Whatever the adversities that come your way, a successful career and an opportunity to make a name for yourself - are commonly the things that we all aspire towards. And as anyone who has set their sights on a goal will know - failure and frustration are a part of the package. The ons who succeed, take these in their stride and strive on. We at Edugraph got into a candid chat with the career coach Nidhi Nagori to hear her incredible story as well as to get you insider tips for aspiring CA’s, jobs abroad, immigration and a lot more. Read on to find out.
My father worked in a small town and that's where I grew up. I used to stay 3 hours away from Kolkata and everyday it was a 6 hours long journey just from school to home. Everybody has their own struggles and I had mine. Growing up, staying in Kolkata was considered a big dream that one can have in my town and hence for very long I just wanted to have a house in Kolkata when I was growing up. No where did I ever think I would be able to move to the US, see the world and then move to Canada and build 3 homes. But I guess that’s how life works. I completed my CA in India and then I worked for 2 years post qualification to be with my husband. I had a very tough time finding an employer who will be willing to sponsor and that's how my journey started. The first job led to the next job that had me travel the world and then we moved to Canada and then I was able to move to investment banking. I hope with my journey I am able to tell more and more people that it does not matter where you come from as long as you show up everyday and work hard you will definitely get to where you want to be.
2. As the CA results are out what are some of your tips for aspiring CA’s
I think the biggest tip I will like to give them is to chase the right kind of people. I believe thats the mistake I made very early in my own career. The CTC really mattered to me without paying much attention to the role I was being offered and what kind of people I will be working with. In the long run people really matter a lot as today being an immigrant I have been able to do well in my life because I met both right and wrong ones. Both taught me from their experiences and hence I strongly believe that getting to the right kind of people is extremely essential. Though it is difficult to gravitate towards the right people, time and again yet I will like to add that the young generation must be mindful about what kind of people they will be dealing with because most of the time of the day they will be spending at their workplaces. Lastly, I would also like to tell them to be extremely cautious about the role they sign up for to be their best at their workplaces.
3. What according to you are some of the essential characteristics of the right kind of people?
I think one of the biggest qualities of the right person is seeing whether they are looking out for you or not. The interview questions my current MD asked me was more about what do I want from my job and not what the job can get me and that’s what makes me more committed to my job. I would also like to advise that the young job aspirants must try to give more and be committed to excellence. Hence, one should always look for people who help them deliver their best. In the long run, if you like the people you work with things will automatically become much easier. Lastly, the third most important quality is working with people who always remind you to upskill yourselves.
4. With a boom in the global job sector what according to you are some of the essential skills which a job aspirant must have?
Number one is definitely communication skills, and by saying this I do not mean that one needs to have flawless english but they must definitely understand that communication is a two way street. One must make it a point to communicate in a way so that their audience gets them. It could be gestures but at the same time there should also be terminology which differs from time to time. Number two is consistency, one has to be very consistent in their applications which beats everything in the long run. People usually get frustrated after applying for 50 jobs or something and that breaks their game. Be consistent enough to apply for more jobs, understand that by no means is your education not in par with the country and it will definitely convert.
5. How can young people looking for jobs, especially in the finance sector, go about the search?
I think one must have a good linkedin presence, by this I do not mean the person must be constantly posting but ensure that you have a good picture. Having a head shot against a white background works great. There was a Forbes study back in 2016 which stated that 80 percent of the hires that were made really took consideration of the pictures. Apart from this have a good bio, keep in mind that Linkedin is your resume, you applying to jobs is only you letting others view your background but once your profile is updated it can also get noticed that other recruiters. Do not give off your personal information on your profile. Secondly, make a list of the finance recruitment agencies that get incentives in getting one placed. One can look up for recruitment agencies abroad and follow their employees on Linkedin as they keep posting for roles. Incase, one comes across a good role they might be interested in just send them an email and apply for it. Keep in mind that about 80% of the jobs you see on Linkedin are not posted anywhere else, so understand the significance of the platform and apply for jobs.
6. Can someone with a CA degree from India move to and work in a different country? What are some of the challenges they may face and how can they overcome these?
I think that the biggest challenge that one might face is the culture gap. I know it because now I work on the other side of the table and get to interact with the Indian team alot. It is not just limited to the communication gap but also simple things like timeliness. When one works outside they also get to interact with locals who in turn have a culture of their own which might be difficult for one to be a part of. To overcome these challenges one has to be accepting, understanding and fluid to seek help. Talking to other immigrants also helps the most in such cases.
7. What are the most common reasons that people seek global opportunities?
Most of my user base is between 25 to 35 years of age and when I ask them as to why they wanna move out I often get to hear about environment, mental health, working hours, schedule, clean air and water. I think it's just things like that which matters, that people outside really have a balance which makes them want to move out. Lastly, I believe financially also people do extremely well that makes them take this decision.
Being successful in your career gives you endless personal and professional benefits. Big decisions require their own time and effort, and of course the choices one should make should feel right for you.
