Chartered Accountancy (CA) is one of the highly prestigious and paid professions. There are aspirants who clear the exam within a short span of time and there are who take years to complete the same. But what happens once the coveted “CA” title is achieved? Does the reality of the profession match the expectations of young aspirants? This is a serious question to be addressed.
The responses to this question reflect a strong sense of pride and fulfilment in becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA), with many addressing the profession’s benefits, opportunities for personal growth, and financial stability.
However, a few dissenting voices offer a contrasting perspective, pointing to challenges, such as burnout, high-pressure environments, and unmet expectations. These diverse viewpoints may find the CA journey rewarding and satisfaction may vary differently on individuals.
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RESPONSES OF YOUNG CAs
One CA anonymously acknowledged that he regrets becoming a CA. Now he became a tutor for living. According to his post-completion of the course, he did not get any offer due to the worst experience in his articleship training. He strongly opined in quora that “ICAI should restrict such firm from training articles which does not have enough client, knowledge and resource”.
The articleship part is crucial for CA aspirants. When you do articleship under a CA who has sufficient clients and knowledge, it would be better for the future. The young CA claimed that he did not get that exposure and knowledge during his training period which consequently affected post-completion of the course.
Further he shared that “I somehow managed to get job at small tax consultant where I worked for 2 years for 15k pm but was frustrated hence i quit. and then i shifted to midsize audit firm where i was paid 30k pm and worked for 7 month.
The reason for leaving this firm was, I did not have previous audit exposure and my manager was not guiding on my queries/difficulties, He just said don’t waste my time if you don’t know just resign.
Again i got frustrated and depressed. I’m currently unemployed from past 2 years daily fighting with my depression. I have come from non educated family where I neither have contacts nor guidance. Some of you would be thinking this is not the real answer but guys trust me I’m writing this to share my bitter experience and how articleship firm selection is vital.”
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The articleship training is directly linked to the career. His intention of sharing his experience that the aspirants should do their training in a better place and also the ICAI has to regulate the same. Due to the bad experience during the training, he becoming CA caused him to regret the same.
Most responses from CAs are positive. Many showed their satisfaction and pride showing how earning the prestigious “CA” title has not only been a personal turning point but also a source of immense pride for their families.
For some, becoming a CA was a childhood dream, while others entered on this path without any clue in life. There are also those who pursued it due to familial expectations or pressure. Despite these varied beginnings, the shared sentiment among most is a genuine appreciation for what their journey has brought them professionally and personally.
POSITIVE RESPONSES
One young CA responded in quora that “Winners never quit. Quitters never win.” According to him “Only those who have had the privilege of adding those two letters before the name can actually say that the question is ridiculous.”
He added that “We spend almost half a decade, sometimes even more, working hard continuously for hours. We don’t sleep properly for months. We keep sitting and studying with almost 50 books of all subjects together and sometimes cover the whole syllabus one day before the exam.
During exam, writing our heart out with sweat on the forehead and hands, we give in everything. And then finally waiting for the result day to just see a PASS.
This degree gives you a respectable place in the society and believe me, eventually everyone gets proper post qualification opportunity. So no guys , no one can regret being a CA. For all those students out there. Work hard guys . Nothing is impossible.”
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Young Chartered Accountants ( CAs ) who have no regrets about their career choice often say that the challenges were worth it. Despite the countless sleepless nights and the gruelling hard work, many believe that their efforts have paid off both professionally and financially.
For these CAs, the journey is diverse, opening doors to various roles beyond traditional practice. With time, many find themselves thriving in multinational corporations, consulting firms, or even venturing into specialised areas of finance and management. Some start their careers in accounting firms and later shift to their own practice, identifying new opportunities.
On the other hand, for some, the demanding aspects of the job take a toll. Burnout is a common concern, with high-pressure deadlines, complex regulations, and long hours often leading to mental health struggles. Many CAs have taken to public platforms to voice concerns about work-life balance and the stress that accompanies their roles. While the rewards can be substantial, the sacrifices required are equally significant, leading some to question if the journey was worth it.
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