Choosing where to work
By elsino91
@elsino91 (440)
Poland
October 21, 2012 10:49am CST
I'm in my third year of university right now and we (students) need to complete an obligatory, minimum 3 week work experience/internship by the end of this semester. Right now I've applied to 2 companies one is IBM, for an unpaid internship as a junior accountant and the other is an American company called State Street, they deal in finance.
What I want to know is if anyone knows anything about working in either of these companies? Do you know how much they pay or if they pay well? I'm asking because I'd like to start working at least part time by the time I reach my masters next year and wanted to know if either of these two companies are worth looking at. I'd like to go into accounting more than finance and although State Street is a financial company, they have positions such as fund accountants.
Some of the The Big 4 also have branches in my city, I mean Ernst & Young, KPMG and PWC but for Ernst & Young at least I heard that work can be pretty hard core with employees having to work overtime and there's just this general idea that accountants in these firms don't have their own lives outside of work and I don't know if that's something I want to get into in that case.
Any advice would be really helpful. Thanks.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@mikyung (2232)
• Philippines
22 Oct 12
We are in the same field like you do have right now. I believe that if you want an experience, go for those in Big 4, you will gain a comprehensive experience there, that's for sure. They say that this is a good exposure, particularly on external auditing. If you want, you may spend a year or two in that field before going to another field that you opt to. Currently, i'm in the insurance industry and I'm thanking for being a part of those companies even for a short period of time. Good luck. Thanks
1 person likes this
@elsino91 (440)
• Poland
23 Oct 12
Yeah, I think one of the big four might be a good idea. At the very most, if I don't like it there I'll move on but as you say I'll have the experience plus something that looks good on my cv. I just think I might have to wait until after university to go for a company like that because I imagine that juggling both the intense work they require and studying would be difficult if not impossible.
@elsino91 (440)
• Poland
23 Oct 12
Yeah. I've heard of CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) in America but I don't think they have anything like that here in Poland, there's no special certificate that gives you, shall we say, a higher rank of an accountant. But I would like to acquire some sort of certification in accounting in the future too. I would like to move to the USA for a while and become a CPA there, apparently the pay is really good.
@jdalaqui (1073)
• Philippines
22 Oct 12
I don't think I can contribute things here that you do not know already. Well, this could be an old cliche and I guess you are fully aware of it. In choosing where to work, just be sure you have something to do where you are going, be sure that that you are ready to love the work you may be given there, and make it sure that you can give your loyalty to where you are going to work.
@elsino91 (440)
• Poland
23 Oct 12
You're right about choosing a place that I'm going to enjoy. I'd hate to be sucked into something that doesn't satisfy me. Right now, I think I'm just going to try things out and gain experience before I dedicate myself to a certain company for the long term. Once I find the firm thats right for me, loyalty will be what I give, thats for sure.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
22 Oct 12
Finding the right job is real important. Sounds like you might have a great plan there. Make sure you stick to it. Good luck. I hope you find the best job out there for you. have a great week there.
