By Joseph Mah.
Starting a new job can be rough, but from day one at Walsh King, I knew I was in good hands.
My first three months were about adjusting to the new environment and getting to know my colleagues. It was a lot easier than I expected, thanks to the firm’s welcoming approach. Before I started, Walsh King had invited me to dinners and other outings so I could mingle with my future team.
In my first few days at work, staff members walked me through the process of preparing files, including a financial statement and a corporate tax return. This gave me valuable insight into how Walsh King handles such tasks from start to finish. Although it’s challenging to adapt to a new set of procedures, there was plenty of support.
Soon after that, the entire team headed to Whistler for the firm’s annual retreat, where we spent the mornings and early afternoons at staff-led presentations and discussions. The talks were open-ended, so everyone had a chance to make their opinions heard. While in Whistler, we also went ziplining together—a great way for the team to bond.
Back from the retreat, the articling students began working on our first module, Core 1. Key lesson: balancing assignments and spending time with friends or family is crucial to keeping stress levels down. In Core 1, I also discovered what study strategies and schedules work best for me so I can complete work on time.
Besides the modules, Walsh King offered so many other learning opportunities. I went on my first audit, worked on corporate tax returns and prepared files for a variety of clients. My advice to other articling students during their first few months: be curious. There’s always something happening that you haven’t seen before, and the best way to learn is to ask questions!
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