Qualifying is a big milestone, and the months that follow shape the next stage of your career more than most people expect. In my experience working with newly qualified accountants in Munster, those who settle well prepared early on four things: how their CV reads, how they will handle interviews, whether practice or industry suits them, and what the market pays. None of it is complicated, but all of it is easier when you start before the certificate lands. If you have had to repeat an exam along the way, you are in better company than you might think, and I will come to that below.

Getting Ready

• Present your experience clearly. Employers want to see what you actually did, so list your responsibilities, the clients you worked with, the size of the teams you were part of, and the accounting frameworks you were exposed to. A hiring manager should be able to picture your day-to-day from the page. The more specific you are, the easier it is for them to see where you fit, and the more likely you are to get that first conversation.
• Include your achievements and projects. A high performance rating, or a project you worked on, belongs on your CV. These details help you stand out from other newly qualified accountants with a similar training background, so do not leave them out because they feel small. If you have worked on a particular project, say what it was and what part you played in it.
• Keep it to two or three pages. That is long enough to show real substance and short enough to be read properly. If you are running over, tighten the older detail and keep the best of your recent work.
• Choose between practice and industry with a clear head. If you like a varied client base and exposure to different industries, staying in practice may suit you well. If you want to take what you have learned and put it into action on the other side, industry is the natural next step. Neither is the wrong answer, so the useful question is which one fits what you want from the next few years.
• Know your worth. The average base salary for a newly qualified accountant across Ireland is around €62,000, according to the Barden Talent Monitor. That is a national figure, and it can swing depending on location, so treat it as a starting point and not a rule. Talk to a Talent Advisor locally about what newly qualified accountants are being paid in your area, or have a look at the Newly Qualified Accountant Talent Monitor on the Barden website.

Preparing for Interviews

A good CV gets you in the door, and the interview is where you win the role. One question that always comes up is to talk through your experience, so it is key to be able to discuss it comfortably and in detail. A little preparation beforehand makes a big difference on the day.

• Know your experience inside out. Be ready to talk about the types of clients you worked with, the accounting frameworks you used, and the size of the businesses, whether they were multinationals (MNC) or SMEs.
• Know why you want this company and role. Be able to explain why you like the company and the role you are interviewing for.
• Be ready to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Think about both in advance so that you can answer clearly and calmly.
• Prepare for competency and technical questions. Go through the likely ones beforehand so that nothing catches you off guard.

If You Have to Repeat an Exam

Failing an exam is stressful, and it can feel enormous when you are in the middle of it. Looking at the full picture, it is a minor setback in what will be a very long career. With a bit of effort and focus, you will get there, and the qualification will open up amazing opportunities for you.

We often work with people who have failed exams. The important thing is to be honest about it and to be able to talk about it, so that you can answer a question about it calmly if it comes up at an interview. By sticking at it and achieving the qualification, you have a long career ahead of you. Failing one exam is not the be-all and end-all.

If it happens to you, take the result, plan your next attempt, and keep your focus on the finish line. Speak openly with your employer and, later on, with any interviewer, about what happened and what you did next. Being honest and able to talk to it calmly counts for a lot, and sticking with it is what gets you over the line.

Takeaways

Preparing after qualifying comes down to a handful of practical steps. Get your CV in good shape, be ready to talk through your experience at interview, think honestly about whether practice or industry suits you, and find out what the market is paying before you sit down to any conversation about salary. If an exam goes against you, keep going, because it will not define your career. The effort you put in now is what opens the door to the roles you are aiming for, and there is plenty of time to get there.

Finishing your training contract in 2026? Do you want to make sure you make the very best first step after qualifying? Do you want a coffee meeting with an expert talent advisor; someone who is a qualified accountant, just like you (meet our Leinster team here>>> and our Munster team here>>>)? Do you want a little help to create your very own best financial future? No problem. Just drop us a line today at hello@barden.ie, and we will take it from there. Simple.