Comments on: Dim Future http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/dim-future/ Tune into the adventures of this middle of the road recent accounting graduate Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:31:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Krupo http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/dim-future/#comment-10 Krupo Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:31:52 +0000 http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-10 You're welcome. I have more than one friend from school that took that option. CGA/CMA allow for much broader experience categories. It's not the same, but it's not completely different - and more importantly, can be just as rewarding. Keep all your options open - you never know what'll pop up. You’re welcome. I have more than one friend from school that took that option. CGA/CMA allow for much broader experience categories. It’s not the same, but it’s not completely different – and more importantly, can be just as rewarding. Keep all your options open – you never know what’ll pop up.

]]> By: secondrateca http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/dim-future/#comment-7 secondrateca Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:39:36 +0000 http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-7 Thank you Krupo! Your advice is valued and insightful as always. I very well may have to broaden my job search, BUT......I may be considering CGA in which case I will need some sort of accounting role in order to fulfill the experience requirement. Thank you Krupo! Your advice is valued and insightful as always. I very well may have to broaden my job search, BUT……I may be considering CGA in which case I will need some sort of accounting role in order to fulfill the experience requirement.

]]> By: A little bit of CA student career advice - A Counting School - Hardcore Chartered Accountancy http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/dim-future/#comment-4 A little bit of CA student career advice - A Counting School - Hardcore Chartered Accountancy Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:14:03 +0000 http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-4 [...] Judging a book by its cover, "Second Rate CA" has an excellent dark sense of humour, and the wicked good funny writing there supports that view. [...] [...] Judging a book by its cover, "Second Rate CA" has an excellent dark sense of humour, and the wicked good funny writing there supports that view. [...]

]]> By: Krupo http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/dim-future/#comment-2 Krupo Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:01:12 +0000 http://secondrateca.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-2 Hey, saw you linked to me. Sorry to hear about your tough search. I've been in touch with a lot of students who were also unlucky in the fall application season. If you're still in school, that's a Good Thing, keep working at it and try your best. If not, do something to keep yourself busy. You've read my post so I won't repeat what I've said - except to underline the fact that the job you take to stay busy does *not* have to be a 'pure' accounting job. If you find yourself a job doing *anything* in a small company where they could use a smart young CA-to-one-day-be - and which appreciates what you can offer them! - you'll have enough book smarts to suggest improvements. Any business which has been along long enough to show that the owners are savvy will no doubt recognize what you can offer them over time. This is probably the best advice I can offer right now. On the topic of cutoffs, I'll quash that rumour for you immediately - 3.8? - not true. At most firms the bare cutoff is actually the 70% average you need to write the CA exams. As I've said before, you either need strong marks and "ok" extra-curriculars, or strong extra-curriculars and "ok" marks to get in - a 3.8 cutoff is ridiculous - if both are weak, consider re-taking courses to boost your marks or getting into some HEAVY self-development to make yourself a stronger candidate. I don't think *ANY* firm has one that high - in the Toronto area anyway; good luck! Hey, saw you linked to me. Sorry to hear about your tough search.

I’ve been in touch with a lot of students who were also unlucky in the fall application season. If you’re still in school, that’s a Good Thing, keep working at it and try your best.

If not, do something to keep yourself busy. You’ve read my post so I won’t repeat what I’ve said – except to underline the fact that the job you take to stay busy does *not* have to be a ‘pure’ accounting job. If you find yourself a job doing *anything* in a small company where they could use a smart young CA-to-one-day-be – and which appreciates what you can offer them! – you’ll have enough book smarts to suggest improvements. Any business which has been along long enough to show that the owners are savvy will no doubt recognize what you can offer them over time. This is probably the best advice I can offer right now.

On the topic of cutoffs, I’ll quash that rumour for you immediately – 3.8? – not true.

At most firms the bare cutoff is actually the 70% average you need to write the CA exams. As I’ve said before, you either need strong marks and “ok” extra-curriculars, or strong extra-curriculars and “ok” marks to get in – a 3.8 cutoff is ridiculous – if both are weak, consider re-taking courses to boost your marks or getting into some HEAVY self-development to make yourself a stronger candidate.

I don’t think *ANY* firm has one that high – in the Toronto area anyway; good luck!

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