Things to think about after getting out of college and how to present yourself in your new career

1. Now What?
Presented by the Albuquerque Chapter of CPAs
Stephanie Melton, CPA
Jason Deshayes, CPA

2.  You’re making more money than you ever had
before
 You have more responsibility than you ever had
 Expectations are higher than they have ever been
 What used to be ok…not so much anymore

3.  In college – blue hair,
shorts, flip-flops,
piercings, bling and
tattoos were totally
acceptable and perhaps
encouraged!

5.  Follow your employer’s
dress code – if there isn’t
one, err on the side of your
bosses
 Natural hair colors = good
 Shoes – quality, not
frayed, tasteful
 You don’t have to
spend a ton of money to
look nice

6.  Where do you think you fit in the chain of
command?

7. You are here
You want to be
here

8.  There is a chain of command in nearly any
workplace you can find
 Learn and respect it
 There is nothing worse for an employer than a new
employee who doesn’t think the rules apply to them
 Entitlement is not a virtue
 As much as you won’t admit it, you are easily
replaceable

9.  Offer 110%
 Take more responsibility, don’t just do your basic
job
 You are no longer a 9-5 employee
 When your supervisor asks you do something,
accept with a smile and get something out of it
 Look at the job duties of the position above you and
perform at that level
 By showing you want more responsibility, you will
climb that totem pole before you know it!

10.  Figure out your place in the organization
 Learn more about the leadership team, as well as
the business itself
 Who are your competitors?
 How can you enhance the business?
 How can you enhance your coworkers?
 What can you do to make your bosses’ lives easier?
 How to prioritize your time – balancing of work,
social and family lives

11.  While you may be a “staff”, you’re expected to do
way more
 Don’t just show up to the office and work
 Be involved outside of the office
 Find a board that needs a treasurer or director
 Volunteer with something that you are passionate about
 Take the job above you and perform at THAT level
 Figure out how you can enhance your employer, not
who your employer can enhance you
 Set and make a goal to pass the CPA exam (or other
professional license exam)

12.  Your cell phone/Blackberry/iPhone/Droid
 CPA Exam studying
 Web browsing – lean to less than more
 Office place chatting
 Personal calls
 Cube interior decoration
 Pets
 Cube mates and neighbors

13.  You should get to know your coworkers, but you
don’t have to be best friends
 At the same time, don’t assume everyone is your
friend – your boss is your boss
 Social events – good to encourage relationships, but
isn’t a venue to get a little too wild and crazy
 Rule #12 – don’t get involved with someone you
work with

14.  Not everyone communicates the same way
 How do your bosses like to communicate?
 How do your coworkers communicate?
 Your body language can say more than your words
 Professionalism is key
 Communication isn’t just limited to what you say,
but what you put in writing

15.  Anything you put in an e-mail or another form of
written communication is available for the whole
world
 That magical “forward” or “reply to all” button
 That spell check is there for a reason
 Think before you send
 Add a subject line
 Think before you send via e-mail
 Bad news may be better via phone call

16.  Arguing about things you’ve been asked to do
 Not taking notes, when you’re expected to
 Punctuality/Respect for other’s time
 You think this, they expect that
 Being a “clock watcher”
 Abusing technology
 Not paying attention to detail
 Attendance at the office
 You’re not going to get babysat, but you are held accountable
for your time

17.  A good handshake
 Eye contact
 Remembering names and details about a client
 Hair coloring/cologne/perfume
 Piercings/tattoos
 Calling in sick

18.  Be accountable to clients/bosses/coworkers
 If you receive constructive criticism, accept it and
grow from it – don’t take it as a personal attack
 You can do anything, and you should be willing to
do anything
 Under promise, over deliver – be the miracle worker
“Starship captains are like children. They
want everything right now and they want
it their way. The secret is to give them
what they need, not what they want.”

19.  The admin staff are your friends, not your servants
 Your car should be presentable at a moment’s
notice
 Carry your business cards 24/7
 Return calls and e-mails within 24-48 hours
 Learn…all the time!
 You are a representation of your employer
 This is a small town…you never know who knows
you

20.  Your life is starting a new growth curve
 This means new challenges, lots of learning and
starting from the ground up
 The longer you are in this business (whatever it may
be), the more you learn you know very little