Okay,
so it looks like people are looking for positives in our field, since the negatives are usually heavily publicized. Here's a list, in no particular order:
a) You're rarely ever stuck in the same monotonous place..office space style
b) You work with people around your age range
c) You get to travel around the country, but not enough to be living out of suitcases for extended weeks
d) You get to work with so many different people and so many different personalities, that when you leave, you'll be like Dr. Phil at your next job. It'll take someone with a ridiculous personality to stress you out.
e) You get to manage a team within 2-3 years of graduating from college. There aren't many other places you can do this. No management book can teach you better than managing people yourself. Not Stephen Covey, not Jack Welch, or whatever the management guru seems to be.
e) Change, Change, Change. You're always shaken out of your comfort zone, be it a new client or location
f) Interaction - You get to interact with CFOs and controllers at different clients, whereas at a normal accounting job, it's pretty much your boss and his boss. I'll be honest, it's a good feeling discussing the business and accounting implications with the higher-ups.
g) Save on a gym membership for 3 months a year - You don't need to spend $100-$300 on gym fees from Jan - March since you're not going to use it.
h) You save a lot of money during busy season. You don't pay for your dinners, and you can't even muster the energy to go out 2 nights a week, saving you a lot of money
i) You don't pay for gas - Sure, you might drive a lot, but you just don't care about paying for gas, since it'll be reimbursed anyway
j) You'll be forced to study for and hopefully pass the CPA, which in the long run, is worth it.
k) Recession-tolerant: Sure, we've had layoffs. But it's not because the firms aren't doing well. It's because we're not leaving, forcing them to cut people. Even if companies file Ch 11, they still need auditors.
11 positives. Do the negatives outweigh the positives? I'll be honest, I don't even feel like listing out the negatives now. It'll be akin to taking a depressant...if such a thing exists.
so it looks like people are looking for positives in our field, since the negatives are usually heavily publicized. Here's a list, in no particular order:
a) You're rarely ever stuck in the same monotonous place..office space style
b) You work with people around your age range
c) You get to travel around the country, but not enough to be living out of suitcases for extended weeks
d) You get to work with so many different people and so many different personalities, that when you leave, you'll be like Dr. Phil at your next job. It'll take someone with a ridiculous personality to stress you out.
e) You get to manage a team within 2-3 years of graduating from college. There aren't many other places you can do this. No management book can teach you better than managing people yourself. Not Stephen Covey, not Jack Welch, or whatever the management guru seems to be.
e) Change, Change, Change. You're always shaken out of your comfort zone, be it a new client or location
f) Interaction - You get to interact with CFOs and controllers at different clients, whereas at a normal accounting job, it's pretty much your boss and his boss. I'll be honest, it's a good feeling discussing the business and accounting implications with the higher-ups.
g) Save on a gym membership for 3 months a year - You don't need to spend $100-$300 on gym fees from Jan - March since you're not going to use it.
h) You save a lot of money during busy season. You don't pay for your dinners, and you can't even muster the energy to go out 2 nights a week, saving you a lot of money
i) You don't pay for gas - Sure, you might drive a lot, but you just don't care about paying for gas, since it'll be reimbursed anyway
j) You'll be forced to study for and hopefully pass the CPA, which in the long run, is worth it.
k) Recession-tolerant: Sure, we've had layoffs. But it's not because the firms aren't doing well. It's because we're not leaving, forcing them to cut people. Even if companies file Ch 11, they still need auditors.
11 positives. Do the negatives outweigh the positives? I'll be honest, I don't even feel like listing out the negatives now. It'll be akin to taking a depressant...if such a thing exists.
Comments
PS: I liked bullet G as the biggest advantage.
we take our own cars as long as it's within driving distance, i.e. 0-2 hours. If you have to fly out to your destination, you can rent a car.
Hope this helps.
I just started a new blog about my college experience and my experiences leading up to starting at a Big 4. I hope you can check it out at newaccountant.wordpress.com
I look forward to your posts!
Business structuring and incorporation of company
Bike Insurance related article where I discuss everything in detail.