Have you given your CA Foundation Exam and are waiting for your results? If yes, then your immediate concern would be about what to do next! Well, some people would prefer to enjoy this time after all the hard work they've done in the past. However, some students can’t remain unproductive and want to hone their skills. This post will apprise you of the various things that you can do during your free time right after the exams.
1. Get yourself acquainted with Excel and Powerpoint
These two tools are going to be your life savior throughout your corporate career. You are going to work on large excel files including hundreds of rows and columns along with ample presentations. So, try to learn the shortcuts and various functions of the two programs and make sure to minimize the use of the mouse while working on these two applications. A lot of youtube channels provide free content on the same.
2. Get the hang of Financial Modeling
There are numerous courses of Financial Modelling available online. Financial modeling is the process of creating a summary of a company's expenses and earnings in the form of a spreadsheet that can be used to calculate the impact of a future event or decision. This will not only help you to analyze the company's growth but also understand both Audit and Stock Markets in a better way.
3. Learn how to invest in the stock market
Being a CA student, the curiosity of investing in financial markets is inherent. However, it is no cakewalk and requires concentration, skills, and time. Warren Buffett said, “I made my first investment at the age of eleven. I was wasting my life up until then”. Following the words of this Investing guru, try to learn about stock markets and start investing in it.
4. Focus on your communication skills
While in articleship, a CA student has to communicate with a number of clients from a variety of industries and give specialized services to their specific needs. You may get a chance to talk to the Promoters or the CFOs of the company and if you leave a good impression on them, then it might lead to future job opportunities after clearing CA. So having a strong command on English is definitely the need of the hour.
5. Start Reading
Reading enhances your vocabulary and supplements your knowledge of how to use the words correctly. Reading helps you articulate what you want to express. The knowledge you gain from reading can be an icebreaker when you're meeting unknown people. Inculcate the habit of reading Newspapers, articles, and novels on a regular basis.
6. Start preparing for CA Intermediate
If you are fully confident about clearing your CA Foundation exam and are planning to give both groups of the CA Intermediate after 9 months of your results, then you can add these 2 months in your study time and start taking classes of at least 2 subjects which will reduce your burden, put more time on your watch and, last but not the least, give you an edge over other candidates.