MS Accounting Career Checklist

The Career Resource Center (CRC) serves as the primary resource for students and alumni of the School of Management in career exploration and job search. The CRC is a key link between the school and employers, offering many programs that bring these groups together, such as career consortium events, alumni connections, internships, campus recruiting and career development workshops and seminars. Our mission is to create a caring environment that enables and motivates you to be successful in reaching your individual career goals.

The CRC's dedicated staff is committed to assisting you throughout your career development and job search process. Get to know our team by visiting the CRC staff page.

1. Build your updated résumé using the CRC's MS Résumé Template
   • CRC résumé writing tools include a guide, digital workshop and tutorial on Making Your Content Count.
2. Submit your résumé for critique using the VMock résumé review tool, which provides instant, automated and personalized guidance on your résumé. You must use the preferred CRC résumé template and tools to get optimal results. 
   • Access to VMock will be granted in June (or soon after you commit to UB). You get 10 uploads per academic year.
   • It is best to use a PC/laptop to effectively use this tool, though there is a VMock app. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact us directly.
3. Revise your résumé based on your VMock feedback.
4. Personalized critiques from a career advisor are also important. Submit your updated résumé by July 10 to mgt-crc@buffalo.edu. 
   • As an MS Word document (NOT a PDF)
   • It should be one page only.
   • Name your Word document ACCT_Last Name_First Name. 
   • Include your specific MS program in the subject line of the email, such as MS ACCT Résumé

Sign in to the BizLink career management system and update your account, clarifying your job experience and job preferences. Your degree and class level fields should be noted as MS Accounting. (CRC Requirement)

• Keep your account up-to-date. The CRC staff uses the data to effectively communicate with students and market UB's MS Accounting talent to prospective employers.  (CRC Requirement)
• After the VMock critique process and CRC advisor review make the recommended résumé changes and upload your résumé to the BizLink system. All MS Accounting résumés must be CRC approved and uploaded by the end of August.
  • It is extremely important that your uploaded résumé be error-free and in professional business format.
  • Your résumé will be available for employers to view online through our BizLink system unless you specifically turn this off in your privacy setting, which is not recommended. You will also need to have your résumé ready to submit for early CRC on-campus interviewing opportunities in BizLink and for the Meet the Professionals event on September 11.

Begin preparing for upcoming fall on campus interviewing by doing the following:

• If you have not already done so, make recommended changes to your critiqued résumé and upload your résumé to the BizLink system.
• After watching the Advanced Interviewing workshop series and viewing the CRC interviewing guide and tips, you may want to schedule a practice interview with Christopher Salem via BizLink to prepare for the fall recruiting season. 
  • When scheduling the interview through BizLink, submit a sample job posting
  • Prior to your practice interview, you also may want to complete your own privately recorded interview through Big Interview (free when you sign up with UB email address)
• Learn the additional resources available on the Career Resource Center website you may need for your upcoming job search.
  • Cover letters
  • Events
  • International career tools
  • Networking resources

• Be prepared: Some companies (particularly public accounting firms) recruit students in early fall, so it is important to monitor BizLink (and Bullseye) as well as company websites for internship and job opportunities. Some résumé deadlines are as early as late August or early September. The BizLink career system also lists Employer Information Sessions (possibly virtual). 
• Attend on-campus job fairs, such as Meet the Professionals on September 11 and the Management Career and Internship Expo on October 2, and networking events within the community. However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions. Review the CRC Job Fairs and Events page for more information.
• Schedule a CRC practice interview with your career advisor, Christopher Salem, if you did not have one over the summer. Be sure to watch the Advanced Interviewing workshop series and view the CRC interviewing guide and tips first. You can schedule your practice interview via BizLink. 
  • When scheduling the interview through BizLink, submit a sample job posting
  • Prior to your practice interview, you may want to complete your own privately recorded interview through Big Interview (free when you sign up with UB email address)
• International Students: Attend various CRC international workshops (possibly virtual). In addition, attend all appropriate workshops provided by International Student Services (ISS), especially those pertaining to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
• Review cover letter and job search correspondence resources. Any letter or email sent to a potential employer must be error-free, appropriately formatted and tailored to the company's needs and the desired employment opportunity. Watch the Writing a Cover Letter workshop. (Optional but recommended)
• Determine your market-value by researching salary statistics by degree, location, career and industry using a number of resources. Begin with the School of Management’s Employment and Salary Statistics; also collect a few data points to determine your salary expectations and range. Understand the cost of living in a new geographic area.

• Update your BizLink (and BullsEye) profiles and upload a new résumé if necessary.
  • Tips on Formatting Your Résumé Using Word
    Using the CRC template is important, but you may still want to watch this quick video to learn the MS Word hacks necessary to format your résumé professionally.
    
• Get involved and build your résumé and network. Join student organizations and local professional associations that relate to your functional area of interest. 
• Conduct informational interviews with alumni working in positions, companies or geographic areas of interest using LinkedIn.
  
• Attend on-campus job fairs and networking events within the community, such as career events organized by UB Career Design Center. However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions.
• Research and identify a list of companies to target for full-time job opportunities. Go directly to company websites for information about how to submit your résumé. Conduct a targeted campaign to companies of interest. Also, network with fellow students, faculty and alumni, as well as friends and family.
• Determine your market-value by researching salary statistics by degree, location, career and industry using a number of resources. Begin with the School of Management’s Employment and Salary Statistics; also collect a few data points to determine your salary expectations and range. Understand the cost of living in a new geographic area.
• International Students: Launch your Optional Practical Training (OPT) in a timely manner so that you are eligible to begin working full-time for your prospective employer. It takes at least three months for OPT to be authorized. If you are not eligible to begin working when the employer requests you to start, the employer may not wait for your OPT authorization. Therefore, it is important you plan ahead on launching your OPT. You can submit paperwork for your OPT beginning three months before your conferral date.  
• Review information on Managing Job Offers and Compensation Negotiations.
  • Whether you are job-hunting in a tight job market or one that is plentiful with opportunities, knowing how to manage and negotiate offers (for internships or full-time jobs) is critical to the job search process. These modules address key topics and also test your knowledge. When evaluating offers of employment, we encourage students to demonstrate their professionalism during the decision-making process. Your acceptance of an internship or job offer is binding. Do not accept an offer, even verbally, until you are certain you are committed. Do not back out after accepting; that's called reneging, and is unethical. It will negatively impact your professional reputation as well as the reputation of the program.
• Complete the School of Management Job Offer and Employment Update Survey before you confer your degree.
  • It is very important to inform the CRC of your employment status whether you are still searching, accepted employment, returning to a sponsoring employer or postponing your search. If you are still searching, we are here throughout the summer and will continue to assist with your search after graduation. By completing the survey, we collect your new contact information (this includes a non-UB email address) to keep in communication with you. Once you secure employment, you can update your employment status online. If you have accepted employment, we want to be able to congratulate you and ensure your aggregate data is reflected in our reporting to national sources that rank business school programs. As you may know, providing this information is critical to the services we provide to both our students and employers. It also plays a strong role in the School of Management’s efforts to improve the value of your degree. (Information collected, including salary information, remains confidential and is only used in aggregate form.)
• Join the School of Management Alumni Association and their LinkedIn group.
• Update your LinkedIn account to show your new employer and job title and keep in contact. The CRC often reaches out to alumni from the program to help advise current students about companies, industries, markets and hiring processes.