Xu Zhang
WPC 301
Professor Phil Drake
6 September 2017
“What is your career goal?” is one of the questions asked in every interview which you
must know the answer. When I first asked about this question, I was really confused about what
answer the hiring manager wants to get. After researching online and exploring this question, the
key is to make sure your career goals lines up with what you would be doing in the company. I
choose accounting as my major is because it offers a wide variety of career paths. It is like the
key and foundation of business jobs. It is more of a communicating language to connect different
departments in the business world.
The first step is to figure out what you want to achieve from you career because it is
important to get satisfaction from jobs and progress fast. I want stability working environment in
my future job because I am a mom with two kids. It is important for me to find a balance
between work and life. At the same time, I also expect challenging, meaningful work,
professional growth, solid network expansion in an accounting practice as a professional.
Specifically, I think first I will find a job related to auditing or tax service practice as a public
accountant. In the audit service practice, the experience of working with private and public
companies can give me a deep understanding of business fundamentals and lead to great
opportunities for personal growth. In the tax service practice, I can gain knowledge of the tax
code. When considering tax issues, creative thinking, industry experience and technical insight
are required. All of these characters will benefit my future career and professional growth.
My Career Goals
Meanwhile, because I have a strong background in engineering, getting an accounting job in
engineering industry is an exciting prospect.
The second step is to identify the requirements of the jobs you would like. As a junior
accounting student, first, I need to finish all my accounting coursework and apply to a master’s
program. I also want to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam after I finish all the
required professional accounting courses. As a pre-engineering student, I know that modern
industry will become increasingly automated and integrated. In addition to basic accounting
principles, knowledge of big data analytics will be very important for future accountants.
Therefore, a master’s program that combines data analytics and accounting will be my target
after I finish my bachelor’s degree.
The third and final step is to explore the future of your career. One basic question is
“where do you see yourself in five or ten years from now”. For me, the answer is that I hope to
start my own business with my husband after ten years. My accounting experience and
knowledge will help us manage and run a business. Before that, as my career progresses,
professional mobility can play a significant role in my advancement. To gain a promotion, I will
need to do additional works, take on extra projects, develop relationships with others, and
constantly expand my skills. I could see myself being a manager or a great leader in an
organization, which may need many years of commitment to a company.
In conclusion, there are various general areas in which an accounting graduate can choose
to work such as private, public, governmental, and non-profit organizations. It is important to set
a clear career goal before starting the study in accounting field. I would like to find an
opportunity to combine my engineering background with accounting. I am also interested on data
analytics, which is a required skill for future CPAs. In short-term, I want to take the CPA exam
