received, read it carefully, ask questions of the organization’s HR contact, consult with a mentor or Career Coach, negotiate any changes in writing, and respond by the deadline