Happy Holidays from McGladrey!

2009 is about to come to a close, and what a year it's been. I don't know about you, but I'm certainly looking forward to a new year, hopefully one that will lead to a better economy and more jobs! Based upon our December poll, jobs are certainly what you want most this holiday season. 42% of our respondents said that they wanted a new job this holiday season, with Peace, Love and Happiness for All coming in second (21%).

Whether you are looking for a new job, wishing peace, love and happiness for everyone, hoping to get that new laptop, iPhone or anything else, from all of us at McGladrey, we wish you the best this holiday season, and a happy new year!

Podcast: McGladrey's Award-Winning Coach-on-Call

Back in June of this year, we introduced you to our award-winning Coach-on-Call program. Want to learn more about this outstanding benefit and how McGladrey employees are able to take advantage of it? Take a listen to the podcast linked below as Coach Karen describes in detail why we offer this benefit and what it could offer you as a McGladrey employee.

Click Here to listen to the Podcast

Giving Back In Iowa

They say that it's better to give than to receive. Very true, and two McGladrey offices in Iowa took that saying to heart this holiday season.

The Des Moines office recently held its annual “Adopt A Star” toy drive for the Polk County Family Enrichment Center. The office was able to help make the holidays more enjoyable for 52 children in the Des Moines area which is up from the 40 children they helped last year. The Family Enrichment Center was overwhelmed by the generosity of the McGladrey employees whose participation helped 10 percent of the 500 children that would have gone without gifts this year.

The Cedar Rapids office gave as well, and had a fun time doing it by participating in a Ugly Sweater Contest that raised funds and gathered gifts for local needy families. Ugly Sweater Contest winners included Mike T., Director-Wealth Management, who won the Celebrity Award from Nicole Agee, local news anchor at KCRG TV-9, who was brought in to judge the event. Aimee J., client service representative, won the People’s Choice award.

Check out the ugly sweaters for yourself below.

Business Week names McGladrey to it's Best Places To Intern List

One of the things that we love to talk about at Success starts here is our Internship program. Whether has to do with our Capstone Conference, community service events, or their actual experiences, we've had plenty of great stories to tell about what we think is a great Internship experience.

Business Week seems to think alot of our program as well as this year for the first time, McGladrey has been named to their Best Places to Intern list. As always, we are honored to make lists like these, and feel that it's a further affirmation as to a program that we and and our current/former interns) believe provides a great foundation for a future career at McGladrey and in Public Accounting.

Best Places to Intern - McGladrey Profile

The Value of an Internship

*** Today's post comes to us from another Rachel, Rachel Frederick, a recent graduate from Towson University, who completed two Internships with the McGladrey before starting with the firm last month. Read on as Rachel shares with us how her Internships prepared her for success as she begins her career with McGladrey.***

It has been one month. One month since I started my career and started going to work every day. I knew that it would be scary and different and exciting all at the same time. Honestly, I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to intern at McGladrey before becoming full-time because I feel like I would be in a completely different position than I am in now.

It has been interesting for me because I sit right across from another tax associate who did not intern at McGladrey before starting full-time. Our experiences have been completely different and I feel like I am on a completely different level. If I were in his shoes, I would be terrified. He has to meet everyone, learn how to use the software, learn the office procedures, and learn everything else in less than two months before tax season. It is intimidating. I am going to do everything that I can to help him because I feel like his transition to full-time is so much harder than mine.

Being an intern previously has helped and prepared me in the following ways.

1. Experience - I have had the opportunity to work two tax seasons before becoming full-time. Tax season is scary enough but I know now that I will be prepared. I know how to do a tax return and other basic tasks without having to ask for help. I now recognize the incredible benefit of being an intern first because I did not have to worry about billable hour goals before. When you are an intern, you can take as long as you want and ask as many questions as you want because that is your job as an intern. Once you become full-time, the expectations and the pressure is a lot higher. I am glad that I had the internship opportunity because I was able to learn at my own pace and I am much more knowledgeable.
2. Confidence - Being an intern has helped me to be more confident as a full-time associate. While working as an intern, I completed many different returns and learned so much. I know my value and what I am capable of accomplishing. When I walked into the office on the first day, I was not walking in blindly. I already had experience under my belt and the main difference is that I go to work every day during the week instead of every other day. I felt prepared becoming a full-time associate because of my amazing experience as an intern.
3. Network - Being an intern has also expanded my network in my department, in my office, in my company, and in my community. I know who to ask when I am lost or confused. I know who to go to when I need work. By being an intern first, the transition to full time was so much easier because I already know all the policies and procedures and who to go to for what before I even walked in the front door.

I cannot stress enough the incredible value of being an intern while in school. Not only did I learn the ropes of McGladrey but I also learned about the real work that I would be doing as an associate. Because of my internship experience, I am not only a better staff associate but also a better professional.

The Good News and The Bad News

The Good News - The recession is over. Unemployment dropped 2/10ths of a percent. Job losses are at their lowest point in 2 years.

The Bad News - We are in a 'jobless' recovery. In many industries and geographic regions, it is still very difficult for people to find a job. Accounting students are finding it more difficult than ever to get offers for internships and full-time jobs. Bottom line - there are still too few jobs and too many applicants in the public accounting industry.

I've been providing alot of advice lately to those who are struggling to find work in our industry. Like I have said before, in times like these, those who can separate themselves from the rest and provide themselves a competitive advantage will be the ones that will have the best chances of finding a new job in this difficult job market. Don't take my word for it though, here's a few links to other blogs and Twitter accounts you can follow that will provide you with the advice you need to learn to effectively brand yourself, network, and help you stick out from the crowd.

Blogs
Dan Schwable's personal branding blog
CareerSherpa
CollegeRecruiter.com blog links

Twitter
@keppiecareers
@JobHuntOrg
@CAREEREALISM

Job Angels is another great resource where people help others to find employment, and has a presence on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to help facilitate a large, grass-roots community.

What about jobs at McGladrey? Well, we still have 170 positions posted on the Career Search page of our Career Website. Be aware however that we are well into our campus recruiting process, and those positions that are classified as 'Entry-Level' are likely soon to be filled. For the most part, interviews are complete and offers have been extended for those opportunities.

For our experienced-level audit and tax positions, we hope to fill most of those before busy season begins, so submit your resume ASAP to make sure you are considered. But I do ask you to please take my advice and the advice of the others who you see listed above. If you are limiting your job search to applying online, you are greatly limiting your opportunities to find a job. Separate yourself from the pack by networking, gaining referrals, and staying positive and persistent in your job search efforts. Hopefully , the good news will soon overpower the bad news as the economy continues to recover. In the meantime, take the advice of those who know best about what job search strategies work best.

December Poll - What do you want most this holiday season?

After taking November off, we are back today with a new poll. Since we are now in the holiday season, we'd like to know, what do you want most? Electronics? Clothes? A new job? Nothing? The month just began and I already have my big holiday gifts purchased for me (guitar lessons and hockey tickets).

We all know that it's better to give, but in this case, go ahead, and be a little greedy. Participate in our fun December poll and let us know what you want or need.