A great post by Narrowing the GAAP got me thinking about a few statements I have heard over the past little while.
As an accounting student, you all know the conversation that ensues when someone is curious about what you do.
Douchebag: So, what are you studying?
Me: Accounting
Douchebag: Aw really? Why? Isnt it so boring? How can you do that for so long
Then you get all defensive and start saving the occupation’s reputation as if someone had just insulted your mom. “NO! It will open up doors”, “It serves a great foundation”, “Its challenging work”. Bullshit. You can’t change the fact that what the person has said will actually hold true for 98% of you. Auditing is boring, there is no way around it. Its tedious work, especially in the first few years and you definitely do not lead a glamorous Young Professional lifestyle that you think you do. Let me repeat, you will not living Ari Gold’s lifestyle anytime in the near future just because you started in the Big 4.
The truth is, most, if not all of us have our eyes on the bigger prize. We’re going for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We are willing to sacrifice ourselves, our lives and families because we “know” it will be worth it. Basically, we are so sure we will be f***ing Megan Fox in a few years that we have started practicing by masturbating everyday.
Exactly.
Make sure you realize what you are getting into. Do your research, talk to people, read blogs, do whatever it takes to make sure you know what to expect. You know that feeling when you pick up Oreo crumbs from the couch and put them in your mouth, but then realize they are crunchy and have legs? Well that is the feeling of not knowing.
There are some huge benefits of the job, that is why it is popular. But at the end of the day, it is what you make of it. It comes down to the effort you put into the job and how much you are willing to learn. Working at Big 4 but being a slob will not lead you to your goals, and will probably end up costing you your career. Then you can sit there touching yourself again wondering what it would have been like sleeping with Megan Fox.
Until third year university I was still saying “Meh” to the idea, and despite getting my CA I never really think of myself as an accountant, despite the “A” in the designation.
By: Krupo on August 27, 2009
at 11:44 pm
Wait, I thought the “A” stood for Awesome…
By: big4bound on August 27, 2009
at 11:45 pm
Well that’s what I keep telling myself.
By: Krupo on August 28, 2009
at 1:24 am
As an intro session for our masters program we got a pep talk from some of top faculty about how we need to start “living” accounting. Basically, embracing accounting as something that’s part of our lives, being interested in accounting news, and being proud to be an accounting student.
Personally, I think that while the work might be boring a lot of the time, I have friends who graduated with more “interesting” majors and have way more boring, mundane jobs, with no hope of promotion or opportunity, and very little salary. I don’t envy that at all.
By: Kel on August 28, 2009
at 2:12 pm
That is true. Its one of those “grass is greener on the other side” moments really.
I just think a lot of people are jumping into the profession without truly realizing what they are getting into. The funny thing is, they might even end up excelling at it – but is it really worth it at that point?
A little research now could save a lot of agony later.
However, there are those, including me, who truly want to do this (based on what we know). Does it mean that we will always be happy doing this? Maybe not, but at least its a good start.
By: big4bound on August 28, 2009
at 6:06 pm
“Living” accounting also makes you better prepared for the UFE, I find.
Read CA magazine online if you don’t already receive it. A regular profile is of CAs who branched out to different fields down the road.
By: Krupo on August 29, 2009
at 1:49 am
[...] I don’t think the point is to shoot down the concept of working at the Big 4, rather it is to prepare people who are going in. I mean can you imagine? You worked hard, fought for it and finally got your “dream job” at the Big 4 only to find out it is nothing like what you expected. [...]
By: Behind closed doors… « Big 4 Bound on August 30, 2009
at 7:22 pm