Spotlight on Accountancy, Banking and Finance Careers

Spotlight on: Accountancy, Banking & Finance Careers This week, we're zooming into the Accountancy, Banking & Finance Career Zones. There are loads of amazing opportunities for students - whether you're a school leaver or planning on going to uni - and we wanted to get you up to speed with some of the confusing jargon so you don't miss out. Today's email gives you an overview - click the links to our site to learn more. Complete the worksheet to consolidate your learning Once you have read the email, please complete this worksheet to apply what you've learnt to your own future career path. What's this Career Zone all about? It's a big Career Zone with lots of different types of jobs. But let's try to boil it down. Accountants are financial whizzes who make sure that businesses keep track of their money and pay their taxes - find out more here. At "professional services" firms, accountants work alongside other finance specialists, as well as non-finance people like lawyers. These firms help other organisations stay on top of their finances and other things they need to do by law. Banking is about lending and investing money. High-street or retail banks are where you and your family can apply for loans and save your money. Investment banks help people & organisations make money by investing cash. What jobs are out there? Literally dozens! But here are a few: Accountants: Help companies keep track of their finances. Analysts: Find the best companies to invest money in. Fund managers: Invest money and make sure it grows in the way the customer wants. Cashiers: Help ordinary bank customers take out & pay in money, and apply for loans etc. This is just the basics. There are loads of supporting jobs - from customer service and keeping complex IT systems running to looking after the staff. And in the accountancy world, there are many different types of accountant. Go to our Accountancy and Banking & Finance Career Zones to learn more. Am I cut out for it? The skills and qualities you need depend on the career path you embark on, but there are some that will stand you in good stead whatever you do. You do have to be good at solving problems - but you don't have to be a maths whizz:  People skills: Likeability and the ability to work in a team. Communication. Curiosity and willingness to learn. Problem-solving. Hardworking and dedicated. Initiative: The ability to come up with your own ideas and act on them. Also, check out our guide to how improving your money management skills can give you a head start in your finance career - while also helping you stay in the money throughout your life. Is a career in accountancy, banking and finance future proof? You betcha. FinTech (financial technology) is the new kid on the block and it is creating a loads of new jobs. Blockchain is a fancy new technology which a lot of fintech is based on - and some studies show that the demand for blockchain developers is growing by almost a third every year. As for accountants, many companies are encouraging them to take on a broader range of work, using their valuable accounting know-how to help businesses plan strategically for the future. How do I get there? Apprenticeships/school leaver programmes If you're a school/college leaver at 16 or 18, you're spoilt for choice. Loads of banks, accountancy firms and professional services companies offer apprenticeships and school leaver programmes, all of which give you qualifications as you train in the job - making you a genuine bona fide pro. Click below to learn more: Accountancy apprenticeships Investment banking school leaver programmes High-street banking apprenticeships University Graduate schemes are a well-established route into a career with accountancy firms, banks and professional services companies. You'll train in a high-skilled job and may work towards an accreditations - AKA letters after your name: Accountancy: Employers look for any university degree at 2:1 - that's right, it doesn't have to be a maths degree. Investment banking: To work on the investment side, you'll normally need a degree in maths or a similar, numerate subject, but you could work in a supporting role with any degree. Professional services: Plenty of employers take on graduates with degrees in any discipline. High-street banks: Banks generally hire grads as branch managers, although this will usually come a little way into your career.

How to share with students To share this email with students and parents/carers, copy this link: https://mailchi.mp/successatschool/careers-in-accountancy-banking-finance-1277035 You can also just forward the email by clicking this link - but please note this text will also be included. We have created a worksheet for students to complete alongside this newsletter. It is also linked to in the email below. Click to view the worksheet.

Are you still wondering what to do when you leave?

Some students will find themselves heading into the second half of the Spring Term, and still pondering the same question, "What do I want to do in the future?"  There will also be some first years who think, "Ah, I've still got a year to go before I decide that!"  Hmm, recognise yourself?  If you are in the first year group and think you can wait around, try asking some second years what they think about holding off with this important question!  You will probably find that some think it is okay to wait, but the majority of Year 2s will have either sorted themselves out with a University place by now, or will be fully engaged in looking for an Apprenticeship.  Notice I said looking for an Apprenticeship, because no matter how many times I point this out to students, many fail to get the message that finding an appropriate Apprenticeship is much harder than finding a university place!!

 

So, it is difficult and let's be honest, a little bit scary, when it comes to thinking about the future.  Well, a couple of weeks ago we had the Annual Apprenticeship Careers Event in college, and last week was National Apprenticeship Week.  I know that many felt inspired by the contacts and insights they gained, so I hope you are all on the right path to success in the future.

Wait!  Some of you missed this?!!  Well, if that is you, or you want to check out some of the Apprenticeship Vacancies that students discovered, please check back through the Archive of this Blog, or even check your college email - you should be able to discover links for more information.  Your Progress Coaches are also available to chat to, and those of you with Tutorials will find topics that help too.

 

Of course, not all of you will want to engage in the above.  Dare I say it, some of you do not like to show that you have fallen behind in planning your future, and would rather listen to helpful information.  If that is you, or if you simply want to hear others talking about their experiences and giving tips on how to promote success, then a new podcast series called,

"Get 2020 Vision", has just started and I understand that its goal is to try and help you to help yourself.  Click on the camera image below and scroll down the webpage that hosts these podcasts.  QA, the hosts, are a respected organisation who have a lot of experience in the Careers field, and they are sponsoring the content.

 

Good luck, and perhaps have a chat with your Progress Coach if this inspires you to go further.

🎥

 

Thank you to visitors at Long Road Sixth Form College

Long Road Sixth Form College would formally like to thank the broad range of organisations who took part in Wednesday's Annual Careers and Progression Event.  Feedback from all concerned was very positive and some students even left having sorted out the next steps in their pursuit of an Apprenticeship.

Find out all about the FREE Discovery Residential Programme

If you are a STEM or Business Studies Year 2 student and interested in finding out about what it is like to be at University, then you should meet with Rebecca Avery of CPCO in the Student Centre, 12.00 - 2.00, on Friday 7th October.  She will be showing films about the Discovery Programme and will be available to answer any questions from interested students during these times.


This unique residential programme will be free of charge and will give you insight into what it is like to be at university, as well as meet specialists in their field.


We hope to see you there,


Careers Team

Pathway CTM Aspirational Careers Talk

Many  of you will have seen the posters around college, and the emails in your inbox, advertising next week's Aspirational Talk from Pathway CTM.  If you are an A level student and you are interested in joining their programme, please ensure that you attend the talks in the LRC at 10.50 or 11.35 on 12th October, next week.  It will be on a first come, first served basis, and only 150 Year 1s and 20 Year 2s will be able to enter the programme.

We hope to see you there


Careers Department

Apprenticeship Fair at Soham Village College tonight, 15/4/15

Soham Village College is running a Apprenticeship Fair this evening at 6-8pm. There are 15 employers from different industries coming, including:

• Cambridge Hospitals
• Mitchell Engineering
• Playfords
• Tiger Stables
• 3aaa
• Napp (Pharma)
• LGC (Bio)
• College of West Anglia
• CRC
• Bango
• Edge Apprenticeships
• Stansted Airport
• Cambridge Museums

If you are interested in researching this option for when you leave our college, then this is a great opportunity to speak directly with a range of organisations.

Going2Uni Careers Event, 3/10/13

For students who are interested in university as their next destination, please note that there is a one day event happening at the University Arms Hotel on 3rd October, 4 - 7pm, to introduce to many of the UK's top universities. 

Click on www.universityinfoday.com for more information, or call: 01223 309390.  The help available includes: talk 1:1 with university representatives, UCAS Advice, Seminars, and more besides.

Careers Department

Adult Directions Software

For any students who missed the Careers Activity on ILP afternoons last week, fear not, you can still access the software by following the instructions at the end of this post.

Why should I do it?  I already know what I'm doing. There's no point - I did it in school before Long Road and it didn't help, etc., etc.

If any of the statements above sound familiar then keep in mind the following:

• Many students change their minds about careers each year, before the end of their course, and often it is too late to sort out new alternatives
• Many students think that they will decide on what to do after their results are released.  BUT MANY OF THE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE LONG GONE BY THIS STAGE!
• Many students are so convinced of what they are doing that they fail to consider back-up plans.  Sadly, some find that their results or ideas change in some way and their original ideas are no longer feasible.

To help generate fresh ideas, or even back up plans, try using the Adult Directions Software as follows:

• Access the frontpage of Moodle
• Select the Long Road Wiki option from the Main Menu on the left hand side
• Select the Careers Department Wiki on the next page
• Select Careers Software from the Careers Menu on the left hand side
• Select NEW to register and begin using Adult Directions software

If you have any problems with this programme, please feel free to come to the Careers Department and we will do all we can to help you.

Careers Department

Films for those interested in careers linked to Further Maths, or choosing a degree course

http://www.fmnetwork.org.uk/student_area/whystudyfm2.php


The above link takes you to a short video (just over 2mins): "The Further Mathematics Network has helped to create a video highlighting exciting careers that are available to people who study Further Mathematics".

This link along with lots more on careers using Maths and choosing a degree course can be found on the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications website on this link:

http://www.ima.org.uk/Careers/school19.htm

Vega Science Trust - science careers videos

Various science related career videos recently broadcast on BBC2's Learning Zone:

Biochemist, Building Services Engineer, Computer Engineer, Cosmologist, Ecologist, Entomologist, Environment Scientist, Food Scientist, Mass Production Engineer, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Physicist, Psychologist, Quantum Chemist, Robitics Engineer.

http://vega.org.uk/video/series/10#

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, from the Careers Department.

You are back! You have survived the excesses of the festive period, and now it's time to put all your hard work into action. For some, it is about exams, for others, it's all about starting the New Year with a strong and positive attitude. Remember, we are here to help, no matter what stage of thinking you are at...even if you haven't started to think about the future at all!!

Just come on down at any time to the Department on C Corridor to use our resources, or arrange an interview with a Personal Adviser. Perhaps you have a short question, or thoughts about Work Experience? Whatever your need, if it's Careers related, we'll do our best to help you.

See you soon, Andy Goodwin, Careers Manager