Christie Bell - Human Resources Director

Looking for a job has always been tough work, but finding a job in today’s economy is a challenge to say the least. A recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer new college graduates from the Class of 2009 than they hired from the Class of 2008. So what’s the best way to find a job with fewer jobs available? Here are a few tips.

Expand your job search: You may have known what you wanted to be when you grow up since you were five years old, but now is not the time to limit yourself. Consider options both within and outside your major and areas of interest. You don’t want to take just any job, but do consider positions in related fields that you think you might enjoy and could excel at. Also, don’t shy away from applying to a job because you think you aren’t qualified. Highlight the qualifications you do have and address any areas where you have less experience to show the employer how you can succeed in the role.

Keep your grades up: It’s tempting to slack off once you get to your senior year, but now it’s more important than ever to keep up your GPA. Nearly 70 percent of employers who responded to NACE’s 2009 Job Outlook survey screen candidates by GPA; for most, the cutoff is 3.0, or a B average. With employers having more candidates to choose from, you don’t want to be eliminated from consideration because of your GPA before you even make it to the job interview!

Get involved: Remember how important extracurricular activities were to get into college? Well, the importance didn’t stop there. Employers are looking for applicants with communication skills, work ethic, teamwork and initiative — traits that will help a new hire succeed and contribute to an organization. Getting involved in organizations both on and off campus will show your new employer that you’ve got the skills and dedication that they are looking for. Leadership is also very important. When asked to compare two otherwise equally qualified candidates in the NACE survey, employers chose the individual who had held a leadership position over a candidate who simply was involved in extracurricular activities.

Gain some work experience: The NACE survey shows that nearly three quarters of employers prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience. It also indicates that nearly 20 percent of employers look for any type of work experience — relevant or otherwise. Less than 3 percent of employers said they don’t factor in work experience when deciding to hire a college graduate. In an ideal world, it’s best to find an internship in the field that you want to work in. Especially in accounting, many of these internships will turn into full time job offers. But if you can’t land an internship with your dream company, make sure you do get some work experience. There are lots of jobs that will teach you skills that are highly transferrable such as working in a team or leading a group. Employers are looking for you to relate the skills that you do have to the job that they are offering.

Have a contingency plan: If you aren’t successful in finding that dream job right now, have a plan to fall back on. Maybe it means enrolling in graduate school and getting that Masters degree sooner rather than later. Whatever your plan may be, try to stay optimistic and network as much as you can. You never know when that person you met while at a volunteer event or the person sitting next to you on the airplane will help you get your foot in the door to a great job opportunity!

For more information on this topic visit: http://www.employmentwebsites.org/college-hiring-falls-22-percent or the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) website:www.naceweb.org

Lindsay Newman- Audit Staff

Whether you are in the market for a summer internship or a full-time job, career fairs are definitely a great place to start. Even if the whole experience may seem intimidating at first, the benefits of attending as many career fairs as possible will undeniably outweigh the slight nervousness you might experience. Take it from someone who attended countless career fairs throughout college. They were never the first place I wanted to be; honestly they were usually the last. My roommates had to virtually dress me in my suit, put a resume in my hand and drag me out the door, but looking back, I am so glad that they did! Remember that you are going to be surrounded with people that are in the exact same boat. Be sure to make the most out of it and share resources with those around you. Maybe someone is looking for a full-time job but had an internship last year that would be perfect for you. Maybe someone just quit their job because it wasn’t the right fit, but knows their employer is hiring. Make an effort to talk to everyone, meet your peers and network! Networking is one of the most valuable tools you will gain from any career fair. Most career fairs are targeted toward local jobs, but even if you plan to move away don’t let that stop you from going. Without a doubt there will be recruiters there from many major corporations that can pass along your resume to the right people in your respective city. Another great advantage to being present at career fairs is it can open your eyes to all the opportunities that really exist out there! So what if you have always aspired to be an event planner? Maybe there’s a great sales job out there that would be perfect for you. Exposure to jobs that you may have never thought would appeal to you might really spark your interest and are worth looking in to. So, keep an open mind, talk to everybody there and genuinely listen what they have to say -you may find yourself really surprised. Even if you aren’t quite ready to take on a job or an internship, go anyway! Career fairs are the perfect place for you to practice being a professional. The more practice you have at events like these, the better off you will be. A firm handshake, adequate eye contact, and conversational skills don’t come out of nowhere. It’s a good idea to do a test run so that when the real time comes, you will be willing and ready to impress everyone you meet. So, remember even though career fairs may be intimidating, after all it is a “fair” and is supposed to be fun! Make the most out of every career fair that is available to you, and you will be really glad that you did.

Sara Cox - PKM Perspective Participant

I was very impressed by the so well planned PKM Perspective Program. It offered me an opportunity to speak to PKM employees at different levels of their careers, as well as learn more about the firm and the strong, friendly culture, which PKM has created. The program was very well balanced with informative sessions as well as time to have fun and get to know new people.

I am very happy that I got the chance to attend this program to understand PKM’s practice, culture and clients. Every part of the program truly was fantastic.

Ryan Barrow - Audit Staff

Have you ever felt like you were just another face in the crowd at a recruiting event? Ever wonder if there is anything that you can do to distinguish yourself from other students when meeting firms? Great news! There are a few things that you can do to make that lasting impression that you so strive for.

For starters, make sure that you are confident and SMILE! Approaching a firm representative with a smile and knowledge of the firm goes a long way in making that lasting impression. Be sure to be prepared with intriguing questions that adequately communicate your interest. Ask about the firm culture and the people. Ask about the firm’s work/life balance. It is important to realize that most people choose their employer based on the firm’s culture and people, so be sure to ask!

Finally, follow up with the people you meet at any firm function. This may be the most important thing that you can do to make a lasting impression. Just the other day, I received a handwritten thank you note from a student that I met at a career fair. This shows initiative and is a really good idea! At the same time, do not feel as if you must handwrite a thank you note, a simple email will do.

Follow these pointers at your next recruiting event, and make that lasting impression that you are looking for!

Erika Jackson - PKM Perspective Participant

The PKM Perspective program is a great way to get to know more about PKM and the public accounting industry. I cannot think of a better way to learn more about a firm. Everyone I met at PKM was very friendly and everyone I saw working there seemed to be happy. I have not done an internship yet, so this program gave me the chance to see what it is like to work at a public accounting firm.

One aspect about PKM that I think sets them apart from other firms is their belief in work life balance. A lot of firms will tell you that they believe in work life balance, but they do not explain how they try to help you have a healthy balance between work and life. At the PKM Perspective, they explained how they helped their employees balance work and life. For example, if an auditor lives far away from the Atlanta office, they will try and give them clients that are close to where they live so they do not have to spend a lot of time traveling.

PKM is a great company that puts their employees first. I feel that the perspective program gave me the opportunity to have a direct insight on what the company is all about.

John Payne - Audit Staff

Fall is just around the corner: fraternity parties, early morning tailgates and football Saturdays, but in the public accounting world it is recruiting season. Public accounting is a unique field regarding the hiring process. Rising juniors and seniors often live life aimlessly from weekend to weekend assuming that any major will guarantee them a position in the workforce. In reality, finding a secure, promising job after graduating is challenging. Accounting majors are blessed with the opportunity to weigh their career options before graduation. During the recruiting process not only do you learn about the public accounting firms, but you learn about yourself. Not many undergraduate students are given the chance to acquire an internship, especially one that results in a paycheck. My internship with PKM was rewarding in many ways. Along with the technical side of accounting, I learned how to adapt to the working lifestyle, manage time efficiently, and represent an organization. With that being said, I would strongly urge every accounting major to participate in an internship.

Five Tips to Remember for a Recruit

• Schedule as many interviews as possible, the more options the better.
• Ask the firm as many questions as they ask you. They should impress you as much as you impress them.
• Understand that no one expects you to be an accounting whiz; it is your eagerness to learn that should stand out.
• Don’t get stressed out, have fun with recruitment.
• Smile, be polite, and be yourself at all times.

Hopefully my five tips will help you throughout the recruiting process. There is a firm for everyone so have a stress free approach and keep an open mind. Being recruited is fun and also educational. Just remember it is not a life or death situation. You experience a public accounting job for a few months and get to go back to college and apply the knowledge you acquired, maybe even impress your professors with some accounting jargon. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.- Coach Vince Lombardi

Colby Babb - PKM Perspective Participant

Before leaving for the PKM Perspective program, I was very nervous and anxious about the experience. I did not know anyone else who was attending. However, everyone was so polite and generous, and PKM’s employees are very knowledgeable and engaging. After seeing our agenda, I was surprised at the amount of information that we were planning to cover. I really did not think I would be able to retain everything so quickly.

However, PKM did an excellent job of presenting itself and the accounting profession. Not only did I retain what I learned about PKM, but also I’m so excited that I was able to build a relationship with such a great company. The greatest characteristic of PKM, in my opinion, is how they actively desire and do take care of their employees and clients.

Tim Keadle - Partner

Question: Why does PKM host the “PKM Perspective” summer leadership program? Answer: To Give Juniors a “PKM Perspective”

The caliber of students we meet at colleges and universities is phenomenal. And, with more and more students making employment decisions earlier in their college careers, it is becoming increasingly difficult to educate potential hires on the benefits of working with local and regional firms. At PKM, we have a limited number of internship opportunities available and most of these slots go to seniors between their senior and gradute school year. Through the PKM Perspective program, we can give these younger accounting students a better and deeper perspective of our firm and the field of public accounting and better gauge their interest in working with our firm.

PKM Perspective is designed for students that have just completed their junior years of college to give them a forum to see our firm in enough depth that they can make informed decisions when the time comes to choose an employer or internship opportunity. PKM Perspective offers sessions on the firm history, our clients and the disciplines in which we work. During the three-day event, students interact with interns and meet more PKM staff and partners than they do during typical campus and office visits. PKM Perspective also makes time for social functions such as tours and dinners, which are a big part of the PKM culture.