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Kyushu
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Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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Posted: 06 Sep 2010 at 22:24 \| IP Logged

and interaction with the big 4 when I've never had a real job, worked on a team of any significance, or learned many soft skills.

Basically up until now I had just been focused on grades, but entering my sophomore year I realise I have to become more well rounded.

I just ordered this book from amazon which discusses behavioral interviews (which all of the big 4, and certainly KPMG, i assume use):

http://www.amazon.com/Competency-Based-Interviews-Master-Int erview-Answers/dp/1564148696

I am in the process of applying for an entry level accounting internship at a prestigious museum now. If I don't get it, I plan to apply for a job at a well-known coffee shop (where I believe i am well connected enough for my experience and qualifications to be overlooked). Even though my accounting teacher told me not to bother, I don't think he knows the extent of my lack of people skills and experience, and I think working at this place could give me very good experience for both my own personal development and for listing quantitative achievements on my resume (since they run frequent sales-based promotions and focus on teamwork and customer intimacy, etc)

Zeratul
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Joined: 11 Jun 2009
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Posted: 07 Sep 2010 at 07:22 \| IP Logged

...or you could just join some clubs, or tutor, or hell, just go around and introduce yourself to people.
If you want to work for a coffee shop out of college, it's no big deal; but if the problem you're trying to solve is poor people skills, then, being a sophomore, you still have time to fix that now while you're in college.

I can also tell you that generally transferring retail experience to a non-retail industry is an uphill battle. Possible, and it's been done before, but it's not easy and not a path I'd recommend if you could avoid it.

Kyushu
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Posted: 07 Sep 2010 at 13:38 \| IP Logged

i was thinking that

" successfully trained x number of baristas in blah blah, easing manager's load and improving efifciency"

"improved sales by 15% in through excellent teamwork and aggressive sales techniques"

or something along those lines would be easier to help me quantify my experience to the big 4, rather than just saying

"matched invoices and reconciled bank accounts as needed"

but i see what you're saying about retail to professional services transitions. most coffee shop people don't seem to be the big 4 type.

is it pretty easy to quantify accomplishments well even in perhaps menial entry-level accounting internships?

but your initial idea is def good, i am planning on inquiring about business and chinese clubs as soon as the semester starts. can you quantify "achievements" in these too?

salvi83
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Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: United States
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Posts: 290

Posted: 07 Sep 2010 at 13:44 \| IP Logged

"I am in the process of applying for an entry level accounting internship at a prestigious museum now"

This would add value.

"If I don't get it, I plan to apply for a job at a well-known coffee shop...I think working at this place could give me very good experience for both my own personal development and for listing quantitative achievements on my resume"

I think this plan, while well intended, might not be the best use of your time.

Yes, customer interactions definitely are an added bonus for personal development. It helps you become comfortable interacting with people and gives you confidence in your abilities. However, it only looks so-so on your resume.

Other activities previously mentioned, like tutoring or joining a student organization, can also have the same effect and looks better on a resume.

Also, consider volunteer work as another way to boost your resume while working on interpersonal skills. Just make sure you pick one that has a lot of face-to-face interaction. Looking for a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program near you might be a good start.

I think in order, you can rank all your choices like this:

1.) ANY accounting internship
2.) Student organization leadership position
3.) Tutoring
4.) Member in a Student organization
5.) Volunteer work with heavy emphasis on face-to-face interaction
6.) Retail job

I think 4 & 5 are pretty interchangeable, since volunteer work is a requirement of many organizations like Beta Alpha Psi.

Hope that helps and good luck.

Kyushu
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Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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Posted: 07 Sep 2010 at 13:47 \| IP Logged

i guess tutoring might be actually really good for this semester, since i'm not taking any accounting classes this year and it would help me keep the info. fresh in my mind before intermediate, while at the same time allowing me to quantify experience.

the thing is, i got perfect scores in my intro accounting classes, but the people i might be tutoring will be taking the course with professors who are likely to be harder than the one I had, and might go over things I didn't learn.

I am a very good intuitive writer though (relative to the ridiculously poor skills of my peers), so maybe I could tutor in that as well.

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