[Jay]

I’m curious if and how you network with colleagues. Is it strictly through your workplace and school? Maybe during seminars for continuing education credits. Have any of you met other people in the forums or kept in contact after passing all parts?

I meet people through school but usually not accounting majors or serious ones at that. I have met insurance brokers, real estate agents, and online business owners and I’ve tried to maintain a relationship but it’s not easy when everyone’s busy.

I guess I’m asking, how well and how do you network with people?

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[OlintoJr]

Networking is really as simple as building rapport with someone.. That being said you will need to know who you want to network with and act accordingly. I've found that the best ways to network with a colleague are to grab a beer or coffee with them. For certain people I just stick to small talk in the office and offer my assistance when I see I can add value.

I guess what I'm saying is that it depends on the situation and the person.

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[Jay]

What if you work in a small office like me? The networking I'm referring to are gaining those connections that you can use either to help with a job search or someone to compare ideas and discuss issues pertaining to a specific problem. For example, my Boss has a contact who's an accounting professor in a college and he calls him maybe once or twice a year when he is stumped by a client's question or situation.

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[SmartyPants]

When I graduating and starting working professionally, I became involved with several professional organizations such as my state CPA society. I did this for networking and philanthropic purposes. It gave me the opportunity to connect and meet others in the profession and give back to the community. It also helped me gain leadership skills because someone will eventually ask you to coordinate or lead a project.

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[Anonymous]

I did the same as SmartyPants and joined several professional organizations for both the networking opportunities as well as the CPE opportunities. I too work at a small, local CPA firm and I've found that the activities and events sponsored by organizations such as these are crucial to meeting those in my area with similar interests and goals.

I actually just attended the annual “VSCPA Leadership Academy” for 2015 sponsored by my state's CPA society in Virginia a few weeks ago and it was a phenomenal experience in so far as meeting other young professionals from all across the state with similar ages and experiences. If your state CPA society offers something similar I would highly recommend it (and it looks great on your resume, too!). I'm also considering joining the society's Young Professionals Advisory Council for even more opportunities in both networking and representing the newest members of the CPA profession in my state.

Some other organizations to consider for networking opportunities would be local rotary clubs as well as your local chamber of commerce. In addition, many of the more service-oriented organizations may also provide networking opportunities. This would include organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, etc.

[msgolds]

Industry events are big networking activities. For example, I'm attending a Symposium later this week sponsored by a local accounting society. Aside from the training / CPE opportunities, they afford plenty of time for networking.

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[Jay]

Those are really good ideas. I thought about joining a few of those organizations mentioned a couple years ago but I guess I forgot. Besides the networking, are they useful in the knowledge you receive? Also, could you give details as to what goes on during these events or in these organizations?

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[msgolds]

Well at the event I'm attending, there are several training courses (with CPE) that pertain to the sector that I work in (the nonprofit sector). They have break-out sessions so you can attend more specialized trainings, and they end with a networking reception.

BEC - 90 PASSED
FAR - 84 PASSED
AUD - 93 PASSED
REG - 84 PASSED

I DID IT!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study

"If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

[Anonymous]

@Jay – the events definitely help a lot with networking. It gets you out in front of people. Another big thing I found with networking occurs just through my job itself. I've been put on a ton of projects that have required a unique skill set. Setting yourself apart from people and working with those third party people in project settings gets your name out there and it's good for you because it keeps them in your back pocket. I have people that I can reach out to for almost anything to inquire or bounce ideas off of, and the side benefit is I get head hunted all the time for jobs, and even though I have no intention of leaving, I know that those options are out there.

[Jay]

These all sound like things you do after obtaining the license. Maybe that's the only time it will matter though. I really need to pass these exams.

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[Author]

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