In this podcast episode, leadership coach Jen Campbell outlines the skills that help early-career CPAs advance and thrive.
Landing your first professional role is challenging. In one recent survey, 81% of Canadian hiring managers said that entry-level jobs now require candidates to possess more skills than in the past. For new CPAs, this can mean developing skills beyond technical expertise, such as influence and relationship building. We caught up with leadership coach Jen Campbell to explore the skills needed to help early-career CPAs accelerate their career growth. Here are her top tips.
What’s one skill that can make a big difference early in a CPA’s career?
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a skill that will impact your career growth. EQ refers to your ability to use, understand, and manage your emotions. Strong EQ enables you to empathize with others, stay calm in stressful situations, resolve conflict effectively, and improve your overall performance.
Hear from Jen Campbell at her session, Seven Skills to Accelerate Your Career, offered as part of the Level Up: Career Catalyst Series that is designed to help early-career CPAs thrive.
I’ve seen talented new professionals who were held back from promotions or passed over for projects because they demonstrated poor EQ. Maybe they reacted inappropriately to situations, didn’t read the room in the right manner, or had trouble connecting and interacting with others.
The good news is that EQ can be developed, and one way to get started is to become more self-aware. Ask yourself:
- How do I react under pressure?
- How do I act on feedback?
- How does my communication style affect others?
Reflecting on these questions can help you become more mindful of how your emotions affect your behaviour and impact your colleagues.
How can new CPAs build influence?
Conversations are some of the first opportunities you will have in your career to build influence. One way to increase the value of your conversations and make them more influential is to prepare ahead of time. Be ready to ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully to the answers. Focus on expressing yourself clearly and concisely.
Meetings are also excellent opportunities to learn how to have influential conversations. Pay attention to:
- who influences outcomes and the strategies they use;
- how decisions are made;
- what helps move discussions forward or halts them; and
- the questions being asked – try thinking of the next best question, even if you don’t have the chance to ask it.
Strong note-taking can also help build your influence. While AI can take notes, your own ability to effectively summarize decisions and action items gives you better insights and adds value to the people in the room. As your understanding of workplace dynamics grows, you’ll become better positioned to contribute your own insights and ideas.
What’s your advice to new CPAs who feel uncomfortable with networking?
Many people think networking means attending large events and making small talk with strangers. However, I like to think of it as simply getting to know people. Instead of thinking, “I’ve got to make a connection with these people,” ask yourself, “Who are the people I would like to get to know?”
Online platforms are a great way to build the volume of your network, but it’s important to make in-person connections. A good place to start is with your peers. Along with the connection itself, having solid relationships with coworkers can boost productivity and creativity. Your peers will also evolve in their careers and become leaders, clients, or business partners – so get to know them. Ask questions, find common ground and interests, and be willing to share information about yourself.
What’s one of the biggest obstacles to a CPA’s career advancement?
Not having a growth mindset. This could mean being unwilling to learn or accept mistakes or being unreceptive to new ideas or opportunities. It is important to know that there will always be different perspectives and new information that you can learn from and use to further your development. Humility is also part of a growth mindset. You need to be willing to ask questions and be open to learning something new.
What’s one action someone could take today to accelerate their career?
Define your personal brand. There are many talented new CPAs, so what sets you apart? To start defining your personal brand, ask yourself:
- What do I contribute that’s unique?
- How do I offer to help?
- What strengths do I bring to my team?
- What do people know me for?
- Am I visible? Who do I know and who knows me?
As a new CPA, understanding your personal brand can help you become more intentional about your career development by identifying existing strengths to build on and areas that need development.
Any final thoughts?
Career growth doesn’t happen because of a single skill or achievement. Be willing to learn new things, meet new people, and explore projects or scenarios that challenge you. These experiences will support your development and lead to new opportunities.
Leah Giesbrecht is a communications specialist at CPABC.
