After six long weeks of lectures, midterms – and for a little razzle dazzle – sleep deprivation, you’ve arrived at Spring Break! Spring Break, although typically synonymous with “a week where you do nothing,” can actually be a week where you decide to get ahead and be productive. Don’t get us wrong, you deserve some time to relax and recharge, but in between binge watching Love Island and turning up, consider taking advantage of this rare free time to take the next step in your accounting career that you’ve been putting off. Here are our favorite ways to do just that…
Take a Getaway… To Your Future ✈️
While Cancun is definitely a vibe, so is Houston, San Diego, or any other city you’re considering living in post-grad. Book a flight and check out the city you’re thinking about accepting your full-time accounting job offer in. One of the great things about accounting is – unlike other professions – every city needs accountants. You don’t have to live in New York or LA to make your dreams come true.
And remember, wherever you choose to live, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck there. Once you start your new job, you could work remotely from any of the places that made your top five list. Flexibility for the win. 🏆
Set Up Informational Interviews 💬
Summer internship interviews are fast approaching and you can use this week to go the extra mile. Take this time to reach out on LinkedIn and set up 30 minutes to chat with someone at one of the firms or companies you’re thinking about applying to or have already applied to. This might be an alum or peer you already know or a new connection who might be able to refer you to someone else (talk about seven degrees of separation!). Heck, it can even be a complete stranger who’s established in their career. Slide into those LinkedIn DMs (professionally, of course).
These calls are a great opportunity to learn more about the interview process, such as tips for how to stand out or questions you can expect. It can also give you insight into the type of work they do and if you’re interested in pursuing the same route or want to take a different accounting path. While some of these informational interviews do end in an offer to share your information with a colleague, another goal is to start a relationship with a future mentor. Nevertheless, you’ll learn valuable advice that will give you a leg up. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preparing for an interview though. See other ways you can ace it here.
Even if you’re not quite ready to start applying to internships, this is a great time to obtain some of the answers to those questions you’ve had in the back of your mind since Fall semester. What’s the day-to-day like as an audit partner? How quickly can you move up the corporate ladder? Do firms pay for you to go to grad school? Get the tea from the accountants themselves.
Find a Job Shadow Opportunity 🤝
LinkedIn also comes in handy if you want to explore what the day-to-day is like IRL. Use the platform to connect with contacts you may have about job shadow opportunities.
This will allow you to return to the rest of Spring semester with an updated resume and some direction on what path you want to explore further, starting with an internship. Next thing you know: making time to job shadow for one week becomes a three month paid position where you are actually a part of the action. 🤩
So, while it’s tempting to sleep, eat, and binge watch the whole break away, consider scheduling some time to do something that is going to put you in an even better position for your future accounting career than when you started the semester.
