I Just Started My First Accounting Job, What Do I Do? [HINT: Don’t Jump In The Pond, Yes It Happened]

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Preparation

  1. In your first accounting job attend as many company events you can before you start. Put yourself out there and start building relationships.
  2. Reach out to key people at the company via email and see if there is any advice they have on starting. Even if you don’t think you need it, they will feel flattered you are looking for their advice.
  3. DON’T open your textbooks! It’s a waste of time! Each company has their own way of teaching you their own methodology. You’re no longer in Kansas Dorothy, and you’re out of school, PUT THE BOOK DOWN!
  4. Prepare your wardrobe! This may take a few weeks so start shopping now. I would recommend H&M for men and women as it provides great professional clothing for discounted prices.
  5. Give advice on other people still in school. Use the knowledge that you have to help the company before you even start! Since you already know all of your fellow university classmates, send the company you’re working for an email and recommend who the best candidates are. Remember, you’ll have to work with them one day.  You want to have a say in who comes in next!

Training

  1. Make the most out of training!
  2. Build relationships with co-workers and try not to be competitive. Remember the old Zig Ziglar quote, “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want
  3. Listen to this podcast, so you don’t lose your internship/job on week #1. There may be alcohol, a pond, and security involved, or there may not.

First Week on a Client is Actually Working!

  1. Email the in-charge, senior, or supervisor before you get out there. Ask what time you should arrive, what the dress will be, and if there is anything you need to bring/do before you show up.
  2. Sit down the very first day with your boss. You want to make sure they know you take this seriously, and want to perform well.  The more credibility you build with them up front, the more time off you can take, the better your performance reviews will be, and the more successful you will be at the company.
  3. Expectations. Find out what the hours requirements are, when the client deadlines are, and what they are planning to have you work on. This should be done in a private meeting with you and your boss. Have a listen for how this conversation should go.

Specific Life Events 

  1. Let your in-charge or manager know if you have children, are part of a softball league, or have other personal life committments. You can incorporate almost anything into your life if you approach it early and with your boss in private.

Name Your Goals & Get Feedback

  1. Share your goals with your boss whether it be to be 100% committed to work and be the #1 new hire at the company, or you have two kids and would like to pick them up from school each day.
  2. Every 2 weeks, get feedback! Sit down with your boss and get their feedback on how you have been doing. If they say that something can improve, focus on that for the next two weeks, and sit down with them again!

Help out when you can!

  1. Offer to run errands (it gets you out of the office!)
  2. Offer to pick up food and coffee for the team (they will love you for it!
Miscellaneous Tips
  • Try not to make strange noises. The podcast may discuss inappropriate headwear and when to use donkey noises, or it may not.
  • Make sure you have the appropriate dress
  • Save being a trend starter for after work
  • Go to all additional trainings
  • Attend work and social events and if there aren’t any, create them.

Oh ya, don’t forget to pass the CPA exam!

Questions?

Email me at andrew@thebeancounter.org!