If you desire to work for 14-15 hours or even more in peak audit periods; then you can surely choose big four.
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After marriage also; if you wish to continue such type of work; then surely choose big four.
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The basic question is to make a good career through chartered accountancy course.
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Hectic Audit Schedules will make you tough and this way you will be able to develop your capacity to work more in less number of hours.
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Big Four Students can complete the syllabus in two months. The reason is : Most of the typical situation they already handle practically. When you join such firms; then make sure that you are eager to work more otherwise you will be compelled to do work which will be a very typical situation.
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In one student's case; he did his articleship with E & Y and many times he came back from the office after 36 hours ! He qualified for CA in 4 attempts in CA Final ( Only Direct Tax was a great burden for him and due to this he could not clear CA easily). He was so much involved in audits during his articleship that he decided not to do this job in future. According to him - he did that much audits which he could do in his life if he was in practice.
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The most interesting fact about him is, after qualifying; he started coaching in Direct Taxes ! This is an example how a career is built in CA when a subject is most typical for you.
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First of all; decide what you want to be in your life. If you say - I want to be a CA; then your answer is not correct. Example : one 50th Rank Holder in May, 2011 is still in search of good job !
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If you wish to earn too much in life; then I say - No need to do CA. In Surat, property brokers are earning more than CAs. By learning valuation of stocks; you can do the same which is the most suitable for lady candidates after marriage. More such avenues are there. By qualifying CA, not less than 50 different careers emerge. One of the most lucrative and emerging field is Education.
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So plan for the whole life rather than qualifying CA and its training only.
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Note : Big Four will definitely give you good exposure in training.
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But for the sake for mental relief and reasonable exposure; you can join a firm where at least 4 CAs and 10 articled clerks are working.
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Choice is yours.
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In short; Chartered Accountancy course is to understand the basic needs of the business, its challenges, its development, its troublesome phases, tax administration and planning, finance, operational management, cost controls and ..............Accounting.
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It is really very unfortunate that most of qualified CAs are also not in a position to judge the real value of Accountancy.
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That is the only reason that the Institute has forced them to attend 30 CPE hours compulsorily and Accounting Standards have been included for CPE hours !
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Now some questions open to the students : :
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Can you say why you have joined CA ?
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Because -
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My professor has suggested
or
My brother/sister did it very easily
or
Your most of the friends are doing
or
It is good ( without knowing what is good )
or
Good job is easily available
or
You are ready to study more and more even after doing CA because reading is your pleasure ( DISA, DIRM, VALUATION CERTIFICATE COURSE, IFRS etc.).
or
I will run my own practice ( not decided now in which area )
or
I wish to join Big Four only
or
CAs earn good money
etc.etc.
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( Answer the above questions honestly
and
more preferably ask whether the above questions are relevant to you ).