I began my first full-time job in August of 2023 as a tax staff associate at GYF, but my journey to starting my career started much earlier. Any high school or college student can relate to the uncertainty of not knowing what they want to do for their careers. That uncertainty often turns into an uncertain curiosity about what the “real world” is like. Internships are often somewhat helpful in this, but I feel that my experience with both the student leadership conference and my internship at GYF were uniquely beneficial in helping me understand and prepare for my career.
The preparation that started years earlier helped me make a smooth transition from college to career life. There are three main adjustments I find to be the most significant and impactful.
First, I had to adjust to working on engagement-specific deadlines instead of just my own. As a night owl and busy college student, I often did most of my schoolwork in the late evening. To be present and able to collaborate with my team, I now work in the morning and afternoon, which has been a slight adjustment. The nature of the work we do also requires me to set personal deadlines on my own. Instead of having specific days or times that homework is due or a paper is due, there are client deliverable date deadlines to get a set amount of work done. It requires a lot of communication with seniors and managers to make sure I am completing tasks efficiently and effectively, but also giving them adequate time to review and answer questions. I also need to make sure I am self-reviewing and minimizing mistakes that might slow down the process. Overall, the adjustment is a strange mix of being more structured in terms of time of day to get work done, but less structured in terms of daily due dates.
A true benefit of working at GYF is that they recognize that every person has different effective work times and life schedules. I feel supported and encouraged to make sure I am getting my work done during appropriate work hours, but there is also flexibility, especially in busy season, as the hours get longer. I have learned how to use my best working hours to my, and the firm’s, advantage. This could look like logging on later the night before and getting work done instead of having to get up early the next morning when I am less effective, or any number of other adjustments. It is also helpful to be in the office, discussing and seeing how my co-workers adjust their schedules as well; maybe working a longer day earlier in the week and taking advantage of a shorter day on Friday to have a longer weekend. Since starting full-time in August, I optimize my evenings by studying for the CPA exam outside of work. Overall, I am adapting to learning the regulated, but flexible, work schedule.
A second main adjustment I have is managing and optimizing the commute. I made the choice to live closer to my community outside of work instead of living closer to work, so I have a longer commute than most people. Going from the five-minute walk to class to an hour long drive to work is definitely an adjustment. Early in training we talked about ways to optimize commuting times, even for those with shorter commutes, and I am learning to see my commute as a blessing and not a chore. A partner shared about how he blocked out time in his drive to call his daughter, while a manager spoke about how she often used her similarly long commute to call her parents. I often to use my drive time to call people. Lately, I am enjoying the gorgeous fall leaves and, of course, listening to the latest Taylor Swift album. GYF’s hybrid work environment also helps me manage my long commute. I enjoy being in the office and can honestly say that if my drive was shorter I would probably be in the office daily, but it is nice to have the flexibility of a hybrid schedule. My internship was also helpful in making this adjustment. When I interned in the summer of 2022, I used that time to learn the best places to park in Pittsburgh, figure out the schedule of public transportation options, and began adjusting to a longer commute and hybrid work environment.
A final adjustment is learning and enjoying the work community. I am an extrovert and an optimist, so it was really important for me to find a workplace that was positive, uplifting, motivating, and encouraging. GYF checked each of those boxes for me very quickly. I could tell, even from the two days I spent with the student leadership conference in 2021, that the people at the firm were knowledgeable and eager to teach and learn, while simultaneously being excited and lifting each other up daily. While not explicitly confirmed, I believe that Theory Y management is practiced here daily; even during the busiest and most stressful times of the year people are excited to come in and talk to each other and are always willing to help and answer questions. I can honestly say I have never been afraid to ask for help and I feel encouraged to get to know my co-workers on a personal and professional level. The adjustment to a work community has been impactful in only the best ways – I am blessed to be a small part of such a positive and supportive work environment.
Transitions and changes in life are never easy. I am grateful to work for a firm that helps make the transition as smooth as possible. I look forward to learning more and developing additional relationships on both a firm and client level as I begin and grow in my professional career.
