Busy week recap

Just making a quick post while I have the time. This week has been/will be jam packed. I have become that person on the train or bus working on their laptop. On Tuesday was the CPA Career's Evening, on Thursday I attended a Linked In workshop and tomorrow is a series of workshops hosted by Performance Education on Professional business skills and communication in business settings.

Earlier today, I wrote a post on the CPA Career's Evening (just below) but it was definitely worthwhile going. The Linked In workshop was hosted by the Macquarie Accounting Student Association and Performance Education. While I found the workshop entertaining, I'm not sure if I learnt anything new from it. There was pizza at the end though. I really do appreciate the opportunity for events like these.

Tomorrow is going to be the busiest day yet. Firstly, we will be heading to the public school for the election around 8am. Then by 9am, I need to be at the chiropractic clinic for my appointment. Then straight after, I need to rush over to the university where the first session will start at 10 and end at 12. This will be followed by the workshop which will end at 1. Then I plan on having lunch with friends for a little while. At 2pm, the next session starts and ends at 4pm. The workshop ends at 5. When I get home, hopefully I'll be able to start and finish my corporations law homework. So that is what I have planned tomorrow, Sunday will just be filled with trying to get my accg301 and accg308 homework done which realistically takes about a day with church and food prep. Not sure how I will stay zen throughout all this but thank God that it is week 6 next week, and the Easter holiday right after.

CPA Careers' evening

So a couple of nights ago I went to the CPA career evening which was held at Docklands in Darling Harbour and I got to meet Alex Malley! It was also great to see new corporations with flexible, modern cultures that attracted me.

There was a corner where corporate fashion was discussed (note to self: get another blazer) , a corner where a photographer took linked in profile pictures, a resume checking station (which was so beneficial for me), the stalls and of course the book signing area (my main reason for attending the event).

Alex stayed until the very end which was just so admirable of him. The line was pretty much never ending all night and he said that he signed thousands of books. We waited about an hour while the stalls were all packing up (it wasn't too bad, we played eye spy). In the 30 seconds where I was able to talk to him, he really was as charismatic as they said he was. I told Alex how his book encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone more, even if it's just little things like having a conversation with someone new on the bus. There was a warmth about him and he was genuine. The girl who met Alex just before me was crying and I overheard him telling her that she could ask him any question she wanted and he would answer her, in video.
The night definitely ended on a good note and I am so glad that I was able to have met him!

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(Previous posts on The Naked CEO; http://accountingstudentjournal.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/chapter-one.html
http://accountingstudentjournal.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/update.html)
I really need to write a closing post on the book!

Careers Day

So I got back from the careers fair awhile ago and it was pretty worthwhile. Talked to a bunch of employers, some that I had previously considered joining and some that I had not. I did a little research on some companies that I predicted might be there and mentioned a couple names from presentations I had attended. Think I'll save it for the interviews.

Most companies had set programs, like vacationer programs or graduate programs which I was eligible for. Everything was mostly online, I only handed in one (paper) resume. One thing that was reinforced today was the flexibility of working with smaller to medium enterprises, and accounting firms that weren't the big 4. I really appreciated how many graduate programs had rotations and gave you flexibility in where you wanted to go; whether it was taxation, auditing, or advisory.

I am mostly still set on advisory though after talking to a couple friends and people I am more open to also trying auditing and even tax? What I am most interested in, I guess is an experience where I am exposed to all aspects of a business and all aspects of accounting.

I also asked a couple people how big a part experience plays in being selected and I got some different answers. I am hoping that the AEC gets back to me because I think working for a couple days will be a really interesting experience.

I am coming to terms that since this is my last year of uni that job seeking starts now. This can be a fun experience but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't slightly nervous.

Pre-Career Day Jitters

Tomorrow is Careers Day at Macquarie and I'm not quite sure what to expect. I have an outfit planned out and several copies of my resume printed out just in case. But other than that, I can't help but feel a little unprepared. I wasn't sure whether to include this blog in my resume; whether it would help me or whether my complete honesty would be the very reason I get turned down.

I wonder how many organisations will be there tomorrow. I am still going to be somewhat selective of which organisations I approach tomorrow because I will only approach an organisation that I admire or see myself working for (i.e. not an organisation in the tobacco industry).

I really wish I was able to go to that workshop on how to make the most of Careers Day workshop. I wasn't sure if it was worth skipping class for. Apparently anyone who went was able to gain insider information about the day. I can only guess which organisations will be there.

Anyway, those are just my late night thoughts, I have a big day ahead of me and I really need to get some rest. Until next time!

Long University Update

I am currently typing from a computer lab in uni. The internet at home is down since we're in the process of switching providers and the family is in distress (slightly). So for at least another 8-10 business days we are going to have to stick it out. I have missed blogging, even though it's only on a weekly basis. Blogging, writing, or just getting my thoughts out just has a calming effect on me and basically helps me function.

So uni has started and I am pretty happy with how things are going, still on top of things but it is still week two. It has been busier than I expected though. I tried to make the most of o-week by attending a lot of employer presentations which were mainly about things like what employers look for. Thankfully, they were all of some value to me because I know that all these graduate programs can get pretty competitive and I'm sure that knowing what they look for will give me an edge.

I was more determined to join some clubs since it was my last year of university. I was already a part of the Accounting Students Association, and the Bhakti Yoga club (which never really got back to me). This round I joined the Toastmasters because I thought it would be great to brush up on my public speaking skills and gain more confidence. I also joined the Global Leadership Program (really wish I joined sooner though) and the Food Society since I thought it would be good to meet people outside accounting.

Our team has also officially joined the CIMA Global Business Challenge 2015. We have met up with our mentor and the task is to write a report giving our recommendations based on the case study and scenario given to us. Looking at the case study, it's not for the lighthearted. I will somehow have to find some time out of my overloaded schedule to fully process it before even thinking of the report.

Lots of old friends and some new. Speaking of friends, a friend came across my blog searching accg315, was slightly embarrassed! (Hi Kristen if you happen to be reading this haha) 

I am doing my last elective, consumer behaviour and it is refreshing to meet different type of people from the usually reserved accounting students. 

I am also doing 'Organisational Planning and Control' and it reminded me; I actually LOVE management accounting. Formulating strategies, thinking about the direction of an organisation and being a part of the action (at least I hope).

For a long time I also entertained the idea of doing marketing, I love how it is multidisciplinary and combines elements of psychology and commerce (along with other disciplines). I never really pursued it because I wasn't really a strong writer. At least not under exam conditions. But lately I've been thinking about it more seriously, giving myself another chance so I chose consumer behaviour as my last elective. If it goes well, I'll take it up as a second major. I think marketing could go nicely with management accounting too. But I definitely want and intend to do advisory (as I had always planned).

Anyway, that is just an update on returning to university. Sorry if it lacked structure!