Tell us about your job

[Yanks02]

What do you do: I work in Public Accounting.

Do you like it: There are days I really enjoy what I am doing. Unfortunately, there are 3 times as many days where I want to shoot myself in the head.

What makes me well suited for this job: You have to have thick skin. You have to be able to work well in a team and think quickly and you need good managing skills, as you have to manage people below and above you. Fortunately, I have all of this, IMO.

What kind of people do best: See above. Also, if you can't follow simple directions, you won't succeed. You'd be surprised how many people can't follow directions.

What is a typical day like: There are 2 distinct "seasons". Busy season, and the rest of the year. Regardless, I get in between 8:15 and 8:30. Take a 25 - 30 minute lunch on a typical day during busy season. I might take a bit longer if I'm not swamped. By lunchtime, I will have had 2-3 requests from a manager asking for something in the next couple of hours. So I do that for them. Then after lunch I start on my work, until the person below you needs help. Then I go back to my work and all of the sudden it's 5:30 and you client is leaving. You look at the clock and think about where to order dinner from. A typical day during busy season ends anywhere between 7:30 and 11 normally. A typical day during the rest of the year ends between 6 - 8, with more emphasis on the 6.

Elation/Frustration: Elation is finishing and having your client file their finacial statments. Frustration is that you won't get any recognition for working 60+ hours 12-16 weeks in a row.

Money: First year out of college starts in the low $50's. This goes up yearly by 7-10%. If you can handle the business for 15 years, you will make partner and I assume 7 figures is pretty standard.

About me: 24, graduated from UMass, BS Accounting and Masters in Accounting. I've been working for 2.5 years.