How far have you gone in your career?
By aileen2008
@aileen2008 (838)
Philippines
January 31, 2011 9:01am CST
Hi guys! Let us share some info regarding our career and how far have we gone in our career. I am an accountant and is already 35 years old. In my assessment, I have not really gone far with regards to my being a CPA. Sometimes I ask myself is this the kind of career that I want? I imagine changing career from accounting to IT specialist. Do you think its too late for me to change career at my age.
How about you mylotters? Are you contented with how your career is going? Or are you like me, tempted to change careers?
3 people like this
18 responses
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
1 Feb 11
Hi, I am IT engineer by education. Over the past decade of so I have moved from a technical line into project management. I think that is the way I had planned it to progress, so I would say I am in line with my career.
As far as your changing career to IT specialist is concerned, it is not too late. But instead of going as an IT specialist based on your IT skills, you can actually piggy back on your accountancy expertise and become an IT consultant in the field of accountancy with some of the financial software companies.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@aileen2008 (838)
• Philippines
1 Feb 11
That's a good idea ram_cv. Can you give me advice on to do that? Where should I start? What course should I take? I am kind of fed up with doing accounting works, deadline, BIR, SEC, financial reports, account reconciliation and so on and so forth.
I need something new. If my accounting background will help me with that "something new", then I am interested. Any advice? Thanks!
2 people like this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
2 Feb 11
Actually there are a few options available to you. You can research it further based on what appeals best to you:
1) SAP or Oracle Financials: In this you learn a package like SAP Financials or Oracle Financials and then you join as a SAP or Oracle consultant helping companies in implementing these modules. Typically for this you will need knowledge of SAP or Oracle Financials module along with Accounting and Financial concepts required to model the business logic into these packages.
2) Banking or Financial Software: You can use your expertise of banking processes, financial reports by going in as a domain expert in companies that provide banking and financial software. These companies would typically use you as a consultant to drive their products and help them customize their solutions for the market.
3) Process or Quality Personnel: Another interesting avenue especially if you have participated in audits and process improvements, then you can join a company as a process personnel or a quality personnel. For this knowledge of quality standards like ISO standards, Accounting Processes etc would be essential.
These are just three of the things that are out there. I am pretty sure that there are more avenues that would build on your accounting background.
It is generally advisable to change into a something new that does not completely lay waste to your experience till now. That way you also get a good deal.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
3 Feb 11
Hi Aileen! I am also an accountant and also in my 30's. I am at the point of my career, that I don't want to move up further the corporate ladder. I am happy with the compensation and the work load that I am receiving right now. My husband used to tell me that I lack ambition. That I could do more than I can offer right now. Well I'm sorry but I don't like it. I'm only giving myself another 5 years to be in the corporate world. After that, I'd really wanted to be an entrepreneur. I want to be my own boss. You just don't get rich by just being an employee.
1 person likes this
@aileen2008 (838)
• Philippines
15 Jul 11
Hi, sorry it took me a long time to answer. Such a long time indeed.That's what I also want, be my own boss. But how? What business do you want to go into?
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
1 Feb 11
I am a Teacher and practice my profession for 8 years and when I moved to USA, I didn't go back to school and be certified to practice my profession in my new location. I worked in production, I enjoy my income but i missed working in the office.
I have no plan of teaching but wanted to take up accounting classes, I am 34. So, I would say there is no age limit if ever we want to have some changes in our career, we can do whatever we want as long as we are happy on it.
1 person likes this
@dearlene (78)
• Indonesia
1 Feb 11
Hi aileen, I think I am the one tempted to change career like you, but in the difference side. now I work as an IT Specialist, but somehow I feel I like being an accountant. It is because I work in Finance Departement. My work is more related with Balance Sheet and account.
1 person likes this
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
1 Feb 11
Hi dear,
A change in career is always advisable. But before doing that, you should convince certain pre requisites. As being an accountant you may be well versed with it and you should be sure about you can be well placed in IT areas also. Means, you must have adequate knowledge and must be a proficient, or should have a university qualified personnel in this area also, for additional higher places.
Once you are confident and having adequate proficiently in IT field, you can try. Everything is depend on your confidence and dedication. If you think of a carrier change, I presume that you must have already qualified enough. In this case, it is good for a change. But make sure that you should not resign from the current post and once you confirmed with the new job, you can do it.
Thank-s
1 person likes this
@penrockerchic (1903)
• Philippines
1 Feb 11
Hi there Aileen! I'm a Mechanical Engineer and work as a design engineer with a Japanese company based in the Philippines. When it comes to my career as an engineer, I must say that I'm already starting to like my job compared with my first few years with the company, due to some reasons that hopefully I will outgrow at some point. Right now, I can say, I am learning a lot with the design aspects of my job. But still not feeling so good with respect to job compensation. I'm still staying positive about it though.
With regards to your dilemma of changing career, well you really have to weigh your options and know your pros and cons before making a huge decision. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@ArsonCuff (3114)
• United States
31 Jan 11
Well, in fast food I got to where I was running stores and positioning myself to be an upper management type, but I rebelled against it and changed course to follow my writing passion. I moved to California and have been pursuing screenwriting. In the past year I've produced two movies, one of which I wrote "Breath Of Hate." So, I am at the start of my career in a way, but it is a big start that many fail to achieve in the first place.
1 person likes this
@alienstar (5142)
• India
31 Jan 11
We do get carried away in our young age and most of them just pass their day's completing their daily tasks of their school without thinking much on future and it is only when we graduate and come out of college we start thinking of our future ahead. I can say that i am a much stronger person than ever before as i handle many jobs without much difficulty
1 person likes this
@sincere4frdship (2228)
• India
1 Feb 11
Well...
If I will talk about my career then I would say it's just starting of my career. I am working as Web Developer in a Research Project funded by Government. I have just finished my Master of Science in Information Technology and have plan to do another master degree before starting to do PHD. As I am very much interested in research and teaching field. You can say somewhat I am confuse too as many times money attract me and secure future too which encourage me to get a government job in one to two year and then to do business but I think I will go in teaching field only ...
Thanks...
1 person likes this
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
31 Jan 11
I started my career in government service but I found the work culture not to my liking. But it took me quite some time to change careers. It's really never too late but don't wait too long to decide. Age isn't a factor when deciding to change one's career, but it becomes one if you want to be successful in that new career you chose.
1 person likes this
@borris83 (18)
• India
31 Jan 11
I have changed my career multiple times.. I started with door to door marketing when I was 20, then moved to telemarketing Customer support technical support system administrator and finally now I am working as a content writer and SEO analyst..
It is usually not good to change careers but if there is a need, then we must.. It is always good to work for a job that we love
@moneyonline2002 (57)
• Philippines
31 Jan 11
As far as career is concern Im just like you, I want to study again to add more knowlegde and gain another degree...Im not satisfied right now I feel my career is stagnant, no more improvement no more challenge...About you I think it is not yet too late for you to change career, your age is not that old yet to start a new path, but make it sure that you reallyw want to change.....
@Lucyalicia92 (670)
• United States
31 Jan 11
I actually took 2 classes in college, then once I started my major I hated it so I dropped out. I am now jumping around from job to job to try to find one that I don't hate and is bearable for now while I try to find out what I want to do with my life.
1 person likes this
@Lizabett (59)
• Australia
31 Jan 11
Hi,
I'm at the start of my career, actually just had an interview today for what I hope is going to be my new job :)
I want to go into accounts and am studying nights and online to get my accreditation whilst I work.
If you want to change careers try to get your study done whilst continuing to work. If you manage that you can manage to get a job in the IT field. Just the opinion of a young girl :D
1 person likes this
@zapatee (477)
• Philippines
31 Jan 11
i switched to my third line of career right around your age. my two previous careers may have been different from each other, yet each one somehow complemented and were in parallel in some ways since both involved travels, connecting with different kinds of people, and dealing with a variety of issues. the first one didn't involve many difficult bosses and i had the academic background and the natural inclination for the skills involved. sadly, it didn't pay the bills. the second career was something new and i had to learn a little bit harder. but the pay was better. the skills and non-incentive benefits made me grow better as a person and as a professional. while i'm still new at my third job and learning, it is something i am holding on to because of a promising career i can make of it primarily because of my previous two careers that equipped me with some helpful tools which i can apply when i slowly go up the ladder.
while my decision to change careers for the third time was a leap of faith, economics also pushed me. my confidence in my acquired skills and experience from my previous jobs as well as my passion for working, learning, and earning independently are my ammos.
aileen, if you believe you want and can make something work, then do it. especially if you have very good reasons (personal or professional, or both), the desire, and the passion for it. good luck and happy mylotting!
@petersum (4522)
• United States
31 Jan 11
It's never too late to change your career. Sometimes you just have to! I was an electronics engineer that specialized in repairs. Well, we all know what happened - you don't repair things anymore, do you? No, you throw them away and buy new. So, that triggered me to change careers and in fact, to change several times. I wont tell you what I do now but it's very different indeed. It is always a risk to make any kind of change but it can pay off both financially and in terms of personal satisfaction. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@crib4mythoughts (115)
•
31 Jan 11
hi Aileen! I am an electrical engineer and had practiced my profession for quite sometime. I also had engineering jobs for the past ten years. By the way, I am a female. :-) Having known this you could imagine that most of my colleagues at work are male. I was liking it at first but eventually got fed with it.
I just changed my career since last year when my daughter was born. I decided to stay at home and work here. Writing is one of my passions and so I pursue by making a blog and having online writing jobs.
I think if your heart wants you to change career you should pursue. Life is so short to waste on things that we are not happy about.
@murtaza45 (173)
• India
31 Jan 11
hii friends, i am my career development not this time for opportunities me and so try best career to grow nice job me for search and any proper to away for my work not me i am student to not a self employee.but i am student 10th studies to pass for.student but i am family not the supported to me my career to development.i am try to best career job opportunities to job provided life time change me.
