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Pablothegreat · 11-04-2011, 01:16 PM

I guess if I had to do it over, I would still choose the CA route, but in addition to some of the benefits CP has already discussed, my reasons are more "soft" related.

Something about getting overworked, underpaid, and generally treated like professional cattle during your articleling time - the friendship and bonds that I made during those first few years have been priceless.

Eventually, all of us "graduated" to better roles in other organizations, but we all kept in close touch, and helped one another throughout our career. Whether it be through non-public job posting, consulting contracts or whatnot. It just seemed that the pressure cooker of the CA designation really gave us a common enemy to rally against.

I'm not sure if the CGA/CMA process would have had the same effect on me, as my other friends who were going through it seemed more independant and reliant on self study. They also stayed with the same company that they did their CMA/CGA with, and met the "glass ceiling" in a few years time and most of their peers were in the same situation.

At the end of the day, I wish that the world would value "what" you know as opposed to "who" you know. But sometimes that is not the case, and in my personal experience, all of my CA buddies are in a better position of influence than most of my other CGA/CMA buddies.

11-04-2011, 01:16 PM	#76
Pablothegreat Backup Goalie Join Date: May 2008 Exp:	I guess if I had to do it over, I would still choose the CA route, but in addition to some of the benefits CP has already discussed, my reasons are more "soft" related. Something about getting overworked, underpaid, and generally treated like professional cattle during your articleling time - the friendship and bonds that I made during those first few years have been priceless. Eventually, all of us "graduated" to better roles in other organizations, but we all kept in close touch, and helped one another throughout our career. Whether it be through non-public job posting, consulting contracts or whatnot. It just seemed that the pressure cooker of the CA designation really gave us a common enemy to rally against. I'm not sure if the CGA/CMA process would have had the same effect on me, as my other friends who were going through it seemed more independant and reliant on self study. They also stayed with the same company that they did their CMA/CGA with, and met the "glass ceiling" in a few years time and most of their peers were in the same situation. At the end of the day, I wish that the world would value "what" you know as opposed to "who" you know. But sometimes that is not the case, and in my personal experience, all of my CA buddies are in a better position of influence than most of my other CGA/CMA buddies.