Will lack of a Degree hold me back?

Neyite

Due to financial constraints, spending 4 years in third level after Leaving Cert was not possible for me – now I am trying to rectify that in my thirties. I’m currently in the final year of the IATI Accounting Technicians Course, with final exams in May.

Assuming all goes well, I’m hoping to continue on with CIMA over the foreseeable future. So my question is aimed more at those of you who choose potential candidates for interview – is a lack of a degree on a CV glaringly obvious? If I have CIMA, would this matter?

If a degree in commerce/business is an advantage, I would be obtaining it part time/distance learning- but would I have to start from the beginning or would exemptions towards a degree?

thanks,

HeinekenTicket

In your case, the absence of a degree won't matter at all. If you have work and life experience, that matters a lot more. Get a degree as a hobby when you retire.!

seven-iron

No its doesnt matter. The only limit to your results in the future is your doubts today. If you have a dream and dont mind a bit of hard work you will have everything you already need.

djk1000

in the middle of a recession, with accounting graduates left right and centre, I just got a training contract in a decent practice and I don't have a degree. what swung it for me was the fact that I have real life experience and I had taken the initiative and done the first few ACCA exams.

I'm studying for a degree part time with the Open University, but that is for personal reasons rather than professional ones.

If you're sending out the CV, put your experience and technician qualification out in front. Join CIMA, see what exemptions you get for having the technician qualification and then start studying, with every exam you pass, your chances will improve. I would suggest however, that you look at CPA and ACCA too, you may get better exemptions which would put you further down the track, you could always move over to CIMA at a later point.

Most employers realise that passing the exams with CIMA ACCA CPA or ICAI is degree equivalent, or thereabouts.

Shane732

Neyite wrote: »

Due to financial constraints, spending 4 years in third level after Leaving Cert was not possible for me – now I am trying to rectify that in my thirties. I’m currently in the final year of the IATI Accounting Technicians Course, with final exams in May.

Assuming all goes well, I’m hoping to continue on with CIMA over the foreseeable future. So my question is aimed more at those of you who choose potential candidates for interview – is a lack of a degree on a CV glaringly obvious? If I have CIMA, would this matter?

If a degree in commerce/business is an advantage, I would be obtaining it part time/distance learning- but would I have to start from the beginning or would exemptions towards a degree?

thanks,

The lack of a degree won't make any difference to you once you pitch yourself at the right market. I think employers much prefer to see some solid experience on a CV.

Just one quick question - why are you opting to go with CIMA above ACA?

I'm of the opinion that an ACA qualification will look much better on your CV then CIMA.

I have no accountancy qualification and, as yet, I'm not sure if I'll proceed with one. (I'm doing AITI) From what I can see ACA trainees get the best treatment and once they qualify they have the most opportunities.

mistearious

Get your prof qualification asap - once you have that it won't matter as much. CIMA, ACA, ACCA etc are generally rated as being a masters level qualification.

Neyite

thanks for your replies all, its reassuring that i dont have a degree shaped hole in my cv.

my reasons for choosing CIMA:

currently, im not in a job which offers any training support or accounting experience, and whichever way ive worked out the sums, there is no way i can survive on a training contract wage in another company (even if there are openings)

i started the technicians course mainly to add to an admin cv, and really to see if i even liked accountancy, - i only just decided since the new year that i will try to get more exams under my belt, but i never really saw myself in practice forever, more suited to industry i think, and furthermore, i enjoy management accounting as a subject more than financial, and tax is my favourite of all, so i just think its a better fit for me. i might even do the AITI exams at a later stage.

where im based, ICAI lectures are at weekends, and that doesnt suit me at all - prefer to hit the books weekdays anyway, but also, i have personal commitments a few weekends a month that i cant reschedule due to my workload. CIMA can be all home study and online tutorials, which really suits me better.

CPA - there are only a limited number of exams i can do without being in an accounting role, i think ACCA do this as well. CIMA i can sit all the exams without worrying about experience until the end, though hopefully i will get an accounts type role before then. (maybe accounting oppertunities will look up a bit more then)

i looked into the exemptions, overall cost, overall exam/study time, training contract restrictions, and asked qualifieds in each accounting body for their feedback on the course they did etc before finally choosing CIMA.

again, thankyou for all your input - its reassured me no end!:D

eviltimeban

Neyite wrote: »

my reasons for choosing CIMA:

i started the technicians course mainly to add to an admin cv, and really to see if i even liked accountancy, - i only just decided since the new year that i will try to get more exams under my belt, but i never really saw myself in practice forever, more suited to industry i think, and furthermore, i enjoy management accounting as a subject more than financial, and tax is my favourite of all, so i just think its a better fit for me. i might even do the AITI exams at a later stage.

where im based, ICAI lectures are at weekends, and that doesnt suit me at all - prefer to hit the books weekdays anyway, but also, i have personal commitments a few weekends a month that i cant reschedule due to my workload. CIMA can be all home study and online tutorials, which really suits me better.

CPA - there are only a limited number of exams i can do without being in an accounting role, i think ACCA do this as well. CIMA i can sit all the exams without worrying about experience until the end, though hopefully i will get an accounts type role before then. (maybe accounting oppertunities will look up a bit more then)

For all those reasons, I still think you'd be able to do ACA - have you seen their Elevation programme? You don't need a contract, you don't have to have a job (while doing your exams), and you don't have to do all the e.g. CAP1 exams in the same year - you can break them up. I know a few people doing it and they are really happy as they have much more time and more flexibility. The website for elevation is www.elevationprogramme.ie, its worth looking into. I agree with Shane732 that it would look much better on your CV to have ACA.

The only condition is you have to have been in the workplace for 4 years - but if you're in your 30s then I'd say you've already got that!