A career in accounting and finance is extremely lucrative. Over the last few years, the introduction of a new tax regime, the roadmap to achieve a five trillion dollar economy by FY25, the unprecedented rise of homegrown businesses, and many other positive factors have widened the scope as well as opened many opportunities for accounting and finance professionals.
Many students are aspiring to make a career in finance and are taking up online accounting courses in India. But the key to succeeding in the highly competitive domain is to select specialized and trustworthy courses and devote quality time to it and self-study.
Choosing the former is winning half the battle. The other half depends on staying focused, learning the subjects, getting concepts clarified, completing assignments, and preparing for the exams. This blog post discusses the eight tips using which students can stay focused and pass with flying colors.
1. Set up a place to study
First thing first, set up a place to study. Choose a room with minimal distractions such as TV, music system, radio, and other gadgets. Set up a table and have all necessary supplies and stationery items in place. It can include pens, pencils, textbooks, notepads, a calculator, and a laptop. Keep it neat and clean. To focus on complex accounting problems and solve them effectively, it is extremely important to be organized.
2. Pay attention in the online class
When it comes to learning something, nothing can replace sharp attention, focus, and dedication to learn. These are the basic but extremely necessary qualities to build a robust foundation for an illustrious career. In the online accounting class, pay utmost attention and try to understand the topics and concepts the tutor is teaching.
3. Ask all relevant questions and clear your concepts
Many students transitioning to online accounting courses can find some concepts and terms complicated. There will be some topics that they may not immediately understand and will need clarification from the tutors. Asking all relevant questions and clearing doubts will be critical to success. Students must not hesitate to ask any question especially when their teachers are experienced CA professionals with years of industry experience. The dedicated tutors will leave no stone unturned to explain the concepts and clear their concepts.
4. Set a timetable for self-studies
Once you know the time of your online classes, prepare a timetable that will help you remain consistent with your self-studies. Make sure to stick to the routine every day. Some students taking online courses tend to do their self-studies and assignments at their own pace and time. But setting a timetable will help you do the assignments more efficiently and learn better. Early morning is excellent to study new topics while the evening time is better for revision.
5. Manage time effectively
Some people say “time is money” but in reality, time is more precious than money and all the valuables in the world. When successful accountants and finance professionals are so careful with money, can they be any less cautious with time? Never! When it comes to completing assignments on time and preparing for exams, effective time management is the key. With robust time management skills, a student can complete their course on time and pass all tests with flying colors. Without it, even doing the basic work can be a tedious task and one will find it extremely difficult to prepare for the exams.
6. Take sufficient breaks during self-studies
In addition to managing time, it is equally important to pause and take a break to relax and rejuvenate. Breaks are crucial for mental and physical wellbeing and preventing information overload and exhaustion. Interestingly, short breaks after a study session enhance focus, productivity, and minimize stress levels. Some research shows that a five to ten minutes break for every two hours of studies is more effective compared to longer breaks after prolonged study sessions. During the break time, get in touch with your creative side or go for a walk or quick bursts of workout. After that, return to the study table feeling energized.
7. Use earplugs or noise-canceling headphones
No matter how hard you try to block out noise, you cannot avoid it completely unless you are in a public library or a sound-proof room. It may come from the TV in the living room or the mixer-grinder in the kitchen. To combat the occasional noise and recoup your undivided attention, have a pair of earplugs or noise-canceling headphones handy. The former is less expensive and has fewer side effects compared to the latter.
8. Network with peers using online tools
Some may feel that a career in finance and accounting can be lonely but the reality is far from it. It is one of the most exciting and engaging career choices who are good with numbers and want to make a mark in the realm of business and finance. Like any other professional course, it requires some degree of teamwork and collaboration. In the future, professionals with excellent people skills, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and the ability to work together will be highly successful. So, networking with peers will open the floodgates to collaborate and coordinate with each other. Don’t hesitate to initiate the conversation and ask for help or feedback on assignments. If possible, offer help and provide constructive feedback. Remember, if you want to go fast, walk alone. But if you want to go far, walk together.
Summing up,
With the rising career prospects in finance, more and more students are taking online accounting courses. But preparing the lessons and studying diligently is as important as selecting the right course. The above eight points will help to account for students a lot in their studies and preparation for the exams.