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Accounting

Accounting Majors

MBA@Calvin Mentoring Program

MBA@Calvin (Meeting Business Alumni @ Calvin) is a young professional alumni group that meets several times per year for networking and to hear a talk related to integrating faith and business.

Some MBA@Calvin members have agreed to serve as mentors to business students. Sign up for a mentor (and get more information).

Accounting Night

Photos from Accounting Night 2008

  • September 22, 2008, Calvin's Prince Conference Center
  • Seniors attend from 6:30-7:30 p.m., juniors from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Meet with representatives from accounting firms and businesses that hire accountants
  • Dress professionally (conservative suit, dress shoes) (See our "Best Dressed Candidate" handout for more info on attire)

Accounting Night is an opportunity for you to meet representatives from accounting firms and businesses interested in accounting and finance majors. It's a mini job fair. You'll go from table to table, introducing yourself, handing out your resume (which should be printed on resume paper), and asking appropriate questions.

Prepare ahead by researching the companies that will be attending. Recruiters aren't impressed by students who ask "So, what does your company do?" Know about the employers before the event.

Employers use accounting night to determine which students they would like to interview further. First impressions count, so dress professionally, present a firm handshake, and prepare a brief introduction about yourself (e.g. Hi, I'm John Smith, and I'm a junior public accounting major. I've always been interested in an internship at XYZ Company because of your work with non-profit organizations. I'm especially intrigued by learning more about audit. Does your firm have any opportunities for students to work alongside an audit team?).

Tips:

  • Make this statement your own: don't all use the same line. Show a little creativity here!
  • Don't approach the firm representatives in packs, small groups, or with your buddy. This is about you making an impression and moving forward on your own.
  • Get more comfortable with interviewing! Schedule a practice interview with a career counselor. If you have not had a practice interview with our office before, it is required.

On Campus Interviewing

Business Careers Dinner

Our annual Business Careers Dinner allows business and accounting majors to interact with professionals who are working in their field of interest. For the 08-09 academic year, the date was: Monday, Nov 17, 2008, speaker Phil Gardner, Ph.D. See who came!

Office Visits

2008 visit schedule

Office visits are part of the recruiting process. They take place each fall, usually in September and October. The firms want to tell you about themselves, but they are also interested in observing you and how you interact others. Therefore, behave professionally. Dress code is business casual, which means you don't have to wear a suit, but you shouldn't wear jeans either. Wear (clean and ironed!) khakis or dress pants, a conservative top (button up shirt, or plain sweater, etc), and dress shoes. You will be able to sign up for these visits in class. .

Plante Moran – Tues, Sept 16, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, 333 Bridge Street NW

Event:  Office tours, informal presentation, group Q & A session, and time to mix individually with staff.
Light dinner and beverages.

Directions: 196 West to Ottawa Street exit.  Turn right on to Michigan.  Go over the Grand River and turn into parking ramp on your right at Bridgewater Place.  (Michigan Street turns into Bridge Street once you cross the river.)  Park on Level C and take main elevators to 6th floor.  Parking will be validated at the office.

Crowe Chizek – Thurs, Sept 25, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, 55 Campau Avenue, N.W. Suite 300

Event: Short floor tours, time for pizza and informal discussion, overview of Crowe Chizek, Q&A session with managers and Calvin alumni
Light dinner and beverages

Located downtown on Campau Ave, adjacent to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. From Calvin, take Burton to 131 North to Pearl Street and turn right.  Make a right onto Campau just before Monroe.  Our building is the large brick building on the right with the Crowe Chizek sign.  Park out front and tickets will be validated on the third floor.

The Rehmann Group – Thurs, Oct 2, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, 2330 E. Paris Ave. SE

Event:  Information night for area colleges.  The other office visits (above) are just for Calvin students. There will be fun, food and entertainment. 

Take Burton east one mile and turn right.  The Rehmann Group will be ½ mile down on your left.

Resume Book (Spring Semester)

The Accounting Resume Book is distributed to approximately 175 employers who may be interested in hiring accountants for full-time positions and internships. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to submit resumes. We compile this book during the spring semester and mail it to employers during the summer. Important dates for the 2008 book were:

  • Feb 5: Class presentations by our staff explaining the process
  • Feb 12: First draft of resume due in accounting class, along with Accounting Book Info Sheet
  • Feb 26: Critiqued resumes returned in class. Make the changes suggested. Students with questions attend walk-in hours from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri in the Career Resource Center (2nd floor of Hekman Library, in the back by the Cayvan listening rooms).
  • March 4: Final resume due: upload into CalvinLink. If you haven't already created a CalvinLink account, you'll need to do so. Note: When filling out your profile, make sure to select accounting as your major and set your privacy to "Include in Resume Books--Yes." Accounting on-campus interviews will be organized through CalvinLink in the fall, so it's good for you to become familiar with this system. See CalvinLink registration and usage directions.

Fill out your Accounting Book Info Sheet and turn it in to your professor with the first draft of your resume.

This overview of resume writing will help you as you develop your resume. Here are sample accounting resumes for your use:

Resume One
Resume Two
Resume Three
Internship resume example

For more information, read over the PowerPoint presentation slides that were given in class: sophomore presentation and junior presentation.

Office Visits

2008 visit schedule

Office visits are part of the recruiting process. They take place each fall, usually in September and October. The firms want to tell you about themselves, but they are also interested in observing you and how you interact others. Therefore, behave professionally. Dress code is business casual, which means you don't have to wear a suit, but you shouldn't wear jeans either. Wear (clean and ironed!) khakis or dress pants, a conservative top (button up shirt, or plain sweater, etc), and dress shoes. You will be able to sign up for these visits in class.