Guest post: CPA Nelson Soh discusses how a mentors can build confidence and provide career guidance for CPA candidates and CPA graduates.
Guest post by Nelson Soh, CPA
The CPA journey can be both exciting and challenging. But if you find yourself questioning, “Am I on the right path?” it might be worthwhile to seek out a mentor.
Mentors provide support. They share experiences, perspectives, and encouragement when things get tough. Whether you’re just beginning your practical experience or preparing for the Common Final Examination (CFE), having a mentor can make all the difference in building your confidence and career path.
Why Mentors Matter
It’s common to feel overwhelmed. As CPA candidates, there isn’t much time or energy left to build your career or professional aspirations when you’re already balancing work, studies, and (somewhat of) a social life.
Mentors have faced similar challenges. They understand the ups and downs that come with obtaining your CPA designation.
“Mentorship is not about finding full clarity and getting answers. It’s about helping you discover what might be the best path forward for you. Everyone’s journey is different.”
Effective mentorship helps you build confidence, keeps you accountable, and opens doors that you might have overlooked or didn’t even know existed!
How Mentorship Can Help
Mentorship can transform and elevate your CPA experience by offering:
- Career clarity: Mentorship can help you see all of your options and point you in your desired direction, whether deciding between industry and public practice or specializations and long-term career paths.
- Motivation and confidence: Challenges are part of growth, and consistent mentorship helps you through those moments.
- Professional insights: Real-world lessons are the best lessons to learn!
- Networking opportunities: Through mentorship, you’ll come across various networking opportunities. New contacts present additional opportunities to expand your circle and increase your career potential.
Where and How to Find a Mentor
I remember being scared and nervous when asking my first mentor for mentorship support. What if they say no? What if they think I’m not good enough? I quickly realized how excited they were to help! Since then, I’ve had and continue to have many different mentors.
Some great places to find a mentor include:
- LinkedIn: Reach out to those who inspire you. A simple, respectful message can go a long way.
- Workplace or employer programs: Many organizations offer in-house/internal mentorship programs.
- Volunteer and community groups: It’s very common to meet passionate professionals who are willing to help through volunteering and community groups.
- CPA events: Attending local networking or student events is a great way to build connections. You never know who you might meet.
What to Ask Your Mentor
Coming prepared with thoughtful questions helps you make the most out of mentorship. It also helps to do some background research about your mentor so you can ask relevant and insightful questions.
You might ask:
- What do you wish you knew when you were a CPA candidate?
- How did you decide which career path to take?
- What are some things you do to help you maintain a good work-life balance?
- What was it like working at your company, and what is one thing you learned there?
- What skill should I be developing now for the future?
The best mentorship conversations I’ve had are always two-way. I asked questions, but also shared my goals and challenges. Being open and vulnerable helped my mentor guide me in ways that aligned with my situation.
How to Become a Mentor
CPAs: Your experiences are lessons worth sharing. Becoming a mentor doesn’t mean you have all the answers. It means being willing to listen, share, and support someone else’s journey. Whether you mentor a CPA candidate, a new CPA, or a colleague, your mentorship efforts help strengthen the entire CPA community.
You can start small! Share insights with coworkers, volunteer at student events, or participate in CPA mentorship programs. Giving back keeps the cycle of learning, growing, and leadership alive. Attending networking and volunteering events are also a great way to match with a mentee.
So, take the first step. Reach out, ask questions, and keep learning!
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