After a lot of thought, because I still quite enjoy my current job, I have decided that 2008 is the year to give my career a kick in the behind.

I have read plenty of resumes in the last few years but it is a long time since I have written one. So, I clicked on the links in the wiki. I have to say, the wiki article on resumes, and the links to third party sites, are fabulous. I am going to end up with something completely different than if I just wrote it myself, and 100 times better. Thank you Judy.

Now I come up against a problem. I've been in Canada for 9 years and have built up a reasonable network of business contacts. Unfortunately, about 99% of them are related in some way, directly or indirectly, to my job. If I don't want my current employer to know I am looking around I can't use them. And, every time I make a new contact I have to think, "do they know somebody who knows somebody etc etc" before I mention that I am considering a career change.

Sometimes I think that those of you who are trying to network cold from the UK have the easier job!

Glad you found the Wiki on resumes useful, JonboyE. All the best with your job hunt!
x

Perhaps this is one of the few times where using a recuitment person may be preferable as they can identify potential employes whilst keeping your name out of it??

Like any occupation , the network becomes close knit ,people
know each other and if any changes ,words do get around.
Same goes for the mental health system in the Vancouver area.

I would say keep focus on what you want to do,knowing that
you have good skills and reputation.Stay positive ,be intuitive,trust
your gut feelings,be bold , let people know what kind of job you
are looking for.Some will help and some won't.

Sooner or later your current employer is going to know.
Leave in good term with him/her.
Good luck with your job search.
Yoong

It's funny how things never turn out as you expect them to. Eh?

There were a lot of opportunities for accountants in Metro Vancouver this summer. If I was prepared to settle for a reasonable job at a reasonable salary I could have been in a new position in a few weeks. However, I wasn't prepared to give up a decently paid job that I enjoyed for just anything. I found three jobs that I would have loved to do, and got to the last two for one of these, and the last four for another, but hey ho they missed out on the best candidate.

Then I ran into a man who ran a management consultancy business that has a lot of clients in the construction and subcontracting trades who need accounting and tax help. Although he was a qualified accountant in the UK he had not converted his qualification to a Canadian designation so there was a limit to what he could do. In any case, he is much more interested in the consultancy part of his business. The outcome is that I am now working with him sorting out his client's accounting and tax problems. I have the option to buy the accounting business in the spring and set up on my own in public practice.

Even better, I can continue to work for my previous employer as a contractor as a quasi board member and train my replacement(s).

Of course, to be successful, I will need to attract my own clients to the business. I would offer help to any new immigrants who need tax advice but, because of the advertising rules on this site, I won't.

I also await the derision of the established posters, and accusations of self-interest, whenever I respond to a post on tax.

Wow, JonboyE,

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

That is awesome news.
x

Great,well done and congrats.
You are courageous to make a change
Yoong

Surely you jest? As a bean counter myself since 1962 I always appreciate reading responses which inform. So keep on posting away to your heart's content and good luck in the search.

Thank you for the good wishes.

Good for you. Well done. And yes, absolutely keep on posting all things tax-related. We mere mortals do not have a chance in hell of understanding them anyway and need all the help we can get

congratulations!

do you intend to do "long distance business" to other side of the strait of georgia too?

Congratulations and best wishes JonboyE!

Good for you and best wishes!

Gryphea

I can assure you that I will consider any, and all, business available.

Good luck to you. I'm sure you'll be able to post on tax matters, making it clear that you offer a service, without starting threads called "Account! Account! Account!".