Graduate Accounting Student Trying to Find a Job

LSeasonKiller on 15/10/2017 - 18:43
Last edited 16/10/2017 - 09:37 by 1 other user

Hello OzBargainers!

I finished my Bachelors in Accounting last year December and I have been actively looking for a job since March this year. I have been applying on seek and other jobseeking websites. I have no experience in accounting, however, only learnt the fundamentals during my studies in Uni. It's getting real frustrating for me to find a job since companies only want to hire people with experience. I have tried applying to internships and what not, but there has not been a response from anyone.I am so lost on how to get a start on my career. Any advice on how to start my career in the accounting industry?

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  Ughhh on 15/10/2017 - 18:57

  +12

  This is probably why https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/309978?page=9#comment-4748…

  You're asking a questions you should know or should know how to research. Why should a client pay you instead of just googling?

  • 

    aoeueoa on 15/10/2017 - 19:09

    +11

    Oh dear……..if there ever was a reason not to hire an accounting graduate…

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 15/10/2017 - 20:24

      +2

      You overestimate how much they teach you in accounting at uni; it’s mostly fluff that doesn’t prepare you for the real world. Most of what I learned was on the job and post grad.

      • 

        mskeggs on 15/10/2017 - 21:20

        +7

        Sure, but surely they teach you how to work out the answers to the basics without posting on public internet discussion boards?

      • 

        aoeueoa on 15/10/2017 - 22:02

        +1

        Yeh, it's not the lack of knowledge, but the lack of initiative to find it; especially when it's such a simple question.

    • 

      tsunamisurfer on 15/10/2017 - 23:04

      OP…so Bachelors of Accounting and you admit you have 'zero knowledge of taxation in Australia'.

      WTF have you been doing the last 3 years?

      • 

        Shadowsfury on 15/10/2017 - 23:54

        +4

        In their defence (I'm a type of accountant myself), there are loads of disciplines in Accounting - tax accounting, financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, forensic accounting etc

        I'm constantly asked (hopefully jokingly) to do people's tax returns for them when even I get a tax accountant to do mine…

        I'm an auditor if that matters.

      • 

        brokeunistudent on 16/10/2017 - 10:00

        (profanity) bitches and snort coke

  • 

    Zachary on 15/10/2017 - 23:54

    Ooooh, that's gotta burn; want some ice with that?

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  Bigboyburrito on 15/10/2017 - 19:05

  Have you tried using GradConnection?
  They email you daily with new Graduate position openings as well as just before they stop taking applicants in the areas+locations you choose.
  On top of that, there are a number of resources there to assist you in getting a position somewhere, but if that's not enough, another resource would be your university.

  All of that can take you so far, make sure to brush up on the details of jobs and companies you are applying for, and send follow up emails/calls.
  If you aren't successful, always ask for feedback - otherwise you will never improve.

  Good luck!

  • 

    brokeunistudent on 15/10/2017 - 19:52

    Gradconnection mostly has the formal grad programs which are insanely difficult to get in. Also OP missed out on hiring for 2018 which has finished for most firms, Gradconnection is pretty quiet these days and will be until next year.

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  toniyellow on 15/10/2017 - 19:06

  +1

  There are more graduates than entry level jobs.
  https://docs.employment.gov.au/documents/accountants-austral…

  So I don't think there is any easy answer beyond work really hard to stand out from the pack.

  I'd redouble the effort to find an internship or volunteer position somewhere, anywhere. Try charities?
  If you don't have office experience get any kind of admin job and try and transition into accounting.
  Contact your uni careers service? Most offer support to graduates for 1 - 2 years after graduation

  Both the above gov stuff and industry stuff mention 'poor communication skills' being a problem
  https://www.hays.com.au/report/accountancy-finance---profess…

  If you have good communication skills find a way to highlight that?

• 

  onetwothreefour on 15/10/2017 - 20:14

  +4

  Get a job, any job, in a big company and work your way towards the accounts department.

  • 

    bobbified on 15/10/2017 - 23:28

    THIS! ^^

    ANY job will give you some experience to stand out from everyone else.

    Just because you spent a few years at uni, it doesn't automatically mean you can skip the queue to a better job. There's no such thing as being "too good" and everyone has to start somewhere.

    The question you should be asking yourself is "why should they pick me over all the other grads?" Don't forget to be realistic when your answer yourself.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 15/10/2017 - 20:36

  The problem could be with your CV if you are having this kind of poor response to your applications. It can be a numbers game though, don’t take every rejection personally.

  You don’t have any experience in accounting, but did you get some sort of unrelated experience at uni? If you have your studies and that’s it, there’s nothing to differentiate you from all the other applicants and you aren’t demonstrating the soft skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

  If you really have nothing, then internships, volunteer work, upskilling especially say with Excel, computerised bookkeeping courses or starting a CA/CPA (CA is preferable) at least show you’re taking some initiative in your downtime.

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  Iamnotcheap on 15/10/2017 - 21:40

  A couple of suggestions, one of which has already come up;

  CV/Resume - this is your selling point. A significant number of individuals get this wrong. Including irrelevant experience is a big no no. As much as it’s great to show what you have been doing, it can cause your cv to move to the bottom. Keep it to 2 pages maximum! You can use a one pager as why you want to work there but sometimes these are not thoroughly read as it can be assumed to be fluff sometimes… if all you have is education left on there, that is ok.. don’t fluff it for no good reason! Especially at a junior level.

  Use a job agent - these guys get paid to do the hard work (through a commission on your salary upon signing). I have worked in two big 4 accounting firms (still employed at one) and have had grads start not just from the normal vac work, but as direct hires and through agencies; these have had little to no experience.

  Also - be realistic on what jobs you are applying for. And if you are an international student, are you expecting a work visa with your job? Or do you have he appropriate work rights here? As that may scare employers off too; which means a job agency may be best suited as they will filter through the noise.

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  mskeggs on 15/10/2017 - 21:46

  +1

  Assuming you went to RMIT, your Linkedin page needs work. It is the first place an employer will look if they are thinking of calling you.

  • 

    airzone on 15/10/2017 - 22:48

    lol doxxed.

  • 

    bobbified on 15/10/2017 - 23:41

    +1

    …last work experience was 4 years ago and that was overseas!

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  monkeybusiness on 15/10/2017 - 22:34

  Couple of points. Not trying to put you down but just offering a realistic assessment of the situation:

  1. Australian Unis churn out way too many accounting graduates then there are graduate positions available. You need to stand out to have any chance of securing roles

  2. This is even more so for a international student(based on your post in other thread). You already start behind a Aussie local in the rercuitment drive as frankly, why should a company hire you over a local graduate? Unless you have something that stands out over everyone else e.g honours, etc, you are well down the pecking order as there are countless Aussie graduates they can take on without the risk of them having potential visa issues in future.

  What you need is any professional low end job in accounts. Start maybe in admin or AP/AR. Just get your foot in the door.

  Otherwise, graduate programs are another good starting point. Many companies as well as the big 4 will have them. Based on my experience of being a accounting graduate years ago, the big 4 don't expect graduates to have a lot of accounting experience. It shoudln't stop you from getting in for a interview/recruitment session. If you aren't at least getting these, then your CV clearly needs work.

  In the long run, is accounting what you actually want to do? Accounting itself is a very broad area. What specifically do you like about it? To make yourself more employable you really need to combine it with other skillsets. Again, this is about separating yourself from the crowd. There are too many accountants out there especially on the lower end of the scale.

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  doweyy on 15/10/2017 - 23:42

  I'm finishing up my accounting degree this semester, I was lucky enough to get offered 2 different positions, one in private and one in the public sector. I can safely say that your resume and garnering some experience is essential to getting a position. What got me into the private position was through a connection, however my resume pulled me over the line as it showed that I had more to offer, a friendly nature and am sporty. The public position however focused on experience and explaining what exactly I could bring to the job. These are two sides of the spectrum for positions.

  I know your pain of applying over and over again, but focus on having a chat with your university careers counsellors, I'm sure they're still available regardless of if you have graduated, my uni has a program which supports graduates for up to a year after graduating. Especially being an international student, focus on trying to explain your current situation and where you work (if you do work) in your CV, it's vital that you can show yourself as best as possible. Some resumes just seem to get chucked in the bin on simple issues, make sure you perfect it and ensure you know exactly why you're applying for that position.

  As seen above, do you really know what part of accounting you want to do? It seems like you might have a struggle in tax, other areas may interest you more.

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  bobbified on 15/10/2017 - 23:49

  Besides applying for jobs like a normal person would, the alternative way is to make use of any connections you may have in the industry. But this would only work if your friends are confident in your abilities. No-one would want to recommend a dud because their own reputation is at stake.

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  Baysew on 16/10/2017 - 09:43

  I have amended the title of the threads from "Graduate Student Trying to Find a Job" to "Graduate Accounting Student Trying to Find a Job".

  Always try to make it easy for an employer to find you.

  • 

    Ughhh on 16/10/2017 - 10:50

    +1

    Always try to make it easy for an employer to find you

    Thats if you do something impressive. If it's not, if rather not confirm the unfavourable thoughts about me…