Accountancy / Actuarial

Bi-monthly, the Financial Services Skills Council ask employers, professional bodies and trade organisations to respond to a question which has been asked by careers practitioners.

January's question focuses on what a student should do if they have been unable to secure an internship within the sector, what type of skills building activities would employers want to see on their CV, which would enable them to compete for graduate jobs vacancies equally against other students who have completed internships?

If you are interested in the finance sector..these hints and tips from the likes of HSBC, ACCA, and ICAEW may well be worth a read!

It is certainly true that more people that have done an internship are successful in getting a graduate role. However what is important is the student demonstrates that they have the essential underlying qualities:

- Experience of dealing with customers- particularly in solving their problems

- Experience of working with others and leading a particular task

- An ability to talk about the sector's challenges - and evidence of reading any quality paper.

John Morewood, Senior Graduate Recruitment and Development Manager, HSBC Bank Plc -www.jobs.hsbc.co.uk/14-en/HSBC.aspx

At RSA we would like to see students take part in activities that:

- Enable them to develop their team building skills, so they can demonstrate how their individual effort made a difference

- Help them to understand their learning and leadership style, so to demonstrate self awareness and how people react differently to situations

- Support them in developing skills to overcome objections, so to demonstrate the ability to listen and identify the issues

- Enable them to practice their communication and assertiveness.Taking part in activities which enable students to develop and put skills into practice will support students in competing for a graduate role even when they have not obtained an internship.

Libby Morgan ACII, Chartered Insurer, Personal Lines Trader, RSA -

www.rsagroup.com/rsa/pages/careers/careershome

There are many different activities a student can take part in to help build key skills that need to be demonstrated during interviews with employers. Key skills vital to a successful career as an accountant, or indeed in any business role include; communication, commercial awareness, team work and co-operation, numeracy, leadership and self management. As well as these key skills, employers are also looking for a number of other personal attributes. The following will be useful to think about when planning your applications and preparing for interviews; personal motivation and commitment, creativity and flexibility, planning and organization, and problem solving. If you are unable to secure an internship in the sector, you can demonstrate your understanding of these skills by taking part in activities such as business games run by the professional bodies or employers at your school or university, or by taking an active role as a member of a student society..

There are also many employer workshops on offer, which cover everything from advice on how to write your CVs and applications to developing your presentation skills, these are not only a great way to find out more about the employers and professional qualifications on offer, but a chance to enhance your communication and presentation skills. If you have travelled, taking a gap year or planning to take a gap year, think about the life experiences that you are gaining and how some of these are relevant to your future work career, or if you have a part-time job you should be able to show your commitment, time management and communication skills whether it's retail or bar work or office based roles. Participating in activities such as Young Enterprise are also enhancing skills and business knowledge.

The ICAEW also offer qualifications such as the Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) which can act as an entry route to the ACA. CFAB is open to all, regardless of academic background or experience. The things you will learn are highly relevant in many business sectors. CFAB provides an essential understanding of the fundamentals of finance, accounting and business. CFAB can be completed in less than 12 months alongside your university or school courses. The modules include: business and finance; management information; accounting (compulsory); law; assurance and principles of taxation. These modules also make up the knowledge exams of the ACA qualification, so you can go to an employer being part qualified for the ACA. All of these activities will help you to stand out from other students, think about the relevance of your experiences and how they apply to the roles you are considering.

Louise Mason, Marketing Manager, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales - www.icaew.com/careers

In the current economic conditions, it's important to maximise your employability skills and being commercially aware is a skill that all graduates, regardless of degree, need to achieve. When you go to interviews or assessment centres, employers want to test your knowledge on a range of things including the job you are applying for, the organisation and its operations, the business sectors and competitors that operate within it, and your general understanding of the business environment.

ACCA has developed a series of articles and podcasts that focus on the elements that make up commercial awareness and how to apply this to different employment sectors. You can download the podcasts from our website at www.accaglobal.com/graduates/media/commercial. You should also try to demonstrate an interest in your chosen career or profession by joining a student society at university, such as Bright Futures, and participating in graduate promotional activities. Joining ACCA's Accelerate Lite scheme is a good way to stay ahead of the competition and develop the knowledge you need to show employers that you're serious about a career in accountancy. It's free to join Accelerate and as a member you can access a range of services designed to keep you up-to-date with accountancy news, trends and graduate jobs. These skills building activities will not only help you get that first graduate job, but they can also help you understand more about the type of career you may want to embark on and the kinds of organisations you want to work for.

Laura Murphy, Head of Student Business Relationships, ACCA - www.uk.accaglobal.com

If you have failed to get an internship for this summer - don't panic! As you can see there are other options out there!

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