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How can I pursue my career when I don't have a lot of opportunities?
I want to be an accountant, but I do not know how to start or what opportunities to take up.
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Chirayu’s Answer
Accountant is a great career choice. It would depend on if you are in high school or college. Figure out what classes you will need to help you with a background in accounting and take those courses or find course related material online to see whether or not you understand it or not. Find family and friends who have a background in accounting and what they did to get there. Find professionals on LinkedIn with a background in accounting and reach out to them. Good luck.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
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Madi’s Answer
This a great question!
In my opinion, a good starting point is research. There are so many platforms (e.g., Google, YouTube, TikTok, etc) where people share their experiences with the field, how they found opportunities and more. This can help you form an idea of what type of accounting career you'd like to have, companies you'd like to work for, etc.
Furthermore, platforms like LinkedIn enable you to reach out to people who are actively in the field. This allows you to gain information about possible accounting careers but it also helps you to start to build those connections!
In my opinion, a good starting point is research. There are so many platforms (e.g., Google, YouTube, TikTok, etc) where people share their experiences with the field, how they found opportunities and more. This can help you form an idea of what type of accounting career you'd like to have, companies you'd like to work for, etc.
Furthermore, platforms like LinkedIn enable you to reach out to people who are actively in the field. This allows you to gain information about possible accounting careers but it also helps you to start to build those connections!
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Marcia’s Answer
Check out vocational or magnet schools if you’re in high school. Most offer this course. Out of high school, research scholarship. Research jobs that reimburse you for going back to school or look into internships and learn that way. Good luck
I appreciate your support, Marcia
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Kristen’s Answer
If you are still in college, join groups where you take on a leadership roles as that stands out on your resume and helps build your career.
Have conversations about your job or career goals with everyone. You never know who you're chatting with or who people know to connect you with. Go on linkedin and search for people with your job or career goal and connect with them. Ask for mentorship and career advice and even job opportunities.
Have conversations about your job or career goals with everyone. You never know who you're chatting with or who people know to connect you with. Go on linkedin and search for people with your job or career goal and connect with them. Ask for mentorship and career advice and even job opportunities.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
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Marti (Martha)’s Answer
Hi, many high schools offer a basic accounting course so you can try it and see if you like it, and more and more two- and four-year colleges and universities are offering 100% online bookkeeping and accounting courses and degrees. Often, getting a bookkeeping job can help you get some experience as well, and there may even be bookkeeping jobs available that you can do completely from your home to get started.
Believe it or not, there are also free learning sites online, like The Open University, which offers free courses that you can take and earn a badge that shows that you understand the basic concepts, like this one:
Free course
Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
(here's the link to this course: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/money-business/introduction-bookkeeping-and-accounting/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab)
Learn about the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course, Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting, explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Believe it or not, there are also free learning sites online, like The Open University, which offers free courses that you can take and earn a badge that shows that you understand the basic concepts, like this one:
Free course
Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
(here's the link to this course: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/money-business/introduction-bookkeeping-and-accounting/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab)
Learn about the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course, Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting, explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Your advice was so helpful!
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Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you want to be an accountant.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Explore the entry criteria of accounting major in the college.
2. Work hard on the relevant subjects and ensure your academic result can meet the entry criteria
3. Speak to someone who are working in accounting or alumni
4. Explore any intern opportunities working in Account Firm or account department in corporates
5. Prepare to take the CPA exam
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Explore the entry criteria of accounting major in the college.
2. Work hard on the relevant subjects and ensure your academic result can meet the entry criteria
3. Speak to someone who are working in accounting or alumni
4. Explore any intern opportunities working in Account Firm or account department in corporates
5. Prepare to take the CPA exam
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Thank you for the suggestion..
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Megan’s Answer
Asking this question and taking initiative is a great way to create opportunities for yourself! There is a growing need for accountants, so there are likely to be many job opportunities in the upcoming years. Here is my journey of becoming an accountant:
Apply to and be accepted into a cost-effective college that has a business school which offers accounting
Study hard and join accounting extracurricular clubs as such Beta Alpha Psi and take on leadership positions
Network with accountants and CPAs at professional events, on campus, on LinkedIn, at your state's CPA society, etc.
Ask to job shadow and apply for internships so that you can get real hands-on work experience and boost your resume
Look into becoming CPA eligible and work towards obtaining the hours requirement in your respective state (https://nasba.org/exams/becomingacpa/)
Megan recommends the following next steps:
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Jack’s Answer
if you want to pursue a job in accounting or finance; you will eventually need a degree in accounting or finance.
Depending on the level of education, you can start asking some of the smaller tax firms to assist them during tax season, but you want to set this up before it kicks off. Example, HR Block, tax season can be all year, but typically for individuals or small businesses it can ramp up starting the new year so if you find a small business or company that you can come in and do some administrative work and start learning the basics that would be good.
There are also organizations out there you can look for some basic online or in person courses and certifications.
If you are in college, you should look into internships starting your sophomore year with companies by you. You can reach out to their HR department and let them know you are looking for some internships in finance and how could you get a few hours in a week to start learning.
Education is the key to finance, there are levels of technical expertise and software programs that go with it for companies.
Depending on the level of education, you can start asking some of the smaller tax firms to assist them during tax season, but you want to set this up before it kicks off. Example, HR Block, tax season can be all year, but typically for individuals or small businesses it can ramp up starting the new year so if you find a small business or company that you can come in and do some administrative work and start learning the basics that would be good.
There are also organizations out there you can look for some basic online or in person courses and certifications.
If you are in college, you should look into internships starting your sophomore year with companies by you. You can reach out to their HR department and let them know you are looking for some internships in finance and how could you get a few hours in a week to start learning.
Education is the key to finance, there are levels of technical expertise and software programs that go with it for companies.
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
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