[189110]

(Original post by the-scientist)
Do you have any non related work experience? And do you participate in extracurricular activities? If not I'd recommend doing one or the other or even both. Once you get past the screening stage of the application process it will help no end with demonstrating competencies.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Well i have had my own show in the radio station at school and managed it for 4 years.
Been head of arts council
prefect

if they count?

Ive done placements in high schools over the years. ( which isnt really related to chartered accountancy and i was told to NOT!!!! mention this as it will make them think im interested in teaching :/)

And i work at next part time summer job if that counts towards anything

[M1011]

(Original post by ...mo...)
What about those bright student who went to lower ranked local universities due to personal rather than academic reasons. They may be as clever as a Russel group student but went to a lower uni. Do they stand a chance?

Well if they choose to go to a low ranked university due to personal reasons then that shouldn't affect their UCAS score The big 4 don't demand russel group (I'm not in a RG uni), so where you choose to go is your choice so long as you perform well at A-level and get a 2.1 in your degree.

[M1011]

(Original post by Regent)
Who together recruit over 3000 graduates per year and operate on a rolling basis. In other words if you hit their standard you'll get an offer. Most other schemes don't work that way: you could be brilliant, but if there's 5 spots and 5 people better than you they'll get the offer regardless.

Thus the need to apply to several schemes. Game. Set. Match.

I agree with what you're saying, if you're good enough you'll get a job with big 4 or other firms as they have lots of positions (whereas in other companies you might be great but if someone is better then tough luck).

However, the big 4 process is tough. Most applicants are already to a high standard (requirements), and yet still it's a long shot to make it through the process. Big 4 get tens of thousands of applications, which puts the figures more in prospective. So I certainly wouldn't consider a big 4 position to be an easy catch (massages bruised ego )!

[...mo...]

(Original post by the-scientist)
Of those that joined the office when I did I'd say 70% came from Russell group universities and 20% studied accounting or a related degree.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

really!

of those 30 % what unis did they include?

also i find their recruitment to be intimidating. what is it that they are look for in candidates?

[anonymousaudit]

(Original post by 189110)
No experience
My uni lecturer will give me brilliant reference he said, so im okay with the reference bit.

I may need to find some experience now! but i doubt that'll get me passed the a-level requriment boundries they have set

They usually only ask for references after an offer, so it's not of much importance :/

Also I can't remember if you're the OP or not but if you had 260 UCAS points & looked at Baker Tilly (who require 260...) what is the problem? Have I skim read over something?

[...mo...]

(Original post by anonymousaudit)
They usually only ask for references after an offer, so it's not of much importance :/

Also I can't remember if you're the OP or not but if you had 260 UCAS points & looked at Baker Tilly (who require 260...) what is the problem? Have I skim read over something?

http://careers.bakertilly.co.uk/Form...acancyId=50889

[189110]

(Original post by ...mo...)
http://careers.bakertilly.co.uk/Form...acancyId=50889

Yep they ask for 280
i rang them up explaining my situation and the woman on the phone wa slike 280 ucas points your through no ucas points sorry!

[mmac900]

OP you seem very panicky. So what if you dont have the required UCAS points, its not the end of the world. You have to be persistant, promote your strengths, and eventually you will succeed. You can try explaining why you did not achieve 300+ and im sure some employers will care more about your degree than some silly A levels.

I am in even worse position then you as I have no UCAS because I am from a different country and I am still not sure what my equivalent is, but that isnt stopping me from anything.

[...mo...]

(Original post by 189110)
Yep they ask for 280
i rang them up explaining my situation and the woman on the phone wa slike 280 ucas points your through no ucas points sorry!

i say still try to apply. what would they be more impressed with

280 ucas points and a 2:1

or

260 ucas points and a 1st

i would say go for the less competitive area such as audit. if they don't full all their places may become lenient

[gonnabesomething]

You could always start with the AAT, but it'll take an extra two years to be ACA qualified. OP, seriously. Just wait until September. Use the ICAEW Search, and there will be contracts available for 260. Get in touch with smaller firms that want 280 and see if you can bargain with them by showing strong interest etc.

[anonymousaudit]

(Original post by ...mo...)
http://careers.bakertilly.co.uk/Form...acancyId=50889

Strange- it was 260 when I applied!

[...mo...]

(Original post by anonymousaudit)
Strange- it was 260 when I applied!

what year was this?

also i have been thinking. i will start my under grad soon and firms like the big4 ask for AAB. with the new A* grade how soon do you think wage inflation will push offers up to AAA

[darko123]

(Original post by ...mo...)
what year was this?

also i have been thinking. i will start my under grad soon and firms like the big4 ask for AAB. with the new A* grade how soon do you think wage inflation will push offers up to AAA

I don't know why you think Big 4 firms ask for AAB, they only require 320 points (ABB) for almost all of the graduate schemes and will do for the foreseeable future. Also GT and BDO only ask for 300 and 280 ucas points respectively. It's only a requirement, if you meet it then it has little impact on the final outcome of your application. They're going to be much more concerned with your previous work experience and your degree.

[...mo...]

(Original post by darko123)
I don't know why you think Big 4 firms ask for AAB, they only require 320 points (ABB) for almost all of the graduate schemes and will do for the foreseeable future. Also GT and BDO only ask for 300 and 280 ucas points respectively. It's only a requirement, if you meet it then it has little impact on the final outcome of your application. They're going to be much more concerned with your previous work experience and your degree.

sorry i meant ABB not AAB

how can you way foreseeable future. it is a known fact that more and more people are getting the top grades. in a post above one person thought that baker and tilly wanted 260 since this was in their time but is now 280. this shows entry requirements increasing.universities have gone from asking AAA to AAA*. the big 4 take top grads. shop when will their requirements go from ABB to AAB?

[189110]

(Original post by gonnabesomething)
You could always start with the AAT, but it'll take an extra two years to be ACA qualified. OP, seriously. Just wait until September. Use the ICAEW Search, and there will be contracts available for 260. Get in touch with smaller firms that want 280 and see if you can bargain with them by showing strong interest etc.

i hope so, im thinking the same i will still apply to those who ask for 280 and see if they will let me on. Hoping something works out!.

ive rang lots and lots of firms and most just ask for a cv and they have said they do look at alevels but have no point system, not sure how hard it is to get into the smaller firms. i find it quite unsual to how they just ask for a cv and thats it but all big firms do the application process :/

[189110]

(Original post by anonymousaudit)
Strange- it was 260 when I applied!

:O !!! !!

[Big_Dave]

(Original post by 189110)
i hope so, im thinking the same i will still apply to those who ask for 280 and see if they will let me on. Hoping something works out!.

ive rang lots and lots of firms and most just ask for a cv and they have said they do look at alevels but have no point system, not sure how hard it is to get into the smaller firms. i find it quite unsual to how they just ask for a cv and thats it but all big firms do the application process :/

It seems pretty logical to me..... large firms will have a lot more applicants therefore they need some system to standardise it. At a smaller firms they probably still receive a lot of applications it is not cost efficient to spend a fortune on developing an online application system.

Anyways a lot of big firms still require you to upload a CV as part of the process anyway, well they did when I was applying for grad jobs many moons ago!

[189110]

(Original post by Big_Dave)
It seems pretty logical to me..... large firms will have a lot more applicants therefore they need some system to standardise it. At a smaller firms they probably still receive a lot of applications it is not cost efficient to spend a fortune on developing an online application system.

Anyways a lot of big firms still require you to upload a CV as part of the process anyway, well they did when I was applying for grad jobs many moons ago!

Okay soon my cv i have
my name and address at the top
all my qualifications
then i have work experience and training
then previous employment
Then a section on Key skills and interest
then finally a box for references

How does that sound?

And i was wondering if i should include why im applying for the job and my strengths in the key skills and interest box?

because the application process with big firms have these sections to fill out
So was wondering where i should put it on my cv

[gonnabesomething]

(Original post by 189110)
Okay soon my cv i have
my name and address at the top
all my qualifications
then i have work experience and training
then previous employment
Then a section on Key skills and interest
then finally a box for references

How does that sound?

And i was wondering if i should include why im applying for the job and my strengths in the key skills and interest box?

because the application process with big firms have these sections to fill out
So was wondering where i should put it on my cv

I'd try and keep the CV to one page. Start off with your name in Bold at the top, followed by mobile number and email address in normal font on the line below. Then put your degree and university with prediction for a 1st, then A-levels - put points total and grades, GCSEs - just state what you got for English and Maths. Ie 9 GCSE passes including A* in Mathematics and grade B in English Language.

then previous work experience and employment - ie sales assistant in a shop etc and any voluntary work you may have done.

then Achievements - union president, sports player for college/uni etc.

then put 'references available on request'.

You should be able to keep that to a one page CV, it's not as if you've got 5 years of professional experience

[anonymousaudit]

(Original post by 189110)
Okay soon my cv i have
my name and address at the top
all my qualifications
then i have work experience and training
then previous employment
Then a section on Key skills and interest
then finally a box for references

How does that sound?

And i was wondering if i should include why im applying for the job and my strengths in the key skills and interest box?

because the application process with big firms have these sections to fill out
So was wondering where i should put it on my cv

Sorry to butt in here, but a second opinion/perspective can't hurt?

Rawlinson & Hunter ask for C.Vs and I swear they only asked for 260 UCAS points...? I got through their testings and interviews, for reference and my CV was laid out as follows:

Name/Address/Details etc the obvious
-
3-4 line personal statement about why i'm interested in accountancy, what skills i have, etc. My degree was NOT an accountancy degree so I thought it was important to express why I was interested in audit so they'd know it was tailored to them rather than being sent off to any grad app still open!
-
Very basic education stuff- starting with Degree, A levels, then GCSE Results. They don't care whether you got an A* in business or an A in it, I just put A*-A in: list list list. I think you'll look really cringe worthy if you list each individual grade unless it's explicitly stated (often when filling in online forms, it is!)
-
Degree info. I made a table with two columns for this, and picked about 4-5 modules which were relevant to the position. I wrote the name of the module and result (in italics ~classy~) next to it. Then in the box adjacent to the name wrote the skills I developed in that module and how it pertained to the role in audit...each box was about 100 words long. Also write about your dissertation as they like to mention this at interview?
-
Work experience! The big firms who ask you to fill out application forms will want to know things like "what skills did you develop" "what responsibilities did you hold" etc. Look up Deloitte's competencies as they're really good for indicating what employers are looking for, especially in regards to your working life but also you can include them in the academic section above! For reference I had no internships or relevant work experience but I used my current work to show how I developed transferable skills- literally lay it out for them so they can see that you're a good communicator, good with tailoring customer service, well written/spoken/whatever, can work independently/ as part of a team. They love people who are able to motivate others or delegate tasks. Try not to sound like an arrogant bum here, though.
-
Interests...a lot of firms really like unique applicants and it gives them something to speak about at interview so don't be afraid to be honest and put anything...I was scared my interests would portray me as dumb or airheaded as they mainly revolved around fashion but most firms loved it and at the interview for where I have my contract the interviewer really focused in on this section as did the other firms I interviewed for. I wrote about the business I ran at uni, my blog, fashion writing for the uni newspaper, etc etc. I think this section's really important to ~be yourself~ in but also show that you're a really diverse and well rounded person because they want those type of people to add something new to their team?
-
References!
-

Yes my C.V was two pages, but I felt as if I could justify everything being there. I did not pad it out with 2 pages worth of rubbish it was all good and it was formatted in a way where it was clear where each section began/ended which meant they could skim read if they weren't particularly interested in reading the entire thing!