| Are you just out of school or haven't graduated yet | | | | continued education courses. You might take a course |
| and don't know what direction to take in life? Are you | | | | from an online college or a through the mail course. Of |
| new to the job market perhaps because you have | | | | course while earning your degree in these ways be |
| been busy raising a family? Or perhaps you are just | | | | sure to take advantage of all opportunities available for |
| looking for a new challenge. A bookkeeping career | | | | you to work in areas that will give you some practical |
| can be your answer. I have listed below my top ten | | | | experience. School not in your immediate future - look |
| reasons why you might want to give bookkeeping a | | | | for a clerk or data entry job in an accounting |
| try. | | | | department. This will give you a look at what |
| 1. Bookkeeping is one of the oldest professions (we all | | | | bookkeepers do and often companies offer |
| know what the oldest one is) and as a result brings | | | | educational reimbursement to their employees. All said |
| respect to all who choose this as their career. | | | | and done there are many ways to get started. |
| 2. Because bookkeeping functions are needed by all | | | | 7. Speaking of practical experience, almost all of us |
| companies in every country in the world, the world is | | | | have had experience in our personal lives that relate to |
| your job market. | | | | this career. There are not many careers you can say |
| 3. Also because all companies will need your services, | | | | that about. We have all have to pay bills, manage |
| you have an unlimited choice of industries to chose | | | | money and reconcile our checking account. The only |
| from. | | | | difference between these everyday personal tasks |
| 4. Bookkeeping functions can be broken into | | | | and performing as a bookkeeper in a business |
| specialities, for example you might want to specialize in | | | | environment is knowing the rules and regulations. |
| Accounts Payable, or perhaps Payroll. Or you might | | | | 8. The most common comment I hear is "but I am not |
| want to consider being a full charge bookkeeper in | | | | very good at math". Don't worry, you have a calculator |
| which case you would have a knowledge of all | | | | and/or computer to do the math. Bookkeeping is all |
| functions including General Ledger. | | | | about where we put the numbers and when. Of |
| 5. If you are interested in temporary positions, | | | | course there is some math -we are talking numbers |
| bookkeepers are high on the list of needed candidates. | | | | here. But it seldom gets more complicated than |
| Temporary positions offer many benefits. They give | | | | addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and even |
| you experience when you are early on in your career. | | | | then the machines do all the work. |
| They give prospective employers an opportunity to | | | | 9. Once you have been hired by a company and they |
| see your work and many times these employers are | | | | have learned to put their trust in you, most employers |
| offering you a position in their company at the end of | | | | are very hesitant to replace you. After all you are |
| your assignment. They also give you the opportunity to | | | | doing one of the key functions a company needs to |
| check out a prospective employer or industry prior to | | | | exist and be profitable. Do a good job and you will be |
| becoming hired. And if flexibility is your goal than there | | | | trusted, respected and earn your company's gratitude. |
| is no betterway to go. And a lot of temporary | | | | 10. Once you have some experience behind you, you |
| agencies are offering benefits now. | | | | might want to think about opening your own business. |
| 6. But you ask how do I get to be a bookkeeper? | | | | Setting up a bookkeeping service does not involve a |
| There are many choices depending on your | | | | large investment. If you have a computer with |
| circumstances. Of course the best way is to educate | | | | bookkeeping software you are more than half way. |
| yourself. An associate degree (2 years) in a local | | | | Oh, and one more thing - bookkeeping can be fun. |
| college is the degree you would be aiming for. | | | | Okay now you think I have lost my mind. But do you |
| However, even how you obtain that degree can bring | | | | like to solve puzzles, figure out mysteries? If these |
| choices. For example you might choose to take the | | | | activities are right up your alley than you have the |
| standard road of going to school full time. You might | | | | making of a great bookkeeper. |
| choose to work and get your degree through | | | | |