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Cory2289


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Trainee needs experience - free services offered
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Dear All,

My name is Cory Fletcher and i am training to be an accountant. In a month's time i will be level 3 AAT qualified and i am real keen to gain as much pratical experience as i can. Working as an Accounts Assistant currently, i am needed to create the majority of entries on to the purchase and sales ledgers. I carry out VAT accounting for the cash and card company expenses and reconcile all accounts.

I am looking to tie this current experience in to the process of self assesment and income tax returns as the company i work for is too big to allow me to be responsible for producing this financial statement.

My ultimate aim is to be able to provide a solid service as an outsourced bookkeeper. I am under the understanding that the main task demanded of such bookkeepers is accounting for income tax return purposes. Therefore in the meantime i need to gain some experience in the necessary processes carried out before completing a self assesment form.

Anyone who had any advice or indeed work needed doing, i would be very grateful to hear from you. I am a keen, efficient worker who has worked in accounting and finance since i left school 2 years ago. I am looking to offer my services for free to anyone in the locale for Plymouth or if not perhaps by email...?

Many thanks

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Kerri


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Hi Cory
I am also offering my services for free. I have emailed and phoned a few local accounting firms and guess what?? They dont want to know. How can we get experience? I have bookkeeping experience and all the jobs I apply for all say I havent got enough experience.
I have just found a few more firms to contact and am not ready to give up just yet!! :)

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Kerri
Shamus


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Hi Kerri,

try temping to gain some more varied experience. For many that route has led to permanent roles that have eluded those going down the self employed path due to the experience catch 22 situation.

The worst part about all of this of course is that so many take the courses in the belief that it will lead to something but it often doesn't. There is no hope of getting a position until after you have laid out good money on training and then you find that you can't get a job for love nor money.

As you've seen, one cannot even give one's services away in order to gain the experience neccessary to get the letters after your name.

The only winners in this seem to be the training providers and supervisory bodies.

Maybe one or two of the fully qualified accountants that we have on here might think aboutoffering six to twelve month apprenticeships for those who have had the where with all to try and break into this profession using their own time and money rather than those who have fallen into this profession by accident whilst they were actually looking for something else.

If one were able to pay the fee's that one pays to training providers to accountants in practice it could make a win win situation all around.

Just a suggestion but hope that someone in a position to take it further likes it.

Good luck in finding someone to provide your experience Kerri. I know that it's a nightmare but just stick with it.

All the best,

Shaun.



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Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Kerri


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Hi Shaun

When I first started AAT I could not understand why we didn't have to do a placement....
I will not give up finding empoyment that I love, I know I will find something, just hope its sooner rather than later!!

Cheers Shaun

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Kerri
Kerri


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Hi Shaun,

No idea what your position is but if you were an employer, would you prefer someone such as myself to give you a ring or email regarding voluntary work??

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Kerri
Shamus


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Hi Kerri,

I do hire people but unfortunately not in this field. The people that I do take on tend to be experienced professionals on a temp / contract basis for the duration of a project which is normally 6 to 18 months in duration.

If I were taking on someone to teach in this field (which I can't as I've not passed my finals or done my three years post qualification in practice yet) then I would want to see CVs with covering letters rather than accept cold calls as I fear that with the number of people trying to get into the business I would spend all day being disturbed and not be able to get any actual work done.

I know how frustrating it is writing to accountants knowing that the CVs are invariably ending up in the big round under desk filing cabinet and thats if they ever manage to get to the person that they should. But, if someone was looking to take on a trainee on an apprenciceship then the CV with covering letter route would definitely be my starting point. Followed by a casual interview and test, followed by proper formal interview.

Keep trying Kerri, eventually you will get some interest from an employer. The temp positions idea is a good one as the more varied experience you can get the more appealing you become for a permanent role.

Good luck,

Shaun.






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Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Kerri


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I have found another 3 the contact! Looking in to temping aswell.
Thank you shaun!! smile

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Kerri
YLB-HO


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Do you have any local voluntary bodies or clubs? They are always looking for "honourary treasurers" to look after their books. Its good experience and you get experience of committee meetings etc. The amount of work involved can be just a few hours a month.

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Frauke
BKN Book-keeper of the year 2011
Cory2289


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I have had a problem with experience too. No one is wanting to waste valuable minutes showing a newbie how to do a job they know how to do themselves. Make sense i suppose, but surely the industry will reach a point of bursting when those people are no longer around. Then, saying that, i suppose there will be a whole new wave of adequate applicants to fill that deficit. Just not our time i suppose.

Let us know how you do, thanks for tapping us up :)

Best

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Kerri


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biggrinI GOT MY DREAM JOB!! .........Accounts Assistant for a Chartered Accountant! Took a long time, but well worth the wait. Lovely chap 2, cant wait to get stuck in!! biggrin



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Kerri
Amanda


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Well done Kerri, it often takes time but worth it in the end.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

cheers

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Amanda
Shamus


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Excellent news Kerri,

gives hope to all the other readers on here.

As Amanda says, keep us informed and all the best for the future.

Kind regards,

Shaun.

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Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Kerri


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Thank you Shaun & Amanda......

He told there was another person who had higher qualification and more experience than me, but guess what? I had the most enthusiasm!!! Result
I will keep you posted!!

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Kerri
bookkeepers


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Congratulations Kerri,

We have monitored this topic with interest.

As we now have a large mix of Book-keepers, Accountants and related businesses actively reading and posting on the forum, we will be adding a new feature to the Forum / Network.

The addition will enable members to Post Job Ads, Search for Jobs, etc. There will be a particular focus on getting budding Book-Keepers started by liasing with established Accountancy practices to match the build of their practice(s) with our members training requirements.

We do not have a realease date as yet, but we will be working on this project immediately.

Hopefully this will be of interest to our forum members/readers, please direct any suggestions for the implentation of this new feature to info@bookcert.co.uk

We hope everybody has a fantastic sunny Saturday - BBQ's Ahoy!

Best regards,

The Book-keepers Forum Support Team



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Samalixo


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Hi Cory - have you had any luck yet is getting work experience?
regards



-- Edited by Samalixo on Tuesday 19th of April 2011 06:51:07 PM

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Cory2289


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Hi there Samalixo,

Unfortunately, i have not. I think perhaps my technique of emailing and posting gumtree ads is not direct enough..

Congrats to Kerri though, all the best


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