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Doing well without a degree

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posted on 9/1/17

Is accounting actually interesting? I never took it at school and have always wondered.

posted on 9/1/17

comment by dat guy welback (U10469)
posted 6 hours, 46 minutes ago
Respect to you accountants also. I did an accounting module last year and found it pretty baffling.. like a completely different language
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It can be pretty tough. It's one of those subjects where if you work at it it eventually clicks. I only achieved a 2.2 in my degree but have worked hard since snd passed sll my professional exams first time

Tidfles

I find it quite interesting. Can be really tough work sometimes trying to get stuff to balance but getting to visit clients' premises when on audit snd seeing how their business operates is enlightening

posted on 9/1/17

A bit late to the conversation, but I left uni last year after 2 years, with no degree. Worked for an accounting firm and now have a very good job in accounting in Chancery Lane.

It's more about experience in my field and I will be working my way up and should be on 60k + in 2 years time after completing my qualifications.

Uni can be a waste of time, but it depends on what degree and how motivated you are. In my case, I figured I liked working more and learning on the job, rather than set classes and examinations. I have learnt way more in my year in actual industry and work, than I ever did at uni.

Hope this helps

posted on 9/1/17

Well in my (albeit somewhat limited) experience employers are looking for experience more than anything else

I stacked shelves for 2 years after graduating before I got anywhere

posted on 9/1/17

comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 15 hours, 37 minutes ago
I suppose everyone's experiences are different, but as has already been said, you can still have a successful career without a degree and there are countless examples of it.

In my final year at Brunel University studying International Politics and for me, it's been a life-changer. The way I think now and my perspective is completely different to when I started in 2014. In fact, even this time a year ago, I didn't have the same mindset that I do now. I know this is somewhat irrelevant to the topic at hand, but one of the things I've been so grateful for at university is the people I've met who have told me their experiences and got me to really understand things from a point of view that I had never considered before - and this isn't just limited to my peers, but also my lecturers who have taught me things that I now have an avid interest in. It's because of these interactions and conversations that has made me now know what field of work I want to go into.

In general terms, I don't think it's as overly important as it once was. I mean, I guess it's certainly more competitive now than it was back in the day when only something like 12% of the population went to university, and now there is a larger quantity of people going, but I think unless you're going into banking, architecture or any other STEM type area of work, where obviously a degree is important as well as the reputation of the university, it's not that critical.

Nevertheless, now more than ever, I feel like employers look at what activities students have done from their time at university outside of academia.

My mum works at Deloitte and she was telling me how when they're recruiting for their graduate programmes, they apparently now blot out the university students go to and the degree classification because they want to see what else the student has to offer that will be of practical use.

So, in a roundabout way, even graduate schemes are putting less emphasis on degrees/university reputation and more emphasis on extracurricular stuff.
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I bet that means they have indoctrinated you into left wing politics.

comment by Samir (U2630)

posted on 9/1/17

comment by I am gooner now (U16927)
posted 4 hours, 18 minutes ago

I bet that means they have indoctrinated you into left wing politics.
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Nope. That happened when I went to SOAS (if you've heard of it).

posted on 10/1/17

I heard this today, so true!

"Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” ― Jim Rohn

posted on 10/1/17

Depends on where you are doing your degree. If its in the Russell group then take a year out and repeat.

posted on 10/1/17

I know LOADS of people who have degrees that are of no import to the profession they are now in. Can only think of one who is actually doing anything even remotely attached to their degree.
Don't sweat it. You can always blag interviews.

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