Question

If there is a Meet the Firms event on campus during the semester, you are required to attend and write about that experience. Write a 750-1,000-word paper that explains what you learned from attending Meet the Firms and how this will influence your career.

If there is no Meet the Firms event during the semester, this option is required research a professional license, certification, advanced degree or designation related to accounting or your chosen career path. Write a 750-1,000-word paper that meets the criteria above, and explains what you learned from your research and how this will influence your career.

The paper may be written in the first person, and must be grammatically correct. At least two external sources should be cited.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

Answer 1

While experience and technical skills are always important, at Meet the Firms, professionals are first looking for individuals with personalities and attitudes that will match with the culture and professionals in their company. They are interested to learn about your career goals and actual interest in their firm. During your conversations, they will assess your communication and leadership skills, ability to get along with others, poise and confidence (not aggressiveness) and other soft skills

Although you definitely want to make a good impression, you should realize that firms want to impress you, too. After all, if you have a strong resume, firms will be interested in you. Therefore, you want to choose the right firm with whom to start your career. Do you know what you are looking for - in other words, do you know what factors you will consider to help you evaluate and compare firms and opportunities for you to make an informed decision? A primary goal of Meet the Firms (and all networking activities) is to learn about your profession and firms, make initial contacts, and then continue your research with professionals one-on-one at later times to continue to learn more. Ask questions that are of specific interest to you. Do not just ask a question because someone else suggested it, or you read it in a random book or article. You generally only have a few minutes to speak with a professional, so use the time effectively and sincerely.

It is extremely important to be well groomed and presentable. The dress code for Meet the Firms is business professional. If you use cologne or perfume, it should be applied very lightly. Do not wear a lot of jewellery. You should avoid smoking before or during the event. Make sure your clothes are ironed/pressed, your teeth are clean, and your breath is fresh.

To start a conversation, approach a professional and say “Hello”. Remember to smile, make eye contact, and extend your hand. Offer a firm, business-like handshake. Since most individuals shake hands using their right hand, it is best to put your nametag on your right side, so that they can see your nametag when you extend your hand. Introduce yourself (remember your 30 second introduction above), and the questions you have prepared (also see above). Ask about the other person - their position, how long they have been with the firm, and why they selected that firm and specialty. Then, you can ask some other more in-depth questions about the firm and the work that they perform. Do not ask personal questions. If they ask you about your interests, you can then ask about theirs. Remember you only have a few minutes with each person, so while it is very important to establish a rapport, you also want to learn about the firms specifically.

Indeed, the skills – both soft and technically focused will all help you start on the professional development path. I plan to work towards professional registration, skills you learn during work experience are the first steps towards ticking off competencies

Learning

• A strong work ethic
• Dependability
• A positive attitude
• The ability to work well as a team
• Organisation skills
• The ability to work well under pressure
• Communication skills
• Flexibility
• Confidence

More people are being seen as ‘leaders’ in their organisations because of their impact, not on their authority or position. People need to recognise this and have access to internal leadership development programs or look externally to develop these skills.

Demand for ‘big data’ skills is growing sharply and many employees lack the analytical skills to deal with so much complex data and training is required. With the movement of employees around organisations and their desire for variety, more resources need to be provided for career development skills. Many people lack the basics of writing a good resume and smart interview skills, which they will need throughout their careers. There is a renewed focus on communication skills, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity, all of which aim to improve long term employee productivity.