Principle
So what, you may ask, though you probably haven’t, is the intersection between Classic Rock and Public Accounting?
It’s none other than a simple question: should I stay or should I go? Da-da da da-da da da da (see here for The Clash reference if I didn’t do a good enough job with those “da-das”).
This question is common for all career professionals, but public accounting is really one of the ones where it’s built into the culture. Whether you started your career thinking partner track, weren’t sure where you were headed, or if you had a definite plan of getting a few years’ experience and then jumping ship, it’s a question everyone in public accounting faces…and maybe more than once in their career.
I’m sure you’ll be glad to hear that I can tell you the right answer. The right answer is …personal.
Helpful, right? Ha! We won’t leave you hanging there!
The process isn’t rocket science, but we will give you a simple hack to help with that stay or go decision. Before starting through the steps in the Practice section, trick your mind to think of your current role as one of the possibilities for a new job. It’s easy to do if there’s an upcoming promotion, but even if it’s your current one with no changes, think about the possibility of taking that as your next step. In other words, assume you ARE job hunting and making a change.
Work through the steps in the Practice Seciton below and you will be left with a list of good options for you to pursue. Spoiler alert: unless you have a really narrow list of preferences, you’ll probably end up with a few GOOD opportunities to pursue. It may still be really hard to think through which is best for you because each is likely to have strengths and weaknesses in different areas.
The final comment we’ll leave you with is an encouragement to free yourself from thinking there is only one right path and one right answer. You’re taking ONE step, not the next twelve. That may be staying or it may be going to something new. You can and will adjust as you go. Career paths are most often winding, and you’ll likely end up with a career that you never could have planned when it’s all said and done and you’ll be the better off for it!
Practice
With our “hack” firmly in place, take yourself through these steps:
- Figure out the possibilities. All of them (as best you can) even if you think some aren’t for you. We’ll get to that part shortly. Write them down. INCLUDE your current role as noted above.
- Use all that practice you have from your personal reflection to write down the things you enjoy in your work.
- Now play match. Which of the possibilities include the things you enjoy and are skilled at? Cross off the ones that don’t have many of the things you enjoy.
- Research, research, research. Talk to people. Google those types of opportunities. Cruze job boards to see how those roles look at different companies.
That should leave you with anywhere from one to several good options for you, and you can have the confidence knowing that if you land an opportunity in one of these “good” options that it is just that: a GOOD option for YOU!