Sociology "What Will Most Greatly Affect Your

¶ … Sociology "What will most greatly affect your academic and career future and how can you ensure success?" I am an accounting major. While like all students I worry about getting a job after graduation, the profession of accounting is an in-demand profession, despite the difficulties of the current economy. I foresee myself working as a manager for a construction company or other small firm after graduating. I am happy that I will graduate with a major that will give me concrete skills and thus better job prospects.

According to The New York Times, of all college majors, humanities majors are the least likely to find jobs upon graduation (Rampell 2011). In contrast, "employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 22% between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations" (Accountants and auditors, 2011, BLS). Thus, picking a major that is well-suited to the needs of the job market cannot be underestimated in preparing one's self for future success. There is only so much one student can change about the economy.

The student must find a major that aligns with current economic needs, even while it should also be well-suited to his or her natural inclinations, skill sets, and abilities. Ideally, the best undergraduate program will teach a student to 'learn how to learn' -- in other words, give him or her broad-based critical thinking skills, while also prepare him or her for the specifics of a useful profession.

It is hard to predict how the working world will shape and evolve over the next ten or twenty years, so one's college education cannot be too narrow -- but on the other hand, a college graduate today must come 'prepared to work' with practical skills. I believe my education will make me both a better person and a better accountant. Broad-based skills and abilities are essential.

For example, as an accountant or someone working in finance, I still need strong interpersonal skills as well as a strong financial skills set. Dealing with people as a manger means responding to their needs and fixing problems. Accountants must be quick thinkers and keep abreast of changes in their industry and be able to alert the people they work for about how these changes can and will affect the organization's success.

Interpersonal communication is necessary to get the necessary information to make financial calculations and also to communicate the findings to laypeople in a coherent fashion. Taking a sociology course made me more mindful of how I interact with others, and how people interact with me. Although accountants might not be considered 'people persons,' the truth is that everyone interacts with people in their employment, in some manner.

By nature, accountants must be methodical and look at 'the facts.' Of course, many people don't like 'the facts,' particularly the financial facts, and would prefer to have a different result. One of the things I like about accounting is its black and white aspect (provided, of course, someone is an ethical accountant!). Accountants must also be good researchers and try to get to the bottom of apparently complex problems. The research skills I honed in this course will thus be useful in my future, chosen profession.

Succeeding in school is important, given that accountants and.