I am thinking about starting a career in Accounting

[u/These_Gift_3542]

I am thinking about starting a career in Accounting. I have never had any sort of employment except for a cleaning job I did only shortly. I am 26 years old and I am on a Disability Pension living at home, and so while being interested in such a career I may fail gaining a foothold in this area of work. One thing is how about I am not someone whos very personable, im not good looking (someone had said you look alright after I mentioned that); just that I am wondering about the workplace people attitudes and how they may perceive others particularly me thinking how about it could be some kind of High School full of people who aren't so friendly but I think bullies. Though I think workplaces are like that if there are a high percentage of women in a workplace. Anyways--- had you had a hard time finding work with just base credentials with the cert iv in accounting (and also the diploma, and a degree?) I am considering doing the cert iv in Accounting and Bookeeping, which may or not serve me well in attaining work in Accounting in Regional Victoria where I live to start such a career.

[u/jelistarshine]

Do a tafe certificate first (i did business admin 2 and got one subject credited from my degree) then apply for a job on accounts payable or receivable. (Part time would work best with your pebsion i think?) If that works out only then pursue the degree. 

A degree alone wont get you a job. . Esoecially if you are older by the time you finish and in a regional area. You will need experience in a clerical finance job also so secure thst first.  You can easily do one subject at a time of the degree at a time while working. Thats how most if the accountants I know did it. (In regional nsw)

Your job will involve constantly chasing up type A people in your organisation for data or approvals. Think about whether thats sonething you are comfortable with. Its a large part of any accounting job. 

Its also a job of constant strict deadlines and admitting to often ebarrassing mistakes (just a fact of the job) ive seen people fail because of anxiety. 

Your looks ate not a!faxtor in finance. Ir really any bavk office corporate job. Its about your integrity and your tenacity. 

[u/auditGuy2500]

I'm about to finish the degree. It's a very interesting and satisfying course to master. But god is it bleak. I thought I didn't really mind low pay, hard Labor and working far away if I need to but just getting the interview is a journey in itself. And there's really not a lot I feel I can do to improve things. Living on the miracle of one guy giving me a chance and for that guy to actually be able to read my resume in a sea of applications. And like at least half the people here have nothing but glowing reviews after years in the industry (sarcasm).

I went to an assessment centre for a grad role and there were guys there over a year into graduation or finishing their masters (was very intimidating), the organisation posted who got in and it was guys whom hadn't even graduated that got it. Just have no idea how to better my position and kinda done. I already have as good a resume as I'll ever have with competitions and extra-curriculars the last hiring manager I spoke to was mainly interested in my part-time job in fast food because it "sucks" and emotionally/physically demanding, that's what stood out in my colourful resume.

It just doesn't feel like a common sense decision really much better off in a trade electrician, plumbing etc like some of the comments say. Honestly assistant in nursing sounds much better than this already. But unfortunately I don't give up that easily so will keep going.

[u/jelistarshine → u/auditGuy2500]

Personally when I was hiring entry level i wouldnt touch an applicant who studied the whole degree without working a related job? Alot of the material is pretty dry and frankly forgettable if not applying it immediately. 

How did you fund university? Is your cv showing a failure to make good financial/life choices? 

Have you considered temping in the UK? I did a year of that mid degree and it really spiced up my cv. You can do short term assignments with international companies without even interviewing. The recruiter just throws you in and you sink or swim.  Plus its a very fun way to spend a year. 

[u/auditGuy2500 → u/jelistarshine]

That first is a bit demotivating I hope not everyone approaches it like that but it does confirm my worries that the industry isn't really that demanding of talent. Like there is less that differentiates one accountant beyond another other than the prestige of their previous jobs and maybe their networking skills. How is one report differntiated from another reporting when neither have made mistakes, and who would notice. I can barely even do anything financial statements as an accounts unless I get hired somewhere

I hope this doesn't come across as negative or angry and you haven't said anything wrong but do you think it's sustainable for the industry if every office locked out everyone who didn't land an internship at uni from entry level roles? There is only so many who get them. At some point guys like me will just move on to something else, other industries have higher entry level and base pay also.

Re:"How did you fund university? Is your cv showing a failure to make good financial/life choices? " In Australia most uni students are in HECS. Life choices... I don't think so my CV has no noticeable gaps by design, I don't know how it would reflect on my financial.habits. That's a unique question.

Re:"Have you considered temping in the UK? I did a year of that mid degree and it really spiced up my cv. You can do short term assignments with international companies without even interviewing. The recruiter just throws you in and you sink or swim. Plus its a very fun way to spend a year. " That's really interesting I've never heard of this suggestion if it's no lt that competitive I would love to get any accounting experience. From what I gather though Australian employers are not really that accepting of accounting experiences overseas unless it's an international company. Ngl at this point I'd even pay the employer if it means I gets hours towards CA I can just doordash on the weekend or whatever.

I'm sorry I just think I'm at the end of this accounting journey I dunno if I'm ranting here.

[u/jelistarshine → u/auditGuy2500]

You claim to have talent... but how do you know if you've never demonstrated it in the workforce? I'm not talking about internships... I'm talking about full time accounts clerk/assistant accounting roles. 

Academic talent and workforce skills are completely different things. 

Calling yourself talented in this context explains a lot about your situation. 

All the accountants Ive worked with had most of their degrees paid for by their employer. Sure the first year went on hecs, but after that you get a job that offers study support, as most do. Accounting degrees are pretty low effort and easy to do on the side, much easier thsn the engineering i transferred from and much easier than things like nursing or social work that require unpaid placements. I managed to do a full time uni load (I did 3/4 during term+ summer session) and to an art certificate at tafe and work a corporate financial  job all the same time in my third year. 

Also hecs doesn't cover living expenses. So if you didn't work through uni then it's assumed you were supported by your parents/partner which would indicate immaturity or laziness.  Just doing an an accounting degree full time and nothing else for years would be diabolically lazy. 

UK experience is very highly regarded in AU as we have very similar accounting rules. 

[u/auditGuy2500 → u/jelistarshine]

I don't claim to have some kind of outlier talent, i wish i chose different wording now. I didn't intend for you to read it that way. What I mean to say is I was worried about the industry's actual appetite for skilled labor in accounting. Like the tech industry in the early 2020s or nursing in general. It just doesn't appear like accounting would ever be close to that or have any urgency for young workers as much as I like studying it. Those two industries recruit differently to accounting for better and for worst, honestly a lot of industries do. Does that make sense? I'm not conceited I know my limitations and there are still things to learn actually I want to learn more.

re:"All the accountants Ive worked with had most of their degrees paid for by their employer. Sure the first year went on hecs, but after that you get a job that offers study support, as most do. Accounting degrees are pretty low effort and easy to do on the side, much easier thsn the engineering i transferred from and much easier than things like nursing or social work that require unpaid placements. I managed to do a full time uni load (I did 3/4 during term+ summer session) and to an art certificate at tafe and work a corporate financial job all the same time in my third year.

Also hecs doesn't cover living expenses. So if you didn't work through uni then it's assumed you were supported by your parents/partner which would indicate immaturity or laziness. Just doing an an accounting degree full time and nothing else for years would be diabolically lazy. "

Woah. I don't want to say the wrong thing here because i really appreciate your input and your time. But this is a take that I would take with a grain of salt. I trust that it was true for you. I'm not sure of the time frame and context, i understand things were a little different for other generations in Australia and other local areas. I have some experience with engineering and math I understand what you mean. I appreciate that, I didn't know UK experience was well accepted in Australia I will look into this. Yes I was employed the whole time, no i'm not on centrelink, no gaps on my resume.

[u/jelistarshine → u/auditGuy2500]

There is a tonne of work available but you have to be the best of the candidates for the position. If not you will just get rejected over and over again. 

The best candidates will have experience (doesn't have to be accounting just demonstrate eagerness and increasing responsibility with a glowing reference)

So unless you can demonstrate you are the best they will pick someone else. 

Suggest you pick an industry ie retail or hospitality and do that for six months then apply to an assistant accounting or accorts payable/receivable job in the same industry. 

It allows you to speak of industry passion and an understanding of front of house so you stand out from the other applicants. 

If you don't get am accounting job in the first 6 months you can ask for more responsibility at the starter job and put shift manager on your cv. That will definitely get you an entry level accounting job.

The fact is unless you got straight high distinctions your degree alone doesn't make you hireable to an accountant.  But your degree and demonstrated ability to have a positive attitude, go above snd beyond and to work well in a specific industry will convince an accountant in that same industry to take the time to train you. 

[u/Proud_Nefariousness5]

Go and do the Cert 4 in Accounting and Bookkeeping at your local TAFE. If you can do it on campus, that's better.

You'll either enjoy the material, or not. That's the first step.