What advice do you have for those wishing to go back to work?
What advice do you have for older workers?
What advice do you have for school leavers?
If you are finishing school and would like to pursue a career in accounting there are a couple of main options you can consider.
Firstly, you may wish to gain a qualification before looking for work. You can study for the Accounting Technician qualification full-time in locations around Ireland. Having passed your exams can make it easier to find relevant work experience. Once you have completed two years relevant work experience you will be eligible for full membership of the professional body.
Secondly, you can look for work straight away and complete the academic component on a part-time basis. Having some previous experience related to accounts will help you in finding work. While in school taking up part-time, summer or voluntary jobs will give you a good head-start.
What advice do you have for graduates?
There are many organisations that will take on graduates as trainees. When you’re looking for work it will help if you have some previous experience. While in college taking up part-time, summer, internship or voluntary jobs will give you a good head-start. If you’ve been involved in any societies while in college this can also be a bonus.
You can study the academic component of the Accounting Technicians Ireland qualification on a part-time basis in locations around Ireland. Many employers provide funding if you choose to do this. Alternatively you can study full-time and look for work after you’ve passed your exams. Graduates are often eligible for exemptions from exams so make sure to look into this possibility.
What advice do you have for career changers?
While your job may not be directly related to accounts, you might have more relevant experience than you realise. Many forms of employment have transferrable skills. If your job involves dealing with or supervising people, work that requires accuracy and attention to detail or you work with numbers, these are all skills that employers will look for.
It can be easier to stay within the same industry but change the type of work you are doing. For example, if you work in retail look for accounts jobs in this sector. While you don’t yet have the relevant accountancy experience you will be familiar with the industry. To explore all your options it is never a bad idea to talk to a recruitment consultant. Accounting Technicians Ireland has their own recruitment service aimed at helping students and members find work.
What advice do you have for non-Irish nationals?
If you are a non-Irish national the first thing to look into is your visa requirements. If English isn’t your first language it’s a good idea to have evidence of a high level of business English. If it needs brushing up think about taking a course. There are a range of exams you can sit that will give you a widely recognised English certification. For example, IELTS or the Cambridge BEC exam. Have copies of your academic qualifications, with certified translations if needed.
What advice do you have for those wishing to go back to work?
In order to get back into the work force, it is a good idea to consider internship schemes or voluntary work (even on a part-time basis) to refresh your skills. Having some recent experience will make it easier to find a job. If you’ve been out of the work force for a long period of time you may need to consider taking a course or two.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses are usually short, running for two or three hours and sometimes a full day. They tend to focus on important practical skills and industry updates. While you’re out of work it is a good idea to continue attending a few of these courses. If you haven’t been doing this, find one or two courses that are relevant to you now.
Professional accountancy bodies offer a range of CPD courses relevant to their members needs. There are excellent progression opportunities within the accounts profession. You can work your way up to the highest levels of business. Many Accounting Technicians are self-employed, business owners or CEOs.
What advice do you have for older workers?
There is always a requirement for those who have a wealth of experience in accountancy. If you’ve been out of the work force for a prolonged period it may be necessary to brush up on your skills. Accountancy bodies run a range of CPD courses to help you do just that. It’s also important that you have a good level of IT knowledge. It can sometimes be difficult to find permanent full-time work, particularly if you’re not currently in a job. You should be prepared to take on part-time, contract or job-sharing work, even in the short-term. It may be a while since you last had an interview. Brush up on these skills to ensure you give yourself the best possible chance of landing a job.
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Darren O'Reilly "I have a good overview of the entire organisation which gives me the ability to assist management in areas of improvement and future planning"
