Tuesday 19 May 2009

Taking a step backwards to go forwards?

This week has seemed a bit more positive. Two accountancy recruitment consultants rang me today to put my name forward for two new accountancy roles that have become available. One's a permanent role in an accountancy firm, the other's a permanent role in a film company. In addition, my usual recruitment consultant James rang me yesterday to put my name forward for a temporary role at another large bank, so hopefully something will come out of these three prospective roles.

Especially after I went to the Jobcentre today to sign on only to find out they'd lost part of my signing-on file - but the less said about that the better, I think!

For those of you wondering why I am looking for another role in accountancy when I am trying to leave the profession, fear not: it is actually all part of the plan.

Last summer the plan was to save money for the eventual career change from a temporary contract role or two. I chose to take up a temporary contract role in a global bank partly because it paid more money than a permanent accountancy role - meaning I could save more money - and for temp roles, you get paid for the exact number of hours you work, so if you worked more than your contracted seven hours in day you would be well-rewarded for it (unlike most permanent jobs). In my previous permanent job at an accountancy firm (i.e. my second-to-last job) it wasn't unusual for me to work so late I didn't get home until well past 9pm, by which point I was too tired for any career-changing planning or activity... and even when I got home it didn't stop, for I was expected to do further accountancy study and training, which would have been fine if I wasn't trying to find a way out of the profession!

Obviously I wasn't counting on the credit crunch to bite harder than it did, so when my temp role at the Bank ended in February this year, I was surprised to find the job market as quiet as it has been. I had been hoping to take on another temporary contract, but thanks to the lack of jobs in the supposedly recession-proof accountancy sector (it's not recession-proof at all by the way) I am having to be less fussy and take on any job which pays. Needs must, after all.

And that, of course, means that I can't necessarily escape from chartered accountancy just yet. It looks like I may need to take on another role for a while if only to ensure the bills get paid. I'm still applying for the TEFL summer jobs in case these three roles come to nothing; however, as with most career changes, the change may have to happen quite slowly, being planned for all the way.
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11 comments:

  1. You're still brave in my book. Glad to see there are some prospective jobs in your future.

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  2. Awww, thanks for the encouraging words. And yes I would hope there are jobs I can do for the time being as well! I liked your most recent post by the way... the "joys" of working with a slacker :-D

    Anyway I'm off to bed. Nighty night!

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  3. Yay for career changes. I'm in the middle of one myself. From Corporate Recruiter to School Counselor. Done w/Grad School in Dec 2010. Hopefully I can find a job mid-school year.

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  4. I'm glad to hear things are looking up, hopefully one of those jobs will work out for you. I like the title, sometimes we have to take that little step back to get positioned for the big step forward.
    At the very least you would not have to visit the Jobcenter again, a very good thing.
    SQ

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  5. While you are waiting to hear on the jobs you can pick up the award I have for you at my blog.

    SQ

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  6. Three possibilities! All steps forward...you're are giving me faith with your positive attitude. Keep it up! Before you know it, you'll be an accountant, a film exec and a famous writer, all at the same time!

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  7. Hi guys - thanks for your comments!

    Remember Moments:
    I salute you - doing a qualification while having to look after a 15-month-old baby with very little support is not easy at all! I really hope it all works out for you.

    Squirrel Queen:
    Hopefully one of those jobs will work out, yes - if only to keep my household tiding over for a good few more months! Thanks for the award by the way - I shall probably post it up next week when I get back from my mini-break?

    Laura Cococcia:
    Thanks - although I'm not entirely sure about the accountant and film exec bit! Or even the "famous writer" bit, but hey, we can dream :-) Hope you've been well?

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  8. Unfortunately, however disheartening, sometimes we have to take a take a few steps down the wrong path to make our way to the right one. So i believe you are doing the right thing, absolutely. I wish you all the luck in the world! Keep going!

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  9. It might be too soon to see if it's a step backward or forward. What if one of these jobs leads you to someone who then leads you to your ideal job? You never know...

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  10. I'm happy for you. Let's just hope for the best :)
    Oh btw, you got an award. Please pick it up at
    http://littleweb77.blogspot.com/2009/05/surprised-surprised-its-friends-award.html#links
    Enjoy :)

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  11. Thanks again for the comments guys!

    Lou:
    Absolutely. Unless we're blessed with lots of cash :-) then we can't just leap from one career into another, we have to plan it... and sometimes that plan can involve doing things we don't like for a while for a bigger payoff at the end. Thanks for the good luck wishes!

    Cheryl:
    You know, I never thought of that! You're right, it just may do :-)

    Jan:
    Thanks for your award - here's hoping for the best for you as well!

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