It can sometimes be tricky to secure your first Finance role when you have no previous experience. In a competitive recruitment market you may often hear that the employer “chose to go with another candidate who had more experience”. That can be tough – you find yourself thinking “but everyone has to start somewhere right!?”
So how exactly do you overcome this and secure that first role to kick-start your Finance career?
Here’s our 4 top tips to help you get started…
Set up your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is fast becoming the main place to be for job seekers. Not only because it’s home to countless job adverts, but also because it offers endless networking opportunities.
In addition to your CV you should always have an up to date and relevant LinkedIn profile – that stands out! Check out our guide to setting up your LinkedIn profile here.
Once you have your profile looking it’s best, it’s time to start creating your personal brand. Consider posting regularly – daily if you can. Post original and sector specific content that is genuine and authentic to you. Don’t be afraid to show your personality – it’s important to create and portray your own personal brand.
Build your network
Now you’re getting familiar with LinkedIn and you’re posting regular content, it’s time to focus on growing a network of relevant Finance professionals. Consider targeting yourself on how many new connections you’d like to make each week in order to grow your audience on LinkedIn.
Keep your network relevant though, and focus on connecting with as many Finance professionals who work within businesses that appeal to you. At this point we recommend creating a list of “ideal employers” and that way you can start connecting with those who work in each of these businesses.
Up-skill yourself
Finances depending, you may be in a position to invest into studying towards a qualification. For those who are looking to secure a role in Finance straight from school or college, we recommend an AAT qualification as a good starting point. However, we understand that many don’t have the funds to put towards this.
Instead, take to Google and search for free training. You can up-skill on areas such as Excel from the comfort of your own home. Taking time to expand our knowledge and skill base will demonstrate excellent commitment and dedication to your future career. No doubt, impressing potential employers.
Volunteer
If you are currently out of work and you have the time to do so, volunteering is a fantastic way to gain additional experience. Often such opportunities allow you to gain experience in a few different areas of the Finance department. This is a brilliant way to assess what aspects of Finance you enjoy and would therefore like to progress your career in.
To seek out voluntary opportunities, we recommend directly approaching the businesses on your “ideal employers” list and offering your time for free.
With the above tools we hope you have the confidence to take your job search to the next level. For more advice or if you’re looking for a specialist accounting and finance role then please contact us.
