Good afternoon all I have found this website a great resource I am so glad I found it.
I graduated 2 years ago with Economics degree and struggled to find work, about 3 months after graduation I got a job in financial products sales and been there ever since.
The job is terrible frankly and has made me depressed (I cold call people selling badly priced products to people who don't really need it)
I talked about my situation with my Dad last weekend when I met him and he said he could give me some work to do (he is a self employed bookkeer)
Over the week I have seriously considered training as a bookkeeper, my Dad would be very supportive and train me up and I will study hard.
The problem I am having is:
1. Working for family seems like I lack ambition among my friends and colleagues
2. My Dads clients have been with him for 5+ years and he doesn't advertise so I am not sure how much work he could give me.
3. I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to experience/longterm goals/qualifications.
It's my 23rd birthday soon and feel so lost I just want to earn a skill that isn't cold calling people and earn enough to eventually support my own family. Just don't know how to get from where I am at to where I think I want to be...
JDMerts wrote:I cold call people selling badly priced products to people who don't really need it
Do you work for Sage? lol
Hi Jonathan,
welcome to the forum.
If you are serious about a move but want to keep your options open look seriously at the AAT qualification which will prepare you either for self employment as a bookkeeper or help you find a permanent role (possibly via some temporary ones).
It is also a good stepping stone to the higher qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW.
There are all sorts of minefields around what you can and cannot do whilst you are a student.
My advice would be to stay with the current job in order to pay for your training.
I'm sure that your Father is excellent at what he does but he will also only teach you what he uses rather than you coming away with a well rounded knowledge of all aspects of bookkeeping.
If your intntion is only towards self employment then take a look at the ICB or IAB qualifications. In many ways they are just as good as the AAT qualifcation it's just that employers are only interested in fully qualified AAT or part qualified accountants.
Besides the above there are entry level qualifiecations with the ACCA and other institutions that you might want to consider.
Have a look at the ACCAGlobal website for some pointers as well as the websites of the AAT, ICB, IAB and also keep searching through this site which is a veritable goldmine of information for those just starting out as well as those a little further down the path.
kindest 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.
To be honest you are young, obvously bright, i would go for the AAT. You get set up your own practice, and get a qualification thet employers want.
I had to retrain after my degree i did the AAT and now i am a chartered accountant. The AAT is recognised by other accountancy bodies and so you will get exemptions if you go on and take further qualifiactions.
The ICB and IAB are good qualifiactions if you want to be a bookkeeper or selfemployed but if you are not sure what you want the AAT gives you this option more options regarding employment and further qualifications.
Just my thoughts.
Nick
P.S. very good joke about Sage Shaun.
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Nick
Nick Craggs FMAAT ACA AAT Distance Learning Manager
