Career Advice

System

Hi all, I haven't been on for a long time (been very busy) but I need to ask some advice about what I should do career wise. If you could spare me a few brief seconds of your time it would be appreciated.

Boring bit about me:
Aged 29. After leaving school I had 3 or 4 years working in accounts & payroll (industry) & got my AAT. Then I went onto work as a software consultant doing all things related to accounting software e.g. supporting, testing, fixing data, advising etc. Three years ago I went to do a degree in Accounting & Finance which I finish in ten days time, i'm hoping to do well to very well.

About my job-hunting:
I haven't been searching long and am far from giving up hope but I have faced a few brick walls. I wrote round a stack of businesses and practices but didn't get anywhere, although one did add me to a list of potential trainee graduates for September. The agencies say i'm at a disadvantage because I have no recent relevant experience - I have offered to work for far less money than I was on before. I also get the feeling there are other factors at play here:

1. They think i'll leave as soon as I get the opportunity.
2. I'm old for the trainee positions.

What to do next:
Ok I can't rely on things such as the grad trainee schemes for september as I might not get one (obviously). So does anyone have any more strategies just to get my foot in the door? I had a look at the temping options but they are either extremely basic (e.g. lots of admin with a bit of work on sales ledger) or require relevant experience. Another one that crops up reguarly is experience of Sage - I know half a dozen accounting packages some of which are extremely complicated but I don't know this one.

Any advice, thoughts or ramblings appreciated. Even tips on how I can convince agencies that I am suitable for low-level positions OR semi-experienced positions. Did you chase agencies up or leave them to it? What do agencies want to here?

Thanks in advance
Adrian

System

Re:Career Advice

Hi Adrian,
I hope you get the results you want for your Accounting & Finance degree.
Have you decided exactly it is you want to do? Why not trawl the internet and approach the companies yourself. Maybe a bit like cold- calling and selling yourself? Have you put your CV on Monster.co.uk? I looked through our local paper for vacancies and there were loads. I work for a big company who has a graduate scheme and I don't think age comes into it any more. With your education, you will have to put on an oscar winning performance to convince a company that you won't get "bored" or "move on" when something better comes along. Why not aim high in the first place?
Good luck anyway with what you do.
Cheers
Mandy

System

Re:Career Advice

Hi Adrian,

Good luck with you forthcoming result.

As regards your career, I believed that you've a very good one to look up to. You are still very young and have transferable skills as you've said. There are so many areas you can look for job. Try and register with Hay Accountancy, Reed, Robert Half and a lots of them that are recruiter of Account and Finance students. PWC, Deloitte etc also recruits graduates a lot, have you checked their website? You can also approach charities as well.

As regards Sage, with the skills you've acquired in other accounting softwares, I believe you can teach yourself how to use the package. Try and get the software for eg Sage line 50 or 100 (this is for accounts)for a start. Get textbook(s) as a guide.

If you've amble time on you, you can also try and learn payroll. With these coupled with your previous experience and your present acquired skills from University, I believed, there are some employers there that are waiting for you.

Try and sell yourself very well. Lay emphasy on your strenght in your CV, it is no more important to include your age in the CV, let your CV be inviting and probably get one of the agencies to have a look for you or a friend before sending them.


Best of luck in your job hunting.

System

Re:Career Advice

Thanks for your replies guys and gals.

As regards to applying for the larger companies they require A levels, which I haven't got. The online applications actually have boxes that say you can't continue unless they have the specific A level results they want. Perhaps I can look into more ways of getting around that.

In anycase, a job that involves traveling more than say 40 miles a day by car isn't really my cup of tea and I live in lincoln and theres no KMPG/Deloitte/PWC etc offices around here. There hasn't been any jobs relating to accounting that I could of applied for a about a month now (i.e. accounts assitant etc) in my local paper.

I've signed onto at least a dozen agencies including Hays/Reed/SF Group etc etc but not getting anywhere so far.

It really is a shame because I work hard and although I say it myself, I think I have quite a lot to offer. Good point though Sindy I think i might try learning a bit about Sage myself, although I guess it's hard to prove on the CV that way.

Anyway i'll keep battling on and if you or anyone else has any more comments it would be appreciated.

System

Re:Career Advice

Hi

Have you considered any non accounting agencies? The company I work for are currently recruiting for a position that is mainly finance based but would involve some general admin work too. We are using an agency that covers a whole variety of roles including administration.

Positions like this can be quite junior but the pay is fair and it's a foot in the door.

Neil

System

Re:Career Advice

Move to London!!

I completed my AAT before going to University and studying something completely unrelated.

I was planning on going through the graduate recruitment process with everyone else but quite frankly it is an extremely long and convoluted process that you have to go through with every potential employer and only a small chance of being offered a position some 6 or 8 months later! Similarly to you, I did not come through the traditional route and found a lot of these online applications would just reject me before I even got to the end.

After chatting to some recruitment agencies it was very clear that it was going to be much easier to get a job because of my experience rather than going for graduate entry.

Promote your strengths.. with your software background you will be completely adept with Sage after a few hours. I listed every software company I could think of on my CV!

The London comment is a little flippant but I feel for people who do not have an active job market right on their doorstep. Do you fancy a change?