Hi everyone,
I'm an accounting student at UWaterloo and wish to pursue my CPA designation after graduation. I have completed two co-op terms already and have two more. Both of my co-op jobs were investment-related at a pension plan. My employer had asked me to return to the same investment analyst position for my last two co-op terms and I've agreed, but have been having second thoughts about it and was hoping to get your advice on this.
The job is great and I've truly learned a lot, but it's not accounting-related at all and the company does not have a culture of having new grads. My concern is: how good are my chances of landing an accounting job after grad with this experience? I plan on doing the Masters of Accounting program after undergrad and write the CFE after that. My undergrad marks have been pretty good so far and I expect to have a final undergrad average of 88+. I would consider myself to be a fairly well-rounded person although I'm not too great at networking (hate it in fact, but have been trying to change that). Although I'd have 1.5 years of investment-related experience I'd have no accounting experience at all.
If my chances are not high, should I keep on looking for some other job for my last two co-op terms? I've told my employer I'd go back but he's very flexible and understanding.
I was also considering finding finance/investment-related jobs after grad (will write CFA level 1) if accounting doesn't work out since I'm pretty interested in finance as well, but was concerned about that too since both my undergrad and (potential) grad degrees would be accounting and not BComm/BBA so I feel like there is going to be a huge mismatch between my education and experience.
TBH I'm not familiar with full-time recruiting and what employers look for, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I'm an accounting student at UWaterloo and wish to pursue my CPA designation after graduation. I have completed two co-op terms already and have two more. Both of my co-op jobs were investment-related at a pension plan. My employer had asked me to return to the same investment analyst position for my last two co-op terms and I've agreed, but have been having second thoughts about it and was hoping to get your advice on this.
The job is great and I've truly learned a lot, but it's not accounting-related at all and the company does not have a culture of having new grads. My concern is: how good are my chances of landing an accounting job after grad with this experience? I plan on doing the Masters of Accounting program after undergrad and write the CFE after that. My undergrad marks have been pretty good so far and I expect to have a final undergrad average of 88+. I would consider myself to be a fairly well-rounded person although I'm not too great at networking (hate it in fact, but have been trying to change that). Although I'd have 1.5 years of investment-related experience I'd have no accounting experience at all.
If my chances are not high, should I keep on looking for some other job for my last two co-op terms? I've told my employer I'd go back but he's very flexible and understanding.
I was also considering finding finance/investment-related jobs after grad (will write CFA level 1) if accounting doesn't work out since I'm pretty interested in finance as well, but was concerned about that too since both my undergrad and (potential) grad degrees would be accounting and not BComm/BBA so I feel like there is going to be a huge mismatch between my education and experience.
TBH I'm not familiar with full-time recruiting and what employers look for, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!