In this CareerTalk mini-episode of Where Accountants Go, the Accounting Careers Podcast, I talk about an issue that has become vastly more important in this pandemic-era job market: certification.
Recently I was having a conversation with an employer about a position they needed to fill, and the employer said, “Well, I assume there are several people available due to the layoffs.” Although they were correct (there had been layoffs), for what they were requesting (a CPA), there really hadn’t been as many as they thought. We had to have a conversation about what’s been happening in today’s market.
As soon as this episode is released, I’m sure someone that is a CPA and has been laid off from their job will hear it, and I will be proven wrong. However, it’s not a blanket statement I’m making, just a generalization. Yes, some CPAs may be laid off during an economic downturn, but they are usually not the first people that are considered.
So does this mean you are always safe from a layoff if you are a CPA? Not entirely. You still have to provide value to your employer of course. However, having the certification definitely gives you a higher level of job security regardless of how the economy may turn.
So what does this mean if you are not certified yet? It means you should start, or continue, the journey. Work towards your certification regardless of your job situation. Yes, it’s harder if you are having to put in more hours at work, or have even been laid off and are having to look for a new job full-time, but there is no time like the present to get started. It may seem hard now, but your later-self will thank you for it.
If you are not yet certified, get started now. The sooner you do, the faster you will reap the rewards in both promote-ability as well as in job security.
As always, I wish you the best in your career.
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