Getting a good job after graduation

[CreamShoes]

Hi, I'm seeking advice on how to get a good job after graduation on behalf of my son. I'd like to hear experience of others as we have been rather disappointed with progress so far. Graduated last year , 2.1 in Maths from Russell group, A levels Further Maths Maths Economics A, A, B. Good set of gcses ' 5 A, 6 A, 1 B. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do but together we decided Accountancy might be good because of good career prospects and seemingly always in demand. We also thought of teaching but salary not so good and also judging from comments on here, a lot of teachers very dissatisfied. Anyway for the last year he's applied for around 30 Chartered Account training positions, had around 5 or 6 first interviews, 1 in-person final interview ( he didn't get the position but was told he was second choice). Feel quite deflated about the system not working. You go through school, work hard, get decent results get good degree, but then no job! I'd have thought he should be able to get an Accountancy training position. He's an easy,-going person, friendly, outgoing, if anything a bit laid back - could be an issue I suppose. Any advice? Any chartered accountants out there that can give some perspective on the jobs market for training positions?

Does he want to be an audit partner? Or run his own practice? Because if not, a practising certificate isn't even relevant.

What's his story to potential employers about why he wants to be an auditor? Since you're saying he specifically wants to do audits?

Thanks for all the advice by the way. Appreciate everyone that has taken the time to reply. I've learnt that you have to have the enthusiasm ( really want to do this) and possibly a little something extra to stand out from the crowd.

I'm sorry he's struggling to find something. I really don't want to be a dick head but I think there's lots of young people (&not so young as I'm a millennial) who are experiencing the thing he is of feeling failed by the system. I got a first undergrad and distinction in masters but it took me a good while to form a career.

Although there's apperently lots of job vacancies I think there's not so many decent opportunities with remotely reasonable pay. It's shit and I don't feel older people who had a very different experience of work an career progression get it. I don't mean you but definitely my parents generation!

I wonder if a graduate scheme in the civil service would be of interest or really anywhere you do a tmage if stuff? Does he actually want to be an account.

Thanks *Logistria. Audit is the specialism mentioned most in the adverts. I think the idea would be to be an audit partner eventually but in all honesty despite reading it is difficult to understand all the specialisms. He would probably enjoy visiting clients and helping them to structure their finances and forensic accounting would probably interest him too. He thought get the ACA and while doing it learn about the various specialisms and see where the career takes him

Thanks for the information **Logistria. Opens up what he can go for.

There's finance admin jobs galore in public and private sector. I used to do this work and it's also not too difficult to get funding for your qualifications this way.

He can open a free account on a cloud-based accounting package and play around with a dummy company whilst going over the basics of T accounting via YouTube then easily get a finance admin job for around £25K that will put him on a route to being a qualified accountant.

He could learn the basics and have enough knowledge to gain a position in a weekend. If you know anyone who has a company get them to give a reference saying he's done a bit of finance admin for them.

Could he find a role in accounts first? To get some real life experience then work his way up (probably very quickly given his qualifications)

Ok, well by partner level the role is quite sales-y and about building relationships more than numbers, as is all the client-facing work in practice really.

If he's been working in a coffee shop he should have lots of customer service experience/skills? He can draw upon that at interview and relate it to an accountancy role - in terms of his interpersonal skills and knowledge of client service.

But he should make sure he's read the website of the practice he's applying for because they can position themselves differently in terms of their client service ethic.

On the contrary, I applied for everything. Audit, tech analyst, project management, finance. Zero problems keeping my story straight.
The 'narratives' aren't complicated. You are not working deep cover for the CIA, with your entire mission hanging on one detail.

Also if you had done the research and looked online as PP had advised you will notice that the interviews for the large schemes are very structured. There will be a couple of motivation questions, nothing more but nobody is going to do any in-depth probing.

Assessors are not stupid either, we know candidates are applying for various positions. We just want to see that they take the initiative and know something beyond the textbook.

And we need enougu to evidence pass or fail if you apply early . It is the easiest job you will ever get because well you're hired as a blank slate with loads of positions, not in direct competition with others. I have had assesment centres where everyone passed... They just keep going until they fill all the places... If you are so-so they might keep you back but at the start it's more lax.

Technology is a big deal these days and everyone love to talk about it even if they don't use it. The big firms also have blogs, article, etc. Look. Pick 3 recent things that service line has done. Think about pros, cons, ideas for supporting/improvement.

I do think there's a big gap in understanding what needs to be done to get a job.
Obviously an extreme but DP's grandad got a third from university a long time ago and walked into a 'graduate' job for a large firm.

These days you have multiple rounds of interviews etc.

Your degree grade doesn't matter. It's your extracurriculars, experience of the interview process etc. 2:1's who have lots of things to discuss, work experience (clubs, volunteering, PT jobs) are in a much better position than Firsts.

Nobody cares about your degree unless you need it for the specific role. Most jobs don't care. Degrees are so ubiquitous that they're basically a filter and having worked witu many 'smart' people who have zero common sense I'm starting to agree...

@Aprilx I wasn't sneering. I was making a joke. 🫤

@CreamShoes Carbon accounting resources:

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol was set up in the 1990's to provide a common set of methods and procedures for accounting for CO2 and equivalent emissions. There are three scopes. The standards are compatible with ISO 14xxxx series.

Training on the standards are here some of the basic ones are free others are for a relatively small fee (compared to some!).

CDP is a useful disclosure site for corporates

When the likes of Deloitte are getting involved there has to be something happening

Basically carbon accounting and pricing etc is going to become very very big business over the coming years, and like any accounting will need both accountants and auditors.

A more general sustainability course is here

Your son doesn't really need to have a deep knowledge of how to reduce emissions, but with a maths degree he would be really well placed to account them.

He needs to get any job, and he should have worked through uni. I recruit a lot and couldn’t care less about degrees. Having periods not working or studying are most concerning so just get any job going.

Where do you live, in s he applying for jobs near to there and/or is he prepared to move.
My friend’s DS wanted to work in London but seemed to have no luck getting a job as he lived a two hour commute away.
Could you pay someone to look
at his CV and give interview tips?
I found with my graduate DC getting a good job really was like getting a job in itself. They both did some relevant online training and got their CV’s professional checked over and tweaked. One DS then did lots of practice interviews for jobs he didn’t want so when he applied for the one he really wanted he knew what to expect.
The other DC went to an all day interview and we’d heard lots of companies like it if you are willing to join in any sports teams they have so he mentioned that plus and unusual and interesting hobby he has hoping this may make him stand out or be memorable.
Basically they were very proactive and not passive and they both got the jobs they wanted.

Feeling disappointed because the system isn't working...is part of the problem - the expectation that a degree from a RG University opens the door to lots of well paid jobs seemingly without effort is not neccesarily the case. However I think a number of detailed, very helpful responses have explained what needs to be done if he wants to work in accounting.
However I actually think the real question is does he want to work in accounting or is he just pleasing his Mum?
I would say he needs another job to earn money and build a CV or make some money to travel?...anything to open his eyes to a world that is not just a career path that he genuinely might not want to take.

He's a work in progress! I guess he'll get something in the end. It's definitely been harder than we expected. Thanks for all the tips.