Every CA student feels a sense of accomplishment after completing Chartered Accountancy and they have every right to do so. Chartered Accountancy, being one of the most coveted professional qualifications, offers various career opportunities.
As they say, with more options comes more confusion; choosing a career path is no different. The next logical question that arises is, what will be an ideal approach to choose one's career pursuit among various options available. Clearly, there is no 'one size fits all' approach as each person has his or her own career preferences, skill sets etc.
However, we can always define our approach by considering some fundamentals aspects. I would like to share my learnings and experiences that may help you in carving your own approach.
Understand your areas of interests.
First things first, you must understand your areas of interests. Your inclination towards particular areas determines your career path. Ask yourself basic questions. What made you inclined towards specific areas in the first place? Do you have technical knowledge of your areas of interests? Do you see yourself making a career in these areas? If you can answer these questions to your satisfaction, then it should be your chosen career path.
Think long term. Plan it accordingly.
Some things seem convincing in short term but are exactly opposite in long term. It is tough to visualize things from a long-term perspective and this is one of the major differences which determines a successful professional career. As we have limited time and resources, everyone should think long term and plan his career pursuit accordingly.
Don't compare yourself to others.
We should not compare ourselves to others. No two individuals are ever the same. You should always pursue what you like the most regardless of others' opinions. If you want to pursue your career in a corporate, join one with right opportunity aligned with your career preferences. If you like working in a CA firm and want to join, pursue your career in that direction. Similarly, if you wish to be a Practising Chartered Accountant, choose your specializations and start your own practice.
Learn. Unlearn. Relearn.
We should have a mindset to learn, unlearn and relearn. It is the only way to become successful in life. You should never get complacent as it hinders your growth and adaptability to change. You must have the willingness to learn new things, unlearn the old concepts and relearn the latest version of concepts.
'The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.' - Alvin Toffler
Take the plunge, carve your own approach and start your career pursuit in the right direction!
The author is the Founder of Redohiring a job discovery platform for Chartered Accountants
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