Last week, the Maine Business School hosted Industry Exploration Night: Accounting, which welcomed nine accounting firms to the Buchanan Alumni House. It was an evening of networking for MBS students interested in learning more about public accounting.
conversation and connection
The event began with a panel discussion led by Laura Everett, Managing Partner at (ARB), the event’s presenting sponsor. Students heard from employer representatives, gaining insight into their future careers. Following the panel, employers and students enjoyed an outdoor networking hour with food and beverages sponsored by
“At ARB, we believe we have a responsibility to help develop the next generation of accounting professionals—not just recruit them,” Everett says. “Events like this give students an opportunity to explore career paths, ask honest questions, and build confidence in networking with professionals before they begin interviewing.”
Along with ARB and Otis Atwell, students met with representatives and 91 alumni from Baker Newman Noyes, BerryDunn, Freeman & Company, One River CPAs, Ouellette & Associates, Runyon Kersteen Ouellette (RKO), and Wipfli.
“The most interesting part of the event was having direct, informal conversations with professionals,” says Brandon Mastrianno, a junior from Augusta, Maine. “Being able to ask specific questions and hear honest answers made the experience feel much more personal than simply researching companies online.”
Connecting beyond the résumé
This annual event takes place each September and gives accounting firms an opportunity to share why public accounting is a rewarding career path.
“For us, it’s an opportunity to share what makes public accounting such a rewarding career,” Everett says. “Students often hear about busy season, but they don’t always hear about the variety of work, the relationships you build with clients, the opportunities for growth, or the impact you can have on businesses and communities.”
Having access to a captive audience of students getting ready to enter the workforce is also important to Otis Atwell.
“With job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of resumes,” says Craig Blackwell, ‘16, G’22, Audit Supervisor at Otis Atwell. “These events are where we can meet prospects face to face, giving students another opportunity to showcase who they are off paper.”
What should students look for in an employer?
Industry Exploration Night also gave students an opportunity to learn what to consider when applying for internships and entry-level positions.
“While compensation and benefits are important, I encourage students to look beyond the starting salary,” Everett says. “Your first employer will have a tremendous influence on your professional development, so focus on finding a firm that is committed to investing in you.” She encourages students to ask questions about the firm’s culture, the quality of mentorship, the variety of experiences they’ll receive, the training available, and how quickly they’ll have opportunities to work directly with clients and take on meaningful responsibility.
Blackwell also encouraged students not to be discouraged if they don’t feel they meet every qualification for a position.
“You don’t need to know everything,” he says. “The majority of hiring managers aren’t looking for someone who already knows all aspects of the job; they’re more interested in someone who has demonstrated they are teachable and can learn. Focus on being personable, teachable, and communicative. The rest will follow.”
Story by Regan Lawn
