Reflecting on My First Entry-Level Bookkeeping Job
Sharing My Experience
I’ve been contemplating writing about my first job as a bookkeeper, mainly because I’m uncertain if my experiences align with those of others. I’m curious to know how others fared in their initial roles in Bookkeeping.
Initial Experience and Background
Did you have any prior experience before starting your job? Perhaps from college, or through online classes?
The Learning Curve
Were you expected to learn everything simultaneously, such as reconciliation, billing, invoicing, and licensing, or was it a step-by-step learning process? How many times did you practice a task before you could perform it independently?
Mentorship and Independence
How much attention did your mentors or colleagues give to reviewing your work each day? How long did it take before you could work autonomously?
Workplace Atmosphere
Was your workplace always bustling with stress and an overwhelming workload?
These are some of the pressing questions on my mind. While I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn, I sometimes feel I’m not receiving the best educational experience. Often, I feel overwhelmed, navigating my responsibilities on the fly. I understand that confusion and being overwhelmed can be expected, especially when starting. However, I’m unsure if what I’m going through is typical or if it’s time to consider new opportunities.
Feel free to share your experiences or insights on starting out in Bookkeeping in the comments!
One response
My First Entry-Level Bookkeeping Job Experience
Starting my first job as a bookkeeper was a mix of excitement and nervousness, which I believe is common for many entering the workforce for the first time. Reflecting on my experience, I hope to provide some insight you can compare with your current situation.
Background and Preparation
Education:
Prior to landing my first Bookkeeping job, I pursued a degree in Accounting. Additionally, I had completed a few online courses in Bookkeeping and Accounting Software, which helped solidify my understanding of basic Accounting principles and processes.
Experience:
I did not have formal work experience in bookkeeping before this job. However, I had interned at a small firm during college, which provided a glimpse into what working in an accounting department would be like.
The Learning Process
Initial Training:
When I started, there was a structured training period that lasted about two weeks. During this time, I was introduced to the various tasks I would be responsible for, including reconciliation, entering and paying bills, invoicing, and renewing business licenses.
Learning Pace:
The learning was quite incremental. I was introduced to one task at a time, ensuring that I had a thorough understanding of each process before moving on to the next. For instance, I spent the first few days learning how to handle basic transactions and reconciliations.
Guidance and Support:
Initially, I was walked through each process multiple times by my supervisor or the senior bookkeeper. They were very patient and available for questions, which I found extremely helpful. On average, I went through a process about 3-5 times with guidance before being expected to handle it independently.
Independence and Support
Supervision and Feedback:
For the first month, my work was consistently reviewed at the end of each day. The feedback was constructive, focusing on mistakes and areas needing improvement. After about two months, the frequency of checks reduced as I demonstrated more competence and confidence in my tasks.
Feeling of Overwhelm:
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, especially when you’re still learning the ropes. During my first few months, there were certainly days when the workload felt too much, and deadlines added stress. But open communication helped a lot—whenever I felt swamped, discussing the workload with my team or supervisor often led to adjustments or additional support.
Team Environment:
In my experience, stress levels varied among coworkers, often depending on their roles and