Dear Miss Emily:

I'm 21 years old, female, who has just gotten my license as an accountant this year. I want to go into business right away, but it seems it would be much better if I were to go into the corporate world first or, better yet in an auditing firm. The problem is, I despise working in such. I keep thinking that if I were to work somewhere nearer at home, I would have more time to develop a business. Unfortunately, I haven't found any work that would be most suited for a licensed accountant with no relevant working experience. I'm currently torn apart. It's very hard to decide. Please help.

---------------------Miss Emily's advice-------------------

You are eager, but you need to be realistic about your present circumstance. I think you would need some work experience as a way to promote yourself in private practice. It's not often someone will put his, or her money matters into the hands of a young person who has a degree but no proven track record. I know that working in the corporate world seems a tad vapid, but it may be necessary to build a resume. To set up a shingle for business is one thing, but you want clients who trust you to get the job done. Experience, I think, is what will get you to that point. If you're committed to investing a great deal of your time (and that means allowing your social life to suffer), you could pass out cards to acquaintances that lists your accounting specialty in order to, gradually, build your business. In the meantime, you'll have a solid income from a full-time job. When you say "closer to home" I think you'll need to be flexible on that, as well. Time, and experience has a way of changing the course of our lives, and it's possible to set up shop in any new place you're willing to call home.