Peer Career Consultant Blogs

What are your top two career prep recommendations?
When it comes to career prep as an accounting major, my main recommendation is to get your CPA certification early. I would first make sure you are going to meet the credit requirements for taking your CPA exam. As a quarter student in California, this means that along with your general graduation requirements, you need to get 225 credits and take an accounting ethics class (ACTG 144). Luckily for us, the rest of the CPA requirements are met through SCU Accounting department graduation requirements. When you get a job in public accounting, you will likely be given a start date around September or October after graduation which means you have at least 3 months with no work or school. You also have the ability to start your application process up to 6 months before you graduate. The best way for you to prepare for your career is to pass a couple of your CPA exams before your start date. Studying while you work is immensely difficult, especially when you have to go through busy season and work 60-80 hour weeks so if you can get a couple exams off your plate, your time at work will be much more pleasant. You also can not become a manager until you have your CPA license and you will only get busier as work goes on so pass your exams as early as possible.  

Why do you enjoy being a PCC?
My favorite part about being a PCC is that I have the opportunity to help young accounting students prepare for their interviews, internships, and careers. When I was a sophomore, I was lucky enough to have parents who could help me prepare for my interviews and help me edit my resume, but I know not everyone has that opportunity. Through PCC I wanted to make the process of applying to jobs easier for students who may not have someone to guide them the way I did. I am also part of the accounting association board on campus so I have attended and run numerous resume and interview prep workshops. Through those events, I have learned a lot of tips that I think are helpful to share. Lastly, I have had 2 internships in different public accounting firms so I think I can bring an interesting perspective to students who are trying to choose between firms.