15-minute cover letter: write an effective cover letter right now
Practical guidance for creating good cover letters.
Back to the workplace
Resources to help you with CV writing, interviews, assessment centres, networking and returning to work after a career break.
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- Online articles
- Company and industry research
- Useful links
- Books and articles from the Library
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Featured article
Maintain your network: tips on returning to work after parental leave.
Four lawyers share tips on returning to the workforce after taking a break to raise a family
You will need to be logged in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
eBooks
The Library provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.
24 hours to the perfect interview: quick steps for planning, organizing, and preparing for the interview that gets the job
Short guide to performing well in interviews.
Brilliant answers to tough interview questions
How to answer the most commonly asked interview questions.
Brilliant job hunting: how to get the job you want
Practical advice on how to get the job you want.
Career cowards guide to interviewing
A step-by-step guide to interview technique, written especially for those candidates who feel that their best qualities don't always come across at interview.
Terms of use: You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.
Online articles
The Library provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Don't underestimate the power of allowing employees to unplug
Many companies on American Banker magazine's 'Best Places to Work in Fintech' list offer sabbaticals or generous vacation time, which helps attract young talent and lets long-term employees re-energize. The article showcases the sabbaticals offered at Ascent Funding, Wise and Alkami as examples.
Maintain your network: tips on returning to work after parental leave
Four lawyers share tips on returning to the workforce after taking a break to raise a family.
A working parent's survival guide
Techniques for reducing stress and successfully balancing your professional and family roles. The author recommends five powerful strategies: rehearse for transitions (including returning to work after parental leave), audit your commitments, communicate effectively, put losses into perspective, and recast your professional identity.
Sabbatical Success: How to have a business to come back to after six weeks away
Discusses the benefits of sabbaticals for businesses and employees and how to plan and prepare for a successful time away.
Will shared parental leave ever work?
Article looks at legislation passed in 2015 allowing shared parental leave in the UK. Topics covered include possible reform due to low uptake due to the structure and employment-related barriers for fathers.
Industry and company research
Once you've narrowed down the industry you'd like to work in, or even have an interview lined up, you'll want to carry out some more detailed research. The ICAEW has the tools that can help you.
Researching an industry
Starting out in a new sector? Find out all you need to know to prepare you for interview with our range of business and industry guides and industry profiles.
Company reports and profiles
Interview coming up? Be prepared for interview questions with a thorough background knowledge of your potential employer.
Useful links
Career support
Resources, guidance and advice from ICAEW on career progression, career breaks and redundancy, finding a job and working internationally.
Back to the workplace
Events and advice from ICAEW for career breakers.
CABA: Work
Tips and advice from the Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association on dealing with work-related issues, including returning to work.
6 tips for getting hired after a career break
Practical tips from Robert Half to increase the chances of getting hired following a career break. Published in September 2018.
How to Return to Work After Taking Parental Leave
Article by Rebecca Knight on the challenges of returning to work after parental leave and how to ensure a smooth re-entry. Published by Harvard Business Review on 2 August 2019.
Leverage your skills as a mother into your career
Short video where Lindsey Stevenson, Vice President of Finance at 1st Financial Bank, discusses how skills mothers acquire such as negotiation, patience and prioritisation can translate to the workplace and leadership roles. Published on IFAC's Global Knowledge Gateway on 14 October 2016.
The ICAEW Library also maintains dedicated subject pages on:
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.
Can't find what you are looking for?
If you're having trouble finding the information you need, ask the Library & Information Service. Contact us by telephone on +44 (0)20 7920 8620, by web chat or by email at library@icaew.com.
ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided ‘as is’ with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.