Things every Accounting Student needs to know but Are Not Taught
Critical skills to learning accounting faster & that are expected on the job.
There are some skills accountants are expected to know that are not often formally taught. They are needed because they will make learning accounting much faster and they will also be needed on the job or in searching for a job.
The accounting skill we are talking about are basic computer skills such as typing well, entering data into a 10 key well, using Excel or some other spreadsheet program well, and being able to enter data into a database program like accounting software.
Basic computer skills help to learn faster. Many people believe that younger people are picking up these skills, but they are often not learning them properly and this can lead to wasted time and opportunity.
The better we are at entering data into a system the faster more we can put our attention on the new thing, the know knowledge or task we want to accomplish.
Many people learn to use a keyboard but not properly. Not using a keyboard property will result it not being able improve past a certain point. Using a keyboard is also one of the first impressions an employer will see of our work. It takes time to convey the knowledge in our head but people will pick up our compute skills instantly as they work with us.
Know how to work with a 10 key saves A LOT of time whether we are on the job or a student. Think of the amount of time it takes to enter ten, five digit number into a calculator compared to entering those same number into a 10 key. The 10 key is often tested in job interviews.
Spreadsheet programs like Excel are also very important to students and accountants on the job and is a skill often tested during interviews. Students will save a lot of time if they learn to use computerized spreadsheet programs like Excel and can also practice data input, the 10 key, and keyboard as they learn.
Students should also practice entering data into a database program or accounting software. Just about every business job will be entering data into a database program of some kind and just about every database program can export information to Excel.