What are the factors to consider for CS articleship?

What are the factors to consider for CS articleship?

Factors to consider before joining an Entity for Articleship

Specialisation vs. diversification of skills

Corporate: There is very limited scope for diversification in a company since these are divided into broader specialised wings/departments. You will be joining as a part of a particular business unit and shall be specialising within the limits.

Firm/PCS (Practising CS): The scenario is much different in a firm/PCS due to the vast range of work each firm takes up. You will be given projects ranging from incorporation & business setups, liquidations, M & A's (rarely), compounding offences, holding AGM's and the related functions, XBRL, listing compliance's, due diligence, matters relating to indirect taxation, drafting and vetting, board restructuring and financial restructuring and last but never the least, the experience of dealing with Directors and clients alike.

 Networking and career opportunities

Being in a corporate setting, the company definitely offer a huge space and opportunity for professional networking. If a CS student completes his/her training in a company he or she can utilise the brand value of the company in the CV, but 4-5 years down the lane the CS salaries and the recognition shall be of same as non-corporate CS. On a different note, the impact of where the articleship is been done not affect as long as you have inhibit the skills and knowledge to be a good Company secretary.

 Workload and managing studies

Big 4: The higher compensation given by corporates can also be translated into longer work hours and more intense workload. The time, energy and effort demanded by corporate clients can often be very taxing and stressful. This can often interfere with studies.

Midsize: Even though the compensation is less. the work is relatively less stressful than if you worked in a corporate structure. So, this is more suitable for students who are focusing on their CS Professional exam.


Remember, the articleship period is one of the most critical time period during your CS journey as it prepares you into your professional journey once you complete all your exams! So when things get too difficult, always think about your future as a Company Secretary to give you more motivation to focus on learning.