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Setting Accounting Students Up for Success
Jennifer Johnson, associate professor of instruction at the Naveen Jindal School of Management, teaches practical accounting skills to her students in ACCT 4340. Her students leave the class with working knowledge of QuickBooks, which is the number one software in the US for small business accounting, but Johnson wanted to nudge her students even closer to success. One of the things she noticed students struggled with was building their professional network.
“We have meet the firms, we have career fairs, but all of those are pretty intense activities.” Professor Johnson said. She felt that she could offer students a simple and low-stakes solution.
Prior to joining the faculty at JSOM, professor Johnson served as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and she remains a member of many professional accounting organizations. She calls on her friends from her robust network and asks them to come visit her class.
How Does Networking Day for ACCT 4340 Work?
Professor Johnson tries to invite a wide variety of professionals from the accounting industry to come talk to her students. The students get divided into small groups at round tables and are given about 20 minutes to converse with the visiting professionals. Students can ask questions about the professional’s knowledge and make industry connections in a low-pressure environment. When the 20 minutes are up, students switch tables to talk with at least one more professional before Networking Day ends.
While the students are dressed business-casual, the atmosphere at Networking Day is relaxed. Around the room, students hold conversations about the future and their plans for their careers. The professionals offer insight and advice from within the industry.
“Most of the time when the 20 minutes are up, I find that I have to pull them apart.” Professor Johnson said.
Johnson asks the professionals to evaluate the students based on how engaged they are and how well they take advantage of Networking Day, and the students receive a grade based on that feedback.
What Happens After Networking Day?
For some students, Networking Day made a big impact on their career journey. Several of professor Johnson’s students have been able to land internships as a direct result of Networking Day.
One past student of ACCT 4340, Sam Young, gained an internship because of the event and now returns to Networking Day as an accounting professional with CLA. Three out of the seven accounting professionals visiting Networking Day this past November 10th were JSOM alumni.
When the final session ends, the professionals return to work and the students trek back to class, leaving Networking Day a couple industry connections stronger. Johnson gives out thank-you cards to the visiting professionals and starts preparations for her next semester’s Networking Day.
