By Hannah Dolan CareerHow do I know what career path to take?12 Jul 2022 Being confused about what career path to take is nothing unusual. But for those faced with this quandary, it can be frustrating. Here, one careers expert tells us how to make this decision easier.Ask yourself the following questions “It’s not the end of the world if you don’t know what to do,” says Kate Campbell, associate director at financial recruitment company, Michael Page. She suggests thinking about: What motivates you the most – earning money or job satisfaction? Would you prefer working for a corporate firm or a start-up? Do you want to “give something back”? If so, working for a charity or non-profit might suit you. What are your strengths and weaknesses? For example, if you’re a data-driven person, then a career in analysis might be for you. Consider working for a practice “Working in practice is a great way to develop a broad package of experience and strong technical skills,” Kate says. “And because you’ll be working for a variety of different clients, and you’ll be exposed to so many different tasks, you can work out what you enjoy the most. It’s here where you could discover you really enjoy double-entry bookkeeping or audit, for example. Or maybe the experience of meeting clients will lead you towards a more people-facing role.” Think about growth areas in accountancy “The pandemic has made businesses realise they can’t function without their accountants, which means the finance market is buoyant at the moment and businesses are investing in accountancy,” Kate explains. “There’s likely to be many roles available in cash flow forecasting, data analysis, credit control and payroll in coming years – all jobs that accountants can do.” It’s OK if it doesn’t work out Don’t panic if your first career or job choice doesn’t work out, urges Kate. “Remember – there’s no such thing as a job-for-life anymore and it’s not unusual for people to have many jobs during a lifetime (one 2015 study estimated the average person will have 12 jobs before the age of 50). Also, recruitment companies such as Michael Page are always happy to advise AAT students, whether it’s helping making your CV look good, or letting you know what roles are available.” Don’t be tempted by glamorous jobs You need to want to do the job itself, explains Kate. “We advertise for industry accountancy roles at the likes of Manchester United, but even if you’re the world’s biggest Man U fan, you’d need to want to do the role itself,” she says. “Don’t be afraid of applying for an accountant’s job at a toilet roll firm, just because you don’t like toilet rolls – you could get some great experience.” Further reading:Modern Finance Roles – Business Transformation ManagerModern finance roles: Finance Transformation ManagerExpert advice for every stage of your career Hannah Dolan is AAT Comment’s Content Editor.