Career worries

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  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    Don't give up if its what you want to do, I worked in accounts many years ago before my children were born, I gave it up to look after them, some 25 years later I started full time work again and managed to get a job in an accounts dept. no qualifications at all. I have been there 3 years and in February decided to do home study Foundation, I've got this far and sat my exam in June ( first exam in 35 years ha ha )I found it really hard all the studying but I'm not giving up, hoping to go on to Intermediate in September........ Roll on August for the results!! Chin up its surprising what we can all do!!
    Good luck with the job hunting!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    Hello,
    I have been to some few interviewed with some company organised by the agency, one job made me believed that I got it, but I didn't. The agency didn't even bother to tell me untill I rang them.

    I am still waiting for two more results for the jobs i have applied for and two results from the interviwer.

    Has anyone being through an interview and is waiting for the result? What would be the next step if unsuccessful? :? :) how is everybody doing after all the advice on carreer worries?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    Next step if unsuccesful - you could always ask for some feedback, chances are they kept notes and it would help you identify areas where a new approach is needed (either interview technique or the actual answers you gave).
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    Thanks for that, I think I really need interview technques, I get very nervous at interview and therefore I need couching. Do you think the agency would help with that? I have tried to get feedback from some of my interviewed before but was refused, some company won't even tell me what the reasons are. :)
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    i signed up to reed accountancy (agency) and they got me an interview (which was my 1st ever and i got the job.. ok ive got a levels but none of them to do with accounting! and reed got me that interview in a matter of weeks!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    Hello

    You are very lucky, because I have being to a few interview with no success, one of the reason was that they are looking for someone who is not willing to advance or I am over qualified, I mean I just finished my foundation level how can I be over qualified? Its confusing! :-o :lol:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    HI there, I am 34 and I am an industrial Chemist looking to change careers to accountancy I have almost completed Intermediate, and I am having no luck with jobs at all, but I will write to local accountants personally instead of relyig on agencies
    sanjay
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries


    [These posts are quite old, I don't know where these people are now, but for those who are going to read this in the future:-]

    Some comments (some of which are already in the documents below)
    1. Don't put 'Curriculum Vitae' - put your name instead. (Highlight, bold, underline, larger font size, etc.)
    Name (should be centered on page...)
    2. Personal details - some are less relevant now. There is legislation regarding such matters as age, etc. Include contact phone numbers, email, etc.
    3. Have a comment at the bottom of your CV, stating that references are available, rather than printing the actual contact details for the reference. (You may actually have a written reference to take to interview with you, and it allows you to change the references, as circumstances change...)
    4. Have several versions of your CV, for different 'impacts'.
    5. Vary the emphasis of skills and qualifications, depending on the job applied for. Don't put your qualifications down, unless they are relevant. Don't refer to skills during an interview that aren't relevant. Thus, avoiding trap of 'overqualified'.
    6. Use high quality paper, eg Conqueror or other 100gsm...
    7. Choose a font that is pleasing to the eye - I've seen CVs that use Dingbats, or calligraphy! (Okay if going for artistic, creative job, though...)
    8. Serif, and Sans-Serif versions of fonts have different advantages. One looks good on screen (Sans-Serif - lacking the pointy bits) while the other for printed (Serif - with the pointy bits).
    9. Use Keywords in a 'profile' section at the beginning of CV.
    10. Use active positive words.
    11. Use third-person, ie avoid saying 'I did this' or 'I did that'.
    eg
    Competent organised dynamic Clerical Assistant, with 3 years Accounts experience. Payroll, Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger. Numerate, Literate, PC Literate. Uses own initiative. Team-focused. Goals-directed. Highly-motivated. (etc, as relevant to job and personality.)
    12. Don't lie! It will show up in your interview or in your reference! (Or even a few months further on...)
    13. Don't rely on spellcheckers or grammarcheckers, as some are probably set, through options, for American spellings, etc. Proofreading by eye, afterwards!
    14. Unless you've had solid employment for 40 years(!), with oodles of qualifications and experience, don't take your CV over 2 pages. Aim for about 1 and half pages.
    15. Try to organise your information so that it is centrally located down the middle of the page (ie avoid narrow side-margins) . Some interview shortlisters are speed readers, and will scan the centre of the page. So, catch their eye.
    16. Paper should be white or occasionally a tinge of pastel shade - which helps to make it stand out. Don't go overboard with the bright colours...
    17. Your CV is your selling 'brochure'. You are selling the item called [your name]. Do it professionally.
    16. Act professionally at the interview. Act Confident (but not arrogant), and you will feel confident...
    17. If you aren't sure about your strengths and weaknesses, ask your relatives or friends.
    18. Careful use of bullet-points.
    19. As has been mentioned and reinforced by others - use Voluntary Work as a stepping stone to further your career. You're also helping people and being involved...
    20. Have someone else proofread your CV, as they may spot something that you have missed...
    21. Although, people in previous posts have had negative experiences with agencies - I would recommend joining a few. You then decide whether you want to accept the job offered! It's your life, after all...


    There's also CV & Career advice available from:
    (Calderdale Connexions in this case, but there are others around the country.)

    http://www.workabout.org.uk

    AAT website careers advice
    http://www.aat.org.uk/students/display/store4/item307/

    For Tips on Interviews
    http://forums.aat.org.uk/forums/posts/list/13875.page

    Background Research pays off (taking an interest!)
    Interpersonal Skills -
    https://www.aat.org.uk/forums/posts/list/13641.page
    Companies House! (approx £1 per document, I think?)
    http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
    http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/toolsToHelp/findCompanyInfo.shtml
    http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/toolsToHelp/DirectpriceList.shtml

    Good Luck
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    When I enrolled on AAT Foundation this year I forwarded my CV to local accountants. I explained that I was undertaking AAT. To date everyone replied and I got one interview out of it. I lost out due to know payroll knowledge. The person who interviewed me was impressed that I had enrolled for AAT under my own steam and that I was also undertaking SAGE. I have today applied for another Accounts position. My background currently is mainly in the care field. I did however, work as a book keeper for nearly two years for a taxi company but even that doesn't seem to really count. Most companies local to me are looking for school and college leavers as opposed to mature people. I am going to persevere and look further afield after christmas. I have also registered with the agencies but to no avail at present.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Career worries

    Hi! :)
    Did you check out the material, on the aat site, using the above link?

    Generally, Keep Trying!

    (I've applied for over 120 jobs, with some interviews, and others putting me 'on file'.)

    Do your research, and read all available material for an overview of techniques, and for ideas. Try everything.

    Be persistent. Don't let rejection get you down - see it as a chance to meet other people, or simply for the experience of 'being there'.

    You didn't mention Voluntary Work - people have been successful with this approach.

    How about getting a book from the library on AAT Payroll. (Some basics are covered in the Accounts course.) Gives you something to talk about in the interview. Then you demonstrate that you know a little bit more, that you made the effort, even though you aren't qualified...

    How about trying for a similar role, say clerical, or any job at all, while you are studying... (You didn't say whether working or not.)

    Try the links above.

    Good luck!
    Keep Trying!
    :D

    Recommended books to search for in libraries

    "Ultimate Job Search Book" by Lynn Williams (isbn 0-7494-4690-0), Kogan Page, (£9.99ish).

    "Right Way to Write Your CV" by John Clarke (isbn 0-7160-2138-2), Elliot Right Way Books, (£3.99ish).

    "How To Face The Interview..." by Clive Fletcher (isbn 0-0438-0027-0), Unwin Paperbacks, (£3.50ish).

    "Great Answers To Tough Interview Questions" by Martin John Yate (isbn 0-7494-4356-1), Kogan Page, (£8.99ish).

    Quick-Jump to General Documents Listing
    http://forums.aat.org.uk/forums/posts/list/15/5678.page#67424

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