It takes time to build a successful and satisfying career. So if you’re just out of school and looking for that first job on the road to the executive suite, realistic expectations and a willing attitude will go a long way to help you reach your goals.
“We spend so much time at work that we need to be happy there,” says Chartered Accountant Laura Ciarallo, a business development manager and professional recruiter with Hays Specialist Recruitment in Toronto. “But even if your first job isn’t your dream job, the experience can still be a good stepping stone.”
“New graduates should have a plan for their career,” Laura advises, “but be open to alternative strategies and unforeseen opportunities. Don’t focus on money. Instead, concentrate on what brings you fulfillment and look for ways to apply your skills in the fields or areas that interest you most.”
Chartered Accountant Marc Belaiche is president of TorontoJobs.ca, a company that specializes in finding staff throughout the Greater Toronto Area with its website, newspaper and recruitment divisions. He advises new graduates to thoroughly research their options as they begin to plan their careers.
“Set up informational interviews with people who are in-the-know about your particular area of interest,” he advises. “Sometimes jobs or careers are not what they appear to be on the surface.”
Often, our greatest fear is just making that initial phone call,” he says, “but most people are willing to help if they can. Over 80 per cent of jobs are found by networking, and the contacts you make can be invaluable.
“Volunteering in an area that interests you can be great experience,” says Marc. “You might be able to participate at a higher level and in more areas than in an entry-level job, so you’ll find out what the work actually involves.”
A mentor can also help you fast track your career. Someone who is knowledgeable and accomplished in your field can help you develop important skills, gain experience and avoid pitfalls that can take you off your career progression path.
Both agree that new graduates should use all of the resources and information available when choosing a career or mapping out a plan for its progress. Look at company websites, read analysts’ evaluations and take advantage of any on-campus career days or recruiters.
“Go on a lot of interviews,” Laura advises, “and ask a lot of questions. Career paths – like that of a CA in a large firm – may be similar throughout an industry, but different organizations have different personalities and environments. It can take several interviews and a lot of investigation to find one that’s right for you.”
Above all, remember that career planning is not an exact science, and learning doesn’t stop when school ends. So be prepared to pay your dues and give that first job and company a reasonable period of time to reward your efforts.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario is the qualifying and regulatory body of Ontario’s 33,000 Chartered Accountants and 5,000 CA students. Since 1879, the Institute has protected the public interest through the CA profession’s high standards of qualification and the enforcement of its rules of professional conduct. The Institute works in partnership with the other provincial Institutes of Chartered Accountants and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants to provide national standards and programs that are used as examples around the world. </em>
