College Experiences That Helped a Consultant at a Big 4 Consulting Firm Succeed
Jack credits a good academic advisor for guiding them toward a challenging but rewarding accounting degree, and also highlights the importance of avoiding burnout, noting how some younger professionals struggle after overexerting themselves in college, but notes that taking time off and maintaining "a solid work-life balance" helped avoid this. Jack believes maintaining an "open mind" and being "willing to go and be a sponge" has been key to success both in school and at work.
Work-Life Balance, Avoiding Burnout, Academic Guidance, Open-Mindedness, Continuous Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jack Hirsch
Consultant
Big 4 Consulting Firm
Santa Clara University
Accounting
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Technology
Consulting
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Choosing the right degree with the help of a good academic advisor can provide a strong foundation for a challenging career, such as accounting at a Big 4 consulting firm.
2. Maintaining a good work-life balance in college and taking time off between graduation and starting work can prevent burnout, which can negatively impact performance in a demanding job.
3. Adopting an open-minded approach and a willingness to learn continuously, like being a 'sponge' and 'drinking from a fire hose of knowledge,' is crucial for success in a fast-paced and knowledge-intensive environment.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success?
A lot of it was fairly lucky. I had a really good academic advisor who helped me choose the right degree. They gave me confidence that I could handle a challenging degree like accounting, which is essentially five years of school and four years [unclear].
I also think a big factor, which I've seen some folks struggle with, is not burning out too early. As I've been at the company for a while, I've seen younger staff come in. They often work so hard in college, taking extra classes and participating in every extracurricular.
Then they go straight from school into work and are just burnt out. I feel for them, but it makes their work a lot more challenging. They are coming into a demanding job already exhausted.
I think I did a good job of maintaining a solid work-life balance. I'm glad I took a couple of months between graduation and starting my role. I continued the mindset from college into work: going into things with an open mind. I'm willing to be a sponge and absorb a lot of knowledge. I think that has really set me up for success.