What are the minimum requirements for a clerking or bookkeeping job? Not auditing or anything adult like that. Is there a level that can be entered without specific coursework, or do employers generally want to see at least an AAS before they put you in front of the books?
Employers want you to demonstrate that you know whether debits or credits are closer to the windows, do you know the different types of account on the balance sheet and income statement and their general sequence in the trial balance, do you understand the debits and credits that are used in common transactions.
How do you demonstrate that short of having coursework or work experience?
"How do you demonstrate" depends on the employer and employee. Some employers insist on specific coursework and/or diplomas or certificates. Some will accept a resume and/or references from former employers. Some administer their own tests or pay for tests administered by a 3rd party, possibly their auditing/accounting firm. Some rely on interview questions. A creative prospective employee might be able to prove his merits to the employer by making a brief presentation at some point during the interview process.
Are you the (prospective) employee? Do you know anyone performing similar work? Ask them what they did, what their employer asked. Do you have a prospective employer in mind? Call them and ask what they want, and are there alternatives? Is there an educational institution in your city - high school, business school, college? Call them and ask for information. Is there an employment agency in your city? Call them and ask for information.
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Scotsman!" --
I'm not the (prospective) employee yet, and don't have a particular employer in mind, and my city and state of residence will change in a month. I'm just considering some options right now, and trying to plan ahead a little. One potential route to the future would go through accounting, and I'm wondering how to get there when I can't go back to school as a full-time student. I was hoping to find some combination of an entry-level job and part-time schooling that would let me evolve into a more advanced position, but I wasn't sure that such an entry-level job existed.
May I say something but in no way implying anything about you? There exists a book named Accounting for Dummies that may well give you the information you may need to get an entry level job in bookkeeping or accounting. This series of books for dummies (as they are called) cover many areas including all kinds of computer applications, etc. They are written in a light vein and all contain very good information. In addition to that, you may want to look at
Wayne Brasch
I'm familiar with the Dummies books, and I'm a fan of Personal Finance for Dummies. I haven't seen that one at the local library, but I've gone through a few that are probably at the same level, intended for the small business owner that needs to know how to keep books. And I've actually bought a text book and started going through that, and it has a lot more than those skinny books had. But I really am sort of in a holding pattern now until I move. It's hard to take a class, interview, etc.
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