Author Heather Townsend has helped launch a new mentoring programme developed by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
The new mentoring scheme aims to offer a helping hand to CIMA members and students in the early stages of their career, as well as those who may be considering a career change.
It is designed to enable those with experience to advise others about the steps they need to take to move up the career ladder and find opportunities to develop the necessary new skills for their CVs.
The scheme was launched at an event at the Westley Hotel in Acocks Green, Birmingham.
Ms Townsend, author of The Financial Times guide to business networking, shared methods she has developed which are designed to help people make successful career moves.
In her presentation she relayed stories and real life examples of how CIMA members have been using the techniques to advance their careers and build their own practices.
She also emphasised the importance of using online resources for networking.
Ms Townsend said: 鈥淭he rise of online networking has made the personal brand more important than it was 5-10 years ago.
鈥淧eople now meet you first online rather than face-to-face so you have to consider if you are showing your best side on line.
鈥淭he majority of hiring managers use LinkedIn to find and assess potential candidates, so to stand out you have to do more than just get your name out there.鈥
Midland CIMA member Nick Jessett, secretary of the organisation鈥檚 Coventry branch, said: 鈥淭his fantastic new programme has been introduced to help newly qualified CIMA members and students throughout the West Midlands in the infancy of their careers.
鈥淚t intends to introduce techniques recommended by very experienced CIMA West Midlands based committee members to help young management accountants bring their qualification to life.
鈥淚t aims to help them develop the skills they will need to make a real impact and change on their organisations.
鈥淭he emphasis will be on the softer skills of leadership, team working and communication, enabling them to maximise their technical financial skills and engage with the key stakeholders within the business.鈥
