There is nothing that compares to an energetic, engaged, and sociable office environment. A place that feels like a second home, where you know everybody, where you can put your best foot forward, and where you can grow and thrive with a group of diverse minds who aren’t just your colleagues but your friends too.

We’re happy to say that such an office exists in the heart of Minneapolis. KPMG Minneapolis has built a culture and community that goes far beyond an office space. In our conversations with employees from the Minneapolis office, both new and old, we discovered what makes their office perfect for those who want more than a run-of-the-mill office experience.

Collective Problem-Solving

A very common worry that a lot of entry-level employees or early career professionals come across is what to do when faced with obstacles. As is the case with any new job, challenges will arise, so this is very natural.

When we spoke with Reece English, a former intern and current Tax Associate at KPMG, he mentioned that having a bunch of fellow colleagues in the same position as him was incredibly helpful. For example, one day Reece was having an issue with a platform he was using at his desk. After firing off a question to a fellow colleague, instead of replying in the chat, she stopped what she was doing and went over to Reece’s desk and walked him through it.

Whether it’s asking a fellow intern for a ride to work or getting a managing partner to look over a review you did, everyone at KPMG seeks to support one another whenever possible.

Social Life

In our conversations with employees from KPMG, we discovered that they cultivate a culture that values socializing and employee interaction. Pizza days, taco Tuesdays, morning coffee and donuts, and happy hours are incredibly common at the KPMG Minneapolis office. These events help build camaraderie and meaningful bonds between employees.

The Minneapolis office even has a basketball team and kickball team. While the basketball team is company-wide, the kickball team is exclusively for interns and gives them the chance to compete in a tournament against the other Big Four accounting firms. KPMG won in 2021 but lost in 2022 so they are hoping for a big comeback next year.

Lastly, the training at the KPMG Lakehouse in Orlando also underscores the firm’s dedication to building a well-connected community. Every year, all KPMG professionals, from intern to partner, head down to the training and innovation center to upskill, socialize, and get to know one another better. Fit with a gym, social venues, and tons of other amenities, the experience at Lakehouse goes to show the firm’s dedication to creating fun and lasting bonds between employees.

Real Experience with Clients

The KPMG Minneapolis office is located in close proximity to clients, many of which are Fortune 500 companies. In fact, Minnesota is home to over fifteen Fortune 500 companies, most of which are audit, tax and/or advisory clients of the Minneapolis office. What this means is interns and associates get the chance to interact and work directly with clients on a regular basis.

Whether it’s through coffee chats, boardroom meetings, or onsite engagements, employees get the chance to work directly with these clients as they help influence business decisions in real-time! For Lilli Denison, that meant no day was the same.

This communal aspect, paired with the client engagement that even interns get to partake in, made Lilli realize that employees at the Minneapolis office would always be exposed to new, exciting, and meaningful work.

A Supportive Network

Another one of the most alluring aspects of the KPMG Minneapolis office is the bottomless support network provided by fellow colleagues and partners. In our conversation with James Powell, the office managing partner in Minneapolis, he spoke about the “pass it forward” mentality that exists throughout the organization.

James emphasized how there is a “whole network of people who, yes, have a job to do, but at the same time also find it very important to make sure that the people around them are successful.” James went on to say how much of a proud culture the KPMG Minneapolis office has and how that pride reverberates off the behavior of employees helping one another. This pride stems from their devotion to helping fellow colleagues and lifting each other up whenever possible.

At KPMG, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been with the company for a day or a decade, everyone is treated the same and given the same opportunities to grow and succeed.

Make the Minneapolis Leap

People choose to stay at KPMG for a variety of reasons. Some include the ones we mentioned earlier, but many of them are discovered by the employees themselves. Whether it’s the support system, the social life, or the paths to success that are paved for each and every employee, the KPMG Minneapolis office is the destination where early career professionals go to thrive.

Learn more about the internships and open roles that KPMG is looking to fill at their Minneapolis office and locations across the country here and begin your road to success!

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

© 2023 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization.

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When it comes to companies, size really does matter.

A lifetime of effort goes into finding a job, but the work doesn’t stop there. There’s way more to consider about a prospective employer than the fact you might have received a job offer from them.

Everything from the dress code to the opportunities for advancement can be essential parts of making sure you’re happy in the next chapter of your life. And size is one of the biggest factors in determining these facts.

1. Responsibilities: Would You Rather Wear Many Hats Or Just One?

Size can mean everything when thinking about your company responsibilities. It makes intuitive sense, too: The fewer people there are who work at a company, the higher the chance that you will be asked to perform tasks outside your job description.

This can be pretty incredible for someone just starting a career. It’s the opportunity to build even more skills and experience for your resume. However, it can go both ways. You don’t want to be asked to do so many jobs that you end up with limited proficiency in your actual field.

Finding a firm in the “Goldilocks Zone” between these extremes, like CohnReznick—one of the country’s premier accounting consultancies—can be the ideal situation for recent grads. With a few thousand employees in offices around the country, CohnReznick is large enough to support you in your own specialty, while lean enough to let you take ownership of your work and build meaningful relationships with people in upper management.

2. Resources: What Are You Working With?

This is one of the realms in which you’ll find the biggest difference between a small company and a massive enterprise—for obvious reasons, too. Established industry giants usually have whole departments dedicated to providing you with the necessary tech, like phones, laptops, and software packages. Startups and small companies might not have a conference room for every meeting.

However, certain companies do actually manage to strike a balance between resources and the above-listed responsibilities. At an established midsize firm, you can get things like amazing benefits and tech, while still being able to take on actual responsibilities that you can get credit for nailing.

3. Corporate Culture

You should always think about what your life will be like day to day. Are you comfortable putting on a tie every morning? Will you be bored to death on your hour-long commute? These details, while not a factor that the company chooses for itself, are realities that you need to consider. Maybe you can find another job that allows you to wear t-shirts and walk to work. Maybe you work best in a more traditional environment. These things are personal and have to play a role in your decision.

The Goldilocks Zone

If you’re someone who wants to get ahead fast by taking on major challenges at your first job, but you don’t want to take on the risk or hassle of working for a startup, finding a company that’s smack dab in the Goldilocks Zone could be a smart career move.

It’s not just about first jobs, either. Even internships for companies outside the zone can pose challenges, too. If your goal is to not only get experience but also secure a job after graduation, then a midsize company could be your best bet.

Want to work in the Goldilocks Zone? Click here to learn more about opportunities at CohnReznick on WayUp

The post 3 Things You Need To Think About When Deciding If A Company Is The Right Fit (And Size!) For You appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Kalyn Yang  for Student Stories. 

According to beanactuary.org, an actuary is “part super-hero, part fortune-teller, part trusted advisor.” But really, professionals in this top-ranked job use their high analytical skills to manage risks and organize plans to prevent losses.

I started looking into this profession in my sophomore year of college and successfully found an actuarial internship in my junior year summer. After working in San Francisco like a big girl for 3 months, I received a return offer and will be working full-time at the same company fresh off graduation!

The Search

When it comes to looking for an internship, utilize the job-searching service provided by your university! I applied directly through the Career Center at UC Berkeley, and proceeded with on-campus and then on-site interviews.

Sell your forte

In order to stay competitive, remember that a strength is not really a strength if EVERYBODY has it. While maintaining a decent GAP and pursuing a degree in Math and Economics may put me in the “smart” category in general, it really doesn’t say too much in the actuarial field because that’s pretty much how everybody is. Since math majors aren’t usually the most social people, I emphasized during my interview the fact that I’m a people person and great at communication. I also set a foot forward by passing two actuarial exams by the time I interviewed, which really showed my interest and ability to become an actuary.

Stay relevant

Do your research and know the key qualities desired by the position. I made sure to emphasize my abilities to interpret complex data into everyday languages, since that’s what’s valued the most at an actuarial consulting firm. While it’s cool to be a certified skydiver, would that skill be useful in this job? (Although do mention it if you really are a certified skydiver though, it makes you look so awesome).

Be yourself

As cliché as it sounds, put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and think what qualities would you want to see in a potential intern. It all comes down to whether they would want to work with you as a person. So are you likable?

Hard at Work

Do your best. During the internship, grasp every opportunity to grow. I took every project seriously and made sure I understood why things were done the way they were. On one hand you leave your colleagues with a good impression, but more importantly remember you are here to learn. Since actuarial work is highly technical, I always double-checked my work before submitting it to my supervisor for review.

Ask questions, but only the good ones. While my supervisor always told me to ask lots of questions, I never went up to her asking about an Excel formula—that’s something I could search online! Instead, I only brought up concepts-related questions and always put my thoughts into it first. During my internship evaluation, my supervisor said she was impressed by my critical thinking skills because I always had good questions.

Show that you are independent as well as a team player. These two do not contradict and are equally important. Since I interned at a client-facing consulting firm, I worked on many teams with different colleagues. While I demonstrated that I could work on my own, I also made sure that communication ran smoothly by always keeping people in the loop. Again, put yourself in others’ shoes and think how would you like to see the work you are about to hand to your co-worker.

Reflections

Write down what skills you’ve gained and the projects you’ve worked on. Make a concrete list and update your resume and LinkedIn profile! It’s too easy to forget the specific things you’ve learned so do it quickly (which I learned the hard way)!

Keep your options open. Know that this internship, whether it leads to a full-time offer or not, does not necessarily define your career path. Even though I’ll be returning to the same company after graduation, it doesn’t mean I will be set for life. Actuaries can work in multiple industries wherever financial decisions and risks are present. I know the experience and skills I’ve gained during my internship can be brought up again and again in the future.

Did you like what you did? I’m a total math person so I really liked problem solving and dealing with data. Actuaries are the backbone of financial security and I love making that difference. Ask yourself if you liked your experience. It’s never too late to pursue something you love—that’s what internships are for!

The bottom line

Don’t limit yourself! As an undergrad, intern in different fields during summers as well as the semesters. I didn’t quite do that but I wish I did. I have friends who have always wanted to go into banking but discovered their sales talent during internships and proceeded to work in sales after graduation; another friend studied geography in college but found himself to be a natural scout for talent after a couple HR internships thus became a full-time recruiter. Try different things; college is an exciting time to do that. You might surprise yourself! That being said, make friends across different industries and keep in touch with people. Don’t ever underestimate the power of networking!

About the Author: 
My name is Kalyn Yang and I’m a graduating senior at UC Berkeley double majoring in Applied Math and Economics. I’m currently working on becoming a certified actuary woohoo! I love traveling, playing the piano, and salsa dancing! I take my time to make delicious food and would always appreciate a good book. I believe that attitude determines altitude, and that living the moment fosters happiness. Find me on LinkedIn.

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