A step in the right direction

While many people earmark summer as the time of year to look for a new job, many student accounting technicians will be looking for their first role. But how much thought do you put into your career moves? Richard Robinson explains what you can do to exercise control over your career

Most people will spend more time planning their holidays each year than they will spend planning their career. A successful career requires more than good luck and the occasional job search. Whether you want to be the Managing Director of the world's biggest company or a Management Accountant for a small family-run firm, it is important that you plan your career and set yourself objectives - someone going nowhere will get there.

The AAT Accounting Qualification is more popular than ever and is well-respected by employers. It provides generous exemptions to all of the UK's chartered and certified qualifications, including fasttrack routes to ICAEW, CIPFA and ICAS. With the AAT qualification, many career options are open to you; it's up to you to make the most of them.

Believe it or not, the easy part of planning your career is gaining your AAT qualification. We're not suggesting that studying for it is easy, but your targets are very clear - you have to gain clearly-defined experience and pass exams at set times. However, the time you spend gaining your qualification is a fraction of the time you will eventually spend working in accountancy and finance. And however tempting it is to put it off, you need to take control of your future and dedicate some time to creating a career plan if you are to achieve your longterm goals.

Creating a career plan
Assess your current situation: Think about what you enjoy or dislike about your job and make an honest assessment of your current role's potential and suitability. This will help you to make the most of the opportunities available in your current role, as well as to identify when it is time to move on.

Identify your goals: Set your short-, medium- and long-term goals. Think about your target role, the type of company you want to work for, the sector you want to work in and the work/life balance you want to achieve. Research the role to ensure that it is what you think it is by asking people with experience in similar positions.

Identify experience gained and needed: Write down the experience you have already gained - this will help you to keep your CV up-to-date and to assess your strengths and weaknesses. If you have a specific role in mind, you can focus on gaining relevant experience. If you are unsure of your target role, you can obtain a broad range of skills that will allow you to progress while keeping your options open.

Make the most of your current role to gain as much experience, skills and training as you can to help you achieve your goals. Talk to your current employer and make them aware of your aspirations - see what they can offer. Temporary work can also provide a unique opportunity to broaden your skills and experience, and may lead to a permanent role.

Financial commitment/resources: If a chartered or certified qualification is a key objective, you will be looking for a role that offers study support. If such support is not available with your current employer, you may need to consider changing roles.

Take advice: Knowledge is power - talk to friends; family; as many people as you can. You can also use recruitment consultants for advice without placing yourself on the job market. They handle a wide range of jobs in a variety of industries so know what is available or what is realistic.

It is also important to set out timescales so you can react if your career isn't progressing as you wish, and you can make the most of opportunities when they arise. This may mean changing or reviewing your goals - but it will keep you in control of your career. Always keep your CV up-to-date. You never know when a new opportunity may arise, so make sure you are ready for it.

A 'job for life' is no longer a realistic prospect in today's fastmoving and fragmented job market, so proactive career management is essential if you want to achieve your goals.