How to get into Payroll

[Voe 1]

I've spent the last few months trying to work out what job I want. I've never really had a proper job, only part time checkout work in supermarkets etc. back in the UK.

I think I've finally come to the conclusion I'd like to do Payroll. I'm pretty introverted and I like the idea of generally keeping to myself, and I enjoy working on computers.

I have no relevant training or qualifications. So I'm hoping to get some advice on where to begin. Someone advised I look into community colleges, I don't really know much about how they work. (Is it like university, or is it more like colleges back in the UK?)

Would an accounting course be the best place to start? Is there anything else I should do, payroll certifications etc?

Any kind of advice would be awesome.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

I've spent the last few months trying to work out what job I want. I've never really had a proper job, only part time checkout work in supermarkets etc. back in the UK.

I think I've finally come to the conclusion I'd like to do Payroll. I'm pretty introverted and I like the idea of generally keeping to myself, and I enjoy working on computers.

I have no relevant training or qualifications. So I'm hoping to get some advice on where to begin. Someone advised I look into community colleges, I don't really know much about how they work. (Is it like university, or is it more like colleges back in the UK?)

Would an accounting course be the best place to start? Is there anything else I should do, payroll certifications etc?

Any kind of advice would be awesome.

Most payroll services want at least a few years good experience in customer service, plus the ability to show that you have applicable math skills, and they're not really "keep to yourself and talk to no one" jobs. You could get into the private payroll side, however, again, you really need to have relevant experience in the field already.

How old are you? If you're young enough, perhaps a local bookkeeper will hire you on as a minimum wage gopher for a few years and you can get some experience that way.

Not having any experience is going to make it extremely difficult to get into the field.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Avery Cates

[Voe 1]

Most payroll services want at least a few years good experience in customer service, plus the ability to show that you have applicable math skills, and they're not really "keep to yourself and talk to no one" jobs. You could get into the private payroll side, however, again, you really need to have relevant experience in the field already.

How old are you? If you're young enough, perhaps a local bookkeeper will hire you on as a minimum wage gopher for a few years and you can get some experience that way.

Not having any experience is going to make it extremely difficult to get into the field.

I figured it's going to be tough to get into without any kind of experience. Hence why I'd like to get some good training under my belt, so that I can at least show somebody that I'm trying (if that makes sense). I did pretty well at Maths in high school, but should I try expand on that?

And I'm 21.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Voe

[novedsac 355]

Any training in accounting will be most helpful. Pursue the highest degree you can manage as it will proffer a better opportunity in the marketplace.

Other than the administrative pool, an associates degree (2yr) is the starting point within Finance within my firm; bachelor's degree for entry level managment and above.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I've spent the last few months trying to work out what job I want. I've never really had a proper job, only part time checkout work in supermarkets etc. back in the UK.

I think I've finally come to the conclusion I'd like to do Payroll. I'm pretty introverted and I like the idea of generally keeping to myself, and I enjoy working on computers.

I have no relevant training or qualifications. So I'm hoping to get some advice on where to begin. Someone advised I look into community colleges, I don't really know much about how they work. (Is it like university, or is it more like colleges back in the UK?)

Would an accounting course be the best place to start? Is there anything else I should do, payroll certifications etc?

Any kind of advice would be awesome.

I am going to try to help you understand some of the terms. Found a good explanation online.

What Is a Community College?

This type of educational institution is geared toward students seeking associates degrees. In many cases, students complete a 2-year degree at a community college in order to transfer those credits to a bachelors degree program at a 4-year college or university. Community colleges, also known as junior colleges, give students the opportunity to spend two years earning a degree, while saving money and improving their grades before beginning their bachelors degree.

What Is Career Training?

These 2-year career training schools, also sometimes called technical schools, vocational schools or trade schools allow students to earn an associates degree and learn specific skills necessary for a particular job. The career training provided by these schools can prepare students for a variety of different careers and industries.

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Okay, so the difference in US vs UK as I see it based on my knowledge of what my husbands kids did in the UK vs what my kids did at US university.

US: First off, I tend tend to use college and university interchangeably -- I am a college graduate. I have a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas. College/University. Same thing. It is generally a 4+ year full-time program. No matter what your degree will be in, you will take courses from many subject areas to get a general well-rounded education. For example someone getting an accounting degree will study perhaps literature, history, mathematics, psychology, a laboratory science, a foreign language, physical education, economics, marketing and a then 6-8 classes in accounting.

UK: Brighton University. Maths/business degree. It was a 3 years program going full time and not taking a year in the middle for work experience. It was pretty much just mathematic or business related classes.

US: Junior college or community college. If you are going for an Associate degree, then you will have a list of general education courses as well as a subject you choose as a major (much like university but only a two year program.) Or you can enroll and take anything without seeking the 2yr associate degree. if you want a Bachelor degree, but want to start at a small local school, ideally you would take classes that would transfer to the university and count toward the degree you seek. When you get to University, you might be classified as a third year student because you did the first two years of coursework at junior college.

UK college to me is more like a US technical school, where you take specific skill or subject oriented classes and maybe earn a certificate showing you learned a career skill like computer repair, bookkeeping, cosmetology, welding, auto repair, medical lab technician, court reporter.....so many offerings. You wouldn't get a job that requires a college/university degree, but you would be eligible for a job that required certain skills or training.

[Sirliner 26]

Here's some good info: http://www.education-portal.com/payroll_training.html

Edited June 11, 2014 by Sirliner