Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. -John Wooden 版上不少MM写了自己的找工作的经历以及工作中的甜酸苦辣，都有很多值得我们深思和学习的地方。趁最近有些时间，也来回顾一下我五年来走过的路，就当是给将来的 memoir 打打草稿吧。 版上不少MM写了自己的找工作的经历以及工作中的甜酸苦辣，都有很多值得我们深思和学习的地方。趁最近有些时间，也来回顾一下我五年来走过的路，就当是给将来的 memoir 打打草稿吧。 我是那种属于中文写作不怎样 (中文打字也慢的象蚂蚁爬)，英语也只凑合的人。为了方便，我就用英文写吧。Sorry… [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-21 21:01:35编辑过]
I am moving into my new office tomorrow. A space that actually has a door! Having an enclosed office may not have too much significance for many positions, but for me, it certainly does! Only Manager and above at our firm have their own offices. With my recent promotion to Manager, I finally get to be a part of that group. Okay…a little bit background about me probably won’t hurt: I graduated from a private university (nowhere near Tier 1 business schools) in May 2002 with an undergraduate accounting degree and 150 hrs. Currently, I am finishing up my MBA with Finance concentration. For the past 5 years, I have been working for the same CPA firm in Midwest. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:24:18编辑过]
Yr 2001 – Job Hunting September 2001, right after 9.11, I started polishing my resume, preparing for interviews and planning on landing a full-time position in a CPA firm for the following fall. Timing could not be any worse!!! The U.S. economy sank into a recession in March 2001, after experiencing a 10-year growth started in 1991. Many CPA firms were cutting back workforce and budget for the number of new hires. My job hunting process did not have a bad start, thanks to my decent GPA and various awards that I had received throughout school years. I landed 10+ interviews with various accounting firms and got office interview (Round 2) invitations to majority of them. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:24:49编辑过]
In preparation of the campus and office interviews, I thoroughly researched each firm that I was interested in: Firm history, type of services provided, industries served as well as firm value and culture, etc. History, services and industries can normally be found at the firm’s website. Firm value and culture may be more difficult to research, but I got connected via school career services with some alumni that were working for various firms at the time. Their perspective was valuable because it was a lot more tangible than just researching online. Walking into interviews with necessary firm background definitely helped to boost my confidence. Alongside firm knowledge, I also prepared various examples (both from past internships and field of study) that could demonstrate my quality – such as critical thinking, analytical skills, adaptability, initiative, leadership, etc. I actually used some of the examples quite a few times, believe it or not. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 6:48:01编辑过]
The job hunting process was a nerve-wracking experience to me. Because of the bad timing and the fact of being an F-1 student, eventually I got rejected by many of the firms that I interviewed with. These firms simply did not have the policy of sponsoring H1-B workers at the time (due to the market situation). It was certainly very discouraging! Just when I started losing confidence, in early November 2002, two months after my first interview, I finally got two offers – One from a Big Four firm as a tax associate and the other one from a decent size reputable local firm as an audit associate. The decision was not a difficult one. I forwent the Big Four opportunity and chose the audit position! Was I out of mind? Some of my friends questioned. Not at all, in fact. I have always had a passion for auditing because the experience provides overall understanding of different business operations and it will certainly help me become a well-rounded professional years down the road. Auditing definitely suits my bubbly personality. What I am trying say here is that when we are trying to decide which offer to accept - we should probably follow our heart and select a position that is complementary to our personalities, a place that we feel fit in and will truly feel happy in the long run. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:25:57编辑过]
Yr 2002 – 1st Year Finally graduated in May 2002. Yeah! I was so thrilled! Finally got to take a break from school – what a luxury! I was scheduled to start my new position in early September so my plan was to sit around and do nothingJ from May to August. Just kidding… I actually started preparing for the CPA exam in July 2002 and took the Becker review class. My goal was to pass all four parts on my first try. Side note - I feel old every time I look at the posts on this board about the CPA exam because when I took it in 2002, it was still the old paper and pencil test! The old format required that the candidates take all four parts in the 1st try and only get conditioned if two or more parts are passed. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:26:44编辑过]
I can’t remember much detail about studying for the exam, what I do remember is that I read the review books after each class and did ALL homework required. I even repeatedly worked on self-tests until I got at least 90 for each one. Up to today, I truly believe that the good study habit and determination helped me on passing all four parts on the first try. The other thing that appeared to be helpful was the flashcards. I purchased the Becker flashcards. I made additional notes on these flashcard during my review of each section and added my own flashcards if necessary. The flashcards became pretty handy toward the end of the study because they included all important concepts in a summarized format. Good luck to those who are studying for the exam right now. The exam itself is not hard. It just takes determination and persistence to pass it! [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:27:31编辑过]
very good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wait for more information!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually I dreamed last night that I passed one part of the CPA , while, I did not start it now..... hehe
以下是引用xindy4在2007-8-2 9:02:00的发言： MM has a BA from US and must have excellent communication skills which is very important for Auditing. Very inspiring!! keep up the good work! Communications skills are essential to many jobs. In the field of auditing, because of consistent direct contact with clients, good communication skills do come handy.
以下是引用seasonalwinds在2007-8-2 10:12:00的发言： very good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wait for more information!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually I dreamed last night that I passed one part of the CPA , while, I did not start it now..... hehe Good luck with your studying! Have you set a goal and a timeline to achieve your goal yet? Believe in yourself and you will succeed.
Life is like a giant book. It consists of a collection of chapters. Each chapter records our ups and downs, one day at a time! This chapter of my life is called learn to fit in. I always thought that with my outgoing personality, fitting into a new environment should be a piece of cake. Growing up, I had never had any problems making friends. This was also true during my college years in the United States. Then, how come I felt socially alienated for a while when I first started my job??? Maybe the phrase “socially alienated” was an overstatement of what actually took place, but it was how I felt at the time. The examples of feeling “socially alienated” were: (1) not getting invited to lunch everyday by the new staff group (What I referred to as the “Girlie Group” because it consists of several girls at my level. They were all bubbly and extremely talkative); and (2) feeling no one that I could really talk to at work (besides work related topics). [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:20:05编辑过]
Of course there were various reasons contributed to my “feeling of alienation”. Being the only foreign national at the firm at that time and somewhat limited knowledge of various aspects of American culture and pop culture; being a few years older then the normal 22 or 23-year old new staff; Being self-conscious about my communicating skills (although I had very little accent) all held me back from shining in the crowd. Don’t get me wrong. Even though I was struggling trying to find a good social spot for myself at work, all of my co-workers were very nice to me. I just did not quite care for the “distance” that I felt at times. It took me a while to realize that it was not important to be accepted by a certain group or certain people. The more important thing should be the self-acceptance: being happy with who I am, not who others perceive I am. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 6:55:47编辑过]
Eventually I changed my strategy - instead of being asked to go out for lunch, whenever I felt like going out, I invited myself to join a lunch group. Once I felt more comfortable with different people, I gradually opened up. Having knowledge on topics ranging from history, music, cars, news, politics, movies, TV, books and fashion certain helped make lunch conversations more enjoyable and even entertaining at times.
Izzie mm, your story is very encouraging and provoking. I'm doing an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in accounting. During the internship-hunting process, I have had very similar feelings and thoughts. I hope I can be as hardcore as you are when facing these difficulties in a real job. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Btw, I'm also located in the midwest area. If convenient, pls txt me which city you are in. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 0:48:16编辑过]
It is very helpfel. I just started my internship for two weeks. I couldn't find people during lunch time and I don't know whom to ask for lunch except my boss. We went to lunch several times but he is kinda intimidating ya.
以下是引用NezPerce在2007-8-3 0:45:00的发言： Izzie mm, your story is very encouraging and provoking. I'm doing an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in accounting. During the internship-hunting process, I have had very similar feelings and thoughts. I hope I can be as hardcore as you are when facing these difficulties in a real job. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Btw, I'm also located in the midwest area. If convenient, pls txt me which city you are in. An Internship is a great way of landing a full-time position! Many firms extend offers to their interns shortly after or even during the internship. An internship provides the employer an opportunity to observe the student's work ethic, learning ability, personality, etc. On the other hand, an internship helps a student determine if her/his personality fits the firm culture, whether or not she/he will stay interested in the type of work. I did two internships in college - one in GM (my junior year) and the other one in an accounting firm (Senior year). My Supervisor at GM tried to get me stay but had difficulty getting an approval from UAW (United Auto Workers Union) because of my visa status. The firm that I did a tax internship also extended me an offer, but I had already accepted the job offer from my current firm. Their lossJ.
以下是引用宝宝在2007-8-3 1:17:00的发言： It is very helpfel. I just started my internship for two weeks. I couldn't find people during lunch time and I don't know whom to ask for lunch except my boss. We went to lunch several times but he is kinda intimidating ya. On the days that you don't get invited to lunch, try to invite someone else. If you don't feel comfortable asking in person, just send a few people an email stating " I am craving for XXXX.......Is anyone interested in joining me?" Or...."What's your lunch plan for today? " If the recipient(s) respond(s) and tell you where the intended destination is, you can just invite yourself - "Do you care if I join you guys?" Most people would not say no at all. Try it to see if it works.
This chapter of my life is called “The Art of Asking Questions” First year was such a great learning experience!! The best part about being an entry level person was that others did not have an unreasonable expectation for me. I got to ask all the questions (even the stupid ones) that I wanted and needed to ask and no one would question my intelligence. Now, it would be different if I repeatedly asked the same questions. The way to avoid that was to take notes when someone was explaining to me the nature, objective, end results and the approach of the project. For those who are about to start your career in accounting or other industries – no need to be shy if you need to further clarifications on a subject. Confirm your understanding with the person who assigns you a project to ensure that you won’t be taking detours during the project. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 10:53:18编辑过]
The first year was overwhelming because EVERYTHING was new. Information overload was certainly not uncommon. Many times, the notes kept me on the right track to proceed with a project or task. Once I got started, if there were any specific questions, I would jot them down and move on with the project if I could, unless I could not go any further with the project and needed the questions to be properly addressed right away. The advantage of summarizing the questions and asking them all at once (if possible) was that my supervisor wouldn’t have the consist interruptions from me and was likely to be more efficient at what she/he was doing. Her/his efficiency, in turn, translated to more time available for me to answer my questions in detail.
以下是引用lz3456在2007-8-3 13:28:00的发言： 谢谢 IZZIE 分享，很佩服。能看得出来MM的写作也很好，这个我觉得是做 MANAGER 必需的，MM能说说是怎么提高的吗？ I will be glad to add my two cents and take a minor detour from the main "story line" to talk about my experience on improving writing skills.
Those who had their college papers (in English, of course) returned to them with no critique on them and had the perfect scores, please raise your handJ. How many do we have? Probably not many. I know that a few times my papers were marked with various comments from the professors and they hurt my pride! Even now, when I submit a draft financials, a management letter, or some forms of writing to Partners for review, I still get comments back with their proposed revisions. Proud of being a perfectionist, I didn’t and still don’t like these results. The upside of all these is that it encourages me to want to write better.
There are certainly many things that have helped me polish my writing skills in the last a few years. Here are a few thoughts: Practice, practice and practice – This one is a no-brainer. Write in English whenever you can: emails, to do list, letters, etc. Just because Chinese is easier to write, it does not mean that it has to be your preferred mean of communication. My case may be extreme, but it is true. I rarely write anything in Chinese anymore, because it takes too much of my time to write and type in Chinese. I haven’t had too much practice in Chinese writing since I arrived in States and I have been having a tough time coming up with “fancy” type of Chinese wordsL.
2. Read more – If novels don’t interest you, start with articles in the areas that you have an interest in. You can google the topics and get a ton of reading materials. You may be able to pick up words and phrases that you normally wouldn’t come across. I started getting hooked on James Patterson, Nora Roberts novels several years ago and have read quite a few of them. I also read a lot of work related materials. Many of them are very technical, some of them sound very foreign even to many average Americans (i.e. legal documents). 3. Learn from past mistakes – mistakes are not a big deal as long as they are not repeated ones. Taking mental notes of the critique that you have received in the past and try not to do the same things again. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-5 9:48:15编辑过]
4. Self-review – If you have the luxury of having someone help you proofread your writing, go for it! I had done that numerous times when I was in college – had my bf at the time (now my lovely husband, born and raised in U.S.) to review my papers for obvious errors or improper use of grammar. It helped, definitely. If you don’t have opportunities to do so, it is still not the end of the world. Perform a self-review instead. Read word by word to see if any changes can be made. You will be surprised how much mistakes you will catch or improvement you can make through this process.
以下是引用Dharma在2007-8-3 17:01:00的发言： Good post! Your English writing is one of the best I've seen on this board. Waiting for more! I am flattered. Thank you~~ There are a lot of girls with excellent writing skills on this board. They are all very impressive.
This chapter of my life is called Working Hard“Success is a piece of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best you are capable.” I’ve always liked this quote! Success is relevant, not absolute, isn’t it? The definition for success varies from one person to another. As long as we made the effort to do the best we are able, we should feel good about ourselves. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 16:18:18编辑过]
I was a staff for 21 months, a Senior for 3 years. Next month will mark my fifth year anniversary with the firm. Looking back the past five years, each year had one thing in common – I worked hard!!! The most I worked was 2004, the year I got promoted to Senior. I worked 2,600+ hours, average 10~11 hours a day. Taking into the slower summer months into consideration, I was probably working 12-14 hrs a day during the busy months! Year 2004 was also the year that I took three MBA classes: two in the summer and one in the fall. I truly can’t remember how I survived that year, but I did. Isn't that amazing? My husband and I went down to Florida for our anniversary trip that year, I probably spent half of the trip reviewing various client files and preparing for the upcoming audits. Isn’t that insane?
I have been cutting down my working hours somewhat in the last two years as I have become more and more familiar with my clients, clients’ industries and technical knowledge. These factors resulted improved efficiency. So….. I get to go home earlier. YeahJ~~ Please stay put on “working smarter”…
以下是引用PG在2007-8-5 0:18:00的发言： so lz was in a part-time MBA program, have you done for all the course work? Yes, the program is designed for working professionals. All classes are offered in the evenings. I took a long break from the program after 2004 because I simply did not have any spare time to take any classes. I am back to the program now. Still have a few classes to take. If no complications, I should get my MBA next year. I am really in no hurry of getting my MBA (slacker's excuse) since my work only requires a CPA license.
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-5 0:28:00的发言： Yes, the program is designed for working professionals. All classes are offered in the evenings. I took a long break from the program after 2004 because I simply did not have any spare time to take any classes. I am back to the program now. Still have a few classes to take. If no complications, I should get my MBA next year. I am really in no hurry of getting my MBA (slacker's excuse) since my work only requires a CPA license. actually, that's my question, so why MBA? with an MBA, you would get a big raise in your firm or you want to switch to other industry(or same industry with different function)?
以下是引用PG在2007-8-5 0:53:00的发言： actually, that's my question, so why MBA? with an MBA, you would get a big raise in your firm or you want to switch to other industry(or same industry with different function)? Good question!! I won't be getting a raise because of the MBA degree, since the degree is not expected from public accounting firms. Personally, I think some aspects of the MBA program (with a finance concentration) may help me think more even from my clients' perspective - be an advisor to them and add more value to services provided, rather than just an auditor and "pick on them". I don't know where my career will lead me 20 years down the road, but for now, becoming a Partner is my goal. It's hard to say that I may or may not be working in private industry one day. If I do, a MBA degree will come handy. Again, I am guessing that having more knowledge doesn't hurt my personal or career development.
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-5 1:07:00的发言： Good question!! I won't be getting a raise because of the MBA degree, since the degree is not expected from public accounting firms. Personally, I think some aspects of the MBA program (with a finance concentration) may help me think more even from my clients' perspective - be an advisor to them and add more value to services provided, rather than just an auditor and "pick on them". I don't know where my career will lead me 20 years down the road, but for now, becoming a Partner is my goal. It's hard to say that I may or may not be working in private industry one day. If I do, a MBA degree will come handy. Again, I am guessing that having more knowledge doesn't hurt my personal or career development. Wow, that's a big goal! I am not in your field and do not know the size of your company, however I heard how hard people working to be partners in firms(most Americans). Good luck and hope one day hear your good news.
Izzie, thanks for sharing your experience. I am so inspired from it specially right now I am working my buts off trying to survive from all sorts of deadlines. It's good to see there are so many accounting professionals at this board. Btw, if you don't mind, can you share some experience in how to manage people? I really feel it's quite challenge. Ohhh, good luck for your MBA program as well!!! [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 2:55:52编辑过]
以下是引用PG在2007-8-5 10:58:00的发言： Wow, that's a big goal! I am not in your field and do not know the size of your company, however I heard how hard people working to be partners in firms(most Americans). Good luck and hope one day hear your good news. It is a big goal. But given Izzie's outgoing personality, excellent English in both writing and speaking and ambition in personal advancement, this goal is absolutely achievable. Except more hard (or smart? : )) work, she will just need a bit luck! : ) Izzie mm, keep us updated on your progess. We'd love to be motivated by your experience as well.
以下是引用PG在2007-8-5 10:58:00的发言： Wow, that's a big goal! I am not in your field and do not know the size of your company, however I heard how hard people working to be partners in firms(most Americans). Good luck and hope one day hear your good news. It is a big goal, but it is still attainable, right? The road to achieve this goal will be long and at times, difficult. However, I am the kind of person that prefers to set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. I don't mind having to sacrifice certain things to get to where I want to be. These are all a part of trade-off or opportunity cost. Life is a fair game!
以下是引用jyu506在2007-8-5 20:57:00的发言： Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. -John Wooden 很喜欢这句话 很喜欢这句话 Me too, me too:). I found it very inspiring!
以下是引用joy2joy在2007-8-6 2:35:00的发言： Izzie, thanks for sharing your experience. I am so inspired from it specially right now I am working my buts off trying to survive from all sorts of deadlines. It's good to see there are so many accounting professionals at this board. Btw, if you don't mind, can you share some experience in how to manage people? I really feel it's quite challenge. Ohhh, good luck for your MBA program as well!!! Definitely! It will be my pleasure to share a few thoughts on management and leadership skills later today. Since my post is not in chronological order, I will just write about different topics as I see appropriate, or upon request.
以下是引用歌歌在2007-8-6 11:26:00的发言： It is a big goal. But given Izzie's outgoing personality, excellent English in both writing and speaking and ambition in personal advancement, this goal is absolutely achievable. Except more hard (or smart? : )) work, she will just need a bit luck! : ) Izzie mm, keep us updated on your progess. We'd love to be motivated by your experience as well. Of course I could use some luck! The more, the better! Thanks for your kind comments. I will certainly do the best I can~~~
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-6 12:57:00的发言： It is a big goal, but it is still attainable, right? The road to achieve this goal will be long and at times, difficult. However, I am the kind of person that prefers to set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. I don't mind having to sacrifice certain things to get to where I want to be. These are all a part of trade-off or opportunity cost. Life is a fair game! Well said!! You're not satisfied with being good. Rather you strive for "great" all the time, definitely a self starter.
set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. Life is a fair game!
Very true! Hard work doesn't kill people; bordom and disease do. Thanks for sharing ur thoughts and experience! It's quite inspiring. I've learned a lot.
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-2 23:11:00的发言： Life is like a giant book. It consists of a collection of chapters. Each chapter records our ups and downs, one day at a time! This chapter of my life is called learn to fit in. I always thought that with my outgoing personality, fitting into a new environment should be a piece of cake. Growing up, I had never had any problems making friends. This was also true during my college years in the United States. Then, how come I felt socially alienated for a while when I first started my job??? Maybe the phrase “socially alienated” was an overstatement of what actually took place, but it was how I felt at the time. The examples of feeling “socially alienated” were: (1) not getting invited to lunch everyday by the new staff group (What I referred to as the “Girlie Group” because it consists of several girls at my level. They were all bubbly and extremely talkative); and (2) feeling no one that I could really talk to at work (besides work related topics). This is very true. I'm going to report to my new position soon and your experience and advice is very helpful. Thanks!
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-5的发言： This chapter of my life is called Working Hard“Success is a piece of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best you are cable.” I’ve always liked this quote! Success is relevant, not absolute, isn’t it? The definition for success varies from one person to another. As long as we made the effort to do the best we are able, we should feel good about ourselves. Is it "capable"? I also love this quote by John Wooden!
以下是引用Pika100在2007-8-6 15:30:00的发言： Is it "capable"? I also love this quote by John Wooden! Oooops....Yes, you are correct! Thanks for pointing that out. It should be "capable", not "cable". Sometimes my brain thinks faster than I can write, type or speak. Some mistakes caused by this reason can be pretty amusing....
以下是引用ckittyckitty在2007-8-6 15:57:00的发言： 好贴，启发很多。不过牺牲enjoy life去加班工作，偶做不到 Don't blame you at all! All of us have different desires and plans for our future. That's what makes this world such a wonderful and challenging place to be. Can you imagine all of us have similar goals and desires? This world will have a lot more confrontations and will become more chaotic. As long as your decisions make you happy, you are still successful in your own way! The "Declaration of Independence" states that "....We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. " What this is telling us is that we are entitled to pursuit our definition of happiness, in our own unique way!
以下是引用windysnow在2007-8-6 13:30:00的发言： Well said!! You're not satisfied with being good. Rather you strive for "great" all the time, definitely a self starter.
set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. Life is a fair game!
Very true! Hard work doesn't kill people; bordom and disease do. Thanks for sharing ur thoughts and experience! It's quite inspiring. I've learned a lot.
There is a ceiling (or limit) about being “great”. I recognize my strengths and weaknesses and don’t ask myself to do something is clearly out of my ability or reach. Occasionally I like to give myself a pat on the back (not literally, of course. It just seems physically impossible) and recognize the efforts that I have put in. Then I will just move on……It’s nice to be recognized by other people, but sometimes self-recognition may also make us feel more confident and worthy. All I have asked myself is to make each day my masterpiece! Easy to say, hard to do, of course!
This chapter of my life is called What’s My Leadership Style? This topic is for you, Joy2joy MM. It is quite a challenge transitioning from being led to leading, isn’t it? When we are at staff level, life seemed to be much simpler and easier. We were not ultimately responsible for the outcome of a project or an engagement. Our individual decisions contributed to the success or failure of a project/engagement, but it was our boss, or our boss’ boss who would take the ultimate ownership and responsibly of the outcome. Getting to the other side of table is a beautiful thing. Well, most of the time anyway. However, the road to acquire management skills, find your own leadership style and to effectively manage your subordinates is not as easy as what we might have initially expected. For a Senior level, there are two type of skills – technical skill and people skill. I am not going to address the technical skill because it is self-explanatory. The people skill (what many people refer to as “soft skills”), however, is the tricky part! It involves how we effectively interact with others, including people that report to us. That is why I said at the very beginning of this post - "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. " [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 23:23:31编辑过]
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-6 12:57:00的发言： It is a big goal, but it is still attainable, right? The road to achieve this goal will be long and at times, difficult. However, I am the kind of person that prefers to set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. I don't mind having to sacrifice certain things to get to where I want to be. These are all a part of trade-off or opportunity cost. Life is a fair game! I am also wiling to sacrifice certain things to achieve a goal. Just sometimes I couldn't find my goal and get lost and despise myself, which has been the case for the past five years, sigh. That't the pain of growth. Now, it seems that I really find my goal, and find myself working more than 12 hours a day. Although I am only an intern right now, I set up a self-image as a partner in some big firm about 10 years later. My real question is: how do you balance life and work? I could see myself devoted to work all the time, but I couldn't forget that I still have the responsibility to devote to my husband, who is very supportive but also very ambitious, at the same time, really wants a baby in the next three years. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 23:42:04编辑过]
If I have to define my leadership style, I would call it the “Mentor-type” Management style. I am easy-going, patient, and always there for my subordinates when they need me – just the kind of quality I would expect from a boss when I was a staff or a senior. Here are a few things that I thought might have worked for me in the past: Earn the respect and trust: This takes time! (1) Respect on our technical expertise: Staff will have more respect for us if we have solid understanding on the technical aspect of our job. Our ability to relay complicated technical matters to them in plain English will impress them and thus gain respect. (2) Respect on our work ethics: Be a role model. Display positive attitude. Don’t complain in front of the staff (although occasional b*tching is no big deal) too much. Deliver what we promise. Work hard and be accountable 100%....and be a true professional in every sense of the word.
(3) Gain trust: Care about the need of others. Talk to them at lunch time or whenever as if we are friends. Help them out when we can. Treat them with respect and trust. Take responsibility of fault caused by them when asked by clients or our bosses even if we had nothing to do with the mistake (The rationale is that we should have overseen their work). However, do let the person(s) know about the error(s).
以下是引用宝宝在2007-8-6 23:40:00的发言： I am also wiling to sacrifice certain things to achieve a goal. Just sometimes I couldn't find my goal and get lost and despise myself, which has been the case for the past five years, sigh. That't the pain of growth. Now, it seems that I really find my goal, and find myself working more than 12 hours a day. Although I am only an intern right now, I set up a self-image as a partner in some big firm about 10 years later. My real question is: how do you balance life and work? I could see myself devoted to work all the time, but I couldn't forget that I still have the responsibility to devote to my husband, who is very supportive but also very ambitious, at the same time, really wants a baby in the next three years. You are an intern but are already working 12 hours a day? This does not sound good! Are you required to do so and are you willing to do so for the next N years? Back to your question on balancing personal life with professional life - It's a tough call!! It's a great thing that your husband has been supportive about your decisions and desires. Just talk to him and make sure he is on the same page with you regarding your long-term goal. To be honest, I don't get to see my husband very much during busy season (mine is from Oct - March), but the rest of the year is fine. My husband is used to my schedule by now. It is not uncommon to be a mother and be successful at work. I have several female co-workers are great moms and are also successful at work. It's tough, but not impossible to achieve. Many firms offer flex time program so you won't have to work extremely long-hours during busy season if you choose to be on the program. I guess that my point is HOW MUCH you are willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal.
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-6 23:59:00的发言： (3) Gain trust: Care about the need of others. Talk to them at lunch time or whenever as if we are friends. Help them out when we can. Treat them with respect and trust. Take responsibility of fault caused by them when asked by clients or our bosses even if we had nothing to do with the mistake (The rationale is that we should have overseen their work). However, do let the person(s) know about the error(s). To be continued tomorrow....
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-6 23:58:00的发言： If I have to define my leadership style, I would call it the “Mentor-type” Management style. I am easy-going, patient, and always there for my subordinates when they need me – just the kind of quality I would expect from a boss when I was a staff or a senior. Here are a few things that I thought might have worked for me in the past: Earn the respect and trust: This takes time! (1) Respect on our technical expertise: Staff will have more respect for us if we have solid understanding on the technical aspect of our job. Our ability to relay complicated technical matters to them in plain English will impress them and thus gain respect. (2) Respect on our work ethics: Be a role model. Display positive attitude. Don’t complain in front of the staff (although occasional b*tching is no big deal) too much. Deliver what we promise. Work hard and be accountable 100%....and be a true professional in every sense of the word. So true. I always see the great leaders around gain people's respect by doing those. Izzie mm, I enjoy reading your post, the idea, style, language... Thanks for sharing. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-7 18:08:30编辑过]
以下是引用bea在2007-8-7 18:02:00的发言： Do you experience any difficult time? And how did you overcome it? How can you be motivated all the time? Have I experience any difficult time? Of course I have. Sometimes I struggle to find enough time to get my things done on time. That really does not bother me as long as I don’t feel this way all the time. Other times I face difficult clients or situations and it may take more than just my efforts to get them resolved. One of my clients, in particular, is extremely difficult to deal with. When facing disagreements on certain audit or accounting issues (especially large proposed adjustments), he tends to lose temper easily and stops listening to me. I secretly wished that I could just do as what he normally does and fight back, but I couldn’t. I don’t want the firm to lose a client because of me. One time, I stood there and let him go off for a few minutes, then I explained to him, as calmly as possible, my side of story! I was surprised that I could speak coherently under extreme pressure! Then I left his office. I was upset about the situation and didn’t think sacrificing my dignity is a part of my job description, so I emailed the Partner in charge and let him know what was going on. I told the Partner in the email that if the client is not happy with my service, go ahead replace me and I did not want to be treated in any unprofessional way. There must be a talk between the Partner and the client after that. Things improved gradually. Three years after that incident, I am still on the job, from a staff, to senioring the job and to managing the job. I’ve gained the respect that I deserved! What I learned from this experience was that when facing difficulties that can not be resolved by myself, bring in necessary resources. Don’t just easily give up. As for motivation – to be honest, I am not motivated ALL THE TIME. I am motivated on some days than others. Overall, I see what I do as my career, not just a job! [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-8 6:52:29编辑过]
以下是引用Izzie在2007-8-7 22:20:00的发言： Have I experience any difficult time? Of course I did. Sometimes I struggle to find enough time to get my things done on time. That really does not bother me as long as I don’t feel this way all the time. Other times I face difficult clients or situations and it may take more than just my efforts to get them resolved. One of my clients, in particular, is extremely difficult to deal with. When facing disagreements on certain audit or accounting issues (especially large proposed adjustments), he tends to lose temper easily and stops listening to me. I secretly wished that I could just do as what he did and fight back, but I couldn’t. I don’t want the firm to lose a client because of me. One time, I stood there and let him go off for a few minutes, then I explained to him, as calmly as possible, my side of story! I was surprised that I could speak coherently under extreme pressure! Then I left his office. I was upset about the situation and didn’t think sacrificing my dignity is a part of my job description, so I emailed the Partner in charge and let him know what was going on. I told the Partner in the email that if the client is not happy about my service, go ahead replace me and I did not want to be treated in any unprofessional way. There must be a talk between the Partner and the client after that. Things improved gradually. Three years after that incident, I am still on the job, from a staff, to senioring the job and to managing the job. I’ve gained the respect that I deserved! What I learned from this experience was that when facing difficulties that can not be resolved by myself, bring in necessary resources. Don’t just easily give up. As for motivation – to be honest, I am not motivated ALL THE TIME. I am motivated on some days than others. Overall, I see what I do as my career, not just a job! I really enjoyed this post , which is very intriguing. I worked in a very big global company, and now started to deal with the senior management (like Group VP) a lot recently. This afternoon, we had 2-hour meeting with this big boss, I felt more jittery and stressful during the whole time, because the boss asked a lot of questions regard to our presentation, and put forward some new ideas for our forecast. I felt somehow regretful after the meeting because of my poor answers to his questions. But what my manager did duing the time really impressed me, she stayed very calm, and responded very quickly. I know there are a lot of hard work behind this good work. I'm in this new position less than 1 month. I wish I could do it better. But I'm aware, " Rome is not build in one day". I will work harder to get in my goal. Anyway, I really like enjoying reading Izzie 's story. Hope for more updates.
Izzie, your posts are great, have learned a lot from it. If you have time, also want you share experiences on managing criticism and time management... Looking forward to reading more from you. Thanks again for sharing!
Izzie, it is so true about your post. I just began to realize the two points as a senior: People and quality. We need to deliver everything with quality, which need us to be good at all the GAAP, including FASB, APB and AICPA ARB, SOP, etc. On the other hand, we need to take time to show the personal touch on the staff as well. Sometimes, when you pressured with time, it is really hard to do both of them at the same time. On my side and I am sure most Chinese have the similar personalty as I am too: Humble. We always say that we are not good at something and we always take extra efforts to provide better service. As the result, sometimes, we easily behaved overwhelmed under pressure and say things like " I am not good enough..." In this case, if you are already panic and diffident, how could you expect your staff to do other than panic as well? How could you win the respect? From your writing, I am more determined than ever that I need to improve on that. Also, in my own opnion, some people are naturally good at auditing. Of course, experience matters. However, to grasp the concept as quick as possible, for me, is one very important character. I feel that it always takes a long time to realize the whole auditing area and auditing methodology. How could you overcome the difficulty? To illustrate my point, I spent one and a half month to understand the self insurance areas I am auditing. However, when I explain to my staff, I am very surprised that she understand the process and the concept very quickly. I always say to her that she is "bing xue cong ming". She could not understand the chinese but she know that I am praising her. That's why I feel that I might never become a manager in auditing firm. However, I do want to become a qualified senior. I am keen on understanding the concept and hope to be able to see the point, the key risk immediately when talking to the client or managers. Do you have any suggestions on that? Do you also read a lot of technical staffs such as our "lovely" "bible" --- FASB, If I did not read your post last week, I might not be sitting here at the client site now and trying to wrap up my numerous workpaper, scribbled by all kinds of review notes. So you could imagine how much your post have influenced and encouraged me to stay. I could not appreciate enough for your time for the writing. Please allow me to say "thank you so much" ZZ fighting!
以下是引用sara789在2007-8-7 18:08:00的发言： So true. I always see the great leaders around gain people's respect by doing those. Izzie mm, I enjoy reading your post, the idea, style, language... Thanks for sharing. I am glad that you enjoy my writing. I will keep on writing then.....
以下是引用willow在2007-8-7 23:25:00的发言： I really enjoyed this post , which is very intriguing. I worked in a very big global company, and now started to deal with the senior management (like Group VP) a lot recently. This afternoon, we had 2-hour meeting with this big boss, I felt more jittery and stressful during the whole time, because the boss asked a lot of questions regard to our presentation, and put forward some new ideas for our forecast. I felt somehow regretful after the meeting because of my poor answers to his questions. But what my manager did duing the time really impressed me, she stayed very calm, and responded very quickly. I know there are a lot of hard work behind this good work. I'm in this new position less than 1 month. I wish I could do it better. But I'm aware, " Rome is not build in one day". I will work harder to get in my goal. Anyway, I really like enjoying reading Izzie 's story. Hope for more updates. This happens all the time! As we advance in our careers, it is expected that we will be dealing with people that are extremely sharp, confident, intelligent and aggressive. Being stressed out is unlikely to help us in dealing with them. Be VERY prepared (do our homework), anticipate their questions, have backup plans or alternatives, stay calm and focused. We will get our voice heard and win their respect! Remember, these people are experienced, they can easily tell if we really know the subject and if we really put efforts in. [此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-8 21:23:06编辑过]
以下是引用Oaktree在2007-8-8 3:49:00的发言： Izzie, your posts are great, have learned a lot from it. If you have time, also want you share experiences on managing criticism and time management... Looking forward to reading more from you. Thanks again for sharing! Will do. I will be talking about time management in the subject "working smarter". I started this subject a couple of days ago but have not had a chance to finish that. Managing criticism? I don't know if I really experienced any criticism per se. For me, if someone points out (very nicely) areas that I need to improve, I would consider that as criticism. The way I would approach criticism would be the following a few things: 1. Not to get discouraged first (No one is perfect. Making mistakes and facing criticism is just a part of our growing pain); 2. Determine whether or not the criticism has any merit. If yes, look for reasons within ourselves; 3. Formulate a plan and make efforts to improve. 4. Let the criticism be history. Let it only impact yesterday, not today and tomorrow.
We all like this post. Your input is very inspiring, indeed. Please keep going :) In the mean time, do you ever have a colleague who tried to alienate you, because she is probably unhappy with her position or she is jealous of your performance or your good relationship with the manager? I'm facing such a situation now but just don't know how to confront her...
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-21 21:01:35编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:24:18编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:24:49编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 6:48:01编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:25:57编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:26:44编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:27:31编辑过]
一看就是个牛人mm 再写! 赶紧坐沙发, wulala~~~~ 不属牛，所以不是牛人。
MM has a BA from US and must have excellent communication skills which is very important for Auditing. Very inspiring!! keep up the good work! Communications skills are essential to many jobs. In the field of auditing, because of consistent direct contact with clients, good communication skills do come handy.
very good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wait for more information!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually I dreamed last night that I passed one part of the CPA , while, I did not start it now..... hehe Good luck with your studying! Have you set a goal and a timeline to achieve your goal yet? Believe in yourself and you will succeed.
好文啊～～ 赞一个 等着看更多 今天什么时候更新啊
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-2 23:20:05编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 6:55:47编辑过]
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 0:48:16编辑过]
Izzie mm, your story is very encouraging and provoking. I'm doing an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in accounting. During the internship-hunting process, I have had very similar feelings and thoughts. I hope I can be as hardcore as you are when facing these difficulties in a real job. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Btw, I'm also located in the midwest area. If convenient, pls txt me which city you are in.
An Internship is a great way of landing a full-time position! Many firms extend offers to their interns shortly after or even during the internship. An internship provides the employer an opportunity to observe the student's work ethic, learning ability, personality, etc. On the other hand, an internship helps a student determine if her/his personality fits the firm culture, whether or not she/he will stay interested in the type of work. I did two internships in college - one in GM (my junior year) and the other one in an accounting firm (Senior year). My Supervisor at GM tried to get me stay but had difficulty getting an approval from UAW (United Auto Workers Union) because of my visa status. The firm that I did a tax internship also extended me an offer, but I had already accepted the job offer from my current firm. Their lossJ.
It is very helpfel. I just started my internship for two weeks. I couldn't find people during lunch time and I don't know whom to ask for lunch except my boss. We went to lunch several times but he is kinda intimidating ya. On the days that you don't get invited to lunch, try to invite someone else. If you don't feel comfortable asking in person, just send a few people an email stating " I am craving for XXXX.......Is anyone interested in joining me?" Or...."What's your lunch plan for today? " If the recipient(s) respond(s) and tell you where the intended destination is, you can just invite yourself - "Do you care if I join you guys?" Most people would not say no at all. Try it to see if it works.
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-3 10:53:18编辑过]
谢谢 IZZIE 分享，很佩服。能看得出来MM的写作也很好，这个我觉得是做 MANAGER 必需的，MM能说说是怎么提高的吗？
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-5 9:48:15编辑过]
Good post! Your English writing is one of the best I've seen on this board. Waiting for more!
The best post ever!!!
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 16:18:18编辑过]
so lz was in a part-time MBA program, have you done for all the course work? Yes, the program is designed for working professionals. All classes are offered in the evenings. I took a long break from the program after 2004 because I simply did not have any spare time to take any classes. I am back to the program now. Still have a few classes to take. If no complications, I should get my MBA next year. I am really in no hurry of getting my MBA (slacker's excuse) since my work only requires a CPA license.
Yes, the program is designed for working professionals. All classes are offered in the evenings. I took a long break from the program after 2004 because I simply did not have any spare time to take any classes. I am back to the program now. Still have a few classes to take. If no complications, I should get my MBA next year. I am really in no hurry of getting my MBA (slacker's excuse) since my work only requires a CPA license. actually, that's my question, so why MBA? with an MBA, you would get a big raise in your firm or you want to switch to other industry(or same industry with different function)?
actually, that's my question, so why MBA? with an MBA, you would get a big raise in your firm or you want to switch to other industry(or same industry with different function)? Good question!! I won't be getting a raise because of the MBA degree, since the degree is not expected from public accounting firms. Personally, I think some aspects of the MBA program (with a finance concentration) may help me think more even from my clients' perspective - be an advisor to them and add more value to services provided, rather than just an auditor and "pick on them". I don't know where my career will lead me 20 years down the road, but for now, becoming a Partner is my goal. It's hard to say that I may or may not be working in private industry one day. If I do, a MBA degree will come handy. Again, I am guessing that having more knowledge doesn't hurt my personal or career development.
Good question!! I won't be getting a raise because of the MBA degree, since the degree is not expected from public accounting firms. Personally, I think some aspects of the MBA program (with a finance concentration) may help me think more even from my clients' perspective - be an advisor to them and add more value to services provided, rather than just an auditor and "pick on them". I don't know where my career will lead me 20 years down the road, but for now, becoming a Partner is my goal. It's hard to say that I may or may not be working in private industry one day. If I do, a MBA degree will come handy. Again, I am guessing that having more knowledge doesn't hurt my personal or career development. Wow, that's a big goal! I am not in your field and do not know the size of your company, however I heard how hard people working to be partners in firms(most Americans). Good luck and hope one day hear your good news.
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 2:55:52编辑过]
Wow, that's a big goal! I am not in your field and do not know the size of your company, however I heard how hard people working to be partners in firms(most Americans). Good luck and hope one day hear your good news. It is a big goal. But given Izzie's outgoing personality, excellent English in both writing and speaking and ambition in personal advancement, this goal is absolutely achievable. Except more hard (or smart? : )) work, she will just need a bit luck! : ) Izzie mm, keep us updated on your progess. We'd love to be motivated by your experience as well.
Wow, that's a big goal! I am not in your field and do not know the size of your company, however I heard how hard people working to be partners in firms(most Americans). Good luck and hope one day hear your good news. It is a big goal, but it is still attainable, right? The road to achieve this goal will be long and at times, difficult. However, I am the kind of person that prefers to set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. I don't mind having to sacrifice certain things to get to where I want to be. These are all a part of trade-off or opportunity cost. Life is a fair game!
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. -John Wooden 很喜欢这句话 很喜欢这句话 Me too, me too:). I found it very inspiring!
Izzie, thanks for sharing your experience. I am so inspired from it specially right now I am working my buts off trying to survive from all sorts of deadlines. It's good to see there are so many accounting professionals at this board. Btw, if you don't mind, can you share some experience in how to manage people? I really feel it's quite challenge. Ohhh, good luck for your MBA program as well!!!
Definitely! It will be my pleasure to share a few thoughts on management and leadership skills later today. Since my post is not in chronological order, I will just write about different topics as I see appropriate, or upon request.
It is a big goal. But given Izzie's outgoing personality, excellent English in both writing and speaking and ambition in personal advancement, this goal is absolutely achievable. Except more hard (or smart? : )) work, she will just need a bit luck! : ) Izzie mm, keep us updated on your progess. We'd love to be motivated by your experience as well. Of course I could use some luck! The more, the better!
It is a big goal, but it is still attainable, right? The road to achieve this goal will be long and at times, difficult. However, I am the kind of person that prefers to set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. I don't mind having to sacrifice certain things to get to where I want to be. These are all a part of trade-off or opportunity cost. Life is a fair game!
set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard.
Life is a fair game!
Very true! Hard work doesn't kill people; bordom and disease do.
Thanks for sharing ur thoughts and experience! It's quite inspiring. I've learned a lot.
Life is like a giant book. It consists of a collection of chapters. Each chapter records our ups and downs, one day at a time! This chapter of my life is called learn to fit in. I always thought that with my outgoing personality, fitting into a new environment should be a piece of cake. Growing up, I had never had any problems making friends. This was also true during my college years in the United States. Then, how come I felt socially alienated for a while when I first started my job??? Maybe the phrase “socially alienated” was an overstatement of what actually took place, but it was how I felt at the time. The examples of feeling “socially alienated” were: (1) not getting invited to lunch everyday by the new staff group (What I referred to as the “Girlie Group” because it consists of several girls at my level. They were all bubbly and extremely talkative); and (2) feeling no one that I could really talk to at work (besides work related topics).
This is very true. I'm going to report to my new position soon and your experience and advice is very helpful. Thanks!
This chapter of my life is called Working Hard “Success is a piece of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best you are cable.” I’ve always liked this quote! Success is relevant, not absolute, isn’t it? The definition for success varies from one person to another. As long as we made the effort to do the best we are able, we should feel good about ourselves.
Is it "capable"? I also love this quote by John Wooden!
Is it "capable"? I also love this quote by John Wooden!
好贴，启发很多。不过牺牲enjoy life去加班工作，偶做不到
set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard.
Life is a fair game!
Very true! Hard work doesn't kill people; bordom and disease do.
Thanks for sharing ur thoughts and experience! It's quite inspiring. I've learned a lot.
There is a ceiling (or limit) about being “great”. I recognize my strengths and weaknesses and don’t ask myself to do something is clearly out of my ability or reach. Occasionally I like to give myself a pat on the back (not literally, of course. It just seems physically impossible)
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 23:23:31编辑过]
It is a big goal, but it is still attainable, right? The road to achieve this goal will be long and at times, difficult. However, I am the kind of person that prefers to set a goal (even it may sound overly ambitious at certain point), work out a plan and act on it. I don't mind working hard. I don't mind having to sacrifice certain things to get to where I want to be. These are all a part of trade-off or opportunity cost. Life is a fair game! I am also wiling to sacrifice certain things to achieve a goal. Just sometimes I couldn't find my goal and get lost and despise myself, which has been the case for the past five years, sigh. That't the pain of growth. Now, it seems that I really find my goal, and find myself working more than 12 hours a day. Although I am only an intern right now, I set up a self-image as a partner in some big firm about 10 years later. My real question is: how do you balance life and work? I could see myself devoted to work all the time, but I couldn't forget that I still have the responsibility to devote to my husband, who is very supportive but also very ambitious, at the same time, really wants a baby in the next three years.
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-6 23:42:04编辑过]
I am also wiling to sacrifice certain things to achieve a goal. Just sometimes I couldn't find my goal and get lost and despise myself, which has been the case for the past five years, sigh. That't the pain of growth. Now, it seems that I really find my goal, and find myself working more than 12 hours a day. Although I am only an intern right now, I set up a self-image as a partner in some big firm about 10 years later. My real question is: how do you balance life and work? I could see myself devoted to work all the time, but I couldn't forget that I still have the responsibility to devote to my husband, who is very supportive but also very ambitious, at the same time, really wants a baby in the next three years.
You are an intern but are already working 12 hours a day? This does not sound good! Are you required to do so and are you willing to do so for the next N years? Back to your question on balancing personal life with professional life - It's a tough call!! It's a great thing that your husband has been supportive about your decisions and desires. Just talk to him and make sure he is on the same page with you regarding your long-term goal. To be honest, I don't get to see my husband very much during busy season (mine is from Oct - March), but the rest of the year is fine. My husband is used to my schedule by now. It is not uncommon to be a mother and be successful at work. I have several female co-workers are great moms and are also successful at work. It's tough, but not impossible to achieve. Many firms offer flex time program so you won't have to work extremely long-hours during busy season if you choose to be on the program. I guess that my point is HOW MUCH you are willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal.
(3) Gain trust: Care about the need of others. Talk to them at lunch time or whenever as if we are friends. Help them out when we can. Treat them with respect and trust. Take responsibility of fault caused by them when asked by clients or our bosses even if we had nothing to do with the mistake (The rationale is that we should have overseen their work). However, do let the person(s) know about the error(s). To be continued tomorrow....
If I have to define my leadership style, I would call it the “Mentor-type” Management style. I am easy-going, patient, and always there for my subordinates when they need me – just the kind of quality I would expect from a boss when I was a staff or a senior. Here are a few things that I thought might have worked for me in the past: Earn the respect and trust: This takes time! (1) Respect on our technical expertise: Staff will have more respect for us if we have solid understanding on the technical aspect of our job. Our ability to relay complicated technical matters to them in plain English will impress them and thus gain respect. (2) Respect on our work ethics: Be a role model. Display positive attitude. Don’t complain in front of the staff (although occasional b*tching is no big deal) too much. Deliver what we promise. Work hard and be accountable 100%....and be a true professional in every sense of the word. So true. I always see the great leaders around gain people's respect by doing those. Izzie mm, I enjoy reading your post, the idea, style, language...
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-7 18:08:30编辑过]
Do you experience any difficult time? And how did you overcome it? How can you be motivated all the time? Have I experience any difficult time? Of course I have. Sometimes I struggle to find enough time to get my things done on time. That really does not bother me as long as I don’t feel this way all the time. Other times I face difficult clients or situations and it may take more than just my efforts to get them resolved. One of my clients, in particular, is extremely difficult to deal with. When facing disagreements on certain audit or accounting issues (especially large proposed adjustments), he tends to lose temper easily and stops listening to me. I secretly wished that I could just do as what he normally does and fight back, but I couldn’t. I don’t want the firm to lose a client because of me. One time, I stood there and let him go off for a few minutes, then I explained to him, as calmly as possible, my side of story! I was surprised that I could speak coherently under extreme pressure! Then I left his office. I was upset about the situation and didn’t think sacrificing my dignity is a part of my job description, so I emailed the Partner in charge and let him know what was going on. I told the Partner in the email that if the client is not happy with my service, go ahead replace me and I did not want to be treated in any unprofessional way. There must be a talk between the Partner and the client after that. Things improved gradually. Three years after that incident, I am still on the job, from a staff, to senioring the job and to managing the job. I’ve gained the respect that I deserved! What I learned from this experience was that when facing difficulties that can not be resolved by myself, bring in necessary resources. Don’t just easily give up. As for motivation – to be honest, I am not motivated ALL THE TIME. I am motivated on some days than others. Overall, I see what I do as my career, not just a job!
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-8 6:52:29编辑过]
Have I experience any difficult time? Of course I did. Sometimes I struggle to find enough time to get my things done on time. That really does not bother me as long as I don’t feel this way all the time. Other times I face difficult clients or situations and it may take more than just my efforts to get them resolved. One of my clients, in particular, is extremely difficult to deal with. When facing disagreements on certain audit or accounting issues (especially large proposed adjustments), he tends to lose temper easily and stops listening to me. I secretly wished that I could just do as what he did and fight back, but I couldn’t. I don’t want the firm to lose a client because of me. One time, I stood there and let him go off for a few minutes, then I explained to him, as calmly as possible, my side of story! I was surprised that I could speak coherently under extreme pressure! Then I left his office. I was upset about the situation and didn’t think sacrificing my dignity is a part of my job description, so I emailed the Partner in charge and let him know what was going on. I told the Partner in the email that if the client is not happy about my service, go ahead replace me and I did not want to be treated in any unprofessional way. There must be a talk between the Partner and the client after that. Things improved gradually. Three years after that incident, I am still on the job, from a staff, to senioring the job and to managing the job. I’ve gained the respect that I deserved! What I learned from this experience was that when facing difficulties that can not be resolved by myself, bring in necessary resources. Don’t just easily give up. As for motivation – to be honest, I am not motivated ALL THE TIME. I am motivated on some days than others. Overall, I see what I do as my career, not just a job!
I really enjoyed this post , which is very intriguing. I worked in a very big global company, and now started to deal with the senior management (like Group VP) a lot recently. This afternoon, we had 2-hour meeting with this big boss, I felt more jittery and stressful during the whole time, because the boss asked a lot of questions regard to our presentation, and put forward some new ideas for our forecast. I felt somehow regretful after the meeting because of my poor answers to his questions. But what my manager did duing the time really impressed me, she stayed very calm, and responded very quickly. I know there are a lot of hard work behind this good work. I'm in this new position less than 1 month. I wish I could do it better. But I'm aware, " Rome is not build in one day". I will work harder to get in my goal. Anyway, I really like enjoying reading Izzie 's story. Hope for more updates.
So true. I always see the great leaders around gain people's respect by doing those. Izzie mm, I enjoy reading your post, the idea, style, language...
I really enjoyed this post , which is very intriguing. I worked in a very big global company, and now started to deal with the senior management (like Group VP) a lot recently. This afternoon, we had 2-hour meeting with this big boss, I felt more jittery and stressful during the whole time, because the boss asked a lot of questions regard to our presentation, and put forward some new ideas for our forecast. I felt somehow regretful after the meeting because of my poor answers to his questions. But what my manager did duing the time really impressed me, she stayed very calm, and responded very quickly. I know there are a lot of hard work behind this good work. I'm in this new position less than 1 month. I wish I could do it better. But I'm aware, " Rome is not build in one day". I will work harder to get in my goal. Anyway, I really like enjoying reading Izzie 's story. Hope for more updates. This happens all the time! As we advance in our careers, it is expected that we will be dealing with people that are extremely sharp, confident, intelligent and aggressive. Being stressed out is unlikely to help us in dealing with them. Be VERY prepared (do our homework), anticipate their questions, have backup plans or alternatives, stay calm and focused. We will get our voice heard and win their respect! Remember, these people are experienced, they can easily tell if we really know the subject and if we really put efforts in.
[此贴子已经被作者于2007-8-8 21:23:06编辑过]
Izzie, your posts are great, have learned a lot from it. If you have time, also want you share experiences on managing criticism and time management... Looking forward to reading more from you. Thanks again for sharing! Will do. I will be talking about time management in the subject "working smarter". I started this subject a couple of days ago but have not had a chance to finish that. Managing criticism? I don't know if I really experienced any criticism per se. For me, if someone points out (very nicely) areas that I need to improve, I would consider that as criticism. The way I would approach criticism would be the following a few things: 1. Not to get discouraged first (No one is perfect. Making mistakes and facing criticism is just a part of our growing pain); 2. Determine whether or not the criticism has any merit. If yes, look for reasons within ourselves; 3. Formulate a plan and make efforts to improve. 4. Let the criticism be history. Let it only impact yesterday, not today and tomorrow.