By Marianne Curphey Students What employers really think about AAT students – and how to impress them early 16 Feb 2026 We spoke to different employers to see what they are looking for in AAT students, and how you can prepare for the world of work. Starting your first job in accountancy can feel daunting, but you can be confident that your AAT qualification is recognised and respected. Before you join the workplace, here’s how to be career-ready from day one, according to experts. Getting ready for work Preparing yourself for employability actually starts during study, not after you finish. The good news is that your AAT qualification is centred around practical, workplace-focused learning and strong technical foundations. Employers know that AAT gives you the skills they are looking for. In addition, when we talked to employers to find out what was important to them, three key skills stood out: Being open and willing to learn. Being aware of professional standards and ethics. Being able to communicate well, listen to instructions, and ask questions. What are the professional behaviours and skills that employers value most? Rachel Harris, founder of striveX accountants, says that her hiring process is about finding people with the right personal qualities as well as technical skills, so they fit in with the culture and vision of the company. “Our first interview is a values ‘vibe check’ conversation, simply checking for alignment,” she explains. “We then follow up with a technical or skills-based task in the second interview before the candidate meets the team. “We hire people with a minimum amount of practical experience and who score highly on core values before we hire for technical skill. Technical knowledge can be taught, but attitude and ownership are much harder to train.” Rachel says the qualities that stand out most are: Curiosity and willingness to learn. Personal responsibility and follow-through. Emotional intelligence and kindness. Pride in doing work properly. Openness to feedback. Respect for systems and process. Don’t worry if you don’t feel completely ready or totally confident about taking on your first job. Employers don’t expect you to know everything, but they do want to find someone who is willing to learn. “A big misconception is that employers are looking for ‘finished’ professionals,” Rachel says. “We’re not, we’re looking for coachable people with strong foundations. “Another misconception is that confidence equals competence. In practice, the most successful early-career hires are often the ones who ask thoughtful questions, take notes and double-check their work, not the ones who try to appear like they already know everything.” That willingness to learn can be an advantage if you engage with your training and ask lots of questions. “I’m not necessarily looking for you to answer every question correctly, but how you handle the situation when you don’t know the answer,” she says. “Turning up prepared and communicating clearly will often outweigh small gaps in knowledge.” How can I demonstrate my professionalism and commitment before I apply? If you want to stand out in your first job, then paying attention to reliability and time management are two of the most important ways that you can start to build your own career skills while still a student. “These are foundational,” Rachel explains. “If someone is reliable, we can build everything else around them. If they are not, nothing else scales safely. Employers are not expecting perfection, they are looking for professionalism, ownership, and a genuine desire to grow.” She says other important skills to develop are: A willingness to learn and ask questions: good questions prevent errors and accelerate growth. Professional attitude and communication skills: clients and teams both depend on this. Tone, clarity and respect matter every day, not just in formal situations. Ethical awareness and attention to detail: non-negotiable in accounting. Ethics and accuracy protect clients, firms, and careers. When you are studying, Rachel suggests you connect every topic to a real business scenario, get comfortable using accounting software environments where possible, and build habits around documentation and evidence. This means treating your studies like a job, not just a course. This could be meeting your own deadlines early, keeping structured notes and working papers, writing clear, professional emails and volunteering for responsibility in group work where possible. Cultivate the ‘soft’ skills and show professionalism Mike Sole, Partner, Batchelor Coop Chartered Accountants, and Deputy Leader of Canterbury City Council and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group & Cabinet Member for Finance, says good communication skills are now an essential part of an accountant’s job. “Accountancy, for me, is much more about the people I’m dealing with than the numbers,” he explains. “You don’t need to be a mathematical genius. People skills are more important.” He says technical skills are hard to assess in a 30-minute interview, and so part of the assessment is on character and professionalism. “We look at the person. Are they nice? Will they fit in with the team? That’s more important than a perfect CV. You can train someone with the right attitude,” he says. Andy Sullivan, Managing Director at Complete HQ, says that when hiring newly qualified staff, he focusses less on technical perfection and more on fundamentals and mindset. “The qualities that consistently stand out are reliability, clear communication, curiosity and a willingness to take responsibility early on,” he says. “Technical knowledge can be developed quickly in the right environment, but professionalism, judgement, and how someone engages with colleagues and clients are much harder to teach.” He says that one common misconception is that early-career roles are purely technical. In reality, even junior roles involve communication, commercial awareness and managing expectations – particularly in practice. He said: “During their studies, I’d encourage students to practise professional habits early: meeting deadlines, communicating clearly, being proactive when something isn’t understood and looking for opportunities to apply learning in real-world contexts. “Even part-time work, placements, or shadowing experienced colleagues can make a significant difference to confidence and career readiness.” Think about problem solving and be business aware Andy Smith is Founder of Abbeygate Accountancy and Finance Director at John Banks Group. He says he looks for candidates who are hardworking, business aware and interested in strategy. “When I’m hiring, I look at how someone comes across,” he says. “Are they open to driving themselves and the growth of the company? I don’t expect them to know everything, but I want them to want to learn. Also, the softer skills are so important now, including communication, forward thinking, problem solving and how to deal with difficult people.” Zara Bayley, of Base2Base Bookkeeping, says that an awareness of the culture and approach of your new employer is very important. “When you start your job, check what the policies and procedures are in terms of professionalism, for example dress code and office hours, as different workplaces have a different approach.” If you are already working and studying, Zara suggests you look for tasks within your work that relate back to your exam modules. Gaining real life experience and showing interest and curiosity in your studies can really impress a potential new boss, as well as doing software courses as part of your CPD. Remember, your willingness to learn gives you an advantage Ultimately, employers aren’t expecting you to be the finished article – they’re looking for curiosity, professionalism and the mindset to keep learning. By treating your studies like the start of your career, by asking thoughtful questions and building good habits early, you can step into the workplace with confidence and show that you’re committed, coachable and ready to grow. Further reading From study to strategy: how to think like an accountant before you qualify Networking support: top tips for building connections as a student 6 ways to improve your communication skills during phone calls Marianne Curphey is an award-winning financial writer and columnist, and author of the book How Money Works. She worked as City Editor at The Guardian, deputy editor of Guardian online, and has worked for The Times, Telegraph and BBC.