Due to the rewarding nature of accounts work in the insurance industry competition for trainee positions can often be quite fierce. However if you have a clear idea what companies are looking for in an accountant candidate, you'll find that much easier to get the perfect job.
Qualifications Are Important - in most trainee positions you'll be working towards an acknowledged accounting qualifications, but that doesn't mean that your previous qualifications are irrelevant. You'll need to display a great level of numeracy, that needn't mean a degree in maths, but if you haven't used figures in any of your previous courses you might find it hard to convince any interviewer you have the skills to become an accountant.
Focus on the Top Five - there are five big accountancy firms Arthur Andersen, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Competition for roles within these firms can be tough, so any work experience with these organizations can really make you stand out against other candidates.
Appear Motivated - anyone working in an accountancy role has to have great get up and go and it's vital that comes across when you meet any potential employers. You got to be attentive and responsive to their questions while at the same time giving concrete examples of where your positive attitude has been important in the past.
Show Intelligence - you've got to be adaptable and able to work quickly to be an accountant, if you're able to show you have those skills in abundance you'll be well placed in a career in insurance. Before any interviews, prepare a couple of examples of where you were able to make use of your intellect for the benefit of an employer.
Show Ability to Multitask - accountants, much like any job in the insurance industry, requires the ability to multi-task. Juggling lots of figures, reports and queries is part of the job when dealing with accounts. People, who struggle with dealing with lots of things at once, aren't well suited to this kind of career. Most people work best when focusing on just one thing, but if you can't manage lots of tasks at once you might have to take steps to improve.
Deal Well With Others - accountants more than anyone rely on the team around them, in your interview you will want to demonstrate that you are able to work within a team. If you have management experience, even if not in an office environment, let people know. Managing people effectively is a much valued skill and an edge over many other trainee accountant candidates.
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