Career next steps after results day

Results days across the UK are upon us, and all the emotions you’re feeling are valid.

Whether you feel elated, disappointed, excited, uncertain, or successful, your results are not a final outcome but, rather, the start of the next step in your journey. Whatever your results, it’s always good to remember there are multiple pathways to a successful career, including routes into finance beyond university.

Shaping your career path

After receiving your results, you might feel pressure to make decisions straight away. You don’t have to. Take time to process what the results mean to you. It’s a bit of a myth that many of us simply choose a career and this sees us through to retirement. Careers are a lifetime long journey, and you don’t have to have all the answers now.

With your results in hand, explore what career paths appeal to you. As you consider your career options, ask yourself:

What do you enjoy most?
What are you good at?
What kind of life do you want in five to 10 years?

Don’t be too hard on yourself if your results aren’t as expected — you still have options. Many universities will accept slightly lower grades if you’re willing to apply for a course with a foundation year or switch to a less-competitive subject. You could also opt to retake your exams — especially if you’re keen on a particular course or university.

A year for personal development could be a good idea. Spending a year to work, travel, or volunteer will help you mature and strengthen your employability. With this clearer focus and intention, you can also reapply to universities.

Remember, there are multiple pathways to a successful career, including routes beyond university. Apprenticeships, vocational training and qualifications, or internships are all great ways to build practical skills.

Finance: Accessible, dynamic careers

If you want a job where you can influence, solve real-world problems, analyse data, and help shape the future of businesses, finance may be a great option for you. It’s a career where no two days are the same. You can grow quickly, earn well, and move into different roles over time. Finance professionals can work in any sector or industry and there’s a wide range of career paths, including auditor, analyst, accountant, adviser, business consultant, and many more.

You can enter a career in finance in several ways.

The Certificate in Business Accounting (Cert BA) is one option to kickstart a finance career. The programme covers four foundational business topics — business economics, management accounting, financial accounting, and ethics paired with corporate governance and business law. With its flexible learning style, it can be completed in as little as 12 months and is a gateway to the Chartered Global Management Accountant® (CGMA®) qualification.

A finance career can also be built through apprenticeships, which combine work experience with structured study (including the Cert BA). Apprenticeships are available to anyone living in England from the age of 16, and there are no tuition fees — training is fully funded via the apprenticeship. Your final apprentice exams are also included in the funding. The biggest advantage of apprenticeships is the ability to earn a salary while studying towards the CGMA qualification.

Earning the CGMA qualification is a signal to employers that you have advanced proficiency in finance, operations, management, and other technical skills. It’s also a big confidence booster and a great next step in a rewarding finance career.

Building value beyond grades

Yes, grades are important, but employers also value skills, mindset, and experience. You can boost all three through earning the CGMA qualification.

If university is part of your plan, studying a relevant degree such as accounting, finance, or business can also provide exemptions from some CGMA qualification exams, helping you progress more quickly towards becoming a qualified finance professional.

Professional opportunities abound for those who invest in their own personal and professional growth and harness the value they bring to an employer.

Results day is just one moment in a bigger story — your future is whatever you want it to be. Stay curious, keep exploring, and above all invest the time to choose a career path that works for you.

Results day: Building value beyond grades

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Shaping your career path

Finance: Accessible, dynamic careers

Building value beyond grades

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