Caught in the 'no experience' trap

purplephoenix85

Hi all!
Trying to cut a long story short, I was made redundant from a reception role last summer and have only had one admin-based temping job since. I've been studying accounting part-time at college and I'm trying to get into that field at the moment, as the final part of my course now relies on a work-based accounting project which I didn't complete on time this summer due to being unemployed: no job = no project. I'm qualified to AAT Level 3 and currently doing Level 4. I'm not sure if I'll stick to working in an office for the rest of my working life or actually want to teach accounting, but I'm having difficulty getting any sort of work experience/employment.

Back in Jan/Feb, I had a few weeks worth of bookkeeping work for a friend who then outsourced the remaining work to his tax accountant, but that's seemingly not enough to be recognised in all of these "must have previous experience" vacancies or enough to base a project on.

I've been trying since to get my foot in the door somewhere else, anywhere else, but the jobs that I'm being offered by agencies are all admin/reception jobs and once I get beyond the interview stage, they don't go anywhere.

I have 2 CVs to choose from when applying for jobs, one to highlight my reception/admin experience and the other to highlight my accounting potential, so to speak. The feedback I've received is positive, saying no matter which CV an employer reads, they'll be sure that my heart will be in the job I've applied for. But that alone won't guarantee me through to the next round.

I'm willing to offer voluntary work for companies needing an accounting assistant, and looking at admin jobs to get my foot in the door to work my way into accounts, but no takers so far. I'm clearly missing something. Can anybody suggest some useful ways to get my name out and about to companies/offices (and possibly suggest some types of companies I should be looking at)?

It sounds a bit silly reading over what I've written above, considering every business has an accounting department somewhere along the line, but the harder I try the more I'm losing sight of the big picture.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Caroline_a

Why not offer your services to a small charity as a volunteer? They will probably take your hand off, and you will be able to take on a much more broad role than with a large multinational.

newmumincov

Why not just go do any kind of volunteering that is available (and takes your fancy) for the time being? This means that you have something on your CV rather than a gap and could also get some up to date references. Employers don't just want experience in the exact role they are recruiting for - they like people who are proactive, can prove they can turn up on time, are reliable and honest, can show that they can work well with the public/within a team, organise themselves and so on.

Obviously you can keep looking for the specific roles you want (paid or unpaid) at the same time, but just go and do something so that you don't look like you are atrophying. Taken to the extreme, a gap on your CV because you stayed at home because you didn't find an opportunity that you really wanted could be taken by recruiters to read that you'll want to pick and choose your workload in the same way in any job you take. Which is OK if you are some highly desired and experienced professional, but not if you are starting out.

heretolearn_2

It is really hard to get into. The last couple of times we advertised (as an accountants) for an entry level role as bookkeeper (min Level 3 AAT) we were inundated with people with years of experience, even fully qualified ACCA and ACA, and people with those plus MBAs!

In the end we appointed someone with AAT 4 plus 6 months work experience - but this was work experience she had paid the firm to do, believe it or not. It cost her money to do, she didn't get paid for the work at all, and there were lots of new qualified people there doing it. So those are the lengths some go to, to get that necessary first real experience.

I see so many people on here looking at doing AAT for a new career under the assumption that there is a big demand for them, but we are oversupplied with new qualified/no experience bookkeepers.

You need something concrete under your belt. Volunteering at a charity would be good. Do you know anyone with a small business where you could offer to do their books FOC?

purplephoenix85

Thanks for both of your replies I've applied for several local jobs via 2 of the local council's voluntary development agencies, but nothing seems to have come of those yet. I'll be chasing them up this week though as I can't take anymore sitting around the house. I did experience a bereavement in the early summer and had to focus more on dealing with family issues, so I will have a 2-3 month gap in my CV regardless. Despite still looking for work, the stress of losing my dad and having to help my mum readjust, means that my efforts haven't been full steam ahead for a few months.

I'm just not sure how much longer I can keeping putting off finishing my qualification, as this is my third year into a one-two year course. I think employers would also be put off by the fact that it's taking me so long to complete this year, questioning my competency, when it relies solely on the impracticality of me not having a job to be able to complete it.

I'm at the stage where I'm about to put my shoes on and locally hand out a few dozen copies of my CV this mornign, but considering my town isn't the most thriving lately, I think my CV will probably end up filed in the shredder

purplephoenix85

Thanks for both of your replies I've applied for several local jobs via 2 of the local council's voluntary development agencies, but nothing seems to have come of those yet. I'll be chasing them up this week though as I can't take anymore sitting around the house. I did experience a bereavement in the early summer and had to focus more on dealing with family issues, so I will have a 2-3 month gap in my CV regardless. Despite still looking for work, the stress of losing my dad and having to help my mum readjust, means that my efforts haven't been full steam ahead for a few months.

I'm just not sure how much longer I can keeping putting off finishing my qualification, as this is my third year into a one-two year course. I think employers would also be put off by the fact that it's taking me so long to complete this year, questioning my competency, when it relies solely on the impracticality of me not having a job to be able to complete it.

I'm at the stage where I'm about to put my shoes on and locally hand out a few dozen copies of my CV this morning, but considering my town isn't the most thriving lately, I think my CV will probably end up filed in the shredder

MrsManda

Walking around town and handing out a few CVs cannot do any harm and it gets you out of the house. You may be able to have a chat with someone in each office/business which will at least give people the impression that you are keen and give them a face to put to the CV.

Have you signed up to recruitment/temp agencies to see if they can offer you anything?

saintjammyswine

If you have completed AAT L3 you could go onto the L4 as a higher apprenticeship, big push at the moment due to the higher Uni fees, contact the local FE College or Apprenticeships dot org.

purplephoenix85

heretolearn wrote: »

You need something concrete under your belt. Volunteering at a charity would be good. Do you know anyone with a small business where you could offer to do their books FOC?

I did approx 4 weeks of unpaid w/exp for a friend's nightclub, but it was time for his annual accounts so his accountant took over where I left off. I even asked my previous employer if they would consider taking me FOC in accounts on for a little while until I get back on my feet, the first response I got suggested to try after Christmas (2010) as the company was restructuring, and when I did try after Christmas, they announced that they were closing down!

As for knowing anyone else, there's nobody that I can think of. I've even asked my friends if they'll see if any there's any help need where they're working and there hasn't been much luck there either.

purplephoenix85

MrsManda wrote: »

Walking around town and handing out a few CVs cannot do any harm and it gets you out of the house. You may be able to have a chat with someone in each office/business which will at least give people the impression that you are keen and give them a face to put to the CV.

Have you signed up to recruitment/temp agencies to see if they can offer you anything?

I'm registered with most of the local ones and get as far as the interview stage, most of the feedback I receive from the consultants goes along the lines of "you did quite well in the interview, unfortunately the job went to someone with more experience." Constant rejections, cue the need to build on the experience.

kirstym01

I might be a bit late here but why don't you register as a self employed bookkeeper? The ICB or IAB will accept you with your AAT level 3 qualification and give you exemptions. I am looking at this route at the moment as I want the freedom of being able to work around my 2 young children without worrying about the cost of childcare, I too am AAT level 3 qualified with not much experience in accounts, although I have done the pre-school accounts on a voluntary basis for just over a year.
Goodluck with whatever you decide to do!