Uncertainty

Good Afternoon everyone,
I'm looking to become an accountant. I've finished my A-Levels. I've been trying to get an apprenticeship for a year now but to no success. I want to know what it is I'm doing wrong and how I can improve my CV. I do not have any training or certificates. Is there any advice or should I just apply for and go to university.
Thank you.

Good Afternoon everyone,
I'm looking to become an accountant. I've finished my A-Levels. I've been trying to get an apprenticeship for a year now but to no success. I want to know what it is I'm doing wrong and how I can improve my CV. I do not have any training or certificates. Is there any advice or should I just apply for and go to university.
Thank you.

Hi,
Have you looked into work experience at an accountancy firm or shadowing an accountant? These would both give you some more experience and something you can put on you CV and talk about. Also, look into virtual work experience / internships - again they can be put on your CV and can be done from home and you can find some that accept everyone who applies so that's a guaranteed way of getting more experience! There are also lots of courses online, you may have to pay for these, but again they will give you the experience and confidence you need!
If you feel that applying to University would be better then definitely have a look at degrees which offer placement years or look at internships during the summer - these will both boost your CV and give you that experience which will in turn boost your confidence. If this is the decision you make then some universities are already offering their degree courses through clearing but they will also be holding their open days so do visit them and make sure the university and course is right for you.
In terms of your CV, have you got any transferable skills from maybe volunteering or a part time job which you could link to accounting or the industry? Also, speak with employers or the places you have applied for the apprenticeship and ask if there is anything more you could do or what they feel you are missing and use this as a starting point for what to do if you feel the apprenticeship route is right for you.
Please don't be disheartened and choose to go down the degree route just because you have not yet had any success with applying, if the apprenticeship route is for you and what you feel is the best way to become an accountant then continue with applying and gaining more experience and hopefully you will have some success!
Hope this helps, Ella - Lancaster University Student Ambassador

Hey, if you want, I can send over a sample CV which might help with improving your current one. Also, as the previous commenter said, work experience is super important so I can send through a list of work experience opportunities (including accounting) available right now. That should help your online application, however you're also need to make sure you know how to succeed in things like online testing, video interviews and assessment centres as they are a key part of the later part of the application process. Again, I can send through some resources to help with that if you think that's your constraint. Let me know if you want any of those resources and good luck with your application.

Yes please, I have tried looking and have found some but if you have anything you believe will help guide me, I would greatly appreciate it.

No worries, here are the resources you were looking for.
How to write a high quality CV (including a sample CV) - https://youtu.be/mBDZJMTmUc0?si=t0xzcI01QS1g2YnS
List of work experience available right now - https://sumptuous-book-021.notion.site/Best-work-experience-for-DEGREE-APPRENTICESHIP-APPLICATIONS-928aea8fa48441df9755d76afef8e470?pvs=4
How to succeed in the later stages of the application process such as the assessment centre - https://youtu.be/kntUzLRljwI?si=W8DVc1oaTi5t0Xwl&t=3706
Hope that helps and good luck with your applications.

Good Afternoon everyone,
I'm looking to become an accountant. I've finished my A-Levels. I've been trying to get an apprenticeship for a year now but to no success. I want to know what it is I'm doing wrong and how I can improve my CV. I do not have any training or certificates. Is there any advice or should I just apply for and go to university.
Thank you.

Good Afternoon everyone,
I'm looking to become an accountant. I've finished my A-Levels. I've been trying to get an apprenticeship for a year now but to no success. I want to know what it is I'm doing wrong and how I can improve my CV. I do not have any training or certificates. Is there any advice or should I just apply for and go to university.
Thank you.