I keep getting so many emails and calls regarding choosing a career option, specifically in relation to chartered accountancy. Obviously, being a CA, I am approached for this profession the most. There is a very typical trend I have been noticing, that students are now-a-days more interested to know how difficult or easy would it be to crack CA and get an enriching lifestyle rather than getting into the nuances of it.
It seems very obvious that the generation of today is looking for a career which gives them growth, challenges and consequently, prosperity. However, as the saying goes ‘there are no free lunches in this world’, the prosperity too comes at a price, the price which one has to pay by sacrificing a lot of things and concentrating and focussing entirely on academics and getting the best possible exposure. Even after qualifying/obtaining a professional degree, one needs to work constantly very hard to achieve the best.
When you think about a professional degree like CA, it is important that one should also be ready to sacrifice a lot of things and focus dedicatedly on the profession. I have had the experience of having numerous friends who have excelled in their professional life and have reached the epitome of their careers at a very young age. All this has come at a price, the price which they had to pay by sacrificing parties, social outings and various other activities, which they could have pursued earlier.
Lot of students write and ask whether it is worth putting that much effort into studying for CA and then leading a life which is strenuous and probably may not make you happy. I think their decision to not opt for CA because it’s too strenuous and the working conditions are hard is not correct. Life is generally not very easy anywhere one would go for a career. Whether it is CA or MBA or lawyer or any other professional course, everyone has to work very hard to achieve the best and there is no substitute of hard work. In fact if you are ready to work hard and clear your examinations, you might as well work hard for making a career as a CA.
CA as a profession is highly respected and commands a premium in the society. Once you become a CA you would realise how society in general and your friends and relatives in particular would start respecting you. This is a very good degree to test and enhance your aptitude, attitude and commitment levels. You would live happily with your family when you have a good standing in the society. Everyone would respect you and even financially you would be doing good. Anyways even if you opt for any other professional course, you would have to work hard to reach at a good level. However, if you do want to rise in life and just lead an average life then I would not recommend you to go for CA. It would then be a complete waste of time and resources.
I can understand that at a young age one would want to have a carefree and a life full of masti. But that can only happen in short term. However, in long term if you want to rise, you would need to do a proper job.
So work hard and then party hard.
By: Nimish Goel
Nimish is a Chartered Accountant and a Company Secretary and has more than 10 years of experience. He has worked with E&Y and KPMG in Europe and with Pwc, Mumbai. Nimish is the Co-Founder of Commerceshala, an initiative to help guide and mentor commerce students and help them in choosing the right career. Commerceshala also helps students in training and internships/ jobs. He is also reachable on nimish.goel@promaynov.com
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