Don’t Miss The Boat When It Comes To Your Career
Here in the UK it seems like the age at which people are likely to retire is getting later and later.
At the same time for those in accounting it seems that while the expected age of retirement is increasing, the window for making real progress in your career is still pretty short.
Often the decisions and action you take in the few years after you are professionally qualified have a big impact on your career.
The thing is what I’ve noticed is that many accountants either fail to realise this or realise too late and miss out on the opportunity to achieve anything close to reaching their career potential.
So how can you avoid missing the boat when it comes to your career?
Accept personal responsibility for your career
Once upon a time you might have been lucky and had a boss who really looked after you and helped you to build your career.
These days this is a lot less common.
This is not because bosses care less but simply down to consolidation of industries which often result in the people who have been your greatest advocates no longer being around.
Start taking personal responsibility for your career.
Be clear about what you want to achieve
What do you want to achieve in your career?
Do you know?
While you might not exactly know the answer to this question, having a good idea on the direction you want your career to go in will definitely help you to make the right decisions and choices.
Be clear about what you will need to achieve the results you want
There are many contributors to you achieving the results you want in your career.
Skills, knowledge, experience and attributes. Beliefs, mindset, focus, drive and determination.
Speak to others who have achieved what you are aspiring to do.
Invest in you
Things move fast and it’s vitally important that you stay relevant in your professional field.
Yet in reality so many accountants and professionals invest little time or money in their professional development.
Even though this has the potential to give you the best return of any investment that you make.
The Bottom Line: While career success is never guaranteed there is plenty that you can do to make sure that you increase your chances of building a successful career in accounting.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.