College Experiences That Helped A CPA At Rizvi And Rizvi CPAs Succeed
Amir, a CPA at Rizvi & Rizvi CPAs, advises aspiring professionals to "figure that out early on" what career path they want, ideally through internships and relevant coursework. This early identification, coupled with securing an internship in their junior or senior year, sets a strong trajectory, potentially leading to a "very senior level at a pretty young age," even without being a "rockstar."
Career Exploration, Internships, Early Career Planning, CPA Exam Preparation, Career Trajectory
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Amir Rizvi
CPA
Rizvi & Rizvi CPAs
San Diego State University 2008
USC - Master of Business Taxation (MBT)
Political Science, American Studies
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Identify your career path early (freshman or sophomore year).
2. Complete internships in your field of interest.
3. Obtain sufficient units to sit for the CPA exam before graduation.
Transcript
What did you do in your undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I would say, going back to my previous answer, I wish I had identified what I wanted to do much earlier, as a freshman or maybe even a sophomore. This is as opposed to thinking, "I think I'm going to do law school," or "I'm going to do this or that."
So, as the saying goes, it's not what I did, but what I would say looking back. If you can figure out your path early on, whether it's accounting or another industry, by doing an internship or taking classes you really enjoy, then go for it. You're in a really good place if you graduate right out of undergrad.
Let's say you majored in accounting. By interning somewhere between your junior and senior year, you'll have an offer upon graduating. You'll also have the sufficient units to sit for the CPA exam.
That's a really great trajectory to be on. If you can start that way, it's a very strong start. You don't even have to be a rockstar, but if you start that way, you have a really good shot. It's going to involve a lot of hours, but you could reach a very senior level at a young age.
In your early to mid-30s, you could be looking at a director or partner-level position. So, that's what I would say.