Starting off on the industry - general advice

FledNanders

Hi
I'm 26, currently working in financial services industry (pensions). I'm off on a career break for 6 months shortly, and would like to start on the road to becoming a qualified accounting when I get back (I'm going travelling). Just wondering what people think would be the best route for this?

I can't quit my current job as I need the money. Any opinions on the Elevation programme? Would is be advised to try to get someone to take me on as a trainee, and enrol to do CAps etc that way? Is it likely anyone would take me on?

Would getting a postgrad ( I have a degree in economics from UCD) in accounting be the most beneficial thing to do before I start seeking trainee roles etc?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

p.s. I've heard all the 'don't bother cos there's no jobs' comments before just to avoid those being posted! Thanks..

stefar

that's exactly what i did - was workin in industry and went for a complete career change - shows maturity & focus when you decide to go back & retrain...don't think it's that worthwhile doin the pda at this stage, as it's one year, plus 3 yr contract, otherwise, doing all CAP exams is 3.5 yr contract - your choice, try for the big 4 and if you prepare well, you should have no problems in securing a position...it's worked out well for me thus fra but be prepared for hard work for the exams, they're bloody tough!! (manageable though for those that put the work in)
cheers - don;t listen to anyone who says they're no jobs out there for accountants, they are for thosre who look hard and prepare well.
Ste

FledNanders

Cheers Ste thanks for the post.

Just out of interest, how old were you when you started your re-training?

And did you just fire off your CVs to the various companies or did you apply through the graduate programmes that roll around every year?

Cheers

lucylu19

I kinda did the same thing. I started studying the ACCA qualification while working in the Financial Services sector - Funds. Then they outsourced our Finance/Accounting department which I was trying to get transferred into so I chanced my arm and took redundancy earlier this year. At that stage I had completed 7 out of the 14 exams.

It took me a while to get a new job (6 months) as I was making a career change, but the wait paid out and I'm now working in a Finance department in one of the Big4. And my position qualifies for the experience that I need to qualify, although I would like to move about and get futher exposure to different parts of the organsation. But I think once I have my foot in the door it's easier to move about.

stefar

Fled - I was 26, pushing 27 when i started...doing my FAEs next year , never too late to go back, there's at least 4/5 others, mostly a little older than I - there's never been a better time to be in education, and, by signing up to a 3.5 year contract, you're learning all the time and at least getting paid a monthly salary, unlike the PDA...

As regards which Firm i chose and how I applied, I had been to several open evenings, CIMA, ACCA & ACA and decided i preferred the idea of getting experience while studying as i didn't want to go back to college full time to learn something and then, upon completion, have no practical experience...I only applied to 4 firms and was offered places in all of them (two were Big Four, the other two were Top 10)...

The main thing is TO SPEND SUFFICIENT TIME & CARE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM as , i'm sure you can appreciate, HR departments are using any errors, poorly completed application forms etc, as the first way to cut down on the large volume of applications...think i spent about 6 hours on one of mine, then tailored each of the others to suit - you've worked for a while, so you have a lot more to bring to the table than those candidates straight from college...

the above cannot be stressed enough - prepare the application form (for any position) with care & attention and you're alomost guaranteed an interview - from then on, it's the basics, be well dressed, good eye contact etc etc, and you'll be fine - you just need to tick the right boxes.

It has just occurred to me that Graduate recruiting Sep 2011 is likely over but you you can still consider applying for 2011 campaign if you need time to think - 3.5 years is a big commitment, but well worth it i think, or being proactive, you could call some HR Departments and find out for yourself - sometimes the larger firms will actively look for more candiadtes as some of their 1st preference candidates do not choose that firm, and opt to go elsewhere, if you know what I mean, ie leaving another place to be filled..

cheers

FledNanders

That's good advice to hear thanks Ste, and Lucy. I won't be looking to start getting organised for it until next May, so I have a bit of time to think about it - wanna enjoy my travels first! - but great to get some tips from someone who's gone the same route, cheers chaps