As a trainee Chartered Accountant, success isn’t just about passing exams and gaining work experience—it’s about building connections, honing soft skills and finding balance. Becky Maye, CASSI PRO, explains how your regional student society can help you grow personally and professionally through events, networking and community support
As trainee accountants, our main focus is on studying hard, passing our exams and gaining practical experience.
While these are undoubtedly important aspects of your professional development, you must also develop your soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership and networking, which are essential for your career progression and personal growth.
One of the best ways to do this is to join your local student society and attend its events.
Your regional student society is a platform to connect with your peers, share your challenges and successes, learn from each other and have fun. It is also a way to access valuable resources like mentoring, guidance, support and opportunities.
By joining your local student society, you become part of a community that can help you achieve your goals and enhance your well-being.
Each regional society, as well as CASSI, organises events throughout the year designed to cater to your interests, needs and preferences. These events range from social to educational, casual to formal, and local to national. They offer you the chance to meet new people, make friends, network with professionals, learn new skills, explore new places and enjoy yourself.
Some of the past events your student society has organised include:
- Webinars: Throughout the year, CASSI, along with Barden, have presented a variety of webinars to help students with all aspects of their careers. These webinars allow great insights on how to navigate coming out of contract, working abroad or career advice from the Barden experts.
- Pub quizzes: These are a great way to test your general knowledge, laugh and bond with other students. They are also a good opportunity to relax after a long day of work or study and unwind with a drink and a snack.
- Brunches: These are a delicious way to start your day, especially on weekends. They are also a good opportunity to catch up with fellow students, share your plans and goals, and get tips and advice.
- Day trips and hikes: These are a fun way to discover new attractions, cultures and experiences. They are also a good opportunity to broaden your horizons, get active, clear your mind and create memories.
- Coffee mornings and catch-ups during study leave: These are a convenient way to take a break from your revision, recharge your energy and chat with your friends. They are also a good opportunity to motivate each other, exchange tips and tricks and solve any doubts or queries.
- The CASSI weekend away: This is the highlight of the year where you get to spend a whole weekend with all the regional student societies who come together in a different location. Over the weekend, students enjoy various daytime activities and, of course, the black-tie ball. This is a great opportunity to celebrate your achievements, reward yourself for your hard work and have a blast.
It is also worth noting that during these events, we raised huge amounts of money for Jigsaw, our charity partner for the year! It was amazing to give back while also enjoying our time together.
Joining your regional student society and attending its events can bring you many personal and professional benefits.
You can gain knowledge, skills, confidence, connections, support and happiness while having a lot of fun, which is important for your mental health and well-being.
So, what are you waiting for? Join your student society today, and don't miss out on the next event.
Keep an eye out for details of these events on our various social media accounts!
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