Get the Most out of Post-Secondary
Your post-secondary education is supposed to prepare you for your future career in the accounting industry, so make sure you are utilizing the resources available to you on campus. Not sure where to start? Meet with your program coordinator for some guidance! You can also make an appointment with your campus career center. Most career centers provide resume and cover letter support as well as assistance with interview preparation. This is an excellent way to ensure you start your job search feeling both prepared and confident. These services are at your disposal, so be sure to utilize them – they go a long way! Especially if you are new to the job recruitment process.
Practical Experience – Co-op Placements
Pursuing a co-op program is also a valuable way to enhance your post-secondary experience and stand out to prospective employers. Co-op programs provide students with the opportunity to apply the accounting principles that they have learned in school, while also gaining practical work experience in their field before receiving their diploma. Our firm recently launched our co-op program in May 2024, and our co-op student quickly became a valuable member of our team. Employers (like our firm in London, Ontario) often hire permanent staff from their co-op students. So co-op positions are an excellent way to get your foot in the door at a firm to set yourself up for success upon graduation. If you are the right fit – firms will go out of their way to retain you and offer another position for a future co-op placement or a permanent position after graduation.
Practical Experience – Tax Clinics
If you are interested in an accounting career in tax specifically – volunteering at an on-campus tax clinic is also an excellent way to gain practical experience in tax preparation and familiarizing yourself with tax software. There are so many on-campus opportunities available to help build up your resume before graduation – be sure to take advantage of them!
Network, Network, Network
Many accounting firms participate in campus networking events or career fairs. These are great opportunities to network with prospective firms and learn more about their upcoming openings for co-op placements or permanent positions. Establishing a connection with prospective accounting firms is a great way to set yourself up for success before completing your accounting program.
Student Involvement
If your campus has an accounting association, this is also a great way to learn more about on-campus networking opportunities with accounting firms, as well as a way to meet like-minded students with similar career goals. Keep in mind that your fellow students might be your future colleagues one day – so make these valuable connections!
Stay Connected!
Are you a post-secondary student in an Accounting program looking for a firm to build a long-lasting, fulfilling career in Accounting? Consider NG Chartered Professional Accountants in London, Ontario. We specialize in corporate tax compliance and tax planning. We offer a competitive compensation package, work-life balance, and extensive training. Our firm typically hires for May and September job openings. To get the latest information on upcoming job openings at our firm, follow us on LinkedIn. If you would like some more information on building a career with us, check out our Career page. We look forward to connecting with you and wish you the best of luck in your post-secondary program and job search! We look forward to welcoming you to the accounting industry.
Our corporate accounting firm is always open to hearing from new talent. You can learn more about our services here and get to know our London, Ontario-based accounting team here. Did you find this article, “Accounting Students – Prepare for your Accounting Career” helpful? Stay up-to-date on our firm and future blog posts by following us on LinkedIn and Facebook. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
