Is it "CORRECT" for a Chartered Accountant (CA) to switch career path?

About the post

Hey!!!

Are you a Chartered Accountant working in a traditional profile of audit, taxation, accounting etc. and always feel unsatisfied, exhausted or disinterested with the work? Do you want to move out and expose yourself to newer fields of work? Do you feel hesitant in making a move thinking that all the studies would be a waste? Well in that case, this post might be just what you want.

Introduction

Over the past few years since I started my journey in this course of Chartered Accountancy in 2014, I've met many students & even qualified members who have been very discontented with the work they have been doing. They were either interested towards the upcoming technologies like Blockchains, Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning etc. or were drawn towards the art forms of designing, painting, acting, music, dance or wanted to entrepreneur their way into this world in fields of public speaking, philosophy, marketing and likewise.

However, there was one common thing between all of them. They were resistant. Resistant to giving up their career in traditional roles, the roles which are expected to be performed by a Chartered Accountant. Not because of lack of finance or lack of confidence over their passion but simply for the following reasons:

• They felt all the hard-work and years they put into completing the course would be rendered of no use

• Society would term them as someone who wasted a position (degree or certificate) which could have been used by some other person to carry on the profession

In a way they were somewhat correct in their evaluations as well.

What did I do?

Well, I always tried guiding & supporting them by quoting that the above reasons just do not mean that we should give up our life, interests, passions for the expectations of others, that too when we live in an independent world. Also, should a decision that we made as a minor, when we did not have exposure to the risks and opportunities of the external world, hold the key to the door of your future? A minor does not even have a right to vote for electing the 5-year government, but should it be so powerful to direct the next 60-70 years of an individual?

However, none of the above seem to have worked on them.

Then why this post?

I was recently reading a book called "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel when I came across the following passage:

"We should also come to accept the reality of changing our minds. Some of the most miserable workers I've met are people who stay loyal to a career only because it's the field they picked when deciding on a college major at age 18. When you accept the End of History Illusion, you realize that the odds of picking a job when you're not old enough to drink that you will still enjoy when you're old enough to qualify for Social Security are low."

Then I remembered that - "The world listens to those who succeed", hence I decided to bring some of the examples of CA's who moved beyond the traditional roles and fulfilled their passions and share the above excerpt as well, in the hope to bring those people out of their guilt trip.

1. Shekar Kapoor - He is an actor, director, producer in the Bollywood Cinema.

2. Piyush Goyal - He is the Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India. Leader of House in Rajya Sabha.

3. Sanjay Subramaniam - He is a Carnatic Vocalist and has been in the field of music for over 25 years performing on various stages all over India and World he is also ‘A’ grade Artist in All India Radio.

4. Siddhanth Chaturvedi - He is a Bollywood actor who gained recognition for his role MC Sher in the movie Gully boy alongside Ranveer Singh. He has been a role model for many students to pursue the profession and passion.

5. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala - also known as the Indian Warren Buffet.

6. Subhashini Giridhar - She is a well known Bharatnatyam dancer and performs in various stages across India and abroad.

Above examples have been cited from the post : Chartered Accountants Who Made it Big in Other Fields (caclubindia.com)

Conclusion

As it is evident from the above examples that every one of us faces some dilemma at one time or another - whether to carry on the profession or make a switch. And if you're determined enough and work on your new skills, then you surely are going to be successful and satisfied with the decision you make.

So what do you think? Should we make career switches when such circumstances arises? What would you do? Did you like the post? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading!!!