Finding your new career path is an important and sometimes challenging accomplishment when adding new credentials to your education portfolio. For some of you, you are staying in the same role and adding new accounting knowledge to your skill tool box. So, other than asking for a promotion and/or a raise, you are pretty well set. For the rest of you determining what you want and identifying how that fits in the real world of work is your most important objective between now and when you complete the DAP program. Here are a few things you can do to get there:
- Decide if you like public practice or working in industry.
- Consider which type of accounting appeals to you the most (i.e. Tax, Audit, Full Cycle…).
- Determine if you want client service or if you would prefer being part of a company team or specific brand.
- Give some thought to geographical location including being in corporate downtown or staying closer to home and minimizing your commute.
To solve some of these questions, begin doing the following:
- Go to the Sauder Career Cycle through Connect and complete the Work Priorities Wheel and the Your Ambitions documents to help you get your preferences down on paper.
- Then move to Step Two – Researching Options where you can view Careers In – Accounting and see what the responsibilities are in many accounting roles. You will begin to see which ones interest you the most and the salary ranges.
- Talk to people in the accounting field which will help you gather information and build a network which you will need moving forward.
- Target specific professionals to do information interviews with (covered on next blog).
- Do at least six information interviews and be sure to ask “great” questions.
Some additional resources moving forward including building company lists and viewing job postings can be found under Researching Options in Uncovering Opportunities and Decision Making Model.
This process often needs some discussion with a Career Advisor. Be sure to send me an email at dapcareersupport@sauder.ubc.ca to get some help, find answers to your questions or set up a time for an online or in-person appointment.
Good Luck!
Russell Garrett
Certified Career Consultant
DAP Career Advisor