Today, I kind of feel sorry for him. Yesterday, not so much! We occasionally have students looking to gain experience, stop by and ask if we are hiring or if we offer any internships. I don't mind talking to them or helping them in any way I can. Who knows, one day I may need one of them, so I try to be polite and professional. But if you are going to cold call CPA firms, April 1st – 15th is not the time to do it and practically demanding an appointment on April 15th is just the definition of stupid! Had he shown up in January or February, maybe I could have gone a little farther to help him and possibly even used him part time, but his attitude was crazy. The whole “man in charge” thing kind of got to me. I know that this is my problem and I need to just get over it. Right now our office is very small. I don't have a private office, so I kind of understand why someone might think I was a receptionist or secretary. Not that there is anything wrong with being either, because I was one for 20 years. But when my license and two degree's are hanging on the wall, literally 2 feet behind my head and my name is on the building, I expect people to ask my qualifications before they judge me. All of my clients, and most of the new clients we've picked up this year, understand that I am not a secretary who can have a day's work completed before lunch by a 20 year old with a 91% in Advanced Accounting. I got a 97% in the same class with the same professor, by the way.
@MrsBunny – He hasn't even graduated from college yet. His resume lists one retail store under employment history.
@14MMonk – I would have if he had apologized and not run out of the office. I was sort of in shock at the audacity of the whole thing. He learned a valuable lesson, so I guess his day wasn't a complete waste.
@funtiks – We have had a few students come in to apply. Most of them are very professional, they have resume's in hand and copies of their transcripts. I talk to them for a few minutes and usually refer them to Another71.com. The only pet peeve that I have as an employer is their attire. I expect a male to show up in, at a minimum, a pair of khaki pants, a shirt free of holes and stains, and SHOES. Flip Flops are NOT appropriate under any circumstances. I usually tell them this and they don't seem to really get it. Maybe it's a generation gap thing. I don't know. I expect the females to be dressed professionally, not ready to go out clubbing. Low cut shirts, short skirts and 5″ platform stiletto's are great in a bar but not what I want to look at every day. I usually don't let the shoes bother me unless they are combined with life threatening cleavage and a lot of thigh! The key to cold calling firms is to be professional. If you are unsure about the dress code of a firm you'd like to work for, I'd suggest you stalk them from across the street or drive by slowly just to see what the other employees are wearing. If you don't see flip flops or sequined halter tops, then you can assume they are not acceptable. Other than that, just be polite and respectful to EVERYONE and it really helps to know what you want to do and to be able to articulate that to the person you are talking to. If someone called today and said “I freaking love income taxes. That is all I ever want to do in this world. Are you hiring?” I would say “Hell yes! Can you come right now?”
@CPAMommyof3 – Facebook? Really? There just aren't words to explain what is going on in my head.
@Lilla – I don't think he had a clue that Tuesday was the 15th or the significance of that date.
I really can't wait until our new office is finished and I can have a door!
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