Meet The Firms
Date: Friday, October 1, 2009
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Holiday Inn, Downtown Plaza
300 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
About Meet the Firms
A career-fair style event, Meet the Firms is specifically designed for the accounting industry and students in the accounting, finance, accounting information systems field. With three hours of networking opportunities, students are able to meet and ask questions to a variety of companies.
Dress Code
Meet the Firms is the best time to put your best foot forward. Business Professional dress is strictly enforced. Business suits for both men and women; but show your individualism with a colorful tie or other small accessories.
Pre-Meet the Firms To Do List:
- Dry clean/iron suit
- Practice a nice firm handshake; remember, V-to-V with two to three shakes
- Prepare a list of questions to ask professionals
- Research the companies attending; even a quick glance at the website can give you valuable information about the company
- Read up on current news and events (Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento Magazine, Wall Street Journal, SF Chronicle, etc.)
- Have a game plan - What companies and professionals do you want to talk to?
- Turn off your cell phones! If you are expecting an important call, turn your phone on vibrate. It is considered improper (and just plain rude) to answer your cell phone in a middle of a conversation. Hide your phones in your pockets or purses.
- Eat an early dinner; do not waste valuable networking time at the appetizer table
- Relax, professionals are people too.
What to Bring
Besides an item for the Silent Auction to help fundraising (not required but highly encouraged and members are awarded three points for doing so), bring plenty of good questions for different companies. Although resumes are not necessary, it is always a good idea to have a few on hand where ever you go.
Questions for Meet the Firms
Whether it is company culture, upward mobility opportunities, or internships, gather information that is important to you. Do not waste your time and the time of professionals with questions just for the sake of asking. Have different questions for different professionals. A CFO of a company may not necessarily know specifics about training for new-hires just as a new-hire may not necessarily know the high-level expansion plans for the next ten years. Think about who you are talking to and ask questions on the appropriate level. Do not be afraid to ask the same questions to different people or companies; it gives you opinions from different perspectives.
Sample Questions and Conversation Topics
There will be more than 100 students at Meet the Firms and everyone will have similar questions. Think of general questions and specific questions that will reflect what is important to you. Stay away from inappropriate and offensive conversation topics. If you are unsure if a topic is appropriate, it is best to pick another topic.
General:
- Company culture/environment
- Current workload/duties
- Number of entry-level positions available currently and in the future
- Differentiating characteristics of company
- Personal experience with the company
- Company events (picnics, holiday parties, and annual outings)
- Hobbies and interests outside of work (sports, cooking, food, cars, music, movies, etc.)
- Internship/job shadow opportunities
- Vacation plans/travel experience
Executive/Partner Level:
- Current industry news/events
- Companys long-term and short-term plans for growth/success
Manager Level:
- Qualifications/characteristics the company looks for in new-hires
- Personal and company management style
- Advice for new-hires
New-hire/first-year Level:
- Training or new-hire/first-years
- Job duties
- Benefits/vacations available
- Personal experiences with the company
- Company policies (dress codes)
- Travel opportunities with company
Attending Firms:
- BFB&A
- Deloitte
- E&Y
- Gallina
- Gilbert
- KPMG
- Moss Adams
- Pacific Coast
- Perry-Smith
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Reznick Group
- MGO
- Grant Bennett Associates
- Department of Finance
- IRS
- EDD
- ASWA
- Becker Professional Education
- Roger CPA Review
- Kemper CPA
- Robert Half International
Questions or concerns? Contact Richard Tyler at VP.Professional.Relations@csusaccysoc.org.