If you are finishing your training contract in the months ahead and starting to consider your career path and what direction you want to take your professional qualification there are a number of actions you will need to take. Below is a list you can tick off as complete over the weeks ahead :
Action list and Key considerations as a newly qualified ACA
· Build a top class CV – Template and guide - cv-guide-template-2023.pdf
· Start a Career Plan file – Guide here Career coaching - ..rteredaccountants.ie
· Watch some career webinars - Chartered Accountants Ireland page on YouTube
· Start market mapping and select my top ten preferred employers – If you need advice on MM contact your Careers Team in the Institute.
· Get my LinkedIn profile up to speed – Document guide available from dave.riordan@charteredaccountants.ie Treat this as the appendix to your CV – Professional Photo and good bulleted detail.
· Set up my alerts on jobs boards for a variety of different roles and titles and filter into a folder for review
· Connect with a few recruiters I trust to understand the career curve of an ACA – Career Pathway Hub here : Career pathway | Career planning
· Explore the full spectrum of career paths that I can take post qualification
· Consider whether a contract might be a good option at this particular crossroads
· Connect with a few mentors and get their advice formally -
· Consider a stint abroad to add real-world experience to my CV
· Initiate a networking mentality and start speaking to my peer group about what they are doing with their careers in the years ahead
· Examine the LinkedIn profiles of peers several years ahead of me what paths they have taken as they moved out of their training contract.
· Establish my elevator pitch about where I want my career to go
· Based on my recent annual reviews in work write an honest SWOT analysis of my personal brand and current profile.
· Follow companies on LinkedIn that I am very interested
· Connect with CFO's and divisional heads on linkedIN in organizations that appealed to me using a polite connection message.
· Start building my Interview narrative – What are my key selling points / key stories and value-add examples? Have I asked the Institute Careers Team or a recruiter for a prep session? Interview Do’s and Don’t’s document here : Interview preparation and advice - ..rteredaccountants.ie
· Do some work for Charity.
· Who are my referees going to be and will they sing my praises. Give them advance notice.
If March or April 2025 is when you will be leaving your training contract then start the key actions now per the above list and don’t put off contacting your Careers Team until too late. Get ahead of the curve. The market is very good at the moment but change is the only real constant in the world of business today so take advantage and initiative while you can.
Dave Riordan (FCA)
Recruitment Specialist & Career Coach | Careers Team Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Dave.riordan@charteredaccountants.ie
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