Co-op vs Cadetship (1 Viewer)

[201055]

Completely new fields? We're talking about accounting at the end of the day.

You can talk about accounting all you want, but the name 'accountant' is a general term (which is why people choose other names like financial analyst over 'accountant' because it sounds better). Either way, you're going to have to choose to specialise in a particular FIELD- auditing, tax, banking, etc. That's the fields i'm referring to.

As for say, a finance-related field, I don't see why a co-op grad with a couple of accounting work placements would have an inherent advantage over somebody who has spent 2 years auditing banks.

If you refer back to my original explanation, i said: "co-op grad will have greater flexibility to enter into completely new fields depending on interest, but when competing directly with a cadet in their organisation will tend to rise up the ladder slower than the cadet".

A cadet also has the option of calling it quits after their 2 years of work (or really, at any time) leaving open the possibility of studying a double-degree or pursuing vacation work in a completely different field. I think the flexibility is always there.

I agree that yes, a cadet does have the flexibility to do such things, but looking it empirically when contrasted with a co-op, you would have to agree the co-op has the greater flexibility? I'm not saying a cadet has absolutely no flexibility (I mean, some cadets are trying for co-ops this year!), all i'm doing is offering a comparison.

I don't think its fair to say cadetships limit your career opportunities (what you imply) when a problem across the big4 is post-CA staff retainment!

I don't think i was referring to career opportunities. I was referring to the speed a person will rise within the organisation, and i think i did mention a cadet will rise more faster in their own organisation than co-op grads. And i think it'll be reasonable to say a cadet who chooses to join another organisation will be faced with the problems any grad would face?

 

[miss-smexy]

You can choose to accept the cadetship first (Sometime July/ August), but drop out later in favour of the co-op or any other course. All they'll do is give you the dirties

Lol that doesn't sound great XD
Even if it isn't a sponsor firm of the co-op, you can accept conditionally?

 

[seremify007]

I don't think i was referring to career opportunities. I was referring to the speed a person will rise within the organisation, and i think i did mention a cadet will rise more faster in their own organisation than co-op grads. And i think it'll be reasonable to say a cadet who chooses to join another organisation will be faced with the problems any grad would face?

That is my understanding- with the exception of applying for the same field but in a different firm (e.g. audit in another Big4 whereby the ex-cadet will join as as a senior accountant and lead the audit team), a cadet is in the same boat as a coop when it comes to applying for a graduate role in any other company in terms of not having much knowledge on the new work and thus requiring training whereby the only real advantage is the work experience on the resume. The other exception to this of course would be if the cadet did a secondment to a client and then continued to work there as a grad... but this isn't common.

In all fairness, both coops and cadets, if they are applying for a position in any area apart from where they worked previously, will have to do the required training and will be entering at a normal graduate level. That's my understanding. What do you think of my wording of that?

 

[201055]

That is my understanding- with the exception of applying for the same field but in a different firm (e.g. audit in another Big4 whereby the ex-cadet will join as as a senior accountant and lead the audit team), a cadet is in the same boat as a coop when it comes to applying for a graduate role in any other company in terms of not having much knowledge on the new work and thus requiring training whereby the only real advantage is the work experience on the resume. The other exception to this of course would be if the cadet did a secondment to a client and then continued to work there as a grad... but this isn't common.

In all fairness, both coops and cadets, if they are applying for a position in any area apart from where they worked previously, will have to do the required training and will be entering at a normal graduate level. That's my understanding. What do you think of my wording of that?

*bump*

 

[Aryanbeauty]

I don't understand this whole cadet and co-op thing. Is it a requirement for CA or to work in accounting firms? For example can you get a job with a degree plus this cadet or co-op thing at those accounting firm? Is nt CPA or CA a requirement for those firms?

I noticed that CA requires 26 weeks work experience, I plan to work during the next holiday season and then work again to get the required 26 weeks work experience after graduation in June next year then go straight to CA. It might be idiotic but thats possible is nt it?

 

[Vagabond]

Err I'm pretty sure CA is more than 26 weeks. Wasn't it about 2 years?

You can work for accounting firms (even CA ones) straight away but you won't be qualified.

Cadetships = foot in the door faster in a certain company
Co-ops = work experience placements at various firms

Neither are requirements of CA but are great ways to start a career towards one.

I hope thats what you were asking?

 

[seremify007]

I think CA requirements were shortened considerably to make it easier for more people to apply... and the requirement is there so that you can't start working at a firm and commence CA immediately- you need to fulfill work experience requirements before you can start your studies.

 

[Aryanbeauty]

lol by 26 weeks i meant the work experience required to do CA course. Yes CA is about 2 yrs course.