Training insights: Managing your career to map your future success

“A few months ago, if you had asked me what an internal auditor could do next in their career, I would have said the world was their oyster. Now, I have no more idea about what is going to happen to the jobs market than anybody else, but I do know that those who are thinking about their career development and can show some innovation and initiative will do better, even in a difficult market,” says Martin Robinson.

The global pandemic and the economic crash it has precipitated is already taking a toll on employment and some who are currently furloughed will find themselves redundant when that option is removed. Internal auditors will not be immune. Others may find that promotions or promised job opportunities do not materialise.

At the same time, however, increased remote working and shifting organisational needs will throw up new choices for those who spot them and who are willing to think more broadly about what they want from a job – and what they can offer an employer.

The key is to take time to think – which may be easier if you are currently on furlough or not spending hours on your usual commute, Robinson suggests. “Most people think very little about their career until they are at risk of losing their jobs. They spend more time planning their holidays,” he says. “But if you think about where you want to get to, you’re far more likely to get there.”

It pays to work out what really motivates you and to identify your genuine interests and skills. Those who do not think about these things are more likely to feel limited by the confines of their current roles and other people’s expectations about their career path and by what they perceive as “success” and “failure”.  They are also more likely to lack confidence and to fail to see potential opportunities in unfamiliar territory.

The good news is that even if you’ve never thought about these things before, it’s not too late to start. Internal auditors have flexible, transferable skills and wide knowledge of business and, even if the career options that you expected do not materialise, a broader view of your capabilities and value may open doors you have never considered. You may even change your mind about your longer term ambitions.

“Don’t have a narrow vision of what you do,” Robinson advises. “Don’t think in terms of the roles you have done, or the companies you’ve worked for, but think more about the skills you have and what you are best at. What do you enjoy doing and what have you done in your past roles that demonstrates personal success or ability to create real change?”

Most CVs are anodyne, he adds. Given that recruiters whittle down 95 per cent of applications to find the few that stand out, you need to establish a clear picture of who you are as a person and what you can offer. Stating that you’re passionate about internal audit is less likely to win attention than if you show why your experience or interests make you more relevant to (and useful in) this particular role than another internal auditor. This also means that you must tailor each application to the specific job.

“No one really cares if you saved the world in 2000,” Robinson says. “The information on your CV must be current and relevant. Internal auditors tend to be bad at boasting of their achievements, but your CV is your chance to highlight the changes you’ve made, the effects these have had and how you’ve helped your organisation. Internal audit is all about improving business. How have you done this?”

Networking is another area that many internal auditors neglect, even though they tend to meet a huge range of people through their work. This is not about casual work friendships – many of which will not survive a job move – but about keeping in touch in the long term and building up a list of contacts. These are as likely to be family connections as colleagues or managers.

Forging new contacts is also important. “Talk to people.  The number of people I see standing on their own at conferences and events is astonishing and it’s such a pity,” Robinson says. “You need to talk to people and you need to listen to them.”

Losing your job can be a devastating experience, but older auditors who have many years of experience have far more options than they are often aware of – especially if they are prepared to move sector or step sideways (or down) to gain other advantages, or are prepared to be flexible about adopting a portfolio career with different employers.

“Ask what you are motivated by – is it status, money, boredom? And don’t be afraid to try something different. Taking a lower status job for a good reason is not ‘failure’ and taking a risk on a part-time role or a lower paid job that you love may be absolutely right for you,” Robinson suggests. “In the end, it’s not what you earn, but what you spend that matters, and Covid-19 may be the catalyst that pushes many people to reconsider what they really want from their jobs and their lives.”

We are running numerous other live virtual courses and on-demand online courses to help you expand your skills. For further enquiries, contact our training team. Internal audit jobs across all sectors can be found on the Chartered IIA’s jobs board.

This article first appeared in July 2020.