|
Professional Profile
I began working at KPMG in Minneapolis right after graduating. I have just completed my first busy season and am in the process of taking and passing the CPA exam.
Internships
I interned at EideBailly in Sioux Falls, SD during the 2011 busy season. The internship allowed me to try both audit and tax. Exposure to both areas of accounting was a valuable experience because it allowed me to discover which area of accounting to move towards in my career search. Although you learn about tax and audit in school, they are very different when you are out in the workplace, and USD's internship program is beneficial because it gives students the opportunity to have a taste of what their careers could become after graduation, and assist them in finding their interest to pursue.
How Did Beacom Prepare Me For Success?
Beacom hires professors who have had experience working in the fields they teach, and therefore know what material is the most important to focus on and emphasize. This helps to best prepare their students for successful careers. What I learned in the accounting program at USD put me ahead of some other new hires at my firm. During the Master's in Professional Accountancy program, we covered material that many of my fellow new hires did not during their schooling. This helped me understand some of these issues more quickly and have less confusion during my first few weeks of training and work. I am studying for the CPA exam right now and am finding that I remember most of the material from classes in college. Other accountants I have spoken with who attended other universities and are also studying for the CPA exam have told me that they did not cover large amounts of the material in their classes at college. Obviously, USD makes sure to focus their time teaching students what they will need to know in order to be successful in their careers.
Other Comments?
The professors take the time to get to know their students and help them in achieving their goals. My professors knew each student by name, and were constantly helping us network with accounting firms and other professionals. Many accounting firms come to campus to recruit students, because they know that USD properly prepares their students to be successful and efficient in the workplace. I knew my professors on a personal basis and felt very comfortable speaking with them about what I hoped to accomplish after graduation. They were always very helpful and gave great advice.
Advice to Prospective Students Considering Beacom?
Networking and being active on campus are the most important things students should take advantage of while in school. I began interviewing with firms that came to campus as a sophomore. This allowed me to get my foot in the door, and also gain experience interviewing. First round interviews are the hardest part of the recruitment process because they ask questions that are very open ended. The only way to answer these questions smoothly and competently is with practice. Being active on campus is also important. Throughout college I was active in Student Government Association and Beta Alpha Psi. Being involved in both groups allowed me to strengthen my organization, communication, and networking skills. Employers who are interviewing multiple students for the same position often note which students have the strongest communication skills, and seem the most comfortable. By interacting with large groups of students, I learned how to communicate openly, efficiently, and effectively, and I feel that it helped me get my job.
|
|
 Networking and being active on campus are the most important things students should take advantage of while in school. Being involved ... allowed me to strengthen my organization, communication, and networking skills.
|
