Career Plan For Pursuing an Accounting Profession - Personal Statement Example

Career Plan Introduction Career planning involves the ability to determine the necessary requirements for a successful career. A career plan involves four major stages. To begin with, it involves the ability of an individual to determine their personal values. This involves the identification of their strengths and weaknesses in the field of specialization. The second stage is the need to conduct a research on the requirements of a successful career. This occurs through consultation from different sources that include professionals in the field as well as people, who have an idea about a given career. The third stage involves a decision making process, where an individual has to choose a particular career specialization from a variety of options. Lastly, an individual needs to formulate an action plan and ensure that they execute the provision of the plan in consideration of the stipulated period (Perry, Nancy, & Zark, p. 22). The career enables individuals to ensure the creation of an effective financial management system for companies through the provision of consultation services. It also enables individuals to acquire entrepreneurial skills that enable them to become job creators rather than job seekers. Background A career in accounting involves the collection, processing, and presentation of financial information. This occurs through the preparation of accounting reports that aid the management of an organization, as well as the stakeholders in decision-making. The career involves the ability to carry out an independent audit on the financial statements of a particular organization to determine their true and fair view. It also involves the ability to perform taxation computations for different organizations for purposes of tax advice and filling of tax returns. Purpose This paper gives a career plan for a successful career in the accounting field. It gives the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses that determines the level of career success. It also analyzes the formulated goals and objectives and the process that ensures their accomplishment. This paper also gives a projection of an ideal state in five years’ time. This shows the focus and objectives put in place for the achievement of a successful career. It also gives a projection of the most likely state in five years’ time. It is evident that most individual do not achieve their plan due to several factors that becomes the reality of the matter. Lastly, there is the formulation of an action plan that gives the necessary steps that could minimize the difference between the gap of the ideal and the real five-year career situations. Discussion Analysis of strengths The strengths are the internal attributes possessed that determine the level of competitiveness in the accounting career (Perry, Nancy, & Zark, p. 25). The strengths include the ability of becoming a good leader, as I was the group leader in the class groups. This is because there is a possession of leadership skills that relates to the ability to mobilize professional personnel within the accounting field, for a given purpose. I have the ability to work together with other people for a predetermined course. This is evident through the group works, where different group members gave their opinions on particular class assignments. In addition, I am an individual with a high level of integrity that is a requirement in the accounting profession. This is evident as I was able to complete all my assignments and examinations in accordance to the given instructions. I participated in various accounting forums, where I got the chance to interact with professionals. The interaction led to the acquisition of the contacts of the professionals, increasing my network in the accounting field. Lastly, I have a passion for a career in accounting and remains committed for a successful career. Analysis of weaknesses The weaknesses are the negative internal attributes that limit an individual from achieving their potential in a given career (Perry, Nancy, & Zark, p. 30). The poor working habits possessed may limit the ability of finding a good job in the career. This is because I do not concentrate much after classes in personal studies. There is a need to have concentration after working hours to be able to maximize on overtime work in job situation. Another weakness is the lack of relevant work experience. This is because I have not engaged in any attachment, internship, or community work programs that give introduces an individual to the working environment. Another limitation is the size of network in the accounting profession. The network is small in size that could limit the flow of information in relation to the available opportunities. The final weakness is on the lack of a career direction. This is because there is a perception that the time left for college work is ample and there is no need to worry about a career at junior level of college. Analysis of goals and objectives The accounting career involves different types of responsibilities and positions. Such responsibilities influence the kind of career goals that people formulate. I have formulated my career goals that could enable job performance and result in job promotions. I need to become a Certified Public Accountant, who is responsible for the preparation of taxation reports, forensic accounting reports, and external auditing reports. I need to achieve this major goal through other minor goals. Such minor goals include finding a mentor, who has the relevant experience in the field of accounting. The mentor could help in finding solutions for given accounting problems in the working environment in the absence of direct supervisors. I also need to attain higher education qualifications through pursuing s master’s degree, in addition to professional qualifications in accountancy. Lastly, I need to train on life skills such as good communication and team building. Career objectives involve the development of an attainable vision and mission through the direct influence of an individual’s effort. In order to become a first class accountant, I need to focus on the improvement of my grades. This enables the achievement of a higher grades point average (GPA) that broadens the available opportunities in the accounting field. There is a need to attend more accounting forums, where professionals discuss on the various ways of career improvement through professionalism. I need to ensure that I finish my professional course in accountancy before completion of my senior level of college. This could lead to an advantage in relation of gaining priority from potential employers. The higher grades attainable, as explained, could enable the registration of master’s degree immediately after clearance of the undergraduate program. This gives employers a reason to consider performance appraisals in the working environment. Projection of a five-year ideal situation In five years’ time, I will have completed my master’s degree. I will be the chief accountant in a in certain company that utilizes my ability through the qualifications. The company will have a positive working culture that encourages working with a bid to attain higher performance. The job will provide several opportunities to learn, contribute, and make a progress towards a positive transition in the organization. The working environment will have the ability to empower my personal goals and motivate the creation of initiatives for higher success. The accounting job secured will enable self-actualization and develop opportunities for further growth within the organization. I would prefer a company with a culture that promotes teamwork and focuses on the formulation of real and measurable goals. Such factors could enable the maintenance of a friendly working environment, where there is respect among the employees. In the working environment, I would be able to acquire entrepreneurial skills from my employer through collaborative, fostering strengths, and in a manner that inspires. My network base will increase, through working with similar professionals in the accounting field, from different organizations. The workplace will have an open communication system, where the co-staff are corporative, approachable, and are willing to listen and give feedback in good time (Perry, Nancy, & Zark, p. 34). I will be in a position to audit the financial statements of different organizations. This gives the necessary skill that will enable the provision of an audit opinion either qualified or unqualified. I will have acquire a working permit and a license due to the achievement of the necessary requirements of becoming a Certified Public Accountant. I will also be a member of the accountancy institute that certifies the ability to work in any company in the world. Projection of the most likely state in five years Immediately after graduation, I will make applications in many accounting and auditing companies. Some of the companies will give feedback about their regret as to my failure in finding the job. Most of the companies will not give any feedback regarding my job applications. The companies that will consider the applications will not be of high caliber and the level of remuneration will most likely be low. Other firms will offer attachment or internship programs with minimal or no pay. I will take up any of the jobs that offer at least an average salary. The job taken will not be satisfying, as it will aid in the repayment of my college loan-fee debt. Within a few months, I might quit the job as the expenses cost of the job could be more as compared to the benefits. The rate of desperation could increase then at that point; I could consider getting a master’s degree. I will not have achieved a higher GPA that enables an individual to get directly to a master’s degree. There will be a need to find some other job for acquiring some experience. I will need to work for more than three years, in order to get my first promotion. There will be a huge gap between the ideal and the real situations. Action Plan In consideration of the career plan identifies, I have made a decision to become an accountant. I will set clear and realistic goals in relation to achievement of the career plan. For the occupational goals, I need a job that has a high remuneration. The job needs to involve a lot of travelling. This is in order to avoid boredom through sitting in the office for quite a long time. The educational goals include the need to attain a master’s degree in accounting from a reputable university in about two years from undergraduate graduation. I will ensure that I perform well to avoid repeating of courses. This will enable the occurrence of a graduation in a year’s time. I will also ensure that I complete my professional examinations before the graduation. I also need to acquire training from a reputable company. I will achieve this through making an application to accounting companies for the graduate training programs. I need to increase my network of professional in accounting field. Therefore, I will attend weekly accounting forums in business and accountancy and be able to join the accounting club in the university before the end of this semester. For the job applications, I will start making job applications online on a daily basis. Once in every two weeks I will buy newspapers and apply for any job openings in the accounting field. This trend will take place until I secure the job that I desire. I will ensure that in case I find a job, I will make maximum savings. This is because if the action plan does not work I will rely on the savings to start a small business, as a contingency plan (Perry, Nancy, & Zark, p. 43). In case of financial constraints, I will depend on personal bank loans to enable furthering of my career. Conclusion It is important for students to develop their career plans. This creates the ability to focus on particular goals in relation to an individual’s college major. In the plan, there needs to be a consideration of the strengths and weaknesses. This enables an individual to take advantage of their strengths and be able to work on their limitations. It is also important to formulate attainable goals and objectives regarding an individual’s career. The formulation of an ideal situation aids in the determination of a self-actualization situation. On the other hand, a reality check on the situation on the most likely situation, allows an individual to work harder, in order to reduce the gap between the ideal and the real situation. Work Cited Perry, Nancy, and Zark VanZandt.Exploring Future Options a Career Development Curriculum for Middle School Students. New York: International Debate Education Association, 2006. Print. Read More