Work happy hours and CPA studying?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #1588790
    SchruteBeet
    Participant

    I’m just curious to know – for those of us who work full-time and study, do you/how often do you go to company social events and happy hours? I am in a dilemma because M-Thu I am traveling to a client and I try to use my Fridays to stay at home to work/study but most of the Fridays in my firm comprise of staff meetings, work socials and happy hours so I feel compelled to go on Fridays for the office meetings and skip social hours so that I can get some visibility. However, I don’t go to very many to stay in and study but all the associates my age (those who are done with the CPA as well as those who are still studying) go to all these socials and so I think I’ve gained the reputation as the associate who’s boring and never goes anywhere. There have been multiple occasions where my coworkers have been sarcastic about how I am never at any company events. I feel like this is hurting my reputation in the firm. It seems socializing plays a huge role in gaining some rep at big accounting firms. Has anyone been in a similar situation before or have some advice?

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 83
    REG - 78
    Ethics - 97

    "If it were easy, everyone would do it."

    "Hard work, perseverance, faith, blessings."

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • #1588817
    Radez
    Participant

    If the socials are during business hours, I think there's a strong argument for attending. Other than that, is it your peers giving you the feedback that you need to hang out more, or your managers? What are the firms values? Without knowing about your particular work culture, I would just caution against feeling pressured by people at your level, with similar experience and authority, in such a way that it negatively impacts your ability to be productive either with studying for the CPA (which is a temporary situation) or for your client.

    AUD - 98
    BEC - 93
    REG - 84
    FAR - 91
    #1588887
    SchruteBeet
    Participant

    @Radez the happy hours and social events are almost always after 5 pm which is why I'm so hesitant to go. I don't know how some coworkers at my level study. None of the managers have told me that but as a general rule all project managers encourage us to attend all events. Most people in our dept go to these events so I def feel like I'm missing out on networking but I don't know if it's a good idea to go to these events even if it's just 2 hours at the stake of my cap study.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 83
    REG - 78
    Ethics - 97

    "If it were easy, everyone would do it."

    "Hard work, perseverance, faith, blessings."

    #1588890
    SchruteBeet
    Participant

    @Radez the happy hours and social events are almost always after 5 pm which is why I'm so hesitant to go. I don't know how some coworkers at my level study. None of the managers have told me that but as a general rule all project managers encourage us to attend all events. Most people in our dept go to these events so I def feel like I'm missing out on networking but I don't know if it's a good idea to go to these events even if it's just 2 hours at the stake of my cpa study.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 83
    REG - 78
    Ethics - 97

    "If it were easy, everyone would do it."

    "Hard work, perseverance, faith, blessings."

    #1588914
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I don't know how your schedule/lifestyle is but I'm speaking from a single person with no kids and was living with parents.

    I always knew to give myself one day off every week so I don't burn out before exam time. I never used that day off on a weekend because that's a lot of free time wasted IMO. Even if I had a social event on a weekend, I would squeeze in study hours whenever possible. I would use a weekday as my day off so maybe that's what you could use your Fridays for.

    Just a suggestion.

    #1589051
    IwannabeaCPA2017
    Participant

    I am somewhat new to my job and still studying. Others have also encourage me to go to company events and I do try to attend all of them but I always leave early. Let say it should be 4 hours I usually stay half way. It is def good to get exposure and network with your team or people u work with but never work directly with. I realize public accounting is all about network that is how we get work from other people. We tend to delegate jobs to people we know. The business culture is becoming more who we know and not what we know. Not saying it is all true but I do have several friends who have passed but can't find a job and partly because no prior internship etc.

    Hence, it is important to network as much as passing these exams. We all have busy schedule but it is all about the effort we make to make things work. I highly encourage going to any events there are but you could just show up for half an hour even and head back and hit the books! Good luck.

    BEC- PASS (Expiring in DEC 2017)

    REG- PASS (Expiring Feb 2018)

    AUD- PASS (Expiring Oct 2018)

    FAR- 65, 60, 59, 77!!! -GOD BLESS

    If I can do it, anyone can do it!

     

    #1589075
    Meg267
    Participant

    I'm in private, and it seems like my team and/or department is always having happy hours. I had to tell my boss this week that I couldn't go because I needed to go home after work and study. I think he's getting tired of me not coming, because he's asked me if I enjoy going out for drinks with coworkers. I've tried to explain to him that studying is taking up a lot of my time. But as someone who doesn't have their CPA, I don't think he understands.

    I've got coworkers that ask me to go to lunch or out after works as well. I only go once and a while. Not very often. And the ones I do go to are the ones that have been on my calendar for a week or more so that I can rearrange my studying to compensate for that time to relax.

    Maybe go to every other event? or like another poster said, go for a little while and then excuse yourself early to get to studying.

    With FAR coming up in a month, I'm declining everything! I want to be done with this exam. Once I'm done, then I'll be the one asking others to do stuff 🙂

    BEC - 57, 68, 78
    REG - 62, 82
    AUD - 61, 76
    FAR - 79

    Licensed.
    No one ever fails the CPA exam, there are only those who give up.

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