Newly qualified and lacking direction? You’re not alone…

Ten years is a long time, but it’s almost that since I qualified with a ‘Big 6’ firm (the number of firms used in this description is inversely proportional to your age!) and I was recently reflecting on how little support there really is out there for a 24 year old who is coming to the end of their accounting contract.

At sixth form there’s a guide that tells you everything there is to know about your preferred university (down to female-to-male ratio) and in your third year you’re bombarded with career fairs and guides. But after three years of study, play and a bit of work as an auditor, where do you go?

You’re caught between a rock, a hard place and some other stony ground. Who do you approach:

1. You give in and eventually return that call to John at Best Jobs in the World and Partners. He’s got the best job ever. Great opportunity, loads of promotion prospects. £5k more. A car allowance! But it’s on an industrial park on the outside of the M25. two trains, one minibus and you’re there in less time than it takes to play a Premiership football match.
2. Do you talk to Henry who joined in your intake but left after a couple of years to join a start-up. Audit is boring, right? The real world is much more fun. Or maybe Susan, your audit senior, who went to work in M&A? No ticking and bashing for her. Ok, so they may (or may not) have done well for themselves but there’s always a tendency to rubbish those who stay. It’s often not an objective viewpoint.
3. You’ve got a Partner Mentor. No chance, she’s devoted her life to controls testing and audit opinions. Maybe that manager who’s always taking his team out for drinks. He’s cool. So he gives it straight. The grass is always greener. Ah, sadly he’s been brainwashed too, you think.

Hmmm. Maybe you’re lucky and you’ve got a big brother who’s got the t-shirt. But, if you are like me, you’ve got to try and see the woods for the trees and take a punt. 

My punt was a mistake. I ended up taking Option 1. I should probably have listened to Option 3 but I suppose I wouldn’t change things. You can’t have regrets.

Ten years on I’d give the same advice to anyone in my shoes. Use the internet, use your network, keep an open mind and think “what would make me really happy”. Don’t get rushed into any decision by your peers, your managers, or someone who calls you that you’ve never met! But, what I have learned is to make a decision because there’s very rarely a wrong answer, just different outcomes…

Colin qualified with Arthur Andersen in 2000, eventually leaving in 2002. After a brief stay at Centrica, he joined Carphone Warehouse and worked in assorted roles with Talk Talk and as Finance Director or Geek Squad. He’s now working with Mint Digital, a social media development agency based in Vauxhall.

Comments

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[Bairo]

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[Richard Twigg]

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