finding a work placement

System · August 2007

Hi,

Im 16 and have just gotten my GCSE reults - 8 A's, 5 B's and a C. The A's are in english, maths, science,
media studies and product design. I have B grades in Business Studies. I am starting the AAT course in September, and havent started looking for a work placement yet because i wanted to wait for my GCSE results to put on my CV. I live in Camborne Cornwall, and i am going to send letters of enquiry to all the local accountancy
firms in Camborne. Here is my generic letter of enquiry , can anyone give me advice on if it needs work etc?
" (my adress
on the right)

(firms' adress here)

Letter of Enquiry : AAT Trainee Positions

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to you to enquire whether you have any trainee accounting technician positions available. I will be starting the AAT foundation course at Camborne College in September, and have achieved excellent results in my GCSEâ€™s this summer. I am a disciplined, hard working quick learner and I do well working in a team, by myself, or under strict deadlines.
I only require three days of work a week, as the other two days are used by the AAT foundation course, and a day of voluntary work. My CV is enclosed in this envelope. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter.

Yours Faithfully,

Ben Woodhouse"

cheers

System · August 2007

finding a work placement

I've slightly rewritten some of your words Ben but it's mostly only ever a matter of opinion anyway! Oh and don't forget the date so they know it's current.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Letter of Enquiry : AAT trainee positions

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to enquire whether you will have any trainee accounting positions available in the immediate future. Having achieved excellent results in my GCSEâ€™s this summer, I will be starting the AAT foundation course at Camborne College in September. I am a disciplined, hard working quick learner and work well under strict deadlines, whether as part of a team or by myself.

I will only require three days of work a week since the other two days will be used by my AAT studies and some voluntary work.

Please find enclosed a copy of my CV for your attention and I thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Woodhouse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Very best of luck Ben and brilliant to see someone so young coming on here and taking such an initiative. Don't forget to keep us informed how you get on.

Regards,

Robert

System · August 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Well done on your GCSE grades!

How refreshing to see someone at 16 years showing a professional attitude along with wanting to improve themselves.

I wish you all the best in your career and good luck!

Regards
Sharon

System · August 2007

Re:finding a work placement

im off to st austell in september i tried writing to companies back in january but had no luck as the majority said they wanted someone with more accounting experience, so went to connexions and they helped. i dont know how many accountancy firms r in ur area but i no there isnt many were i live and was told i should expect to travel quite far
you shouldnt have any problems though as ur results were good i only got b's and c's and have a job to start next week.

any way best of luck
sian

System · August 2007

Re:finding a work placement

You'd be better off at Truro College though. After all they got me through

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Good luck with the job hunting. I tried the same approach when I started AAT Foundation last September. I got loads of interviews and they were impressed that I was funding AAT myself and re-training. But am still seeking work.

System · September 2007

finding a work placement

Benwood wrote:

I am a disciplined, hard working quick learner and I do well working in a team, by myself, or under strict deadlines.

Again this is only a matter of opinion, but I would say:

I am disciplined, hard-working, and eager to learn. I can work efficiently in a team as well as by myself/alone, and under strict deadlines.

And I would change the CV sentence to:

Please find enclosed my Curriculum Vitae for your perusal.

Good luck in your studies! I remember when I started the AAT at 16 the youngest person (apart from me) was nearly 20! And all I could think was "by the time I'm 20 I'll be nearly chartered."

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Firstly good luck in finding a work placement.

Alot of employers will be impressed that you have financed your own education and will take this as a sign that you are keen to learn and improve yourself.

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

hi everyone,

Thanks for all the advice, ive sent off several letters, and i have a job interview in a couple of weeks! (my friend who works with computers put in a good word for me though, but the re-vamped letter certainly helped). I know that I may not get the job, but its something. Ill keep sending off the letters too.

Thanks very much

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Congrats on the interview! Fingers crossed for you

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Ben, you have to think positive and believe that the job is going to be yours or you won't stand a chance in the interview.
Remeber to do some research about the company so you know what they do. Also make sure you have some questions to ask them as well. Not only are they interviewing you, but you are interviewing them to see if they are suitable for you to work with.

Good luck with the interview and let us all know the outcome.

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Good Luck Ben, keep us posted x

System · September 2007

Re:finding a work placement

The best advice I can give is:

Arrive 10 mins early
Be yourself
Don't be afraid to ask questions
Smile
Don't fiddle
Maintain eye contact, without staring. If there is more than one interviewer make eye contact with both.
Perfect your handshake!

Questions you should prepare for:
Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why do you think you are suitable for the position?
Why do you want to work for us?
What are your ambitions?
Where do you see yourself in five/ten years time? (By the way, they don't like you if you respond to this question with 'in your chair'! :P)
Etc

Gem

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

hi guys,

i had the interview on friday 28th, and I thought he went really really well. We talked about what i'd be working on (bank reconciliations etc), what day i wanted off, how many weeks holiday and christmas holidays etc, so i thought it went well. He said that he would contact me early the next week, but by the thursday he hadnt called back so i called them. The receptionist said that he was out with a client and she would pass the message on. It is now monday the 8th, and no reply so i just phoned them 30 minutes ago, and the receptionist said he was in the scilly isles and wont be back until Wednesday. I dont think that is a good sign. From your experiences, what do you guys think?

cheers

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Hi Ben

Could just mean that hes on holiday and did nothing about it before he went.

No news could be good news.

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Hi Ben

I wouldn't panic yet, when I went for my first job interview they didn't call me back for about three weeks!

Have you applied for any other positions?

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

I got the job! its great, thanks to you guys for helping me. Im going out to celebrate now. thanks!!!!

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Excellent news Ben! Well done!

Regards,

Robert

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

Congrats! Now go and live the rest of your life quickly, cos it all goes out the window when you start working :P

System · October 2007

Re:finding a work placement

"WELL DONE BEN"

finding a work placement

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