Motivation | Break through
STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH
How accounting turned my challenges into triumph
Joshua Barlow, AAT Accounting Technician Apprentice, was looking to progress his career in finance and found an AAT qualification was the perfect starting point for his accountancy journey.
Overcoming barriers to find success
After completing a BTEC in Business, Joshua Barlow was looking forward to entering the world of work. However, he was disappointed to find that his job applications were being rejected due to his lack of practical work experience.
“When I left school, I worked as a chef and although I love food, I found the job very stressful,” Joshua, who is now 24, explains. “I always had a passion for finance, so I studied for my BTEC in Business with modules in Marketing and Management at Yeovil College. I graduated with a Distinction, but finding work after I college was tough. It was lockdown and no one was taking on new staff, so I worked in Tesco for a while and saved hard so that I could afford to do more training.”
Joshua began to self-studying AAT Level 2 at home while working at his full-time job, a task which he admits was “pretty tough”.
“I had started to feel a bit depressed because I couldn’t get a finance job and the careers advisers told me I needed to get more exposure in finance. That's why I decided to take the initiative and upskill by studying for AAT Level 2.”
He found it tough to begin with, as there were no tutors or lectures, and he was studying at home alone with very little private space.
“I knew I really wanted a finance career, though, so I decide to stick at it, even though I found working all alone quite challenging to begin with,” he says.
Finding ways to stay motivated
After achieving his AAT Level 2 in January 2023 after a year of study, Joshua applied for jobs in accountancy practices, but most were looking for AAT Level 3 qualified students.
“It was really deflating because I had worked so hard, and I had a real passion for finance. I really wanted to try to build a career and fulfil my ambitions, but they kept telling me I was not quite qualified enough,” he says.
His careers adviser suggested he look for finance roles outside the traditional accountancy route, and he found a job with Sherborne Area Schools' Trust as an accountancy apprentice. This enabled him to study for his AAT Level 3 in the evenings while he worked, and he has just gained the qualification this month (March 2024) with a Merit.
He is now working towards his AAT Level 4 while working for the Trust, where his main responsibilities include recording and managing financial transactions and preparing monthly management accounts.
Joshua, who is autistic, has adapted his study timetable to ensure that he uses his time outside work as effectively as possible. He plans out his week, blocking out evenings in the diary for study. Here are his top tips:
Joshua's top tips
5 tips to master your studies
1
Know why you are studying – have an end goal in mind to keep your motivated through the tough times
2
Build up your networks – both professionally and personally
3
Make sure you factor in time to relax and recharge away from work and study
4
See setbacks as challenges to overcome, rather than blockages
5
Be persistent and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice
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