Debbie Sessions - Partner & Chief Operating Officer

A recent article written by Peter Vajda, a founding partner of SpiritHeart, discusses an issue Americans and a lot of the world are now facing with all the advancements in technology. Vajda states, “The reality is within this electronic, ‘transactional’ world, what is happening is that more and more folks may be ‘connecting”; however, fewer and fewer folks are ‘relating.’” With all the new technologies we live in a much more interconnected world, but the technology is also causing us to live in a much less “interrelated” world.

This is not only occurring in the business world, but also in people’s personal lives. Between email, iPhones, Blackberrys, LinkedIn, MySpace and many more, we are losing the “relationship” and simply “connecting.” This type of new relationship lacks an emotional connection and a deeper sense of commitment and intimacy.

Vajda goes on to state, “Healthy, conscious relationships that exude openness and trust can only be cultivated when and where all parties experience an ‘emotional safe zone’. As relationships are replaced by ‘electronic’ interactions and transactions, emotional connection, the ‘human factor’…erodes.”

Here are some self-reflection questions to ask yourself:

• What is your preferred mode of communicating? In person or by electronic device (even when in-person is very do-able)?
• How would you describe the nature of your relationships at work, at home and in friendships: connecting or relating? What would others say about how you relate?
• Are you usually physically available when folks need you? Emotionally available?
• How often do you have face-to-face conversations with each other as opposed to snippets sitting side by side while watching TV, or reading the paper or some business document, etc.?
• When you and your family sit down for meals, is the cell phone also a required utensil?

To read more on this topic view the entire article here, “Connecting vs. Relating - Wall Street is But a Symptom.”

Peter G. Vajda, Ph.D, C.P.C. is a founding partner of SpiritHeart, an Atlanta-based company that supports conscious living through coaching, counseling and facilitating. With a practice based on the dynamic intersection of mind, body, emotion and spirit, Peter’s approach focuses on personal, business, relational and spiritual coaching.

Tim Messman - Audit Principal

I recently attended a business development and marketing seminar in Chicago sponsored by PKF North American Network, the accounting firm association that PKM is a member of. The seminar was attended by marketing and business developers from accounting firms around the U.S. and Canada. The key speaker was Sam Allred, a noted expert in professional service firm business development. Sam spoke on various topics related to business development, but a couple really hit home for me.

First Sam spoke about how most of us do a number of tasks at an average level of effort. What if we focused on fewer tasks at a higher level of effort? We would likely achieve greater results from those activities, because they become a focus that we pour our heart and soul into, rather than just churning out effort because it is something we have always done or we think we need to do. This, of course, is easy to talk about in theory, but more challenging to implement. It takes a lot of planning and analyzing of the various tasks that are of interest to you and the ones that will be most beneficial. If you have passion for something, you are much more likely to exert a high level of effort. This means we also have to learn to ignore, or set aside, tasks that will not be focused on at the present time. This makes sense in business development, but also in life. We are all often weighed down by numerous activities that are done at a mediocre level with little results. We are just going through the motions! If we really focus on a few of those, we have a much better chance of success.

Second, Sam spoke about the benefits of a niche practice. Fortunately, at PKM, we have always been niche focused and I could relate to this discussion. There are numerous benefits including, providing a focus for the firm, being a recognized expert in the industry, staff members quickly learning from the repetition and as a result can progress more quickly in their career. Due to the success we have seen in our existing niches, we have expanded our niche focus to several other industries that we have serviced. It is exciting to see the firm growing by having a niche practice!

Jenny Price - Audit Manager

According to Brian Tracy of Brian Tracy International, the most common form of stress that people experience is the feeling of being overwhelmed with far too much to do and having too little time to do it in. Would you agree?

“Time poverty” is the largest single problem facing most professionals in America today and that is probably true for most college students as well. Between classes, studying, group meetings, creating resumes, looking for jobs and even working your current job having skills in time management are going to be key in your success.

In Brian Tracy’s article, “Too Much to Do, Too Little Time” he lists the keys to time management. Tracy states, “The two indispensable keys to time management are: 1) the ability to set priorities; and 2) the ability to concentrate single-mindedly on one thing at a time.” Setting priorities is the way to make sure the items you must get done, will actually get done.

Ask yourself the question, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” This will help you stay on track because the natural tendency is for us to clear up the small things first rather than focusing on the important items.

Time management takes a lot of self-discipline, but when done right you’ll see your stress levels continue to fall!

Mike Morris - Systems Principal

The interview process is changing - the days of mailing your resume a few dozen places, waiting for the call for an interview, then impressing someone enough to obtain a job offer are over. Employers are now adding additional elements to the interview process. The shrinking workforce to choose from and the high cost of recruiting are causing employers to take measures to make sure their potential new hires will stick around.

An increasing number of companies are using behavior, personality and skill assessments in their hiring process to help secure employees that will fit with the company. The cost of replacing an employee is much more than the cost of assessing potential hires. This is attractive to companies because they can use the assessments to hire employees that will fit with the company and decrease turnover.

If you find yourself interviewing for a job and they want you to take an assessment of some sort, here are some tips to help you through the process.

• Plan accordingly - find out ahead of time how long the assessment is expected to take and know where you’ll be taking it.
• Take it seriously - your attitude and cooperation will tell a lot about you. Show up on time and dress professionally.
• Prepare ahead of time - familiarize yourself with some of the more common assessments, some of which allow you to take practice tests.

For more on this topic, read the article “Beyond the Job Interview: Personality and Skills Assessments” from ResumeEdge.com.

Cathy Schaffer - Tax Senior

Despite recent increases in the unemployment rate, there are still several industries that are seeing continued growth and the accounting industry is one of them. According to Yahoo! HotJobs the industries with the greatest number of job openings are healthcare, retail, sales, technology and accounting & finance. Another encouraging sign is that of the top locations for those seeking new positions, the city of Atlanta is high on the list!

The job market however will always be competitive, so here are a few tips on how to stand out from the crowd.

• Update and upload your resume
• Research potential employers
• Prepare for interviews
• Keep networking

For more on these tips, visit the Yahoo! HotJobs 100 website.

Chris Bowler - Systems Manager

The easiest question you’ll be asked in an interview with a potential employer will be, “Do you have any questions for me?” Always say yes! This will show them that you are interested in the job and allow you the chance to show how knowledgeable you are about the position and the industry.

Choose your questions carefully depending on who is doing the interviewing. A question that is appropriate for a future coworker may be inappropriate to ask an executive. An article by Erin Hovanec on Yahoo! HotJobs shares questions suitable for every type of interviewer you will encounter.

The Recruiter - The “Big Picture” person

• How would you describe the company culture?
• What types of employees tend to excel at this company?
• Can you tell me more about the interview process?

The Hiring Manager - Your future boss

• What are the most important skills for the job?
• How would you describe your ideal candidate?
• What’s a common career path at the company for someone in this role?

The Executive - The industry expert

• How do you think this industry will change in the next five years?
• What do you think gives this company an edge over its competitors?
• What’s the company’s biggest challenge? How is it planning to meet that challenge?

The Coworker - The “Straight-Talker”

• What’s a typical day like in the department?
• How would you describe the work environment at the company?
• What’s the most enjoyable part of your job? What’s the most challenging part?

There is however some questions you should never ask too early on in the interview process - no matter whom you are meeting with. Don’t ask about salary, 401(k), vacation or anything else that may make you seem that you are more interested in the compensation than the company.

Read the entire article, “It’s Your Turn: What to Ask an Interviewer.”

Jamie Hood - Audit Manager

You’ve gone to school for the past however many years gaining your knowledge and building your skills in accounting. The question is, what’s the next most important item in you’ll need in your career tool belt? A recent survey, conducted by Robert Half International, of 1,400 CFOs found that the answer to that question is technology. Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources stated, “Take this survey as a wake-up call to get well-versed in enterprise architecture planning (EAP), Excel, Access and Report Writer.”

For most recent college graduates, you are already experienced with Excel and Access. Make sure you highlight this in your resume. One way to make sure you stand out is to include your technological experience in your functional statement instead of just listing all the systems you know at the bottom of the document. For more information and tips on this topic, check out this article from JobsintheMoney.

Candice Gaston - Audit Senior

Your profile information tells of the high school where you graduated, the college you currently attend, your ever changing relationship status…and how hammered you were this weekend. All of your friends post messages on your wall and paste pictures of your “extra-curricular” activities - so what does this have to do with your future employer? A great deal according to the New York Times article, “For Some, Online Persona Undermines a Résumé.”

Companies are utilizing these social networking sites to find out more information regarding the students they recruit. Sometimes, what employers find will cause them to completely forget the outstanding 4.0 and the “president-of-every-club” potential employee. No matter how glowing the résumé, information on your Facebook and MySpace pages can wreck your potential internship and/or full-time position.

Within the article and according to the Patricia Rose, the director of career Services at the University of Pennsylvania, companies even ask college students working as interns to perform their online background checks. One recruiter, while performing her own online review of a promising job applicant, found explicit photographs and commentary about the student’s “drinking and pot smoking” escapades, including “testimonials from friends.” Among the pictures, she found photos of the formerly-known as “promising job applicant” passed out after drinking. Needless to say, the potential job for this promising job applicant was given to another student - probably one with cleaner Facebook or MySpace pages!

Easy lessons: review your social networking pages to ensure whatever content you have posted is something you would feel comfortable showing to a future employer! Take down the unprofessional commentaries from your friends, delete the pictures you don’t remember taking because you were in a different state of mind, and land the job of your dreams!

Don’t let your online social page outweigh your glowing résumé in the mind of your potential future employers!

Scott Jones - Audit Staff

If you took a poll of all current PKM employees, I believe that the general consensus would be that the earlier you take the CPA Exam the better. Ideally, it’s best to take and pass the exam before starting work. There are several reasons for this. First, all of the information on the exam that you learned in college will still be fresh on your mind. This gives you a better chance of passing and also, you would hate to have to go back and relearn everything from a class you took several years ago. Second, you will still have strong study and test taking skills from all those years of college. These skills fade over time if they’re not used regularly. And finally, it’s difficult to find a sufficient amount of free time to study for the CPA Exam while working a full-time public accounting job. The last thing you want to do at the end of a long day of work is study.

In order to pass the CPA Exam before starting work, it’s important to set up a realistic exam schedule, always allowing yourself plenty of time to study and prepare for the next section. If you’re motivated enough, it’s good to get a head start on the exam while in grad school. Many of my friends completed the exam before graduating with their Master’s degrees. Be sure to plan ahead, though. Scheduling for the CPA Exam for the first time takes six to eight weeks to process.

I would also like to mention the great benefits that PKM provides regarding the CPA Exam. PKM will reimburse you for study materials and will also pay for exam fees after you pass the exam. They also throw in a nice incentive bonus for passing the CPA Exam before starting work. Really, there’s no excuse for not at least attempting each section of the exam prior to starting work. So plan ahead and start studying for the exam as soon as possible. Get it out of the way before you start work so you won’t ever have to worry about it again. I promise you, you won’t regret it. Good luck!

Laura Snyder - Director of Marketing

Career success is the result of a combination of many of different factors. Alone, each of these factors will do little to help you along your career path; however, when combined, your effort, attitude and desire can make the difference in achieving career success.

Leading accounting firm consultant, Sam Allred, believes that effort, attitude and desire are three key factors in his firm’s success. Here are some brief tips on how you can use these three factors to make your career a success.

• Desire can be defined as something you wish for, long for or crave. From a career perspective, if you choose a job that focuses on things you really want to do, then you are setting the stage for success.
• Your attitude also plays a large role. Thinking positively and believing you will succeed, as well as treating others with a positive attitude and surrounding yourself with other positive thinkers, are important in helping you achieve the success.
• Finally, you must put forth the effort. Desire and attitude are important, but without effort you are destined for failure.

To achieve career success, remember to put forth the effort (work hard), have a positive attitude (embrace change and career long learning) and work in a profession you desire (love what you do and know that what you do also helps your clients succeed).

Courtney Stillwagon - Audit Staff

Accounting interview season is both exciting and nerve wracking for anyone who finds themselves in the middle of it. I remember my experience well. So many firms, so many questions! I found it daunting to sit down after a career fair, and try to compare all of the firms I had spoken to.

Through my experience I feel that I developed some good advice to pass on.

• Always trust your gut. If you don’t feel like a firm is a good fit for you, then don’t force it.
• Do your research! Figure out what’s important to you (work-life balance, big name clients, specific industry, etc.) and see what firms fit well with your priorities.
• Ask lots of questions. Sometimes you may get a cookie cutter answer, but you’ll know it when you hear it. Judge firms based on how honest they are with you.
• Keep in touch. Always remember to keep contacts with the firms you didn’t accept an internship offer with. Take it from personal experience: I interned with a Big Four firm, and decided it wasn’t right for me. I had kept contacts with PKM though, so I was able to contact them and now I’m happily a PKM staffer!

Most important of all though, be yourself! If a firm doesn’t like you for who you are, then you won’t want to work there anyway.

Jessica Clarke - Systems Associate

You put a lot of effort into crafting a resume that will convey your talents and experience so don’t drop the ball when it comes to your cover letter. The resume you send to your prospective employer will be what gets you in the door, but the cover letter that goes along with it will be what gets them to open the door in the first place.

A recent article by Caroline Potter on Yahoo! HotJobs lays out an easy five-step formula for cover letter success created by job-search expert Deborah Brown-Volkman.

• Step 1: Cut to the chase - Begin your cover letter by clearly identifying why you are reaching out to the company. Make sure to cover all relevant facts such as the position’s title and location.
• Step 2: What I like about you - Complete the statement, “I like your company because…” Tell the organization what they have done right and why you admire them. This shows you have take the time to get to learn about the company.
• Step 3: What you’ll like about me - Brown-Volkman encourages job seekers to list their most vital qualifications up front. You want to include relevant examples of work that you have completed that matches up with what the employer is looking for.
• Step 4: What else you’ll like about me - Personalize your letter by describing who you are and what makes you stand out from the crowd. Some things to discuss may be your soft skills, strengths and what you’re passionate about professionally. This is your last chance to say, “Here’s why I’m a good candidate…”
• Step 5: In conclusion - Your closing paragraph should express your enthusiasm for the position and interview along with a plan of action. Make note of your contact information and state what the next steps will be. Whatever you put down, make sure you do what you say you will!

View the entire Yahoo! HotJobs article.

Deborah Brown-Volkman is the founder of SurpassYourDreams.com.

Rob Tysver - Audit Senior

How connected are you? A recent survey developed by Robert Half International, the world’s first and largest staffing firm specializing in accounting and finance, suggests that job seekers shouldn’t overlook online networking sites. The survey was conducted by interviewing 150 senior executives from the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.

These executives were asked, “Which of the following technology tools do you believe will be most useful in your firm’s recruiting efforts in the next three years?” Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of the executives believe that professional networking websites, such as LinkedIn, will prove useful in their searches for future employees in the next three years. Coming in second with thirty-five percent were the social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

Now, in order to make the most of your online networking, here are some tips from Robert Half to consider:

• Craft your profile carefully - Pay attention to the content of your profile as you would the information on your resume. Make sure to highlight your professional skills, not only your personal interests.
• Ask for recommendations - Most professional networking sites allow for others to comment on your work, these testimonials help hiring managers learn more about your experience and work ethic.
• Build your list of contacts - Invite your trusted friends and colleagues to join your network. You can also ask to be introduced or referred to an interesting person you find in one of their networks.
• Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want an employer to see - Use the privacy settings that are available to you. Make sure that any public images or messages you post don’t detract from your professional image.
• Don’t stop networking once you have a job - Although these networking sites are great job search tools, they can also help you once you have secured a position. They can help you stay up-to-date on industry trends, find mentors that can offer career advice or alert you on upcoming events and educational opportunities.

One thing to remember, embracing technology can be beneficial but job seekers shouldn’t depend solely on the digital world. Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International states, “Tried and true methods such as networking at industry events, submitting well-written resumes and cover letters and diligently following up with hiring managers are still essential to landing the ideal job. Combining personal and online networking offers the best of both worlds.”

To view more on this topic, visit www.rhi.com.

Caroline McCormick - Audit Associate

Atlanta is a city widely known for its ever-growing population and relatively low cost of living among big cities around the country, not to mention the temperate Southern climate. Atlanta was recently named the number four best city for jobs in the nation by Forbes.com thanks to the city’s high quality of life, affordable cost of business and easy access to the global market through the world’s busiest airport. Here are five reasons soon-to-be college grads should be looking to Atlanta as you start your search for jobs.

• Film and Television production - With the headquarters of Turner Broadcasting (including CNN, Cartoon Network and Tyler Perry Studios) located in Atlanta, the city if a great and inexpensive place to get your foot in the door of the film and television industries.
• Arts Organizations - Atlanta is thought of as the “cultural capital” of the Southeast and according to the Creative Industries 2008 report by Americans for the Arts, our city as the highest number of arts businesses per capita, this is more than San Francisco, New York and L.A. just to name a few.
• Technology Companies - Opportunities in information technology, software and web development are plentiful in Atlanta.
• Healthcare - Emory University healthcare campuses, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Shepherd Center, Centers for Disease Control, the Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society are some of the nationally known healthcare providers located here in Atlanta.
• National and international headquarters for nine Fortune 500 companies, including UPS, Home Depot and Coca-Cola.

For even more information on why you should consider the city of Atlanta when searching for your future employment opportunities, visit the ADA website.

Doug Kant - Audit Staff

It pays off to begin your job search early! According to an article on JobWeb.com, students who began job-hunting early and through their college career centers were rewarded for their efforts. The most successful students utilized their college career centers and were more active with speaking to potential employers.

On campus interviews are an excellent and convenient way to get ahead and gain experience with the interview process. Posting resumes on college career center websites and interacting with employers at career fairs are characteristics of the more successful students. Unsuccessful students relied heavily on job postings in the newspaper, websites, and company websites.

Colleges supply all the tools needed for students to become employed in their desired field. It’s up to the student to take action and begin planning for the future!

View the article from JobWeb here.

Ryan Barrow - Audit Staff

Starting a new job is exciting as well as nerve-wracking, because we all know first impressions often last. It is vital for you to “put your best foot forward” your first few weeks on the job. An article by Doug White at Robert Half International lists some common mistakes made by new hires, along with some advice on how you can avoid them.

Failing to Adapt Quickly - The longer it takes you to notice and adjust to the corporate culture, the longer you will be seen as “the new kid.” Pay attention to not only what is highlighted in the employee handbook, but also the unwritten rules.

• How do your fellow employees tend to communicate? Face-to-face or via email?
• Do people take work home?
• Do people eat at their desks?
• Are personal photographs, etc. on display?

Not Asking Questions - You may be hesitant to ask questions because you don’t want to be perceived as irritating or uninformed, but it is much worse to make incorrect assumptions about items such as priorities or policies. Make sure you ask questions early and ask often.

Trying to Do Too Much - As a new hire you will want to contribute early on, but you must make sure to pace yourself. You won’t make a positive impact if you are stretching yourself too thin. Focus on your primary responsibilities.

Being a Know-it-All- You were hired for a reason - so sharing your opinion when asked is a must, but you don’t want to be seen as disruptive either. Play it safe by being tactful and constructive with feedback or criticism. Also, stay clear of the phrase, “At my last job…”

Failing to Make Friends - Everyone knows it is wise to be friendly when in the presence of the boss, but it’s not just the “higher-ups” you need to impress. Building relationships with all your colleagues is very important, as you may need to call on them for assistance in the future.

To view the entire article, visit Yahoo! HotJobs.

Alison Derringer - Tax Intern

This summer there were 5 interns at PKM - Four in Audit and one in Tax. After collaboration we came up with some things new interns might want to know when coming to PKM. Hope this helps!

In General…

• You probably don’t know much or anything about what you are doing and everyone expects that, so always ask lots of questions instead of guessing.
• During training be extremely weary of sudden changes in your schedule such as flights out the next day and being double booked… it’s most likely a prank to see how you will respond!
• If you set your voice mail, don’t get creative with your access code, because you might forget it. You would need to contact Kim, who would contact the phone company and they will set your phone. It might take up to two weeks before you can retain access to your messages.
• Always lock your computer when stepping away. There are some pranksters at the office.
• Be prepared to speak in front of the entire firm at the intern dinner. You will be called out and stories will be told on any mishap you encountered!
• Don’t eat breakfast before you get to the office on Friday mornings because there is Krispy Kreme in the break room. Gaining weight during your internship will happen, just accept it!
• It might be a good idea to have a comfortable pair of shoes in your desk drawer. It is not fun walking down 18 flights of stairs in heels during a fire drill.

Audit Tips

• When talking with a client, act like you know what you are talking about, even if you don’t because confidence speaks louder than words.
• When doing a cash count, always take your calculator, pen and paper with you.
• Know what bait money and dye packs are and be careful handling them during cash counts! Bait money is strapped cash that is attached to an alarm in each teller drawer in case the bank is robbed. A Dye pack consists of strapped currency where the top two and last two bills are real currency and the middle bills are decoys that are filled with dye and explode when taken outside the bank.
• When you see the letters NCN, this means, “Not considered necessary”.
• When working with Candice, you must love Dolly Parton.
• All in-charges are different so be prepared to adapt to their style. For example, Candice has many unique phrases that you may have to ask for clarification on. (Scrolli-oli-oli means scroll down).
• Make sure you get rest before you travel to Cullman, Alabama because the client enjoys entertaining practically every day and night.
• Submit your time and expense report ahead of time whenever possible. When on an out-of-town engagement, you might have limited Internet access or the server might be down. It would be a good idea to have Margaret’s phone numbers on speed dial in your cell phone. Don’t get frustrated the first time you complete your time and expense report - it is confusing! Everyone is willing to help if you have any questions.

Tax Tips

• There might be days when you have nothing to do, enjoy them because when you cannot get your tax return to balance you will wish you had nothing to do.
• If you see a good snack in the break room, grab it, because if you don’t - someone else will.
• You can work on a couple of clients per day so make sure you keep up with your time. Also, if you are using the timer function in Practice Solution, make sure you stop it before going to lunch!

Nick Head - Audit Staff

In a recent article from JobsintheMoney, Steve Bohler discusses the importance of what he calls a “personal career vision.” The bottom line is, to be successful and love your work - you will need more than a job. So, before you focus on your resume, job hunting and networking, take some time to create your own personal career vision.

Now the question is, what is this so-called personal career vision? Well, Steve simply states it as a tangible blueprint of the direction you want your life to take. This will help you gain a better understanding of who you are and what you really want out of your life and career. This information is the raw materials you need to create a “masterpiece of a career and life.”

Your personal career vision will be a plan for exactly the type of work you should be doing, based on information about what you are naturally good at, what you want, and what you think is worth doing.

To find out how to create a personal career vision, view the rest of Steve’s article.

Anna Hatcher - Audit Staff

As a college student, I’m sure you’re aware of how important “real on the job experience” is to future employers these days. Internships are the key to this experience while you are still in college and preparing to graduate. Most schools even offer class credit for internships, so what are you waiting for?

One thing to remember though is the work isn’t over once you complete your internship. To help ensure future success can come of the internship, take into consideration the following tips from ResumeEdge.com on how to take your internship into the future.

Keep in touch - once you finish your internship experience, remember to send thank-you notes to all those that helped make your internship a success. This should include your supervisors, mentors, and maybe even a firm executive or a member of Human Resources that oversees the interns.

Assess the experience - Take some time to reflect on your internship experience. Think about what you learned about the industry, corporate culture, work environment, and even yourself. These reflections will help guide you into deciding whether the industry is the right fit for you or not.

Update your paperwork - Put that “real on the job experience” on your resume! Create a paragraph to include that highlight your responsibilities and achievements as an intern.

Launch your career - Even if the company you interned with doesn’t turn into a full-time job, you now have the experience that employers are looking for. Completing an internship will only help you in the future success of your career.

David Berry - Audit Staff

Looking for the perfect job can be quite stressful, especially if you are a recent graduate from college. All the resumes, cover letters, and practice interview questions can become pretty overwhelming. Preparing ahead of time can make the process of finding your job much easier.

A recent article written by Susan Johnston on YoungMoney.com highlights three new books that will be all you need to get yourself through your job search!

Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success by Penelope Trunk - “Take everything you think you ‘know’ about career strategies, throw them away, and read this book because the rules have changed.” Said author Guy Kawasaki.

Career Wisdom for College Students: Insights You Won’t Get in Class, on the Internet, or from Your Parents by Peter Vogt - Former college career counselor and MonsterTRAK career coach uses his experience to tackle many concerns students face during their job search.

Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World by Lindsey Pollak - Campus Career Advisor states, “Perfect for today’s students, who inevitably want what they want when they want it.”

Now the next step is to get reading and find the job you’ve been searching for!

Kim Taylor - Executive Assistant

The Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) provides a forum for marketers to improve skills and knowledge to help increase firm revenues. They offer marketers of accounting firms opportunities for education and training, information and resource sharing, and tools to enhance the credibility and impact of marketing and sales within.

Each year AAM holds a conference for their members to come together and this past years event was held the first week of June in San Diego, California. This was my first time attending the AAM Summit and it was a great experience!

The conference started on a Tuesday afternoon and went through lunch on Friday. There were many great speakers and a lot of valuable information to be learned. The opening keynote speaker was Dr. Frank Luntz who spoke on “Words that Work: It’s Not What you Say, It’s What People Hear.”

Some lessons to take away from Dr. Luntz’s presentation were a few things that clients really want from you:

• Accountability in what you do
• Fierce integrity and principles in all you do
• Respect toward what the client does
• Answerable after the fact

For more information about AAM or their 2009 Summit visit their website.

Ben Brackmann - Audit Staff

A recent article from CNNMoney.com states that though companies are cutting back on jobs, they are keeping their “talent pipeline” supplied by hiring more interns. This seems to be a great solution because it cuts costs for the employer and more students are looking for on-the-job experience. Not only do interns provide “cheap and eager” labor - they also bring fresh ideas.

It is estimated that employers will increase their internship rosters by 3.7% over 2007 and this could not be better for students as internships become more crucial for landing a job. An internship is equally valuable for the intern and the employer. This is a time where students can test the waters, while employers can evaluate the intern for future employment.

Universities are also recognizing the importance of internships and are taking steps to secure spots for their students, while some colleges even require them for graduation. To read the entire article, visit this website.

Sal Inserra - Partner

At 20 years old the world was a blank canvas with vast opportunities and yet it looks like a map without road references. Even after staring at the map you cannot quite figure how to get to your goal or where you goal is. All that said, I thought I knew exactly the path to take - until I was set straight.

I was enrolled in the City University of N.Y. pursuing an economics degree and employed at JP Morgan. I was a part time employee who transferred from department to department - this did not bother me too much because I enjoyed the change. When I met my mentors I was working in the accounting and analysis group department and had about twelve superiors. If I was going to be honest about it I should name all twelve as mentors but there were two that stuck out - Diane Makoujy and Lou Vitali.

Lou and Diane were officers with the bank who had come out of the Big Eight. They were sharp, witty, successful and great role models. I would have sought their input, but they did not wait for me to ask. They provided me guidance on everything - how to dress more professionally, how to show your “smarts” in a tasteful manner, how to be successful in a team environment and they changed my career goals completely.

After about two months with the group, Lou and Diane decided to take me to lunch and double-team me to convince me to change my major to accounting. They were not going to take no for an answer and it was one of the five days that changed my life.

After disrupting my life and putting me on a new path, both of the meddlers, along with the other ten members of the group, provided me with two-year internship in accounting and analysis. This is the kind of experience that students hope to see before entering the real world. They made certain I was always challenged and provided me the guidance necessary so that a college student surrounded by top flight talent would not lose his confidence.

As I wrapped up my college career it was time to look for a job in the real world and I wanted to take the path of my mentors. I thought a Big Eight accounting firm was the only place for me. Unfortunately, the Big Eight firms did not view the university I attended as a top-flight school. As a result I hit a wall, but a wall is only a temporary obstacle.

My mentors, all twelve of them, heard of my plight and went into high gear. They called folks at the firms they used to work for, schedulers, peers, HR managers and partners. They put their reputation on the line for me and insisted that I be given a chance to interview and they did not take any chances there either. Lou and Diane made me go through practice interviews hitting me with questions and teaching me that an interview should be a conversation. They taught me well, as I received offers from all but one of the Big Eight.

It was bitter sweet to leave JPM. Other than my family, I don’t know remember anyone giving so much of themselves to benefit me. Their assistance was life changing and a key to who and what I am today. Twenty-three years later, I am now a partner with PKM and not a day goes by where I don’t draw upon something Lou and Diane taught me. I try hard each day to honor what they did for me by looking to pass on what I learned to others. Hopefully, there will be a person in the future who will think I had made a difference in their career.

Thank you Lou and Diane.

Jenna Montroy - Marketing Assistant

At a recent event I attended, Charlotte Stallings was the keynote speaker and if someone in the room left not being motivated to succeed in their careers and life I’d be very surprised.

Charlotte Stallings is a former VP of Investment Strategies and National Spokesperson for American Express, and she’s been showing people how to “get smart” all of her professional life. Stallings gained most of her expertise in business from her years at corporations such as US Banks, Xerox and American Express.

Not only was Charlotte entertaining and fun to listen to, she actually had something of worth to listen to. Just to give you a taste of what you could hear if you hear Charlotte speak, here are her four principles relating to the question: What do you bring to the table?

Principle #1 - Successful people choose to focus on their strengths. Principle #2 - Successful people visualize success. Principle #3 - Successful people choose to be givers. Principle #4 - Successful people choose to live with passion.

Charlotte’s “Getting Smart” series also hits on topics such as “Getting Smart About Money” and “Getting Smart About Selling.” Visit her website here.

Dorian Bafas - Audit Staff

You may be at the point in your life where you’re either finishing college and starting the job hunt, or well into your career and looking for a change - either way persistence pays off when you’re looking to land that job!

Following up with every potential employer is crucial when you are looking to be hired. Some may be fearful that being to persistent could cost you the job, but in at least two recent instances cited by career experts, those who did not persist would be the ones with the lost opportunity.

Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers To Tough Interview Questions states, “I actually think it’s a good thing if one or two people complain that you’re too tenacious, because it actually shows you’re doing a good job of searching for a job.” Oliver suggests that you use the phone, not just e-mail. She also suggests recording the time of day you make the call. This way if you have trouble reaching them at a certain time you will know to try another time of day.

For more tips, view the article When Following Up, Persistence Pays.

Kelly Newman - Tax Staff

To be successful in any career there are certain skills and talents that people should possess and this is no different in the world of accounting. Have you often wondered if you have what it takes to be successful in a career in accounting? We have the answer for you! Careers-In-Accounting.com has a page dedicated solely to the skills and talents required to be successful in your accounting career. Let’s take a look.

Accounting is very team-oriented and it is crucial that you enjoy working as a part of a team. This means you should take advantage of those group projects in school and learn all you can from them!

Keeping up with current advances in technology is also key to your success in accounting. Many firms are implementing new electronic systems for submitting and preparing financial statements as well as day-to-day office operations.

Networking skills are also very important to a career in accounting, it is important to have a good network of business contacts in consulting as you progress. Business development will become part of your job and a great way to start is to stay in touch with your classmates, as they may become your future clients!

Now that you have a general idea, for more information on skills required visit their website.

Doug Kant - Audit Staff

Do you ever find yourself wanting to just relax on a Sunday night, but all you can do is worry and stress about the upcoming workweek? Taking a few moments to plan for the week will help lower stress levels and help you take control of your life! Having a plan in place will help the week run more smoothly and ensure that you can relax with family and friends on the weekend. Here are some tips from Monster’s Career Advice to help you plan for your upcoming workweek:

Prepare to Be Happy: Happiness is a choice and you’ve got to take the choice back. Choose to be happy, passionate and organized, and what you want to accomplish will happen.

Know What You’ll Eat: Don’t sit at work worrying about what you’re going to make for dinner, have a plan for both lunch and dinner meals for the whole week before it even begins!

Get Up 15 Minutes Earlier: Use the extra time in the morning to have a relaxed breakfast, rather than grabbing a random fruit or cereal bar as you run out the door. Remember, Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”

Write It Down: Make a list of items you regularly take with you to work and put it somewhere visible in your car to make sure you don’t forget anything in the morning. A visual calendar made for the fridge is also a handy tool and it let’s everyone know where everyone else is and what he or she are doing.

Be Ready to Ask for What You Need and Also How You Can Help: Everyone needs something from work, whether it be the chance to be more creative, the opportunity to manage, etc. Make sure you also take the time to see how you can help your coworkers to make their lives a little easier too!

Nicole Knox - Tax Intern

Authenticity serves women executives well, according to Julie Wolf, Ph.D., managing director of RHR International. Wolf conducted interviews with 100 female executives ranging from vice presidents to chief executives on the topic of what it takes to be successful in an executive position, particularly from a psychological perspective.

The research found that successful women are both externally and internally authentic. Others view these women as being genuine and real as well as having a core confidence. They also have a sense of calm, empowerment and integrity, and are upfront about family and community commitments.

By being genuine and bringing your whole self to the table it will allow for greater employee communication and trust. This doesn’t just apply to women, but to everyone in the workforce. Bringing in your experiences on and off the job, liking yourself and just being yourself at work will help you be more authentic, which could open up many new doors in your job!

Jake Nadlicki - Audit Associate

We all know that employers are looking for great employees that will further the success of their companies, but that doesn’t mean they are looking for the “me first” and “star” mentality. In a February article from BusinessWeek, William C. Taylor focuses on the young and fresh talent that is looking to enter the workforce and gives them a little advice.

Taylor states, “The point of this exercise is not to land the fattest signing bonus or sign up with the ‘cool’ company of the moment. The point of this exercise is to do work you care about in a company that matters… achieving that goal means dialing down your short-term ambitions and recognizing the power of ‘humbition.’”

Now what exactly is this “humbition” he is speaking of? Jane Harper, a nearly 30-year veteran of IBM, explains it as: the subtle blend of humility and ambition that drives the most successful leaders—an antidote to the know-it-all hubris that affects so many business stars.

The article goes on to state, “I always urge new people not to worry about ‘getting credit or taking credit’ for great work. If they’re making bold moves, and developing good relationships, they will get more opportunities to grow and succeed. Don’t waste energy on worrying about whether everything you do gets noticed. It does.”

Nick Head - Audit Staff

The time has come, you’ve sent out the resumes and calls for interviews are coming in. The interviewing process for a job can be pretty intimidating, especially for recent graduates with little to no experience with an interview setting. Finding a way to set yourself apart from other candidates is essential in your future success.

There will always be others with more experience, better grades, better references — you name it. The key part of the interview is to show the employer what sets you apart from the others and a great way to do this is through passion and attitude.

You may be asking, “How can you convey passion in the interview?” This can be shown through your enthusiasm for the job. Giving examples of how past behaviors of how your passion has had positive impacts in your work and life are excellent as well.

Your attitude is something else that recruiters will remember after all the interviews they have had. So many companies these days have their full share of “multitalented superstars” who typically care about no one but themselves. Showing a positive and “can do” attitude is very attractive to employers because they are looking for employees that will not only work hard, but will have the best interests of the company in mind as well.

At PKM these two qualities are valued very highly, especially in our teamwork setting. Someone who is willing to put forth the effort to succeed will shine in any interview setting! For more interview tips visit CollegeGrad.com’s Competitive Interview Prep website.

Jenna Montroy - Marketing Intern

You may not find your next job on LinkedIn, but it is an excellent way to start building your professional profile. LinkedIn is a social networking site mainly used by professionals. Although there are less registered members on LinkedIn than Facebook or MySpace, the people on LinkedIn are the right ones. LinkedIn is designed solely to help you make professional connections. You can upload your resume, state whether you are looking to be hired, looking to hire, etc. And with over 20 million registered users, LinkedIn is an excellent place to start building professional relationships and networking.

The search tool on LinkedIn’s website helps you find whoever you may be looking for, this could be people like you, people who might want to hire you, and those who may share your skills. They also offer a Q&A area that allows you to make known your presence by asking others specific career-related questions.

Now, you may be asking yourself - does this site actually work in helping you make connections? Some say it does, but the site is free for all users, so it’s worth a shot!

Cayci Moon - Audit Intern

I am the queen of doing silly things, especially when I get nervous. Here are a few of my blunders I had during my internship with PKM. These are to help so you do not have to ask the “silly” questions or sit and wonder what these crazy abbreviations are! I have spent the last two months here at PKM doing an audit internship and I am excited to go back to school and incorporate all my newly learned “audit jargon” into my daily vocabulary!

Things I wish I knew before I started

1. You do not have to ask to go to the bathroom (and believe it or not you can go anytime you want!)
2. P/f/w - pass further work
3. P/d/w- per discussion with
4. I/c/w - in connection with
5. Bus - is an abbreviation for business not a BUS (i.e. more than likely a bank will not have an “entertainment bus”).
6. Know the order of balance sheets and income statements.
7. Nonstandard Journal entry testing is not a gift.
8. Traffic is not the end of the world.
9. “It” happens.
10. If you act like you know what you are talking about, 9 times out of 10 the client will have no clue you are clueless, and visual samples of what you want are always helpful.
11. It is far better to be over dressed than to show up underdressed.
12. You will get fat during busy season.
13. Get everything you need from the client before you leave fieldwork, they tend to be a little slower through email than when you are in their office.
14. GOOGLE everything, it will help to keep you from asking a “silly” question.
15. When you go to talk to a client always take a pen and paper, I got the deer in the headlights look and sweating panic attack when a CFO starting spatting off a monologue about this account detail, knowing there was no way I was going to be able to remember it all!

Christian Albarracin - Audit Staff

Are you struggling to maintain your career while having a personal life at the same time? It may help to draw out a plan to help you create that work/life balance that everyone is trying to achieve. In writing out your plan you may discover what it is that is causing you to be burnt out. Once you know the cause of the problem it will be much easier to fix it. Once you outline what you want out of your career and your personal life it will be that much easier to find balance. You will realize that you don’t have to sacrifice your personal life for a successful career.

Start out by figuring out what you want to accomplish in your career. This could be a broad outline of where you want to go in the next five to twenty years, or just what you want out of your current position. It could help to think about what skills you want to develop and what responsibilities you would like to have. The next step is to define what you want out of your personal life. This includes anything from hobbies, health and nutrition, or spending time with loved ones. This should include everything that is important to you. Now, to create a measure of how to determine if you are living up to your ideals create your definition of success. You should do this in terms of your career and your personal life, separately.

Now it’s time to create your plan. This is where you can plan for accomplishing something important in both your career and your personal life. Establishing a schedule for completing your goals is essential, as well as a contingency plan in case you need to switch a few things around. It is also important to let the people in your life know about your plans and work together to accomplish your goals.

Lauren Bergh - Audit Staff

In any career today you are bound to find stress and frustration. This may not sound too encouraging, but there are many ways to keep yourself from getting caught up in all the stress and actually enjoying your job. At PKM we always try not to take ourselves too seriously and have fun while handling the stresses that come along with public accounting. Keeping and promoting a positive attitude throughout the office just makes the days run much more smoothly. Here are some ways you can help promote a positive attitude in your everyday life.

1. Maintain a sense of perspective. Ask yourself, “How important is this in the big scheme of things?”
2. Become a problem solver. If you focus on how you can solve a problem rather than just the problem itself, you will be much more productive in eliminating the problem!
3. Take control of yourself. Think about how you are responding to tension and conflicts in the office.
4. Stay healthy. Eating healthy and drinking water throughout the day will keep you alert and allow you to think more clearly.
5. Smile. The simple act of smiling can actually make you feel better!
6. Manage your stress. Taking mental breaks and staying relaxed are crucial in maintaining a positive attitude and will make you feel better overall.

Anne Lane - Audit Staff

Whether you’re playing a sport or working in an accounting firm, the ability of members to function as a group is essential to achieving goals and objectives. You must be able to collaborate well with different colleagues and clients in order to perform at your best. If you are performing at your best, then your organization will surely benefit. Here are some things to remember about teamwork.

Understanding the objective is key — Make sure that you and all your team members know what the group is trying to accomplish.

Keep an open mind — Not all your colleague’s will work the same as you; so if they have a different approach than you, try to adapt yours.

Be flexible — You may not always be able to assume the roles you wish on every project, but let your coworkers know you are willing to work outside your norm.

Share the glory — With everyone giving his or her best effort, success is sure to come. Help your colleagues complete tasks if they are having difficulty. If you put your group first it will ensure that objectives are reached.

Emily Sanders - Audit Staff

In a recent survey by Rick Telberg, editor of CPA Tredlines, respondents were asked to give tips to recent college graduates on how to succeed in accounting. The survey resulted in a variety of answers, but with 60 percent of it coming from professionals in the field for 10 to 30 years, they have credibility.

Here are the top four most popular tips:

1. When asked what the most important ingredients to a successful career are, communication and inter-personal skills were chosen by 86 percent of respondents.
2. Coming in a close second, was integrity and good character, which was stated by 79 percent of respondents.
3. Constant, lifelong learning, came in third with 71 percent of respondents. More than often students are taught to know, not to keep learning, but with any career continuous learning is crucial.
4. Coming in fourth, as indicated by 69 percent of respondents, is up-to-date technical knowledge and skills. But, with ever-changing technology, continuous learning plays a roll in this aspect of your career as well.

In the end Rick adds, “College has helped you scratch the surface of a deep and complex profession, and much of what you need to know, your professors never got around to telling you.”

To see other quotes from respondents, view the article here.

Randall Cabezas - IT Administrator

Networking is an essential part of building any career, whether it is in accounting or something else. Eighty to ninety percent of jobs available today are filled through networking and are never even advertised. This is why networking is so important when looking for a job. The more people you know the more potential prospects and opportunities will arise.

Though it may seem intimidating, it is nothing more than considering every person you meet, and currently know, as a contact. Keeping a list is the easiest way to keep track of all your contacts, whether it is in a Rolodex, on your laptop, or in your cell phone. To start your list, consider all the people you know, from friends, family, professors, doctors, lawyers, contractors, and so on. And, as you continue to meet new people be sure to add them to your list.

It is easy to make every opportunity a networking opportunity. Attending conferences, tradeshows, and work-related events are ideal for developing new contacts, but any person you talk to for any reason represents a potential contact!

Here are some more tips from the AICPA to enhance your network.

Cayci Moon - Audit Intern

In Promoting Your Talent: A Guidebook for Women and Their Firms, Nancy R. Baldiga, CPA interviewed over 50 women, human resource directors, and managing partners to see what their firms were doing to ensure the advancement of women CPAs and staff retention. In the book you can find observations, reflections, and recommendations on how women CPAs can promote their talents along with how firms can promote the talented staff they currently have.

You will also find tips on effective networking, positive mentoring, developing flexible work schedule strategies, advice for young women CPAs, and much more! This book is a must read for every firm and every woman who is looking to make everything she can out of her career in accounting.

To see more information on this book and other must reads, click here.

Leslie Holley - Tax Manager

So, you’re getting ready for to take the CPA exam and have no clue where to start. I want to share with you some helpful tips I found on Monster’s Career Advice website. We all know the CPA exam is hard and more people fail than pass each of the exam’s four parts. Pay attention to these tips carefully and get studying!

Be Careful in Choosing your Accounting Program - William Parrott, associate professor of accounting at the University of South Florida suggests that before you enroll in a college accounting program, find out what percentage of its graduates pass the CPA exam.

Match your Prep Method to your Learning Style - If you learn best by reading, buy review texts or DVDs. If it’s motivation you’re looking for, in-person classes may be the route you should take. If you would like a mixture of both, try an online course.

Shop Around for the Best Deal - Compare costs of different materials and ask about passing rates. Also, ask how the program has adjusted for the new four-part exam format. You may want to ask about money-back guarantees and return policies as well.

Study, Study, Study - Plan to spend anywhere from 450 to 500 hours studying. That equals to about 30 hours a week for a period over 15 or 16 weeks. You will have 18 months to pass all four sections after you pass the first. If you don’t meet the deadline, you will have to start completely over!

Practice Makes Perfect- Use all the materials you have, whether it is an online course or your college textbooks. There is a large amount of information in each section, don’t cram it all into two days and make sure to go over the material multiple times.

Simulate the Exam - The CPA exam is computerized, so practice with a computerized sample test. This way the multiple-choice and simulation questions will look similar on exam day.

For more resources, visit the site.

Jayce Simpson - Audit Intern

Over the years, Monster.com has received thousands of questions related to careers in accounting. They thought it would be beneficial to answer the most commonly posted questions all in one place for our convenience. Here are some of those questions you’ve been burning to know the answers to…

Can I advance in accounting without a CPA or CMA designation? While employers tend to prefer a CPA to non-CPA candidate, plenty of accountants work without one. Those with a CPA tend to receive higher salaries as well. The average salary for an accountant with either certification is $102,400 versus $80,700 for those without a CPA or CMA.

What jobs can I get with an accounting degree, but no experience? In public accounting, entry-level positions include that of a staff accountant or junior auditor. Before you graduate, you should be able to find work as an accounting assistant or accounting clerk. When you reach your junior year, you should have no trouble finding a summer internship.

How hard is the CPA exam? Very hard, so hard that fewer than half of those taking the test in the first quarter of 2007 passed any section. Don’t let this discourage you - there are plenty of study options available.

What do I have to do to become a CPA? First, you will need to choose where you want to practice. Each state sets its own rules for CPAs. Most require 150 hours of education and at least a year of accounting experience. They differ on whether that experience has to be public accounting or gained under the supervision of a CPA. They also differ on how long you must work before you are eligible to be licensed.

For more questions and answers view the entire article.

Nick Head - Audit Staff

Your resume will be the first impression you make with future employers and writing a resume that gets interviews is not as hard as one may think.

An article from Yahoo! Hot Jobs titled “How to Write a Resume That Gets Interviews” lays out four simple tips to ensure your resume will be a hit!

1. Keep It Simple- Make sure your resume is easy to understand and clearly communicates you possess the knowledge and experience needed for the particular job you are applying for.
2. Features versus Benefits - Do not just list your skills and features, show the employer how you can benefit their company. Think about the times you went above and beyond the call of duty!
3. Truth in Advertising - If you lie on your resume, more than likely you will be caught! Make sure you have actually done what you write in your resume. Lying on a resume is waste of time for both the employer and yourself.
4. It Takes Two - Don’t rely solely on your spelling and grammar checks when proofreading your resume. Find someone you trust to read over your resume before submitting it to any employers.

One more thing to remember when writing your resume - avoid the use of fancy words. Doing this to try to sound intelligent or qualified may just annoy the employer.

Kelly Newman - Tax Staff

According to Measure-X, a consulting firm that teaches organizations how to increase business performance, CARING is a key acronym to client service.

CARING client service implies that everyone needs to commit to delivering exceptional service with every client interaction, every day!

Consistent — Being consistent will show your clients that you value their business. Attentive — Take time to listen to your clients and give them 100% of your attention. Reliable — Be reliable by taking responsibility for meeting your clients’ needs and keep any promises that you make. Individualized — No two clients are exactly the same — you must learn how to respond to your clients based on their particular style. Notable — Greet and treat your clients as you would a friend, being warm and friendly will exceed most clients’ expectations. Generous — Go the extra mile for your clients, reward and congratulate them.

For more tips visit Measure-X.

Jenna Montroy - Marketing Intern

Your time in college is dwindling down and now is the time to start looking for an actual job that will put all the knowledge you have gained to good use! Most new graduates get discouraged however when they realize that employers are looking for their future employees to already have some real work experience. You may be wondering how to get this experience when most of your time is spent in class and writing papers. The answer is simple, an internship!

An internship is the perfect way to obtain “real world experience” and will more than likely be able to count for college credit. An article from GrooveJob.com highlights how important and beneficial internships can be to college students.

The article states that internships are a way of gaining real job experience, valuable knowledge in your particular field, and self-confidence. Internships also provide you with the opportunity to develop your oral and written communication skills. This is a great way to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and discover whether the career path you have chosen really fits your life. Completing an internship is also a great resume booster and may turn into a full-time position after graduation! The career center at your school is a great place to get started.

For more information and listings of possible internships check out The Riley Guide.

Stephanie Sanchez - Audit Staff

When I say the “real world” I am talking about having a career, moving out of the parents house, and, of course, paying all those bills yourself. This all begins your junior, senior, or grad year of college. I began my quest for the “real world” the fall of my grad year. I was attending Georgia Southern University and had no idea where to start looking for a job. A lot of my teachers would talk about something called Accounting Day. It sounded pretty interesting, so I attended. I’m not going to lie, it was a long exhausting day and I really didn’t feel like sitting through three more hours of lecture at this Accounting Day, but I am glad that I did. I got to hear from many firms, recent GSU graduates, and teachers. They lectured on why to go big or small, what should really be on your resume, and what your first year of work will really be like.

Listening to these lectures really helped me get a jump-start on my quest for a job. During Accounting Day, they also offered mock interviews. Since I had never really had an interview before, I thought it would be a good experience that would teach me a lot. Even though it was not a real interview, I was nervous. After the mock interview, my interviewer talked to me about what I did right and wrong. She also gave me great advice for the real thing.

My advice to college students is to really start early. You should attend any event that your school holds that will benefit your future. Scheduling a mock interview, allowing your career service to review your resume, and going to meet-the-firm events are some great ways to get started. Because I was able to get a head start on my quest for a job in the fall of my grad year, I was able to find the firm that suited me best. I secured a job position early and was able to relax, knowing that I had a job waiting for me after I graduated. It is such a great feeling to get a job position early and not have to worry about looking after you graduate.

Laura Snyder - Director of Marketing

Accounting marketing veteran, Jean Caragher, wrote an article recently about “implementation.” I was drawn into the article because of its US Open tennis hook (both Jean and I are big tennis fans!), but continued reading because she is dead on about the importance of implementation. What differentiates great firms from mediocer firms is the ability to implment. Having an innovative idea is just one step in the process. Without the abilty to implement the idea, it is nothing more than an idea. Among other things, Jean encourages firms to implement by:

1. Holding each other accountable.
2. Rewarding efforts and results.
3. Providing training to raise the confidence level of your team.
4. Making the commitment to not be average.

So, in Jean’s words (taken from IBM’s new ad campgaign), “Stop talking. Start doing.”

Laura Snyder - Director of Marketing

Most experts agree that more than 90% of communications is non-verbal. While WHAT you say is obviously very important, HOW you say it is much more powerful. Misunderstandings often occur as a result of inappropriate and/or misinterpreted non-verbal cues. It is vital to understand the role non-verbal communication plays, both in knowing what others are really thinking, and what your own cues tell them about you. Non-verbal signals tell you what others think and feel. If you do not take into account non-verbal language, then you ignore over 90% of what they are saying.

Things to keep in mind: - Facial expression: the face can tell you whether someone is happy, surprised, sad, angry, afraid or disgusted. While they may try to hide these emotions with words, they are “leaked” through the face.

• Eye contact: the eyes communicate intimacy, interest and threat. To show someone you are interested in what they are telling you, be sure to maintain eye contact.

• Gesture: involuntary gestures such as touching the face, scratching, gripping the hands together, or putting the hands near the mouth often indicate intense emotions such as depression, elation or anxiety.

• Posture: posture conveys emotion, social relationship and social status.

• Touch: touch can be a valuable means of reassurance and of demonstrating understanding.

• Proximity: humans are highly territorial and have four spatial proximity zones: intimate, personal, social and public.

If you keep these things in mind, you will better understand others and be sure that you aren’t sending the wrong signals, particularly durning the interview process.

Jane Elliott - Principal

Picture this: It’s Sunday night and you have a big project due tomorrow morning. As you watch the hands on the clock move steadily forward, you keep asking yourself, “Why, oh why, didn’t I start this darn thing a week ago!?!?” Then you realize you just ruined your last piece of poster board, and it’s too late to go out and get another one because everything’s closed.

Just thinking about that scene kind of makes your stomach knot up, doesn’t it?

Well, the same thing happens in the world of public accounting - our “projects” (our audits) have due dates too, and time can slip away from you before you know it. Procrastination is something we can all fall victim too, and staying organized is one way to fight that.

There’s an old adage out there that says that if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, that’s probably the worst thing that you’ll have to do all day. Brian Tracy, who wrote Eat That Frog, sums it up by saying “If you have to eat a live frog, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.”

So, get cracking! And carpe frog!

Barbara Owen - Audit Staff

C. E. O.

What do these letters mean to you? If your response is “Chief Executive Officer,” you are right!

Here is a different spin on those letters, courtesy of a seminar I attended recently - “Transitioning from Management to Leadership” presented by Dr. Perry Buffington (“Dr. Buff”).

C - Charisma, creative as in creating the reality or illusion of order. Order is the important word here — the notion or feeling of order.

E - Extraverted personality type. This type is expert at creating the feeling that he or she thinks just like you do - on everything! This nice, cozy feeling makes you like him or her, and willingly do just about anything he or she asks of you!

O - Optimist. This personality component creates the feeling of hope. Hope is critical. We all need it.

All three of these make up the psychology of a leader in today’s world, a world with an ever-evolving work culture in need of a new breed of leader.

If, as the CEO, I have created the illusion of order in my organization, connected with co-workers in a like-feeling and empathetic way, garnering trust, AND relayed hope that if they stick with me, all will be well, I have succeeded. I have sold the belief that we are all in this together and our work is for the common good and success of the entire group.

Think about people you consider to be charismatic - the good, bad and ugly. Some that hop to mind are Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Jim Jones, Oprah, Billy Graham, David Koresh, to name just a handful. Do you see the common thread?

As you interview and consider job opportunities, keep these characteristics in mind. An effective leader will have these distinctive qualities and they will be readily evident.

Visit http://www.drbuff.com/index.htm for more from Dr. Buff - a psychologist, media personality and all-around good guy. If you have an opportunity to hear him, do not miss it!