Be a firewalker or a jet pack pilot!

The traditional image of the accountant as a dusty old bean counter is changing fast.
On the 27th of September, fifty of them are literally walking across fire to raise money for charity.

Even so, I was surprised at the latest student recruitment campaign from the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Last year, they had their biggest student intake ever, so existing campaigns were obviously working. However the Institute has obviously decided to move towards a more modern image. (Full disclosure, I’m a member of the Institute and Quo Vadis Solutions are currently in discussions with the Institute on career guidance services).

The new approach reflects the more positive aspects of our current economic climate. Colleges, professional organisations and employers all have to chase potential high quality candidates. Compared to the dark 80’s when my employer kicked us trainees out of his office because we’d dared to ask for the Institute recommended salary. His response was

“You used to have to pay for articles(training with a specific employer) and that’s coming back!”

So I think it’s great that these days people have so much choices, even if it does make life more complicated.

Anyhow, the current radically new recruitment campaign is a thirty second video of a carton character with a back pack which is jet powered. (see the video below) He rapidly alters appearance depending on the industry he’s working in. I showed it to a few teenagers and they all thought it made accountancy seem appealing. Only one complaint from the rabid business hating teenager, (my own daughter ) that the accountancy end with the logo was dull!

The ad will appear on TV stations like MTV, in cinemas, online and radio over the next six weeks.
It’s interesting the ad is aimed directly at students themselves, rather than at the parents who often have a huge influence on career choices.
Parents often encourage their children to do “safe” careers like accountancy so perhaps the Institute feel they don’t need to encourage the parents any more.
What ever the reason, it’s better if students make their own decisions on their own careers.
I always remember one fellow trainee, with a Dad who was an accountancy firm partner. The poor guy kept failing his accountancy exams and he was not cut out for the work. He always seemed to be miserable. Yet you just had to look at the ever present doodles on his books to see this guy had amazing artistic ability and a huge interest in this area.

So yes accountancy is a great career, if your personality and abilities match the job requirements. If you’re interested though, do the research. It’s not just about an ability with numbers!

You’ll find further student information from the main accountancy institutes listed below.

You can see the recruitment video by clicking below.







Student Information on Accountancy
websites.
ACA

CIMA

ACCA

Keywords
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