Stark Reality - Special Edition

Stark Reality – Special Edition for National Intern Day

In @Mark Maitland’s latest “On the Mark”, he reflected on his advice to a group of summer interns about the importance of relationships. In my recent trip to Sacramento, I also had an opportunity to interact with our summer interns.?In our Q&A session, the last question asked to me and six of our government partners and managing directors was “What has been a key factor to success in your career?”

On this National Intern Day, I thought it would be fun to share our responses. So, here are the top ten success factors that we shared, starting with Mark’s:

1.??????Relationships matter. Mark’s advice: “Waste no time in starting to grow your networks and relationships. The first people you meet during your time at KPMG may be those who see you through to lasting relationships years down the road, and some of your colleagues will turn into friends providing immeasurable value to your career.” Relationships within your organization and outside of your organization are equally important. You never know when your paths will cross again, and your client peers will grow in their careers as you grow in yours – maintaining that connection creates a valuable link for both of you.

2.??????Always have a thirst for learning. We often hear the idea that every day brings a new opportunity to learn, and it is just that – an opportunity. So, wake up every day expecting to learn something new and share that new knowledge with your team and your clients.

3.??????Be responsive to your client and your team. Yes, we all appreciate responsiveness and expect it in return. This doesn’t mean within minutes or even hours but set the expectation if you aren’t able to respond in a typical or reasonable timeframe. Use your out-of-office messaging or a quick reply to let the requestor know when you will be able to respond and providing an update if you won’t make that self-declared ‘deadline’.

4.??????Be professional in all that you do. I used to think “professional” meant how you dress, but that’s only part of it. How you act and interact with others, demonstrating your core values and being respectful of others are all important facets of professionalism. ?Sometimes our faces show our true feelings, or we are too quick to dismiss other’s ideas. Self-awareness is key to being professional and always think before you act.

5.??????Don’t try to do everything. Most people in professional services are Type A and like to have a “full plate” or don’t mind “doing things off the corner of their desk.” ?Don’t be a Jack of all Trades and Master of None.?It’s ok to say no (thank you) sometimes. Always prioritize and don’t be afraid to ask for help or even help with prioritizing. And remember, the more you take on the harder it is to achieve number 3.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

6.??????Use your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This might be my favorite response from my peers. I think because this is what makes the job fun in my view. This is a skill you get to use every day if you’re lucky and when you solve that problem or find alternative solutions you get what we call “job satisfaction.” It’s rewarding to know that you are driving results and having an impact. That makes the hard work worthwhile and it’s what we call purpose.

7.??????Serve your client and your team, not yourself. The only time it’s about “you” is when you’re up for that big promotion and even then, it’s about “what did YOU contribute to the team.” I remember learning this one very early in my career through observation. When you are part of a team and serving a client, you are working toward meeting the team’s and the client’s objectives. You know… there is no I in TEAM and the customer [client] always comes first.

8.??????Control your own career. This is the hardest one for many, especially at the start of your career.?This doesn’t mean you need to control every step or know where you’ll end or that your career path will be a straight line. In my own career, the steps that I controlled were both small and large – I knew that I wanted to be a manager someday, to move to NYC, to re-focus my career to consulting.?Some of these I got to on my own, all had challenges along the way, and every step was planned just not “how” I planned it.?You can always be your own advocate.?Never be afraid to voice your career aspirations and always be willing to put in the effort to reach your goal.

9.??????Be a student of the firm and a student of the client. This is the most tried and true approach because our capabilities are constantly expanding, and our client’s needs are constantly changing.

10.??Never give up – there will always be challenges. No explanation needed!

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of KPMG LLP.