With 2023 on the horizon, and new committees being elected in November, why not get involved with your regional society? Grace Tighe highlights the benefits of being part of this tight-knit community
As 2022 draws to a close, we look forward to a new year and term for Chartered Accountants Student Societies Ireland (CASSI) regional committees.
In November, CASSI will host regional annual general meetings to elect new committees for 2023. Positions that will be up for grabs vary from Treasurer to Public Relations Officer to Events Officer.
Now is the time to join your regional committee as an ordinary member and maybe move your way up through the ranks over your course to membership.
However, if that doesn't interest you, there are still many great reasons to get involved in a CASSI regional society.
It's fun
The main reason to join CASSI is the fun!
CASSI will allow you to meet new people and try new things. Speaking from personal experience, the CASSI weekend away is one of the year's best events. Being involved in a regional society means you are guaranteed a ticket and can get involved in the organisation of the weekend.
Many other social events, such as team dinners, bowling nights, regional balls and seasonal events, happen every year. They are a great way of making new friends and bonding with your regional team.
Enhance your CV
Employers are looking for people with transferable skills like communication and teamwork. CASSI is the perfect way to improve your leadership abilities, communication skills, collaboration, and confidence.
There's no better way to impress an employer than to show you're willing to get involved, work hard and gain skills outside the workplace.
Every regional society has a team of executives that help organise events, look after their social media, manage finances, and ensure the regional society runs smoothly. Getting into one of these positions is a great way to build experience for your CV.
For example, if you're looking at getting into marketing or pivoting roles after your training contract, being the Public Relations Officer for a CASSI regional division is a great way to start.
Networking
CASSI provides ample opportunities to interact with peers and foster healthy relationships. Meeting people who share your interests widens your social network beyond your course.
CASSI can also be a fantastic platform to meet potential employers by participating in networking events. These connections will be invaluable for you in your future career.
Finally, you will have the opportunity to meet with various people in the Institute who will guide you on your path to membership and beyond.
Diversity
In many cases, CASSI regional committees are made up of diverse groups of students who happen to share a common interest. You can meet different types of people through CASSI – perhaps even a more diverse set of people than you would have previously worked or interacted with.
Enrichment
Being a part of CASSI helps you to gain knowledge, skills and experience in leadership, communication, problem-solving, group development and management, finance, presentation, and public speaking. By becoming a member of CASSI, you will also have an input into decisions that will affect you and other students directly along your path to becoming an ACA.
Keep an eye out on the CASSI social media accounts and your inbox for details of when the regional AGMs will be happening. We look forward to seeing you there!
Grace Tighe is the Chair of CASSI