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Apprenticeships and a new job

I am currently a year into working in a retail bank at a branch-level position. I started working straight after finishing my A-levels and am now looking for the next thing to help me progress. My main goal is to start a qualification by the end of this year which for one will help me to progress and secondly, I am eager to learn more and grow my knowledge. I am interested in staying in the finance/banking industry. My ideal position would be a finance position in the beauty industry as it sort of gives the best of both worlds with what I enjoy. I have started looking at apprenticeships however my poor timing has really hit me where it hurts as most applications for the larger companies have closed.

I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place because although the experience I've gained from my current job has been invaluable - I'm starting to outgrow it a bit and need the next thing to build my career. I just don't feel excited or motivated to be there anymore, however, I don't just want to move to another job on the same level just somewhere else where I will struggle to progress. I also really want to start a qualification (preferably a degree without going to university).

I'm just feeling quite disheartened at the moment as I'm constantly looking for opportunities and just not finding anything. If anyone has any inspiration for an action plan or any opportunities that would be great, because I am lost for ideas.

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by simmylidder

Finance position in the beauty industry in what context? Accounting? Financial analysis? Investment analysis?

I think management accounting is the more likely choice, but I am not sure if this is something you're looking for. If it is, I recommend doing CIMA and working your way up to being fully qualified. You would need to be working in the junior accounting role in the beauty industry for any of this to mean anything though (you can still be an accountant in any other industry).
Do note, you can't open an accounting practice (legally in any country as far as I know) with a qualification in management accounting; you would need a financial accounting qualification for that e.g. ACCA, ACA; the financial accounting qualifications would allow you to work both in management accounting and financial accounting, but the financial accounting qualifications are not as specialised or quantitative (for obvious reasons).

Getting a foot in the beauty industry is going to be hard for any job.

Good luck.