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PQ magazine for part qualified accountants.
Read the latest web issue here, if you like what you see sign up today |
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Heart of the north |
Manchester is the UK's fastest growing city – and a very good place to be a PQ, writes Warren Hindle |
I'm not going to contribute to the misery being perpetuated by most media outlets. Instead, the focus of this article will be about the positive actions PQs can take in the current market. What is there to be depressed about when one of Manchester's local football teams is champion of England, Europe and the World, while the other can afford to spend more money on fancy goods than Elton John?
What else has Manchester got going for it? Well, it has been voted the best place in the UK to locate a business by business leaders, and is the UK's fastest- growing city economically. Manchester today is a centre of the arts, the media, higher education and commerce, which provides, even in these uncertain times, a wealth of opportunity for PQs.
As the market gets tighter, more people are actively seeking new jobs and recruiters are being inundated with CVs. Alongside this, candidates are sacrificing salary expectations for the stability of being in work. So how do you ensure that you stand the best chance of securing the right role?
For starters, you need to know what you want. Are you a financial accountant at heart? Do you have a flair for financial modelling and a want to be an analyst? Are you a management accountant who wants to drive the business forward? Do you have no idea what you want? There is no right or wrong answer and nobody can answer the question on your behalf, but there are ways for you to find out. Speak to people you know in industry, and look at requirements on advertisements for more senior roles to get a flavour for where your experience may lead you.
Once you've established what you want to do, the next step is to make your CV as effective as possible. For a guide on how to maximise your CV's potential, visit www.michaelpage.co.uk/career-advice.html. A good CV will be two to three pages long, with concise, relevant experience detailed in bullet points. Remember when writing your CV that a potential employer will use the details provided to form interview questions, so make sure you can explain your career decisions logically. Think about how the recipient will interpret your CV in light of their vacancy, and emphasise your relevance. A good CV needs to be tailored to each job application. Ensure you address as many advertised requirements as possible, including your academic qualifications and results.
It goes without saying that at the
part qualified stage your exams are of paramount importance, and good results can be an invaluable tool in your early career development.
* Warren Hindle is a consultant at Michael Page Finance in Manchester |
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