Here is a great article about how to save money on those pricey textbooks!
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/how-to-cut-your-textbook-costs-in-half-or-more.html
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
AICPA Student Competition
AICPA Launches Second Annual Case Competition for Accounting Students
Undergraduates will test their fraud and forensics skills and compete for $10,000 top award
08.30.2011– New York – The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants today launched its second annual case competition, challenging college students across the country to test their fraud and forensic accounting skills in a complex scenario that will earn the top performing team a $10,000 award.
The 2011 AICPA Accounting Competition, which unfolds in three stages, focuses on a fictional Texas company looking to expand its business into the Nigerian oil fields. The competition is open to undergraduate students at 2-year and 4-year degree institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“The competition is an opportunity for students to get a hands-on, real-life understanding of one of the fastest-growing interest areas in accounting: fraud and forensics,” said Jeannie Patton, AICPA vice president for students, academics and membership. “Those who participate will hone their teamwork and leadership skills, deepen their understanding of financial risks in international business strategy and potentially bring national attention to their college or university.”
Teams may register and find complete details on the 2011 AICPA Accounting Competition section of the This Way to CPA website.
Contact:
Jonathan Cox
jcox@aicpa.org
See Whole Story:
http://www.pitchengine.com/aicpa/aicpa-launches-second-annual-case-competition-for-accounting-students/169383/
The 2011 AICPA Accounting Competition, which unfolds in three stages, focuses on a fictional Texas company looking to expand its business into the Nigerian oil fields. The competition is open to undergraduate students at 2-year and 4-year degree institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“The competition is an opportunity for students to get a hands-on, real-life understanding of one of the fastest-growing interest areas in accounting: fraud and forensics,” said Jeannie Patton, AICPA vice president for students, academics and membership. “Those who participate will hone their teamwork and leadership skills, deepen their understanding of financial risks in international business strategy and potentially bring national attention to their college or university.”
Teams may register and find complete details on the 2011 AICPA Accounting Competition section of the This Way to CPA website.
Contact:
Jonathan Cox
jcox@aicpa.org
See Whole Story:
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Do You Have What it Takes?
Recently, the Indiana CPA Society published an article entitled "A Day In the Life" in their quarterly CPA INPerspective magazine. The article features Monroe Shine's past President, Dale Gettelfinger and "gives us a peak into a day in his life".
If you are wondering what it really is like to be a CPA in public accounting, you might take a look at this article. Sure, not every single day is like this, and I'm sure Dale spruced it up a little to make sure the article was a good read. However, it's not too far off. I work with these guys every day and am amazed at the amount of work/events/family time they are able to pack into a 24 hour day. I'm still not convinced some of them sleep, but they never complain or act like they are pulling a heavier load than anyone else. So, as you start back to school, I hope this article will help give you a sense of the bigger picture. It's not just about the classes you are taking now, it's about learning how to balance those classes with your social and extra-curricular activities, which make your resume look so shiny.
INCPA posted a You Tube interview with Dale as well! Take a look...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Resuménia
Simply put, resume writing is torture. How do you make a resume that appeals to everyone? It is completely subjective. Which format do I use? Will my resume go in the trash if it’s over one page? Should I use color/different font to make it stand out? Should I customize each resume to match the potential employer’s logo? Or even make it pink and scented like Elle Woods (too much?).
Because you are accounting students, I know you are detail oriented. However, make sure the particulars of your resume layout do not preoccupy you too much. Most recruiters care less about how your resume looks, and more about what is on it. I’m sure your admissions office has gone over these tips with you ad nauseum, but let’s talk about them one more time, recruiter to student. What do recruiters look for?
1. GPA- the first little number a recruiter’s eyes scan for. That is not to say the higher the better, but we just want to make sure you make the cut- usually 3.0. I can’t speak for all recruiters, but in my opinion, if you meet our minimum GPA, we do not assume that a 3.8 will be a better candidate than a 3.1. Grades are such a small portion of what encompasses defines a successful accountant. If you have a 4.0 and cannot communicate, then you might as well have a 2.0. Bigger firms may be different, but for local/regional firms like ours, all accountants need to be able to communicate with clients and build their professional network. Besides, we’ll have to train you anyway, so what you learn in class really won’t get you too far.
2. Graduation Year- Most recruiter just want to know how much longer you have until you graduate. We usually will take interns that are between sophomore-senior year. I know some recruiters however will only take juniors or seniors. In my experience, the seniors don’t have a huge advantage over the sophomores. Classes only offer a small foundation of what you need to work on tax returns and audits. You will basically be starting from scratch no matter what classes you’ve taken.
3. Involvement- Can you handle more than just your course load? If not, we can only assume you won’t get involved in the community if we hire you. We are not interested in those who only want a “job” (8:00-5:00). We are looking for students who are eager to build a career- get involved and take leadership roles in the community and at the office.
Along the same line, a lot of resumes include a list of qualities, which is great. But, let’s be honest, if you say you are a self-starter, honest, dependable, and work well under pressure, but don’t give an example (use the work description bullet points) of a time you worked well under pressure then a recruiter won’t know how great you really are! (Example: Worked with a team to complete task XYZ with a two day deadline) Everyone has a list of great qualities, but few can demonstrate those qualities.
4. Job Experience- Depending on what grade you are in, you may have a lot or a little work experience. I like to see work experience no matter what/where it is. Being in school is drastically different from working. If you are starting in the work place cold turkey, it will take more time and training on our end to catch you up to speed. Accounting work experience is preferable. Working anywhere is drastically different from working in public accounting. So if you start working in public accounting cold turkey, that means more time and training on our end to catch you up to speed.
5. The Combination Factor- Basically, if you have a low GPA and no involvement/work experience, then your chance of getting an interview is slim. BUT, you might get away with a lower GPA if you have a lot of quality involvement/work experience on your resume.
6. Spelling/Grammar- This pretty much speaks for itself. Have someone else proof read your resume. You have looked at it too much and might not catch a mistake.
The bottom line is, everyone has a different opinion about what to put on a resume, and there are about a million different “silver-bullet” technics. But, at the end of the day, it is your resume and it reflects you. The best advice you can get is: keep it real.
If you have any questions or want to get my opinion on something, I am more than happy to help out!
Cheers!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Job Hunt… what an understatement
Before getting into the actual blog post, I want to introduce you to Monroe Shine, this blog and myself. Monroe Shine & Co. CPAs is a full service accounting and consulting firm with offices in Louisville, KY, New Albany and Bedford, IN. I am Amelia Smith, the Manager of Practice Development, which basically means I head up the firm’s marketing, business development, and recruiting efforts. I love my job, but particularly enjoy the recruiting aspect. The purpose of this blog is to offer college students, specifically accounting undergrads, tips on recruiting, interviewing, and, in general, the transition between college life and the corporate world. I had my share of job hunting and job disasters, but was finally lucky enough to find a profession I love. The road is tough for most of us, and I hope to help you by sharing all the things I didn’t know as an undergrad and learned the hard way. So, without further ado, here we go!
The 2011/2012 school year is upon us, and Monroe Shine is gearing up for the fall 2011 recruiting season! It wasn’t too long ago that I was in college (no, I’m not that much older than you, so if you meet me on campus, please don’t call me ma’am). My biggest dilemmas were what to eat for lunch and finding a date for the upcoming football game... tough life. I knew that the task of finding a job came at the end of college, but it never occurred to me that the job market was about to crumble under my feet. I definitely wasn’t prepared to hunt for a job; we’re talking hunt like a caveman hunting a buffalo with a toothpick. Just getting an interview was an occasion worth celebrating at the finest steakhouse. And that was just the beginning of things. You face a day that is even more difficult. Jobs are scarce, and just as things started to look up, the market changed its mind. My intention is not to stress you out, but to sympathize and hopefully offer help.
Whether you are a sophomore or a senior, you are excited to get back to college life, friends, parties, and maybe even class… right? What you may not realize is that every party and every committee meeting offers just as much value as attending class. The people you meet in college (and their families, friends, etc.) are your ticket to getting a job after you graduate. Of course, I am not suggesting that you skip class to attend a party (I’m not allowed to say that) or that you make friends only with people who are well connected. But, what I am saying is- go. Just go. Go out and meet your friend’s friends; go to a meeting for a new organization; go to lunch with people; make connections! You never know who you will meet and what bonds you will form that will help you in the future. It might sound a little self-serving, but chances are your friends and connections will be asking for your help as well. We have to lean on each other in today’s world. Offer your hand to someone, and you will receive their hand in return.
At the risk of being too lengthy, (this blog also acts as a method of work-related procrastination) the following article not only inspired this blog, but it also offers excellent tips for networking and interviewing. There are 2 main take-aways from this article: 1. Networking is a way of life. 2. Job-fairs, internships, etc. are all just informal job interviews. Just because you’re not wearing a suit or sitting across the table from a future employer does not mean they aren’t interviewing you. And trust me, recruiters always remember who made a bad first impression!
The article that inspired this Blog: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/08/10/tips-for-young-professionals-on-how-to-become-master-networker/
At the risk of being too lengthy, (this blog also acts as a method of work-related procrastination) the following article not only inspired this blog, but it also offers excellent tips for networking and interviewing. There are 2 main take-aways from this article: 1. Networking is a way of life. 2. Job-fairs, internships, etc. are all just informal job interviews. Just because you’re not wearing a suit or sitting across the table from a future employer does not mean they aren’t interviewing you. And trust me, recruiters always remember who made a bad first impression!
The article that inspired this Blog: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/08/10/tips-for-young-professionals-on-how-to-become-master-networker/
Cheers!
Manager, Practice Development
812.945.2311
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