The (never ending?) Job Search: Part 4!

As I returned from Ghana there were a few tasks I absolutely had to get done within the first, oh, week. Probably top priority was figuring out what I was going to do for a job.

While I was in Ghana I checked my email a couple time for notice from either CA or Braver but had not yet heard anything. This left me still in limbo when I returned. I was really kinda hoping at least one of them would have gotten back to me to make the decision easier for me upon return. But alas, life is not that way.

I did however get my official acceptance into Babson's MSA program.

As I'm going back and forth with my decision, still waiting to hear from CA, I use that as a major factor. IF I get the job at CA and take it that will mean I don't do the MSA. The deadline to for add/drop is a week after returning so I really do need to make the decision within the week.

So I start by sending a follow up email to CA, then I organize a phone call with someone at Braver. The phone call had been in the works before leaving, sort of us a way of buying time and also to get some of my questions answered that would be deciding factors.

What it came down to is this:

• Everyone I interviewed with at smaller firms said people who leave end up going to non-accounting firms as their next step if they leave
• Everyone I interviewed with at non-accounting firms had started at accounting firms then switched over
• Everyone valued having a variety of experiences from the outset (in different industries, roles, etc.)

So then my two options would be

• Go to Braver for the (highly valued) public accounting experience and get the MSA/CPA credentials quick
• Go to CA for a rotation of accounting experiences and have the company pay for a Masters down the line

Now I know you (specifically MS) are sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for me to just say it, so here it goes:

(Insert dramatic pause here)

(Insert drum roll here)

Let's be real, there's no better way to get a Masters and I would much rather stay in Boston with the majority of my friends than go to Long Island. So Braver it is!

Want to know more about Braver? 

Here's the link to their website: http://www.thebravergroup.com/

And here's just an article about the company's CEO who happens to be a Babson alum: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/print-edition/2013/02/22/bravers-ceo-sits-high-in-the-saddle.html?page=3

I'll start work there in about two weeks and as of right now am pretty excited!

The (never ending?) Job Search: Part 2!

If you haven't yet read part 1, I would advise you go do that now. Otherwise the story I'm about to relay won't make nearly as much sense, if any at all.

Read it?

Good, now I'll continue.

So I took a bus back from New York Saturday morning, December 8th (made me really appreciate the flight there! Yay Jet Blue!) and the next few days were essentially filled solely with studying for Auditing and Accounting. I didn't really check my email, just focused on studying. At that point I figured what's done is done and I'm in yet another waiting game anyways.

When I finally emerge from the library and all of my exams I begin the anxious waiting period. For the first time in months I had no interviews lined up. It was simply waiting, waiting, waiting. At this point I had gone through nearly 20 interviews (the CA interview was not the only one I had during the two weeks we had been back since Thanksgiving). While at the beginning I tried to gauge how well interviews had gone, I was pretty much over that. The whole process had become almost a game (probably not good to admit, but it's the truth).

It wasn't about finding a place I could do the job; if that's all it was I would have a job offer from probably everywhere I applied. Now, to be fair, I still took the job search seriously. It was still a stressful endeavor. But I was more lighthearted about it; I tried to have some fun with it.

On Thursday (the 13th) CA emails me back...as I read the email I start to get all giddy. Remember, this is probably the most interesting company I applied to for a rotation. I was really excited...because I had been moved up to the second round!

[insert sigh of relief here]

Once again they have a series of dates for me to choose from...all in January. Ok, I think. This is manageable. They start in the first week of January, so I can do the interview before I head off to Ghana. Then I just have to hope there's no important correspondence while I'm out of touch with the world and we'll be all set. Perfect!

Jokes, life is never that simple.

At this point we are into winter break. Ghana is just three weeks away. Sarina is having visa issues so she comes to my house until she can secure her visa. We spend the days hanging out, catching up on NCIS, cooking, the usual for us. And then:

11:57am, Monday December 17, 2012

I get an email from one of the companies I had interviewed with asking if I had any free time for a phone call over the next couple of days. 

12:00pm, Monday December 17, 2012

Of course! I reply, I have nothing but time. 

~12:30pm, Monday December 17, 2012

My phone rings.

It's the recruiter from Braver PC (http://thebravergroup.com/)

I begin to pace as Sarina watches nervously.

I hang up.

I got the job!

At this point I'm shaking and teary eyed, all excited and such. But I have to keep calm. I have emails to send and people to call. Everyone's been waiting for this moment for months now.

1:00pm, Monday December 17, 2012

I take a seat and a deep breath. Success!

I had emailed every company I could recall that I still had open interviews with, including CA, explaining my situation. So I was now, once again in a waiting game. I had to see what other offers would come in, what companies would decide to just make a cut, and if CA could move the interview process forward any.

~3:00pm, Monday December 17, 2012

My phone rings.

It's the recruiter from another company I had interviewed with.

At this point I'm right in the middle of something so I have them call me back in half an hour.

~3:30pm, Monday December 17, 2012

My phone rings again.

It's the recruiter again.

Offering me a job.

In three and a half hours I had gone from no job offers to two. Yay! Wonderful!

Except (of course there's an except!) they both want an answer by December 31st. 

My interview with CA is scheduled for January 7th. It would be incredibly gutsy of me at this point to reject both offers hoping that I would get the offer from CA before even going for the interview. It would be incredibly rude and senseless of me to back out of the CA interview considering how much I had fought for the first interview and how much I was impressed by the company. So what's a girl to do?

It's more of that waiting game. Throughout the coming days I hear back from everyone I emailed. For simplicity, let's just imagine we have three companies that we're dealing with.

CA responds. They can move the interview as early as January 2nd. That's something. But not quite what I was hoping. So now I need to make a decision. I can try bargaining on time with the other two, accept one of the other two, or reject both of the other two.

I email Braver for an extension, and get an explanation of how they do offers on a rolling basis as they find candidates they like until they have filled all of their spots. He agrees to extend my deadline until they are ready to make an offer that would fill their final spot. Seeing as they can't predict if people will accept or how quickly people will accept, they can't really guarantee how long I have. But I figure I can at least get through the CA interview no problem. Then maybe I'll have decided I really like the idea of a rotation more than Audit/Tax that I'd do at Braver or the other company, or I really won't like it?

At this point it's December 21st. Quite the whirlwind of a month! And I still have to decide what to do about the other company. I decide to take a few days to mull everything over. I focus on Christmas, and figuring out how I'm going to get to my interview in New York (this time on Long Island).

And so I leave you yet another cliff hanger...

The (never ending?) Job Search: Part 1!

My fall semester was pretty much occupied by job applications, interviews, writing cover letters, reviewing my resume, and pretty much everything else that could go into a job search...on top of classes & trying to spend as much time with Parvati as possible before she graduated.

It was quite the process. Much more intense & overwhelming than I thought it would be. I expected to have accepted an offer by the end of October. After that I would get into Babson's MSA and life would be smooth sailing for the rest of the year.

Totally didn't happen that way.

I went through the process of applying to all the major accounting firms, as well as some mid size firms and rotational programs, but the main focus was on the big companies.

Silly me. 

While I got an interview almost everywhere I applied, and many second round interviews as well, there was apparently something missing. So I kept applying and interviewing. By the end of the semester I was starting to feel very overwhelmed as I did not yet have a job offer unlike almost every single other one of my accounting friends.

And I got wait listed for the MSA on a technicality due to having not officially completing the requirements since I had been abroad. This was an unexpected wrench. I had sat down with the professors in charge and walked through how to get everything done in time & in the right way. Yet I had apparently managed to miss the point where I can't officially get accepted until I have some of the requirements out of the way. But more on that in another post.

Some interviews were easy to get. There was one company I didn't even remember to apply to but career services (go Babson being really super helpful and on their game!) got me in anyways.

Others were more difficult. For one company I was sent options of times to interview, but was apparently slow on the draw and chose the more popular slot after it was already full. It took some negotiating but I managed to get an interview...that's actually a somewhat entertaining story.

So it was the Monday after Thanksgiving and I got an email from this really awesome company called CA Technologies (http://www.ca.com/). They had two first round interview times: that Friday in Framingham, or the next Friday in Manhattan. Naturally, you would think, I would choose the one in Framingham seeing as it's right down the street from Babson.

NOPE.

See, the interviews were four hour blocks which included an information session followed by a round of one-on-one interviews and a meet & greet. As a busy Babson student I couldn't work my schedule out for a four hour block on four days notice so I called and asked if there would be a problem with going for the Manhattan one. I was told that should be fine, so that's what I went with.

While waiting for the confirmation I (very excitedly) went to Feng to tell her I had another interview lined up (at this point you would think all my friends would be tired of hearing that, seeing as I'd had around 15 so far, but she was still really excited for me. My friends are simply awesome people). Instantly she went to work, without me even asking, on figuring out the best way for me to get to New York. A bus or train wouldn't work because if they were delayed I wouldn't have much turn around time to figure things out. So instead we opted for me to fly from Boston to New York. After a little hesitation from me, we bought a one way ticket to NYC on Jet Blue (LOVE Jet Blue now). We figured I could get back however I wanted after.

Then I got an email back from CA saying the slots were all full for that Friday, but the Framingham location still had plenty of space. Well, I'm sure if I absolutely had to I could have figured something out, but it would have been really inconvenient. I already had my travel arrangements secured so I emailed them back. After a few days of emailing back and forth, talking to close friends & family and career services we were at a stand still.

Friday passes, then the weekend and I'm sitting with a plane ticket that seems almost useless at this point. At very least, I figure, I'll take the time to visit Sarah Bhuiya and Ifreen while I'm in the city. So I get in touch with them and we agree to meet up. I knew then that if nothing else I would get to see some of my favorite people who I never get to see any more, at least not nearly enough.

Meanwhile, I'm arranging a going away celebration for Parvati. The whole ordeal is somewhat of a disorganized surprise. She knew we would do something for her; she had essentially told me I had to as her best friend (I was planning on it anyways, but still). For pretty much everyone Satuday worked best. So I let her go along thinking that's what we would do. But for me, I had no idea what state I would be in on Saturday, and I knew I had a LOT of studying to do for my exams which were on Monday and Tuesday (great scheduling :P). So I arranged for it to be on Thursday. The problem was, Feng and I had to leave for the airport at about 7am the next morning & Feng is NOT a morning person. So really Thursday wasn't all that convenient for me either. But I made it work. I got a few people together, including some throw backs to freshman year, and I'd say Operation Surprise Parvati was a success. Then we were quick to shoo everyone off to midnight breakfast (my careful planning got people out of the suite early so I could get some sleep).

"Babson" waffles at Midnight Breakfast!

But that's not the point. I finally get an email back from the recruiter. Seeing as I was going to be in the city anyways they would work out how to fit me in.

Now the pressure was on. I had fought hard to secure the interview so I had to be at my absolute best so they would not regret coordinating with me. Going off of very little sleep (early flight + arranging a celebration for the night before = not the best idea for anyone who wants sleep) Feng and I made it off to the airport. I boarded my flight and was in the city within an hour.

Another side note, as soon as I really have a disposable income I'm flying EVERYWHERE. Planes freak me out a bit, sure, but the ease of a domestic flight and saving so much time is totally worth it.

I swear this same bird was at Logan when I took off for Korea!

Left too early to eat at Babson...so I got breakfast at Au Bon Pain before
heading through security.

The moment the stewardess brought out Dunkins I was in LOVE with Jet Blue!

I get to the city with hours to spare so I scope out the location of the office, then just kinda walk around a bit. I got myself some lunch, wandered through the city & some stores, then made my way for the interview.

First thing's first: find the building. Then, off to explore!

The wonderful thing about NYC in December: all of the
Christmas decorations!

I had never been in any of the NYC churches, so with time
to spare I figured I'd check one out. STUNNING organ!

Casual carrying a Christmas tree through the city?

#NOMS! Found the Hershey's Store! I went in later on but didn't take any pics

...and the Disney store. Always a kid at heart <3

So where to next? To see the Ball from Times Square, of course!

A wall of Hopes & Dreams, how sweet!

And to top the Times Square Ball? THE DISNEY STORE! 

"When you wish upon a starrrr!"

Found the princess castle!

"They say if you dream a thing more than once it's sure to come true"

Christmas in the Disney Store ^.^

SO excited about The Hobbit!

And in an attempt to top the Disney Store: TOYS R US!

Boxes of Nerds as big as my head!!!

Statue of Liberty made completely out of Legos...Awesome!

and the Hulk made completely out of Legos!

Throw back toys!

Nerves abound (again, PRESSURE) I walked in, hung up my coat, and mixed with the other candidates. I could go into detail of what the company does, what the position is, etc. or you could just look at their website (link above) because that is mostly besides the point.

After the information session we were all sent into the main reception area to mix with a few young workers at CA. We got the chance to talk to them, ask them questions, etc. I made sure to get some face time with each of them and ask at least one good question. I don't tend to be overly inquisitive, but I made it work in this case. Then I was called in for my one-on-one. For this I lucked out. The woman interviewing me reminded me of an older version of myself. We got along great.

I left feeling really good. If nothing else, I had put my best foot forward. The ball was once again in their court; I was once again in a waiting game. I had to make it through finals & prepare for Ghana. That's a lot to do, and I only had a few short weeks to do it.

This was also a night of closure. Like I mentioned early, I had plans to meet up with Sarah and Ifreen. The two of them never really knew each other, but seeing as they're both good friends of mine I figured it'd be okay to mix the two of them. We went to this neat little place that I totally might be able to find again...might.

The menu!

Salted Caramel Milk Shake: Delicious!

I had the chance to talk to Ifreen about her experience at PwC. What it came down to: she told me I wouldn't be happy there, or any of the major companies. They just aren't my style. At least not now. I needed to hear this. It was true, which I suppose I had known for a while, but I needed to hear this from her. Had I known how much I needed to hear this from her maybe the whole semester would have gone much more smoothly. Oh well.

So that's how I concluded the semester. And seeing as this post is already really long, I'll leave you wondering what happens next until maybe tomorrow?

Nomvember

(^See what I did there??)

Now, I know I haven't been blogging nearly as much lately. It's just so much effort when my everyday activities don't seem overly exciting. I'm not traipsing around beautiful South Africa or exploring Seoul these days. Instead, I'm back in the grind at Babson, focusing on classes and the job search.

But, in the spirit of Thanksgiving I figured I'd put up a blog post. First, for those of you who don't follow all of my social media platforms, you may have missed the many pictures I've posted over the past few days. As such here is the visual story of my Thanksgiving:

Ready to make my pecan pies! I made 1 special (with rum) and one normal
(without rum).  I'd just like to say the only pie that was completely gone Friday
morning was my special pie.

My buddy, Riley. He got a haircut just in time for Thanksgiving. Isn't he adorable?!

The table is set! Dinner for 16 all at 1 table. Go ahead, be impressed. But that's
 not even where I would eat dinner. I went down to visit the other side of my
family where there were about 20 other people. I'd just like to add, I finally got to
 sit at the adult table. 21 years old and these are the big things in my life.

Dessert is set! My pecan pies in the back, 2 pumpkin pies, 2  lemon sponge pies,
 and 2 apple pies on their way shortly after. Since I ate dinner with Dad's family
I was back with Mom's family for all of this dessert...Nom noms!

After dessert, Brady decided it was time for a tea party. As the only child in the
 family he pretty much runs the show.

And no, he did not find it necessary to wear his shirt (he's only 4)

Naturally I couldn't let him go a day without learning a lesson. Brady gives big
to the pig! #Babson. Fortunately there was only 1 broken item for the evening,
and he was really cute when he apologized so I couldn't get upset with him.

You'll notice there's a lack of pictures of actual eating. We were all busy eating. Sticky fingers can't touch cameras so just go with it. In a nutshell, the food was delicious, as always. Turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, squash, candied sweet potatoes (the BEST!), carrots, rolls, stuffing. SO MUCH FOOD. The good news is, because we have the same menu every year we know we can skip something and get it next year. NOM NOM NOM!!

But let's trace back a bit, because it's been a while since I posted. October was filled with midterms and job interviews. Nothing overly exciting there. Until...

HURRICANE SANDY aka FRANKENSTORM!!!!

Now, we didn't get hit nearly as bad as New Jersey or New York, but we still got a day off from school due to the hurricane. We have quite a few trees down, and a lot of people lost power for a while. This was tricky as it was right before Halloween and whole neighborhoods were still down (and naturally kids have to follow the rule of not visiting houses without lights on).

Notice the towel blocking the rain from coming in. We had
to replace that quite a few times.

Quite a few trees down. This one is behind Putney.

All the rain seemed to drain right into that one little nook.

A few days later the rain was subsiding, but the wind was still blowing the trees.

And finally we were left with just a few clouds!

(^ It's a video of the storm looking out from my suite)

With that I suppose I should say how thankful I am that everyone I know came out of the storm safe and sound. Other things I'm thankful for?

Being home. As much as I miss being abroad, it is good to be home with family and friends, and of course my Riley. I've really been making an effort to spend as much time as possible catching up with people who I went so long without seeing. Naturally there are people I don't see as often as I'd like, but it's been great.

But it's not all catching up. As per usual, I'm meeting new people. As I was gone for a year there are many people who I didn't get a chance to meet before but heard about from my friends' stories, if at all. Shout outs go to a few of them:

Hilary: Don't know how I'd missed out on this little nugget. She is also from Maine and when we were pulling together a suite Amy suggested we bring her in. So glad we did! It's helpful to have someone else around who understands what it's like to be from Maine ;) #ImAMainer

Wendy: For about one moment during the semester I had nothing to do so I decided to participate in Wednesday Night Trivia. We somehow ended up on the same team and absolutely dominated. We've been friends ever since, and I've dominated at trivia ever since (although not always on her team...)

Taran: the newest of the Players, Taran's a freshman at Babson. He's from Idaho, as you can clearly tell from talking to him (not just because of his very prominent accent, either). He's also quite hilarious. Always fun to hangout with Taran.

There are others, too, but I think this provides a sufficient recap of what I've been up to recently. I know if I give you all too much to read you'll simply give up. So with that,

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Now time to go listen to Christmas music almost nonstop for the next month, yay!