CareerTrack | ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST
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Know Yourself | second year Evaluate
It is more common than not for students to change career plans and programs at least once, if not more, while in university.
Reflect on the courses you've taken this far. Which did you enjoy? Which did you not? What courses came easily to you and which were challenging? Knowing more about the field of accounting and your other options, how are you feeling about your program or career choice? Do you sense a gap in your experiences or qualifications that you would like to fill this year? Still exploring? Use the suggestions both here and in the DEVELOP SKILLS section above to gain the experiences that will help you answer these questions and talk to a Career Counsellor for guidance, they're here to help. Career Centre Online
The UTM Career Centre coordinates activities and events to help you understand and develop your skills, to connect you with employers, and to prepare you to compete for positions upon graduation. The Career Centre website provides access to job postings online , the events calendar , career research, resume tips , career information by major information about further education and industry information among many, many other resources.
Familiarize yourself with the resources available to you online and make it a priority to register for the job postings online and e-newsletter at the start of each school year so you don't miss out on the many employer and preparatory events available. Career Counselling
Confused about your program selection? Not sure if the accounting specialist program is right for you? Know where you'd like to go but not sure how to get there? Curious about other options? A Career Counsellor can help.
All of the Career Counsellors at UTM hold a Master's Degree and specialize in guiding students through the career decision making and development process. In your first year, your counselor can help you choose your program, adjust to campus life, access supports, and learn about yourself in relation to your career goals. As you move through your education your Counsellor can help you explore and refine your career goals, target your experiences to develop relevant skills, explore further education, connect with employers and prepare for your job search. Consider meeting with a Counsellor in your first year to build a relationship with someone who can help and check in at least once a year as you work towards your Commerce degree to make sure you're on track with your goals. Choosing Your Program
Get Involved
Employers are interested in your combined academic, extracurricular, and work experiences, all of which are great reasons to get involved. Getting further involved in clubs, volunteering and part time work experiences will allow you develop marketable skills, explore career interests, and learn to know yourself better. Whatever your interests, the best advice is simply to get involved.
The Develop Skills section suggests a variety of ways to build your experiences. The Career Centre library maintains directories of on and off-campus volunteer opportunities, work experiences, and international opportunities. Appointments are not needed to access any of the Career Centre library resources, just drop by SB3094 and ask one of the Career Advisors for assistance. Explore the UTM Student Union clubs list for a list of recognized on campus groups that may interest you. The Undergraduate Commerce Society (UCS) offers executive positions and volunteer opportunities both of which are an ideal way to get involved, network with your colleagues, make contacts and stay informed of commerce/accounting related activities. Getting involved builds your skills, resume, and experience which are attractive to employers but, more importantly, it provides the experiences you need to make informed career decisions. For assistance determining which opportunities are right for you, talk to a Career Counsellor. Explore
The university setting is rich in opportunities to explore. Take advantage of the variety of experiences available by doing something new. Join a club, take a course in a new area, volunteer in a capacity you've never considered before such as the annual UTMSU Tax Clinic. In addition to gaining new skills you will add to the information base from which you are making career decisions, discover new interests and develop passions in areas that may surprise you.
Career By Major
Academic Support
Personality and Interest Assessments
Personality and interest assessments may help you clarify your interests, skills, personal qualities and values as they relate to your career goals. The two most commonly used assessments are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory (SII).
The MBTI provides insight into the way we think, communicate, and interact and is one of the most widely used inventories in the world. The SII is designed to help clarify your interests and suggest occupations that may be compatible with your interests, likes and dislikes. Completion and interpretation of the assessments typically takes three sessions and includes a discussion of how your interests, values, and personal qualities may suggest compatibility for specific occupational groups. For more information, contact the Career Centre at 905.828.5451 to make an appointment with a Career Counsellor. Assessments are forwarded to external bodies for scoring and are accompanied by a small fee per test ($25 for both). Employer Information Sessions
Making career decisions in the absence of first-hand knowledge about what it is like to actually work in a given occupation can be hard. While we can't always help you gain work experience with your company of interest, we can do the next best thing by bringing the company to you. Employer information sessions usually involve an overview of the company, organizational structure, corporate culture, career paths, and career opportunities followed by a question and answer and networking session.
While the BUILD RELATIONSHIPS section advises you to attend employer information sessions to network with recruiting representatives, attending such sessions can also be helpful to you on a personal level by giving you an opportunity to understand the culture, work and social environment of the accounting industry and better allow you to determine whether there is a fit for you. Employer information sessions are usually posted on the Career Centre events calendar and will be advertised in the Career Centre's monthly newsletter. Specific to accounting students, the Big Four accounting firms will hold one large scale networking session in early September. Each firm will be represented by 10-15 recruiting representatives at an event designed to allow you to learn more about each firm, the corporate culture, the recruiting process and begin to build relationships with those in recruiting positions. This networking opportunity is a part of the new recruiting structure employed by the Big Four firms and replaces the various recruiting activities typically held in years past. This will be one of your only opportunities to connect with representatives from the Big Four, do not miss out. Overview by year:(click here to view)
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