A little bit of CA student career advice
I have, not surprisingly given my little writing-break, an extensive backlog of topics to write about.
I'm going to do two things right now: shine the spotlight on an aspiring CA, and answer someone's question.
Judging a book by its cover, "Second Rate CA" has an excellent dark sense of humour, and the wicked good funny writing there supports that view.
The writer is going through the difficult process of getting that all-important start on the road to having a CA. I wish lots of luck towards anyone in that challenging position, and especially those who are writing and sharing their thoughts. It's a valuable service.
I myself did some extensive travelling and worked at a place best described as "anything but an approved CA training office", until I accomplished all I could there, and at the same time successfully landed my current job.
Travel is always an option; it can be surprisingly affordable too.
The question to answer, on the other hand, is from someone who finally made it through the gruelling process. I received the query last June - again, I apologize for being so slow.
Dan from GT left the following comment:
Probably one of the biggest challenges I've gone through so far is to
get a job during the CA recruit. I think the best advice is keep busy,
and don't turn down anything that gives you some relevant business
experience. That's how I got my job at GT. Krupo, do you have any
tips on how to stand out from the crowd in a firm? I'm starting in my
small business group, but plan to transfer to audit after a year. Want
to perform well so I won't have any problems transferring.
This is one of the toughest things to accomplish, you'll say to yourself, when you realize that your firm hired dozens of smart young things like you, and everyone's keen to be the best at everything they do, and everyone's willing to take on more work, and it's seemingly impossible to stand out.
That's how it seems, anyway. Everyone has their unique qualities and traits, and people have different goals in life. Some want to make it to the position of partner by their early 30s, others want to get their CA and leave as soon as possible. Yet another set of people doesn't even know what they want to do.
I'm going to pull that lousy trick that people tease consultants about - I'm going to answer someone's question... with their question.
If you want to stand out over time, as Dan asks, you have to take his attitude towards the job search process - don't turn down anything that gives you some relevant ... experience - and apply it to your day job!
To avoid stopping there with the cheap and easy answer, we'll go for the "value added" answer and add something to what Dan has already unconsciously revealed - and I'm going to steal from Francine this time. Keep developing yourself.
Although her advice is originally geared to the recently laid off, it can be used to great effect by people still waiting to get recruited, as well as those who are gainfully employed. If all you do is shuttle back and forth from the office on a daily basis, and you feel like you're living a shell of a human existence, you need to break out of that routine and do something different.
You don't need to radically invent a new "you". You may end up doing that later on, but baby steps are just as valuable. Check out your local library and borrow a book "you always meant to read". Call up friends you haven't talked to in ages. Sign up for a university course. Start planning that awesome road trip or vacation to a place you've never been to. The list of ideas is endless.
This is the delicious advice that the "good consultants" and CAs will give you - I fondly recall my university professors doing the same thing. After all, you may rightfully ask, but doesn't this have nothing to do with my day job, where I'm trying to shine?
Exactly.
If you're "unique like everyone else", you're no longer unique.
Make yourself an interesting person by living a more animated and energized life, and the effects will affect everything you do, including your day job.
If you want more examples on how to be energized, go check out what Mr. Kennedy has to say - more good tips!