The Importance of Writing Error-Free Resumes

How many typos does it take before the person reading the resume will put it down and move onto the next resume? One? Two? More than two?

A survey from Accountemps makes it clear. Three out of four (76 percent) of executives interviewed said just one or two typos in a resume would remove applicants from consideration for a job; 40 percent said it takes only one typo to rule candidates out.

The full survey results are in the Summer 2009 issue of Resume Writers' Digest.

Do You Work With Clients in Finance, Accounting, and/or IT?

If you work with clients in finance, accounting, and/or information technology, request your free copy of the 2009 Salary Guide from Accountemps.

Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International, conducts annual salary surveys and publishes the results in an annual guide.

Survey: Heavy Workloads Affecting Financial Folks

Accounting and finance professionals are feeling the pressure of heavy workloads, according to a new Accountemps survey. Thirty-five percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said heavy workloads are the number-one workplace concern for their financial teams. Coming in second was job security, with 19%.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance, and bookkeeping professionals, and conducted by an independent research firm. It was based on telephone interviews with more than 1400 CFOs across the United States.

Executives were asked: Which one of the following do you think is the greatest source of work-related concerns for finance and accounting professionals?

Their responses:

• Heavy workloads - 35%
• Job security - 19%
• Corporate governance mandates/compliance issues - 17%
• Personnel issues (coworker conflicts, office politics) - 14%
• Work/life balance issues - 11%
• None of these - 2%
• Other/Don't Know - 2%

"The combination of compliance mandates, traditional projects and shifting priorities has challenged accounting and finance professionals to keep up with their growing workloads," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of "Human Resources Kit for Dummies: Second Edition." "The problem is further compounded by a shortage of highly skilled candidates in many specialties."

Maintaining Your Productivity

Here are some tips from Accountemps for maintaining a high level of productivity:

• Make a plan. Spend 10-15 minutes at the beginning of the day mapping out your desired accomplishments. Prioritize the taks that are most important to your business.
• Sharpen your focus. People are more productive when working for an extended period in the same mental mode, as opposed to changing gears frequently. Try to cluster tasks that require similar effort or resources at the same time.
• Limit distractions. It can be tempting to review e-mail each time a message arrives. However, unless your job requires an immediate response, it's often best to check your inbox periodically throughout the day.
• Don't delay. Even peak performers occasionally put off working on unpleasant or overwhelming assignments. One effective way to overcome procrastination is to break a project into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Recharge. Taking short breaks throughout the day can help you replenish your energy and fight fatigue.

Now if only I could get myself to follow this advice every day! I tend to jump from task to task during the day -- depending on how urgent the request is. But on the days when I do plan my day, and prioritize the top 2-3 tasks, I find I tend to get them done.

How about you?

Survey Shows Tuesdays are "Most Productive"

Want to get something done? Wait until Tuesday.

According to an Accountemps survey, more than half (57 percent) of executives polled said employees are generally most productive on Tuesday, up 9 points from a similar survey conducted five years ago.

Monday was the second most popular answer, although only 12 percent ranked it as their top day in terms of productivity.

The national poll included responses from 150 senior executives from the nation's 1,000 largest companies.

"In addition to serving as a 'catch-up' day after the weekend, Monday is when many regularly scheduled meetings occur, which can decrease the time available to complete tasks," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career for Dummies. "Many view Tuesday as an opportunity to focus their efforts and establish momentum for the rest of the week."