Articleship is a mandatory 2-year practical training you complete after clearing at least one group of CA Intermediate. It is where your theoretical knowledge meets real-world application — audits, taxation, compliance, financial reporting — all done live, for real clients, under qualified CAs.

1. Apply immediately after your result. Big 4 and mid-size firms fill their intake within weeks of result declaration. Don't wait until you're "ready."
2. Email all contacts at a firm, not just one. If a firm has 3 HR emails listed, email all 3 — on the same day, in separate emails. HR teams are large and inboxes get missed.
3. Personalise each email. Change the firm name, mention something specific about their work or practice area. Generic bulk emails get ignored.
4. Follow up once after 5 days. A polite follow-up ("I wanted to check if you had a chance to review my application") increases response rate significantly. Once only — not multiple times.
5. Don't only target Big 4. Mid-size and established regional firms like Lodha, V. Singhi, and L B Jha offer excellent training, direct partner exposure, and faster skill development. Apply to all tiers simultaneously.
6. Keep your ICAI articleship registration process ready. Once a firm agrees, you need to register on the ICAI SSP portal quickly. Keep your documents ready in advance so there is no delay.