What Can I Do with my Accounting Diploma?

Do you have a passion for crunching numbers? Do you consider yourself a math whiz?

Sure, you have the educational backing to answer yes to the questions above, but you can’t help but wonder what exactly it is that you want to do with your diploma.

You wonder if you be chained at your desk with a calculator constantly adding, subtracting, diving and multiplying to ensure your employer isn’t over budget? I highly doubt your career will be that mundane. While working with numbers will certainly be part in your role, it won’t be the sole part.

The Career Hunt

When you’re on the hunt and searching for your perfect career, find an employer that you like and a work culture you feel comfortable with, this is most important.

The beauty about accounting is that every company requires or will require a financial specialist. Whether the company is highly established or a small start up, your knowledge with accounting and money management will prove to be beneficial.

Where to Work

So you got a diploma in Business Accounting , but you don't want to get a certification. Your career options are not limited. There are plenty of options out there to choose from:

• Analysis
• Real estate
• Management
• Statistics
• Corporate training
• Purchasing
• Media
• Hospitality

Accounting grads have numerous skills, no pun intended. Beside the obvious financial skills, you as graduates also have great communications, software and analytical skills that are essential for career success.

Good luck on the job hunt!

About the School of Business

Centennial’s School of Business offers over 30 different dynamic programs to build your business skills and develop innovative thinking. Whether you want to study for one semester or three years, we can offer co-op placements, work-integrated learning placements, and multiple Degree partnerships. We offer opportunities that will get you the hands on skills and accreditation that you need to build a successful career in an ever-changing world of business.

The School of Business prides itself on providing employers with graduates who have relevant and cutting edge skills. To continue to stay ahead of the competition, Centennial maintains close ties with the community, business organizations and alumni.

Advertising isn’t a passion. It’s a calling.

An advertising account manager divides his or her work into two core elements, project management and client relationship management. Balancing between the agency to produce advertisements while meeting client expectations is all in a days work.

You will build a rapport with your clients that will help not only you, but the advertising agency stand apart from the competition based on trust, design and market knowledge.

Three reasons why this job rocks

1. Knowledge – You will be working with a wide array of brands from start-ups to internationally known names. Regardless of popularity, you will learn different tactics and strategies depending on the brand/product in efforts to appeal to a mass market. You will also learn how to effectively use mediums such as electronic, print and television as modes of persuasion.
2. Influence - Imagine having the power to shape the way an advertisement is produced? Imagine playing a vital role in the creative component of a print piece? Listen to clients and write briefs based on the contents of your meetings and discussions. Your team will first learn of the project and it’s specific details from you. You set the direction and shape the outcome.
3. Results - As a advertising account manager, you will want to make sure you see the tangible results. Such as, where you able to double the sales of the client? The biggest reward is all your efforts and those of your team shown via your client’s success.

Good traits to have

• Honesty
• Determination
• Focus
• Willingness to learn
• Take Criticism
• Loyalty
• Team Spirit

Sounds good! What educational background will I need?

This will prepare you for the client service area of the integrated marketing and communications industry.

Not only will a team of seasoned professionals mentor you as you acquire new skills and confidence for the industry, but you will also have the opportunity to apply your know- how to the real world. This is the only post-graduate offering of its kind in Canada to offer a 14-week field placement in the marketing communications field.

Companies offering jobs

Companies that have hired graduates of this School of Communications, Media and Design program include: Agency 59, Anderson DDB, Anomaly, BBDO/Proximity, Canadian Tire, Cossette Communications, Cundari, Draftfcb, J. Walter Thompson, Juniper Park, Leo Burnett, MacLaren McCann, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Young & Rubicam.

If you like creating, planning, managing and working in collaborative teams, this School of Communications, Media and Design program is for you.

See what awaits you at Centennial College.

Do you see yourself working in a hands-on field? Have you thought of perusing a trade?

The trades are an ever-growing field that will always need new hires to join the field. One specific area of growth is Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Learn and become an expert in maintaining building environment systems for residence and commercial sectors. During the two-year program, you will learn how to design, operate and maintain environmental systems, in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R). Centennial College’s instructors are trained professionals who are passionate about their line of work and will help you not only familiarize yourself with industry standards but also ensure you are job ready.

Students practice how to install and service heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, all under the supervision of licensed professors,. Along with installation and everything from wiring to circuiting, students learn how to use design software which enables them to develop HVAC drawings.

Program Highlights

• Among the specific topics with which you will become familiar in the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Technician program will be: the use of new refrigerants, set up of equipment to meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards, the efficiency standards for heating equipment, and more.
• This School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science offering prides itself on having you learn by doing. As such, you will practice how to install and service heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems under the supervision of licensed professors.

Career Outlook

• Helper
• Heating and cooling mechanic
• Maintenance Personnel
• Sales Representative
• Service Representative

Areas of Employment

There are a number of employment areas in which you will be able to launch a career. Among them are:

• Heating
• Refrigeration
• Sales and service
• Design
• Technical support
• Maintenance and installation
• Residential, commercial, institutional and industrial settings

At Centennial your classroom is our lab. You will spend your time learning and practicing. We are certain after a few classes, you’ll get the hang of it.

Having second thoughts about your future? You’re not alone

If you’re reading this, you’re probably experiencing some level of uncertainty about your future. Let me start by telling you you’re not alone. In fact, according to an American study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an estimated 75 per cent of students will change their course of study at least once. Personally, I changed mine three times before finding my way, so don’t panic.

Figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life is a major decision, and one you shouldn’t take lightly. Unfortunately it’s something most students may have felt “forced” into deciding, either by their parents, peers, media, or some other influence. For others, it may have been more retrospective: realizing the program you were passionate about at first just wasn’t what you thought it’d be. And really, how certain can you actually be in deciding what career is the right one for you out of the thousands of different jobs out there?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with changing your mind about your future. We grow, we change and we continue to learn more about ourselves with each passing day. We build and develop personal values, goals and aspirations in life that may not necessarily be career-oriented, but might affect the type of career that suits our lifestyle and who we really are.

Students change their mind for a variety of reasons. I’ve heard about nursing students changing their minds because of a newly-realized phobia of seeing blood. Sometimes it’s for the simple reason that your heart just isn’t in it. And who can fault you for being true to yourself?

There are a couple of things to consider before making the decision to leave your current program:

• Determining the best time to withdraw: You can certainly withdraw any time you wish, however there are two dates you’re going to want to be aware of. The first, and earliest in the semester is the withdraw deadline for obtaining a partial refund. This is usually about the second week of classes. The second date occurs about two months into the semester, and is the withdraw deadline to avoid academic penalty. If you drop your program or course on or before this date there is no refund, but the courses and applicable grades won’t be added to your official student record.
• Sticking it out for classes that will help you down the road: There are a number of courses that you might need in a future program, such as college communications, global citizenships, mathematics and general electives. If you can find it in you to finish courses like these, it’ll definitely be worth it as you won’t need to take them again in another program you pursue.

You’re also going to need to make a plan for what you’re going to do next. To help find your calling, here are a couple of tips:

• Speak with a college advisor: Centennial College offers support services in helping students and potential students make well-informed decisions on educational programs and courses consistent with your career goals and personal values. Advisors offer great perspective and in-depth knowledge on what’s available at the college and can act as a guide to the types of courses that might best suit your needs.
• Talk to current professionals: In order to get a true sense of what a career in a certain field will be like, try reaching out to those currently working in those areas. They could be a relative, someone you play basketball with or a friend of a friend. Utilize LinkedIn by taking advantage of your connections and who they might know. Or you could reach out to a professor in the program to see what they might suggest. Most professors will have worked, or are still working in the industry you’re interested in, so they might be able to offer first-hand information and advice.
• Career counselling: If you’re currently enrolled at the college or are a graduate looking for assistance, Centennial provides career counselling through the Career Services and Co-operative Education centre. They put on a number of workshops and events, in addition to providing individual support. In order to help get you on the right track, counsellors might use a variety of assessment tools and customized career-coaching techniques.
• Self-Reflection: Sometimes taking the time to think about the things you did and didn’t like about the program you left (or are about to leave) can help you narrow your options. One exercise that worked for me was a writing exercise in which I put down on paper all the things I like, and to keep writing until I couldn’t think of anymore. It ranged from types of sports and animals to foods I like and songs that moved me. It didn’t matter how weird the combination got because I was essentially putting “me” on paper. When I felt I had an exhaustive list, it was time to analyze the results. I connected the proverbial dots, grouped some items together and looked at the common themes. For me, I realized I’m outgoing, creative, enjoy writing, and am a major “people person” (among other things). My new task was to search out a career that fit ME and not the other way around. For me, the answer was public relations. Maybe it’ll work for you, maybe it won’t, but it's a start.

Whatever you decide to do, remember the decision is yours to make. Only you can determine what’s truly important in your life, so if your heart’s just not in it, take action and do what you need to do. Remember to take advantage of key dates and courses, take the time to reflect and go after your passion. No one can hold you back except yourself.