Why summer work can open doors in your early career

It’s that time of year again and schools, colleges and universities are ‘out for the summer!’ Question is what should Finance undergraduates, or students studying for their AAT do with all this time off?

This time of year, the finance market is flooded, not just with undergraduates and college students on their study break, but with post graduates who are looking to take that first intrepid step into a career in accounting and finance. Looking back a year, what could these graduates have done to make themselves stand out from the crowd? Should they have taken a role in retail or hospitality to fund a holiday? Or should they have pursued work in a junior level accounting role?

The answer from nearly all of the clients we work with would be the latter. So why is summer work so beneficial?

The good news is that your skills and expertise are in demand at this time of year. Due to holiday cover requirements, there is typically an influx of shorter term roles suitable for junior and entry level candidates. Employers are increasingly keen to invest time in candidates that are only available for summer cover as they will not be looking for a permanent position and are happy working a finite period during their holidays. With this approach employers needn’t worry about losing out on candidates when offers of permanent employment arise elsewhere. In line with this trend we see a market rise in demand for candidates at this level for accountancy roles in London during the summer months.

Whilst there are jobs available, there are a lot of candidates at this level. So what steps can you take to get employers interested in meeting and then hiring you?

Firstly enlist the help of a professional – go and see a recruitment expert and get help writing your CV. Find a specialist consultant who deals specifically with temporary roles and will be well positioned to open doors and introduce you to potential employers. You can also expect practical career advice such as what and where your next move should be, a realistic appraisal of your market value and tips on how to improve your interview technique.

Once you have made the decision to take up summer work in a junior level accounting and finance role, be committed in your search and be realistic; you are unlikely to walk straight into a role as a financial controller. Employers value a clear minded and focussed candidate who knows what they are doing and why they are doing this kind of summer work. Remember your end goal; summer work in a finance team will set you apart from peers who have chosen to work in a shop or restaurant for slightly more money. As a proliferating and diversifying list of universities offer accounting and finance degrees, you must do something to distinguish yourself from the other people on your course, and those across the country.

Be clear and realistic about which opportunities you are looking for and what value you can add in your next role. Check job boards to get a sense of what is out there and consider what you are best suited for. Be realistic about the roles you do pursue and what you are capable of doing. Whatever it is that you find yourself doing, work supporting a finance team in any capacity will create a much better looking CV than taking a different role in another industry.

Undertaking short term work over the summer and gaining that work experience can be very rewarding. It offers you the chance to learn practical new skills whilst improving those you have already studied on your course. Summer work also gives you an opportunity to try your chosen career and ensure that it is right for you. Qualifications in finance and accounting offers a broad range of avenues and temporary placements can be invaluable in helping you to find the right path. In this competitive market employers really value candidates who have taken the initiative to take a temp role and have conviction in their career choices.

Such temporary roles are an overwhelmingly positive step towards employability post-graduation from college or university and can be an important stepping stone between the classroom and the workplace. Not only does it help you to develop confidence, skills and knowledge, but helps you to make well informed choices about the type of work you enjoy. Using work based examples during an interview, drawing on your experience, is very powerful when compared with examples from university or sports for example. 

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