How to be the LUCKIEST ACCOUNTING STUDENT this fall

luck

I have stopped really believing in luck. Especially for any accounting student out there.

At best, I’d say I believe in chance happenings… good and bad.

I watched a video yesterday that blew the lid off my thinking.

So, for example, one of your great excuses is, “Well, great careers are really and truly, for most people, just a matter of luck, so I’m going to stand around, I’m going to try to be lucky, and if I’m lucky, I’ll have a great career. If not, I’ll have a good career.”

False.

It really doesn’t have much to do with luck at all.

When you try to achieve something, get good grades, grow an organization, or find a career, it doesn’t “just happen”.

The truth is when you try to achieve something extraordinary, you’ll have many chance happenings. Some good, some bad.

But why is it that if something good happens, it’s just good luck?

But if something bad happens, it’s your fault. What does that do your self-image and self-esteem?

When you try to achieve something, good things happen, and bad things happen. But they only happen if you’re ACTUALLY TRYING to make it happen. You’re in the game, not sitting on the bench.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Most things fail. You’ll apply to 50 jobs, get 5 interviews, and 1 offer. You’re a failure. You failed 49 out of 50 times. Ya… You… Failure.

But the 1 offer you received wasn’t because of luck, it was a result of your courage and perseverance in the face of rejection after rejection. It was preparation and strife that created the opportunity.

When I consult people for The Bean Counter in resume writing services and the course Get Hired By Big 4 Accounting Firms, I always get them to try something that is different!

Everyone is applying for jobs on:

  • Monster
  • Career Builder
  • Indeed
  • Craigslist
  • Going to the career fair
  • etc.

If I’m an employer and I post a job on those sites, I’ll get 50 resumes in 1 day. An you’ll be 1/50. Not great odds.

So what can you do to stand out? To have a “chance happening” or create what most people think is luck:

  • Drop off your resume at the company office, in a suit
  • Go to state CPA society networking events and dinners
  • Email the Partners & HR Manager directly and ask to go out for a cup of coffee
  • Win speech competitions
  • Become the president of an organization (or an officer)
  • Buy The Bean Counter Course
  • Get your resume reviewed

Do something… anything that’s different!

It may not work. In fact, it won’t. Most of the things you try will fail. Here’s an example:

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It was kind of funny actually. My partner and I hadn’t been to a single student government meeting, weren’t in fraternity’s but we thought we could win.

And we almost did. We spoke to almost every student on campus (~4,000) people.

At the end of campaigning, we lost the election 852 to 1013 to the seasoned student government incumbents.

It was embarrassing, a wild and public failure…

But with every failure you learn, adapt, and get closer to the chance happening where things actually go your way.

So get off your ass, try something new. Get in the game!

 

  • Leroy

    I totally agree with this article. I too have heard people say “your so lucky” and not to me but others. I always look at them and ask them “how is it luck when you work so hard to achieve it?”. That always quiets them.

    • http://www.thebeancounter.com TheBeanCountercom

      So true! Lucky things almost never happen unless you’re actually trying, and trying, and trying!