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Trench Life

A blog for young professionals navigating careers in the trenches!

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career guidance

When’s the last time you prioritised yourself?

May 3, 2022 by Mark Atkinson 2 Comments

Prioritise yourself - young professional services

As a young professional, you know that working in professional services is tough. It's hard work and it can feel super draining. Every slavery analogy you see on audit/consulting subreddits gets you one step closer to handing in your resignation and trying to become a travel blogger from a beach in Singapore. I get it, I’ve lived it. Now, time for two wildly unpopular … [Read more...] about When’s the last time you prioritised yourself?

Taking the Leap of Faith – Why You Should Live Overseas for a Year

September 22, 2021 by Mark Atkinson 1 Comment

Travel - leap of faith - moving overseas

Travel has a way of bringing great fulfilment to our lives. If you've ever traveled to another country, you've broadened your horizons somewhat already. You may have experienced a radically different culture in India. Your palate might have been treated to some tantalising Spanish tapas. Perhaps your eyes have feasted on grandiose architecture in Paris, or maybe your emotions … [Read more...] about Taking the Leap of Faith – Why You Should Live Overseas for a Year

Tomorrow Is Too Late – 3 Critical Lifestyle Reminders for Young Professionals

August 10, 2021 by Christine Marais 5 Comments

Walk and talk - young professional lifestyle

The beauty of this blog is that it allows you to learn from others’ mistakes before you make them yourself.  Here are 3 things I’ve done, learned the hard way, and am still learning as a young professional navigating the big, big world. 1. Your future starts NOW  Often while we are in the trenches the future seems like a distant dream. We’re young, wild, and … [Read more...] about Tomorrow Is Too Late – 3 Critical Lifestyle Reminders for Young Professionals

Mentors that Matter: Finding the Right Mentor at Work

July 12, 2021 by Mark Atkinson Leave a Comment

Mentors that matter: Finding the right mentor at work

I’m a firm believer in the thought that a single conversation can change your life. I keep this in mind when I am coaching others, and I do my best to align myself with mentors in my career with whom I find I have impactful conversations more regularly. Sadly, when most of us are allocated a team leader/coach in our organisations, we end up disappointed. We hope for someone … [Read more...] about Mentors that Matter: Finding the Right Mentor at Work

How to Not Suck as a Leader

July 8, 2021 by Mark Atkinson 2 Comments

Becoming a leader - how to not suck as a leader

4 ways for new managers to overcome imposter syndrome and win team support It could be that the term “imposter syndrome” was designed for the points in time when we first become leaders. I can’t keep a pot plant alive but, hey, the world deemed it okay for me to manage teams of high achievers. I can’t always be sure of what day of the week it is but we’re all okay … [Read more...] about How to Not Suck as a Leader

5 Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier About Serving Articles

July 4, 2021 by Christine Marais 6 Comments

Climbing out of the trenches - from the bottom up - audit articles

The path to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) is challenging, to say the least.  Looking back at my time during articles* I often think back to things I would have liked to have done differently or maybe even the things that I did do that have greatly benefited my career. So here are 5 things I wish I had known during life in the trenches.  *” Articles” … [Read more...] about 5 Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier About Serving Articles

Preparing for Busy Season: “Nobody’s Going to Die” and 5 Other Tips

June 27, 2021 by Mark Atkinson Leave a Comment

Busy season: Studio shot of young woman working in office covered with adhesive notes

Sleep deprivation, zero social life, eating all the junk food, constantly questioning your career choices; if you’re a young professional working in professional services, you know the busy season struggle. The good news is there are a few things you can do to dominate your busy season and still find time for yourself. Each year, I train young professionals who are making … [Read more...] about Preparing for Busy Season: “Nobody’s Going to Die” and 5 Other Tips

The Fresh-Off-the-Boat Approach to Networking

June 19, 2021 by Mark Atkinson Leave a Comment

Fresh off the boat networking

What I’ve learned about networking and making friends from starting fresh and not knowing anybody on 3 different continents ‘Networking’ has become one of those gag words. There’s a dirty stigma associated with the concept: a stigma that implies networking is only for MLM ghouls or people who have nothing to give and everything to ask. Sometimes, however, networking is … [Read more...] about The Fresh-Off-the-Boat Approach to Networking

Interview: This man went back to audit after 5 years in industry – would you?

March 16, 2021 by Mark Atkinson Leave a Comment

Changing careers - nervous excitement

If you’ve worked in audit, you’ve heard a million stories about people who have left the public accounting/auditing world for industry, in search of better pay and fewer hours. But how many accountants have you heard of who left for industry, rose up the ranks, and then left it all to go back to auditing (no doubt taking a reasonable pay cut in the process)? Meet Ruan … [Read more...] about Interview: This man went back to audit after 5 years in industry – would you?

You and your firm: Are you getting as much as they’re taking?

September 21, 2020 by Mark Atkinson Leave a Comment

Get as much from your firm as they're taking - business tug of war

It’s no secret that professional services firms - especially public accounting and law firms - demand a lot from their employees. It’s also common knowledge that, as a young professional working in these firms, you’re unlikely to be paid as much your friends who’ve gone out into industry. So why do people even bother working in professional services? They do it because there’s … [Read more...] about You and your firm: Are you getting as much as they’re taking?

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  • When’s the last time you prioritised yourself?
  • “Why doesn’t my manager listen to me?” – Communicating better with your managers
  • 3 Popular Career Myths – Fact or Fairytale?
  • Taking the Leap of Faith – Why You Should Live Overseas for a Year
  • 5 Ways to Manage Without Micromanaging: Avoid Being a Nightmare Leader

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