Have you ever shadowed someone before?

If you haven't, you should definitely give it a try. I recently got accepted into this program, the Financial Executive Experience, that gave me the opportunity to shadow a financial executive for the day. It was such an interesting and exciting experience. It was cool to have a chance to see what I could potentially be doing in my career field. If you're wondering what I did on that day, I basically spoke to every department in a corporation from the marketing people to the HR people and finally, my personal favorite, the finance and accounting people. It was nice to see all the people it takes to keep a corporation up and thriving. I wanted to write about this experience to not only shine light on this amazing program but to highlight the five things i learned from my experience. If you're interested in applying for this program, I will definitely leave all the information down below.

Here we are chatting with the marketing team

Here are the Five Things I learned

It's not anything you would expect - If you have preconceived notion about what you think being in the corporate world looks like. I would advise you to erase that notion from your mind. It's nothing like you see in the movies or the TV shows. It's more toned down, friendly, and cohesive. Don't be too nervous about stepping into the real world work space because its not as scary and frighting as some people might have you believe.
Don't expect to stay in one area of expertise all your work life - It's not surprising to know that people make career shifts/changes all the time. If you're worried that you picked the wrong major or you feel like you might want to change in the future. You can always change and you're employer will be glad to help you do that.
Mentor ship is very important - I met so many amazing and inspirational professionals at Overhead Door Corporation that I know I will stay in touch with for a very long time. They were so helpful and honest about what they're work is like and how to be successful at what you do. I truly gained more than insightful information that day. If you don't have a mentor, reach out to someone or see if you could join a program that can set you up with a professional in your field. It is very helpful. Trust me!
Know your stuff - I would advise you to read up or be more knowledgeable about your field before deciding to shadow someone. It's important to have at least a little bit of knowledge because more than likely they will ask you questions pertaining to your field. I was asked questions like " what field are you interested in?", "what's an accounts payable?" and so many more. It was nice to see the look on their faces when they saw that I knew what I was talking about and that I was serious about this field. It was also nice to hear the same stuff I study in class in a real world scenario. It's nice to know that the stuff i'm studying I will actually use.
Take a risk - I would have never gotten this opportunity, If I didn't take a risk. It's important to always apply even if you think that your unqualified. I can personally attest that GPA isn't everything. If a company/ recruiter sees the passion you have for what you do and your willingness to work hard, they will give you a chance. You won't regret taking a leap of faith and putting yourself out there.

Here we are chatting with the finance and accounting executives

I'm very thankful and grateful that I was chosen to be a part of the Financial Executive Experience. It gave me more insight and encouraged me to keep pushing forward. I was able to meet so many amazing professionals and students that are interested in the same things as I am. I would definitely recommend applying and taking a shot because you never know what will happen. I will leave all the information about the program down below.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What are you studying?

Financial Executive Experience

The Financial Executive Experience has been held annually in the spring for the last 8 years by the Dallas Chapter of the Financial Executives international. The program is available for students at UNT, UTD, and SMU. It will be best to find the application through your school website or campus. If you're not in the Dallas area, I would suggest contacting your counselors/ teachers to see if they're is a similar program offered in your area.

Here's the FEI Dallas Chapter's Website

http://www.financialexecutives.org/Dallas%20

My Financial Executive Experience In Dallas, Texas