Top tips for work experience success

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TOP WORK EXPERIENCE TIPS

What you can afford?

Work experience is not always subsidised and means time out from paid work, studies or your family. Think about how long you can survive without an income and how much time you have to spare.

Do your research

Investigate the companies you are interested in working for. Many firms offer work experience, but you may have to send them an email to find out.

Compose a strong application

Demand for work experience is high, so apply at least three months in advance. Perseverance will pay off.

Set firm goals

Decide what you want to get out of the placement, especially if you are working for free. Do a ‘skills audit’ to find out which skills you need to brush up on.

Act professionally

Make sure you know who you are reporting to, arrive on time everyday and dress appropriately.

Keep a diary

Use this to record all the tasks you undertake, the hard and soft skills you use and everything you learn. This will give you an insight into how to improve and provide great content for your CV.

Make contacts

It’s important that get to know the people you are working with, as they can be useful for references.

Stay in touch

If you enjoyed the work, enquire about further opportunities and a reference. However the experience turns out, learn from it. In an increasingly competitive job market, work experience is now more important than ever, whatever stage of your    career you’re at.

Work experience is also the main requirement to become a professional member of AAT or MAAT.

Becoming a MAAT can boost your anticipated earnings beyond those of non-members with the AAT qualification, bringing greater responsibility, job satisfaction and career rewards.You can start logging your work experience while you’re still studying. That way, once you complete the qualification, you will be much closer to getting the letters MAAT after your name. Logging your work experience can seem like a   daunting task but if needn’t be if you follow our top tips.

Best practices for logging your work experience

> Don’t wait. Submit your evidence as soon as you are happy with it – you don’t need to submit all eight competences at the same time.

> Have confidence in your skills. If you have logged experience submit it for review.

> Be concise. On average applicants demonstrate their skills in 160 words or four bullet points.

> Be specific. If describing a task tell us your involvement and the outcome.

> Contact us. We want to help you become a MAAT so we’re here to guide you through the process.

> Talk to your verifier. Tell your verifier you’ve put their name forward and to expect an email (two emails if they’re also your professional referee).

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AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.

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