Captain Carrot

Don't forget about a huge amount of luck!
You can do everything that would be considered exactly right to progress in this career, and it doesn't ever get you the brass ring.
This career is a huge "carrot at the end of a pole" situation. You will sacrifice tons and spend years chasing that carrot and only a few actually catch it. The crazy thing is, you will never actually realize you caught it until you're at the end of it. Just peruse this forum and you'll see the carrots everyone is chasing. It's pretty sad. And the management teams are well aware. You'll be just another meat bag employee #1234567 filling a seat for as little they can pay you.
Good luck in your decision to get on the treadmill chasing whatever you think your carrot will be.
I will end with this. I know some accountants who see their family all the time and spend holidays with them. They are platinum members that sit in comfort at airports, actually want to go where they're flying to and the Airline management thinks about what to do to make them happy. If all that doesn't scare you away, then jump on.....The view is awesome.

Phteven

This is an example of another "greener grass lies elsewhere" approach on career opportunity and progression. This is by no means a good example of the life of an average accountant. A casual search for "young grad seeking accounting career advice" yields essentially the same pessimism as in this career. Some of it is the same (less money than expected, lack of respect and fulfillment) some of it is different ("the clients are always rich ***holes seeking tax loopholes"). Ironically, in searching one facetious answer given by a forum poster was "because I couldn't be a pilot."

The average American family makes less now than they did 15 years ago. The economy is improving and wage growth remains flat. The purchasing power of the hourly wage average is identical to 1973.

My point is, the past 15 years have sucked so much for so many people that I imagine you will have a hard time finding anyone saying that their career has been great and they would highly recommend it. Well, except for corporate executives...

Add the your expectations of the career to advice you get about it and divide by two.

PotatoChip

Add in the 900% increase in college tuition and subsequesnt debt and really have a perfect storm. Oh, and the financial meltdown of the housing market in 2008...

And the 15 year draining war on terror.

These are facts. And it's why I get so frustrated when people harp on millenials for being entitled.

Sorry, #threaddrift

Phteven

Always an ironic choice of words given that Millennials will never benefit from the entitlement programs that they pay into nearly to the extent of the generations preceding them. So in that sense, Millennials are unfortunately not very entitled.

TSRAGR

#freeeverythingforeveryone isn't that the mantra of millennials? Not entitled? I beg to differ.

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PotatoChip

Since when?? If I'm not mistaken, its President Obama and a 75 year old presidential candidate who are arguing for free college and more hand outs...

I'm more than happy to earn my place. I do think it's unacceptable for state run schools to increase tuition 1000% in 30 years while also proportionately increasing enrollment... All the while funding nationally televised sports.
I can't possibly see how any state school can be labeled non-profit at this point.

Again, where is that millennials are "free everything"?

Phteven

Social Security and Medicare are not free....

Ace Hotshot

Find a 135 operator that has a pay for time in the right seat program. The best way to get ahead in this career is to buy your way in.

I am a successful airline pilot that is advanced and experienced for my age. PM me for more sound career advice.