work issue

san786

I started as graduate in finance where I didnt get enough training initially (i realised that I should have started out on an easier job role). later the company acquired another company and made people redundant. at that stage I was struggling at work and the redundancy didnt help with my confidence. I than found another job after two months and had found that role really hard as well becuase at that time they were changing systems. I also didnt get along with my boss. I had two managers of one which moved to another role and the other one i was with for next 1.5 years. I did realise in the beginning that I lacked the skills but built upon that. Recently i moved cities and found a job in a smaller company compare to the larger ones before. I lacked the skills i felt because it was a completely different role (that I had never done before). I wanted to quit in the first week but thought to give myself a go. Just yesterday my boss gave me a termination letter.

over all I havent had great luck with the jobs. I have a masters degree despite. My issue is if I do find something else what do I tell my referees in my previous role as they already gave me a reference for the job that I was terminated?

blindsider

It's a tough market out there and employers are strict in dealing with 'under-performance' - regardless of the reasons behind it.

I wouldn't worry too much about what to tell referees - i'd be more focused on getting a job that suits YOU.

You've had 3 jobs, but not had the required skills for any of them - one wonders why you were hired, given that you didn't have the required skills?

I suggest you seek some career coaching and someone who might advise you where your strengths lie - and the types of roles to avoid. People sometimes have unrealistic expectations of MComms (or similar) - you're not an accountant until you qualify as one - neither are you a maths or financial genius.

If you've never done e.g. a FETAC L6 in Payroll or Supervisory Mgmt, then you could do worse - it helps broaden your perspectives and may provide you with some practical and useful day to day work skills.

Getting on well in work is often about starting with the basics:

- Being punctual
- Getting on with the job
- Accepting direction and feedback - only making mistake once.
- Motivating yourself
- Being cheerful
- Asking for help as soon as you need it
- Not treating the job like a job - there are too many people unemployed for that
- Always looking for ways to add more to your value and worth to the company - you need to over-deliver these days.

Perhaps you need to look for a role which would allow you to get the basics right first...I'm not sure what that is for you - career coaching?

Finally - have you considered any of the accountancy qualifications? Might be worth a look - what would you have most exemptions in? CIMA or CPA....?

san786

thanks for your detailed reply. You are absolutely spot on with what you have said. The last company which i got a termination letter only after two weeks was a very small company and it was a accountancy role (like recievable, accounts payable, payroll, reconcilliations etc) and i had never done any of this before, she only gave me the job because of my finance background as I had done high level finance. After she gave me the job i thought if i were her I wouldnt recruit myself. I only took it because I was desperate for something and I thought I might learn as I go along but I was expected to know everything. actually I was replacing a girl who had been in the company for 6 years and I was meant to pick up on the accounts receievable for someone who was going on a holiday for a month. her reason to terminate me was that I didnt fit in the company and that I suit larger companies.

I think part of my issue has been work anxiety - the feeling that I am not performing or good enought for a job which started out when I was made redundant as a graduate.

I am willing to apply for just a basic job but with a detailed resume like mine wouldnt employers question why I am applying for a basic job...

What do I tell my previous referees that the job just didnt work out?

san786

and i do realise that i made a mistake of doing a finance degree and shd hv done an accountancy one....and that would hv def helped me with my job because they werent just finance based but analyst roles where there is a bit of accountancy in there.......as i previously said I lacked skills and it wasnt just lacking skills in theory but I feel my communication skills are not up to the mark for analyst based roles.....I speak well but not very good at articulating. now I am thinking if I do CPA would I be may slightly better of?

Mrs OBumble

Just tell your referees that the job didn't work out. They don't need to know any more.

PartnerSeeds

san786 wrote: »

and i do realise that i made a mistake of doing a finance degree and shd hv done an accountancy one....and that would hv def helped me with my job because they werent just finance based but analyst roles where there is a bit of accountancy in there.......as i previously said I lacked skills and it wasnt just lacking skills in theory but I feel my communication skills are not up to the mark for analyst based roles.....I speak well but not very good at articulating. now I am thinking if I do CPA would I be may slightly better of?

I've worked in the accountancy industry for several years. The money can be good but most people are unhappy in their jobs. Just be clear about what role you want and what you will actually be doing day to day. Often you'll find what is in the job description is very different to what you'll be doing. I would try to speak to someone in that role. I have found people on linkedin to be very helpful.

Good luck with everything

tenifan

Hi Op. It's all experience at the end of the day. You're learning what you're good at and what you're not so good at. Play to your strengths, but be aware of your weaknesses and learn from your mistakes.
I'm 32 now and had about 10 different jobs. Yea, my cv's a bit messy and friends joke that I can't hold a job. But I'm in my current job a year and starting to see some good career paths.
Try to find a nice balance at work where your employer is happy with the work you are able to do, and you're happy doing it. Don't bite off more than you can chew and don't give yourself a hard time.

blindsider

Good advice here (above) OP.

Re an accountancy qualification - well, if you're prepared to put the work in etc, then it's worth looking into.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055264982

has a big debate on which Accty qual to do - I don't know, I'm not one.

I've worked with several CIMA people before, and they're pretty clued in. I've heard decent things about CPA too - as well as some comments suggesting it's not as highly thought of as the others.(I suspect that's a bit of professional snobbery....)

Personally, I suspect they're all good, and I'm NOT starting another debate on which one to do.

If you can afford the fees etc, go for it - do your research and get stuck in to something - I find it hard to see how a decent Accty qual won't stand you in good stead.....that and a bit of hard work.


Best of luck!

tenifan

All the accounting qualification proves is that you're smart enough to get a qualification. Unless you're in a technical area like tax or auditing against accounting standards you won't benefit from studying. It can also be quite expensive so unless you employer is giving you a study package (paying for exams and suitable study leave) you shouldn't rush in to it.