Ever heard the phrase, "the cream always rises to the top?" Those that go above and beyond to excel in their careers will be the ones who are recognized and rewarded. No matter what phase of your career you are in, if you do not have the skills in place to effectively manage your career, chances are you are not reaching your full potential. By following our easy, 3-step process, you will be able to build and implement an action plan in no time to achieve the successful career you truly desire.

1. How to Take Charge and
Manage Your Tax Career
Career Advice Provided By:

2. The 3 Step Process
1. Define and Confirm Your Goals
2. Identify the Right Mentor(s)
3. Build an Action Plan that Leads to
the Desired Career Objectives

3. • This starts with YOU. Is your career happening by luck
OR will you actually direct it?
• Sit down and define your short and long-term goals.
• Confirm that your goal is well thought out.
• Ask yourself Why, What, How until there is no realistic
reason to ask again.
Define and Confirm

4. I have 18 years overall compliance, tax
accounting and planning experience (3
years at a Big 4 firm and the last 15 at my
present company). My goal is to become
the Head of Tax at my present company.
My VP was hired 2 years ago and has no
intention of moving on…

5. Ask Why, What, How Questions
- Why do I want to be VP at this company?
“I have been here long enough to know the company inside and out.
My family is opposed to any relocation.”
- What makes me believe I am ready for this role?
“Stepping back and looking at this goal it is not achievable at
my present company. I also realize that I haven’t planned for a
successor for role if I were to step up or move out of the position or
the company. A discussion with my family needs to occur before I
even consider revising my long term goal.”
Keep drilling down and ask yourself as many Why, What, How questions
you possibly can. Once you have formulated a goal that you feel is realistic
and achievable, now move to identifying the right type of mentor(s) who
will challenge this and provide feedback.

6. To reach one’s career ambitions one must identify and
utilize key mentors throughout their career.
Find the Right Mentor at the Right Time!

7. Identify the Right Mentor
• Mentors can be tax technical/finance/business
people at your own company, outside advisors
at tax advisory firms, or recruiters.
• These mentors should change as your
personal and professional ambitions change
and/or as you progress in your career.
Click Here to Learn More About TaxTalent’s Mentor Program

8. My long-term career goal was to climb
the corporate ladder. My career was first
and foremost. Since then I have married
and am ready to start a family. Now I
need a mentor who has experience
balancing home and work issues to
instruct and guide me…
Use the Career Goals Plan Form to share your long term
goal and develop your action plan with your mentor(s).

9. Career Goals Plan Form
Date:
Simplicity increases the odds of actual implementation and goals will more likely be achieved
Employee Name:
Long Term Goal:
Developing Your Plan:
I. History: (What has occurred from my previous plan that motivates me to establish a new goal below?):
II. Goal (short term goal that is necessary at this point in your career for you to achieve the ultimate long term
goal) Should be a specific result that is completed by a specific date:
III. Plan Action Steps: (comprised of action steps that when you envision doing them you are convinced in no
uncertain terms that your goal will be met):
Review Date:
Review Date should be in 3 months no longer than 6 months
Click Here to Access This Form for Free

10. Build Your Action Plan
• Build a plan with your mentor’s input, that leads
to your desired career objective.
• Your plan should be comprised of action steps
that are measurable and have their own time
frame. This way, when you envision doing them
you are convinced in no uncertain terms that
your goal will be met.
• Review and confirm with your mentors that you
have a solid achievable plan.

11. Build Your Action Plan
• Be sure to include conversations with your
spouse/life partner/family. What will their part be
in your achieving your goals?
• You’ve heard it before – yearly progress meetings
won’t cut it!
• We recommend quarterly or semi-annually
meetings. (Note: This shouldn’t follow your fiscal
year.)

12. FINAL THOUGHTS
• As stated at the beginning of this presentation, “To
reach one’s career ambitions one must identify and
utilize key mentors throughout their career.”
• Most successful people credit having a mentor or
mentors that have helped them reach their career
ambitions.
Join TaxTalent.com for More Career Management Tips!