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So I’m about to start my interview process for Capital One next week for a Senior Financial Analyst position. My recruiter going give me a prep call on Friday but I wanted any advice that recruiters don’t tell you during the interview process. Also I wanted to ask if Capital One a decent place to work at. I will be working at the one in McLean Virginia if that helps.
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Redoing selections <<<<
What are your long term salary goals?
Work Stations? How 'bout nap stations? 😴
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* I love, not olive 🤓
I like the team environment, working with smart ambitious people for the most part. Auditing itself kind of sucks but there is a lot of learning and figuring out on the job how to account for complex transactions and come up with sometimes creative solutions to problems that arise because clients don't have the type of support you think they should have. You're also given the opportunity to lead teams very early on in your career which isn't always the case in industry
I tell them I hate it then watch them laugh uncomfortably
I say I don't think anyone "Likes" being an accountant, but the pay and benefits are okay.
"No"
Not to sound like a Pollyanna, but olive my job. This is my second career and after 10 years of being miserable in my former jobs, it's nice to look forward to my work every morning. Not to say I don't get frustrated with the hours or scheduling sometimes...
I also HIGHLY recommend you take a four day weekend for Memorial Day to enjoy your family/hobbies/netflix and to get your mind off of work.
MA1 what is it you love about public accounting? I personally find the stress that results from a combination of non-responsive clients and demanding superiors to be miserable. The rest of it is ok, I agree with most of what PWC1 said, but I don't think I could ever honestly say I love my job
I like PA as well. In my prior life I was in a university system and the malaise of most people drove me nuts. Sure, the stress sucks sometimes, but I prefer this environment to the one I came from by leaps and bounds.
I should also qualify that I work with private business only, so there seems to be a more "in it together" attitude with clients then it sounds like my second brethern
Accounting is just interesting to me- problem solving, details, research. And I do have pain in the ass clients, but I worked as a seamstress for 10 years and when I compare my clients now to the bridezillas I used to cater to, forget it! I work with a really great team who support my growth and who I count among my close friends now. I'm sorry that you are feeling so frustrated, is there a part of the job that you like, that you can ask for expanded responsibility in?
I don't dislike my job it's just not the right job for me. I have a lot of flexibility and don't work crazy hours most of the year. Have unlimited vacation and get paid well but nothing like industry. My main issue is that I just don't see a future doing it which means I'm not always super motivated. The longer you stay the harder it is to leave as well. If you're stuck at senior manager you're in a hole
@OP the auditing job doesn't have to suck. I hate busy season and the pressure of being responsible for a partner's livelihood, but I love the independence of not having anyone to answer to really. I suggest this: Just go to work, smile, be pleasant, when you have problems discuss them with your peers and supervisors instead of just trying to solve it yourself. Offer to help others solve their problems. Don't worry about deadlines, just do your best and communicate your issues regularly. It'll be okay. Just tackle one issue at a time.
I tell them I hate it. Because it's true. No one in college said "you will always be working over 8 hours whether or not it is busy season. Oh and yea there is a busy season! This is the time of year where you hate that you're salaried because you are working 80 hr,or maybe more, weeks. Also you are treated like shit by every manager and director because you are the shit on the bottom of their shoes. Get used to it!" If anyone actually told me this I would not have that big expensive useless degree. If you're salaried, you're a slave. No one respects you at a low level. You work day in and day out. I have no time to exercise or even go on a date. I watch partners and directors going through divorces because their partners don't get the life they chose. You know what that life is????? LIVING TO WORK!!!!!! Sorry... pass.... I want a fucking life. Money isn't everything. I've been at a big 4 and then a small place, and now my current place and have been trying public accounting for 4 years. I had a nervous breakdown about two weeks ago and I'm now on a leave of absence. Amen to that because I actually feel like I'm normal again. I am a hard working. But I will not sell my soul to another company again.
I love the stress. It motivates me.
@OP totally feel you. The parts I liked most about PA were working through technical issues with clients and working with them to help account for complex transactions. The stressors of long hours, generally boring audit tasks (planning, control testing, substantive testing, etc...) and the below market pay once you hit experienced senior outweighed the good. I no longer enjoyed going to work every day so I moved on. Found a job in consulting that combined what I loved about PA (technical accounting and working with clients to solve complex issues) with a much better work life balance and firm culture. Now clients are happy to see me, as I'm actually helping them solve complex issues they can't solve themselves. The clients are actually making a choice by hiring my firm for help rather than having an auditor that they are required to have. There are no independence issues, so I'm free to buy any stock I want and can leave for a client if they like my work. Also the pay bump and overall firm culture are much improved. I finally look forward to going to work every morning. If you're at a point where you no longer feel this way about public, try and search for something that can combine what you like while removing the items you dislike. Waking up in the morning and being excited for your day ahead makes a huge difference in the quality of your life!
I love my job. The NBD, networking, providing solutions to problems, flexibility, technology and resources.
Second = SEC
It can be interesting at times. Repetitive during others. The learning and the people I work with are the most important aspects for me.
I do consulting so It's a little different but I love helping clients through problems. Like the problems are boring and not earth shattering, but collaborating to find a solution is always nice when they're appreciative