AAT BUT NO JOB IN Accountancy
exam panic
Registered Posts: 157 Dedicated contributor 🦉
What should I do with my AAT if I don't have job in accountancy .should I go on to do acca or save my money and go on holiday ????
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Do ACCA (shows commitment to your cause) AND go on holiday - loads of all inclusive packages at the moment on HotUKDeals.0
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Go on holiday, I am the same with you. I am waiting for the result of my exams but I don't have a job in accountancy.I'm working as a volunteer at the moment I give 3 days a week just to get a fully confidence in working environment but still not touching in the accounts.
I know someone who finish a degree(law) and then continue to study in 2 years to get her education done now she is in debt and she is over qualified without experience.
I don't want to continue into ACCA until I got the job, I have been this situation before I finish my degree and no job. I just can't believe my luck, changing my prospect and the same outcome but this time I will never give with this profession well for now anyway. So much money spent....0 -
Definately the holiday for me.0
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Take the holiday. I dont know your full circumstances but I'd be looking to get a little exp before committing to ACCA.
Soemone touched on voluntary work in an earlier post which is a good idea. My better half did this a few yrs back to compliment her AAT and break into accountancy.0 -
I have full time job at the moment A job which I 'm good at but I don't want to do it all my working life .So I just want to change but look at the job market I don't think That I got a chance for it I did apply for number of accountant job but I have no reply from them .I just want to get job and carry on my study .If I don't and I will not waste any more my money .0
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The job market is incredibly difficult at the moment which compounds your problem. Youve said you work full-time however, there are still options open to you. Have you tried a local credit-union for Sat morning work?
Its basically a bank clerk kind of role but you should be able to help out the back room staff with their accounts too when youve been there a few weeks.
All voluntary work mind...
But if you were to start now you'd be in a better position when things pick up?? 0 -
Taking on some form of voluntary work is a great start.
Just be careful not to let any charity or organisation take advantage of you because it can happen sometimes.
I have mentioned this on previous threads but the AAT really need to do more to help students, who have qualified or are trying to qualify, into some work based experiences.
The fees are increasing year after year and the job sections on this website are fairly limited. Universities assist students transition into the world of work and I just feel the AAT do very little.
Its time for students to address this issue as a group because a lot of students are paying good money and working hard to get a qualification they cannot use in the real world because they lack simple practical experience.
There are a lot of talented people who study AAT and have the ultimate potential to become chartered accountants. There talents are simply going to waste.0 -
What about temp roles? More so now that it is Summer and people will be taking their holidays.
I live in rural Wales (where I am has good transport links though), and throughout my studies I have been fortunate enough not to have to work, and whilst I could have taken the option of doing the course full time and completing it quicker, I decided to commit to evening class, and temp, so I could build on my base of experience.
I have been temping for 5 years now, and during that time I having gained a broad range of experience of numerous companies large and small and across many Sectors, and industry type. I will keep temping until I find myself a suitable local job.0 -
I have mentioned this on previous threads but the AAT really need to do more to help students, who have qualified or are trying to qualify, into some work based experiences.
The fees are increasing year after year and the job sections on this website are fairly limited. Universities assist students transition into the world of work and I just feel the AAT do very little.
Its time for students to address this issue as a group because a lot of students are paying good money and working hard to get a qualification they cannot use in the real world because they lack simple practical experience.
I disagree with you here. It's not the responsibility of the AAT to get you a job. AAT just offers the qualification, which you then can use to get a new job. They never promised you to help get a job or anything. It's not that you sign up for an AAT qualification and get a guaranteed job. It's just making it easier, as you get a lot of skills.
The current climate is not helping things and yes there might be a lot of AAT people struggling to get a job, but that's the same in about every sector at the moment?0 -
I completely disagree with you Rinske.
The idea that AAT is just a qualification you obtain to increase your skills set is incredibly short sighted.
It is imperative organisations like AAT look at the bigger picture because at the end of the day it is all pretty pointless if you study three years to obtain a qualification without any prospect of gaining practical experience.
When I began the qualification back in 2005 I was purely motivated by a desire to work in accountancy and I strongly believe the AAT has a responsibility to assist those not so fortunate to be already working in the profession.
The AAT does a really good job of assisting students with CPD, even though they are already qualified technicians, so why not support students in a wider sense?
Universities take a longer term view of helping students convert their academic successes into paid employment positions.
In my opinion bodies like AAT, CIMA, ACA and ACCA provide the theoretical basis for the future purchase ledger clerks, accounts assistants, financial controllers and management accountants.
They have strict rules covering practical work experience requirements to obtain and keep full membership of their respective bodies. It is their duty to help develop their students into robust professionals who can meet the challenges the accountancy world will face in the future.
Anything less would require a trip to specsavers.0 -
I don't know if this'll help, but I went into KPMG today, and they're looking for audit applications to start in October. They take care of everything to do with your next lot of exams, even registration. I was really surprised at how friendly they were.0
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Each individual is different
I have passed all aat exams and looking for an opportunity in finance since past 2 years. To enhance my chances finished aat payroll as well. However what ever anyone can do i have done,such as voluntary work, applied for internal position but now a days it does not matter what do you know certainly it does matter who you know.
If i am in position i definitely save my money and instead of acca i search for study related position.
Now each individual is different so go for holiday.0 -
I don't know if this'll help, but I went into KPMG today, and they're looking for audit applications to start in October. They take care of everything to do with your next lot of exams, even registration. I was really surprised at how friendly they were.
How do you apply for these? I am desperate to get into an audit role. Do they accept mature students? Sorry for all the questions but this is exciting.0 -
Might want to just give them a ring Glynis, then you can explain your situation and see what they say about your chances of getting a job!How do you apply for these? I am desperate to get into an audit role. Do they accept mature students? Sorry for all the questions but this is exciting.
Also you could make a good first impression by showing a lot of enthusiasm by calling them and asking them a lot of questions.0 -
Hi Glynis, the chap told me to phone the recruitment people on the website tomorrow regarding the application (he was the audit manager & the tax manager was out). He mainly dealt with graduates, but was really encouraging about the application when he realised that under the AAT to ACA fastrack we only have 5 exams to complete. I've got to say that I was really surprised at how 'normal', relaxed & friendly everyone was. I've been to around 25 smaller practices in the city in the past week & have been shocked at what I've encountered. 9/10 times I've been greeted(kind of) by blond, mid 50's, ultra-aloof, highly-polished, designer-clad witches whom looked furious when they realised that I only wanted to hand over a copy of my CV. I was at the point of giving up the other day , so upset at the dashed dream of working in practice
Nottingham has sooo many snobs! 0 -
PS. I'm only a few months away from 40 - mid-life crisis & a big, red Duccati here I come, lol.0
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This is not very exiting time for job .I'm glad that I'm the same boat with others here.2 more weeks to go until I know my result from AAT maybe by than My head clearer than at the moment and Hope I will know what to do .0
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Im waiting for my final results in august as i want to go onto CIMA. Back in May i was very lucky in successfully getting a job as the Trainee accountant for a business in Bristol where i live. It is to be trained up to replace the management accountant who is retiring in 3 years time. I had no previous experience in accountancy before and my job at the time was working in a cash office for a large retail firm. I applied for the cash office job as i had no experince and thought it would be a step in the right direction even though it was not accounts it was finance based....Guess what im trying to say is maybe look at finance based jobs rather than specific accountaancy jobs where you will start to build a bit of experience up which will look good when you then apply for accountancy jobs...it worked for me.
I would also go on holiday as even though i am working in accounts i want to be more prepared and have some experience before starting CIMA, at lest then i may know what they are on about..!!! ha ha0 -
I completely disagree with you Rinske.
The idea that AAT is just a qualification you obtain to increase your skills set is incredibly short sighted.
It is imperative organisations like AAT look at the bigger picture because at the end of the day it is all pretty pointless if you study three years to obtain a qualification without any prospect of gaining practical experience.
I slightly disagree and partly agree.
Studying AAT increases your skillset.
Having the qualification proves your level of ability.
I think AAT obligation is to keep the qualification prestigious enough for it to be desirable to employees. And in that way it helps you get a job. How prestigious it is compared to chartered is up for debate 0 -
I think AAT obligation is to keep the qualification prestigious enough for it to be desirable to employees. And in that way it helps you get a job. How prestigious it is compared to chartered is up for debate
I agree with you, I think lots of employer don't recognise the value of AAT and with so many mickey mouse accounting courses around, the AAT could be mistakenly pass for one of those.0 -
I'm with Rinske. AAT is a qualification primarily taken to help you get a job better than the one simply pressing buttons on a machine in your local factory (and yep, I've done that). With fees, study materials, exam costs and a damn lot of hard work, it can cost you probably less than a thousand pounds to pass the entire thing. Now compare that against a several thousand pounds degree course which may well offer this extra support but there's still no guarantee of any employment afterwards.
The AAT heirarchy probably could help students more with future job prospects if they quadrupled their membership fees to pay for the extra specialists required to provide this service. But would that be the right thing to do though? Most of us would never/have never require/d this extra support but would still be paying for the few who do.
More importantly, students should consider their own choices more carefully before embarking on expensive but potentially career changing courses rather than entering into them regardless of consequences, simply hoping for the best and then complaining when their rose tinted spectacles fall off because it hasn't worked out. It does for some, not for others. They didn't get that certain job because someone else, better qualified or more experienced, did. It's life.
There are winners and losers in every profession otherwise we'd be awash with poor quality professionals and all would be applicants should judge their own abilities first rather than overly relying on the helping hands of others.0 -
Whilst I agree with some of what your saying blobbyh, Ive been working in accounts for about 18 years now, I did the AAT in the hope that I could move on to a better accounting role, possibly management or into practice, when I started the course there were lots of jobs in management or semi senior etc offering good wages but asking for AAT. Since the recession these jobs seem to have dropped off the face of the earth and the kind of jobs Im already doing are being advertised on less money but employers are asking for AAT? In fact by current standards Im almost under qualified for my own job!
I personally think that people view AAT differently than they did 10 or even 5 years ago and perhaps not in as high regard. I read someone else on another thread say "whats wrong with just AAT?" why do we all feel the need to do ACCA or CIMA now? AAT just doesnt seem to be enough to get a job at the moment its more like a pathway and 10 years ago it wasnt just that. The AAT cant create jobs for their members but surely they have some responsibility in marketing the qualification in the right way to employers. I could have started ACCA with my A-levels, yes without the exemptions but Im doubting it would have took two years and all the work to take just 3 exams!0 -
The point you made is the main important one here. Since the recession ...
Since the recession, employers can be picky and once they advertise they get so many applicants, so why shouldn't they take the overqualified people for the same jobs at lower wages? I am not saying all of them will, but if there is so much choice, why not ask for someone with AAT for a "simple clerk". There are so many people out who will still apply, because they rather have a job at a lower pay, than no job at all.0 -
Well maybe it is just the recession, but how come if you do a NVQ level 4 in any other subject you are classed as skilled, bricklaying (very rare you get a NVQ 4 bricklayer), plumber, if you do level 4 business admin you are looking at PA jobs of about £35K. They arent advertising labourer jobs and asking for NVQ level 4! Yet you do level 4 in accountancy and you are an accounts clerk on £14K? Recession or no recession the qualification is viewed differently now than previously and from other professions.0
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I read someone else on another thread say "whats wrong with just AAT?" why do we all feel the need to do ACCA or CIMA now? AAT just doesnt seem to be enough to get a job at the moment its more like a pathway and 10 years ago it wasnt just that. The AAT cant create jobs for their members but surely they have some responsibility in marketing the qualification in the right way to employers. I could have started ACCA with my A-levels, yes without the exemptions but Im doubting it would have took two years and all the work to take just 3 exams!
I think that someone was me ;-)
Really, why do we have to do ACCA/CIMA etc...I will not do any of these, I spent years studying the AAT so it's enough!! I would like my qualification to have better recognition, don't expect the AAT to find jobs for us, etc..0 -
I think that someone was me ;-)
Really, why do we have to do ACCA/CIMA etc...I will not do any of these, I spent years studying the AAT so it's enough!! I would like my qualification to have better recognition, don't expect the AAT to find jobs for us, etc..
Didnt want to name names, lol.
I agree totally, better recognition in the workplace for our hard earned qualification (mine isnt fully earned just yet tho, lol).0 -
Having been dumped unceremoniously onto the job market in June I've found that there are lots of organisations out there (agencies included) who simply have no understanding of AAT (and what the training entails) whatsoever.
Why is that?
OK I don't think that it is up to AAT to arrange for us all to receive a nicely paid job at the end of the course, but it is their responsibility to ensure that their award is widely recognised and more fully appreciated in the workplace.
Do they have a marketing/pr department?FMAAT - AAT Licensed Member in Practice - Pewsey, Wiltshire0 -
I'm worried about becoming AAT qualified with no experience. I have just completed intermediate and I have been thinking about the years worth of experience that I need but haven't got yet.
I've been applying for accounts jobs - there are not that many at the moment in our area where you don't need experience and for the last few applications I haven't been getting any response at all - even some places where you do go for an interview don't even send an email to say you have been unsuccessful.
I think I'm going to have to apply for jobs where you do need experience and just hope that office experience will do...otherwise I'll probably start writing to companies to see if I can do a few months work experience if I'm not having any luck by October/November time.0 -
I personally think that people view AAT differently than they did 10 or even 5 years ago and perhaps not in as high regard.
Maybe controversially, I largely feel the blame for this lies with "forward thinking" colleges and politicians. Those of us older (40's and above) might feel - rightly or wrongly - that anyone can now go to university and the entry requirements are almost non-existent compared to those from when we were of uni age in the 80's and earlier. Uni's have lost their prestige and the people who pass through are now testimony to this through the high graduate unemployment figures.
I put "forward thinking" in commas as I feel it's been anything but and has set education backwards. Many of us in our 40's seem to feel that qualifications are now handed out like confetti and it's seemingly harder to fail than pass. In 1984-86, I did 8 O' levels and 4 A' levels - the maximum I could possibly do within the school timetable - so I find it odd that students can now leave school with umpteen certificates at just one of those levels. Something doesn't add up to me and I'm guessing it doesn't add up to older employers either.
Unfortunately, you devalue the worth of just two or three qualifications and you risk devaluing them all.0 -
Now am not sorry to say but having gone through education twice (once at school then once 8 years ago) i am really glad to see that education has changed a hell of a lot over the years as well as parents and teachers attitudes.
When i was at school first time round (a wee while ago lol) for people like myself uni was nothing but a pipe dream schools were glorified day care centres with teachers who where baby sitters and expectations were extreamly low. Yes there was one or two that wanted kids to learn but they were like gold dust. Hence i can count how from my class alone how many will go to uni 1 me, if not the entire year.
Today i feel it is a lot better, pass rates have improved, expectations have improved, and disagree or not but first hand knowleadge has shown me how much harder GCSE's and A-Levels are but how many more kids are applying to university is testiment to the improvements made over the last 23 years.0
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