AMAZING ACCOUNTANCY APPRENTICESHIPS: JOSEPH SHARES HIS STORY
27.09.2024In the latest of our series of Alumni interviews, we speak to Joseph Sherwood who graduated from HNC this summer and is now working as an Apprentice Accountant at SMH Sheards, a Chartered Accountants and Business Advice service.
Here at HNC we help students to prepare for their next steps in a range of ways, both inside and outside of the classroom. This includes enabling students to understand where their courses can take them, offering enriching experiences and providing comprehensive careers advice and opportunities for work experience.
In our ongoing series looking at how HNC helps students to become their best selves, Joseph provides an insight into how his experience helped him to secure his dream career.
What are you doing now?
I am currently working within the Bookkeeping & VAT team helping prepare clients books for tax returns using various software packages. I also contribute to year end account preparation for small businesses. As part of this I am studying for my Level 3 Accountancy qualification.
How did your College experience support you to secure your current role?
My Business Studies qualification has a very natural link of course; I use all of the skills learned in role play situations in the real life situations I deal with now. As an apprentice you will be studying as part of your role so your employers want to be able to see how you will balance work and college studies. My HNC experience meant I could give examples of how I had managed high workloads through multiple subjects, for example coursework, and A-Level revision. The careers team offered me so much support too in finding and securing an apprenticeship.
I also participated in the Astronomy enrichment – which has certainly given me something to talk about!
What is your advice for anyone looking at an apprenticeship?
My main advice for students considering apprenticeships would be to start looking early. Developing a wide understanding for the chosen career can help you pin-point what you would like to do and what to look out for when apprenticeships are released. I would also advise trying to find relevant work experience as this key in making you stand out to future apprenticeship employers.
James Tindall, Teacher of Business: “We are delighted that Joseph has secured his dream apprenticeship, and that his HNC experience provided him with the tools he needed to secure his career vision. Hearing from students in the real world of work really helps our students to see where their qualifications can take them, and the importance of accessing College opportunities in relation to work experience and careers advice. These wider opportunities, combined with an excellent set of qualifications, are crucial in ensuring you stand out from the crowd and Joseph is a great example of how the HNC experience genuinely ensures that students become their best selves.”
In Year 11? Join us at our upcoming Open Event on Saturday 12 October (9.30 -3.30pm, last entry 3pm) to explore how our courses can support your ambitions, and learn more about careers and work experience at HNC.
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