Hello, this is my first post on any bookkeeping forum as i could do with some advice. From the posts i've read so far there seems to be a number of forum members who are new to bookkeeping so i'm sorry if this question has been asked before.
Basically I finished the AAT Technician in December and have started at uni doing ACCA but am aiming at setting up a small bookkeeping company. However, it seems that although the AAT is a good qualification the difference in actually doing accounts in the real world is quite different.
I am learning sage level 3 at college having completed the level 2 course and have applied to charities and other employers on a voluntary basis with no luck.
So my question is this, do you think it wise to contact self employed bookkeepers in my area to ask about the possibility of them teaching me the ropes so to speak and offering to pay them for their time. I do no want to offer bookkeeping services until I am good at it.
Rather than paying someone for their time, why don't you contact local firms of accountants and book-keepers and offer to work for them for free? This will let you build up your experience whilst reducing the risk for the firm, and opens up the possibility of earning a full-time (paid) position later on.
To do this you obviously need to be in a position to give up 1-2 days a week with no pay, but I don't believe many firms would pass up on this offer, especially in todays tough climate!
Thanks for the reply and the sound advice Mary. The reason that I havn't contacted accountants yet is because if they did agree to give me the work i'm unsure as to whether i could actually do the accounts competently at this early stage.
I'm fine in a classroom environment and i don't lack confidence i just want to ensure that the work i do is good with no mistakes. The classroom provides backup and does not really replicate alot of accounting situations that i'm going to find myself in.
I understand that everyone has to get over this first hurdle when they initially start off.
