Are you a recent school or college leaver, or are you considering the first important steps in your career journey?

Embarking on an apprenticeship journey at PKF Smith Cooper is more than just an alternative to university; it is a chance to earn a salary, gain practical experience, and work towards a professional qualification.

We understand that applying for your first job can be daunting, but we want to help make the process easy! Here are four valuable tips that will help you ace your application:

Include a range of skills and experience in your CV

Include details of any work experience or volunteering you have been involved in. Don't worry if it is not related to accounting and finance, we want to see how you can apply the skills you gained to the role you are applying for.

List your qualifications, including your GCSEs and A-levels so we can see how you performed academically.

Reference any hobbies or interests to help show your personality and soft skills further, such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability.

Research our company 

Applying for a job isn’t just about getting a foot in the door—it is about finding a place where you can thrive, grow, and be genuinely excited to contribute. Understanding what we do, our values and our culture will give you a better idea of whether we are the place for you, as well as giving you the knowledge to tailor your application.

For us as hiring managers, it shows your initiative and genuine interest in the position, as well as creating talking points should you progress to the interview stage.

Don't worry if you don't tick all the boxes

We always encourage you to apply for one of our roles even if you feel you don't tick all the boxes. If you have yet to gain specific experience in the role you are applying for, think about skills you have developed in school, college, or your personal life which you could apply to the position. An application is much more than just about the experience you have, your personality traits and soft skills are essential for building strong relationships and contributing to a positive work environment.

With the support of our friendly team and the expert tutors guiding you through your qualification, you will learn everything you need to know to be successful in the role.

Proofread your application 

Proofreading your application helps to identify any spelling or grammatical errors.

We recommend asking a family member or friend to proofread your CV, cover letter, and application before submitting them. They might pick up errors you missed when piecing together your application.

For more information about the application process, please click here.

Alternatively, you can chat with a member of the recruitment team by emailing recruitment@pkfsmithcooper.com.