Industry & Insights - Nick Ferguson from Baker Tilly

Industry and Insight with the Walsh College Community
21 Mar 202413:47

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging conversation, Eric Van Djk interviews Nick Ferguson from Baker Tilly, a top 10 accounting firm with a strong presence in Michigan. They discuss Baker Tilly's unique approach to accounting and consulting services, as well as their on-campus recruitment efforts at Walsh College. Eric, a Walsh alumnus and current master's student, shares his positive experiences at the college and the opportunities it provided. He emphasizes the importance of networking and relationship-building early in one's career. Nick highlights the qualities Baker Tilly seeks in new recruits, such as engagement and adaptability, and reflects on the social aspects of the accounting industry that foster lasting connections.

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Q & A

  • What is Baker Tilly's position in the accounting industry?

    -Baker Tilly is a top 10 accounting firm, particularly strong in Michigan, offering traditional accounting services as well as consulting and business advisory services.

  • What services does Baker Tilly offer besides traditional accounting?

    -Besides traditional accounting services, Baker Tilly also offers consulting, business advisory services, and takes pride in being different from other accounting firms.

  • Why is Baker Tilly on campus at Walsh College?

    -Baker Tilly is on campus at Walsh College for recruitment purposes, aiming to meet students and connect with them through career services to find potential future employees.

  • How has Walsh College impacted Eric Van Djk's career?

    -Walsh College has had a significant impact on Eric Van Djk's career by providing experiences and opportunities that carried him through the past eight years in his profession.

  • What advice does Eric have for students looking to enter the professional industry?

    -Eric advises students to focus on building relationships and networking, attending events, and utilizing the resources available to understand the industry and gauge their interests and abilities early on in their careers.

  • What qualities does Baker Tilly look for in new student interns or entry-level hires?

    -Baker Tilly looks for engaged individuals who are proactive in following up on opportunities and flexible in connecting with the employer. They also value those who have goals aligned with the firm's objectives and a willingness to learn and grow.

  • What is Eric's favorite aspect of working in the accounting industry?

    -Eric's favorite aspect of working in the accounting industry is the social opportunity it provides to connect with people, help clients, and assist staff or interns in growing and learning.

  • How has the accounting industry changed since Eric started his career?

    -The accounting industry has become more relationship-based and less about individuals working in isolation. There's a greater emphasis on teamwork and lasting connections.

  • What was the turning point in Eric's career that he attributes to his time at Walsh College?

    -The turning point in Eric's career was the opportunities and experiences he had at Walsh College, which he leans back on and credits for carrying him through his eight years in the profession.

  • How does Eric describe the work environment at Baker Tilly?

    -Eric describes the work environment at Baker Tilly as very social, with opportunities to connect with people, help clients, and assist in the growth and learning of staff and interns, rather than being a solitary experience.

  • What is the main takeaway from Eric's advice for students?

    -The main takeaway from Eric's advice is the importance of building relationships, networking, and utilizing available resources early in one's career to understand the industry and one's own interests and abilities.

Outlines

00:00

🀝 Introductions and Baker Tilly's Presence

The paragraph introduces Eric Van Djk and Nick Ferguson, who are present at Walsh College for a recruitment event. Eric, a Walsh alumnus, is now with Baker Tilly, a top 10 accounting firm with a strong presence in Michigan. They discuss the firm's traditional services, consulting, and business advisory roles. Nick emphasizes Baker Tilly's difference from other accounting firms and their pride in offering diverse services. The purpose of their visit is to recruit students and connect with career services to offer opportunities for students.

05:00

πŸŽ“ Eric's Experience as a Walsh Student

Eric reflects on his time at Walsh College, highlighting the impact it had on his career over the past eight years. He mentions the importance of the opportunities and experiences provided by Walsh, which he considers a turning point in his professional journey. Eric also discusses the value of the relationships he built during his time as a student, the pride he feels in his undergraduate achievements, and the ongoing relevance of his Walsh experiences.

10:01

πŸ’Ό Career Advice and Qualities Sought

The conversation shifts to career advice, with Eric sharing his insights on what he would suggest to students new to the professional world. He emphasizes the importance of networking and building relationships, as these connections can lead to job opportunities. Eric also discusses the qualities that Baker Tilly looks for in new recruits, such as engagement and a willingness to learn and grow. He stresses that these attributes are crucial for success in the firm and the accounting industry as a whole.

🌟 The Joy of Relationships in Accounting

Eric shares his favorite aspect of working in the accounting industry, which is the relationships he has built over the years. He explains that while the technical work, such as tax returns and financial statements, is important, it's the social aspect and the chance to help clients and colleagues that truly drives him. Eric highlights that the industry has evolved to become more relationship-focused, and he encourages students to understand the value of these connections in their future careers.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Accounting firm

An accounting firm is a business that provides accounting, financial, and tax-related services to its clients. In the context of the video, Baker Tilly is described as a top 10 accounting firm, emphasizing their status and the range of traditional and consulting services they offer.

πŸ’‘Recruiting

Recruiting refers to the process of attracting, identifying, and hiring suitable candidates for a company. In the video, Baker Tilly is on campus for recruiting purposes, aiming to meet students and connect with them to fill positions for the next year.

πŸ’‘Career services

Career services are programs and resources provided by educational institutions or organizations to assist individuals in their career development, job search, and professional growth. In the video, career services at Walsh College are mentioned as a partner in connecting students with Baker Tilly for potential employment opportunities.

πŸ’‘Networking

Networking refers to the act of building and maintaining professional relationships, which can lead to career opportunities, advice, and support. In the video, the importance of networking is emphasized as a key strategy for students to make connections in the professional world.

πŸ’‘Professional growth

Professional growth encompasses the development of skills, knowledge, and experience that contribute to an individual's career advancement. The video discusses how students can leverage their time at Walsh College to foster professional growth through networking, internships, and engagement with career services.

πŸ’‘Accounting profession

The accounting profession involves the practice of accounting, which includes the analysis, preparation, and communication of financial information. It is a field that requires specialized knowledge and skills, and in the video, it is portrayed as a dynamic area with opportunities for relationship-building and diverse experiences.

πŸ’‘Walsh College

Walsh College is an educational institution that offers various programs, including a master's program. In the video, it is portrayed as a place that provides students with opportunities for professional networking, career development, and academic achievement.

πŸ’‘Student experience

Student experience refers to the overall journey and development of a student during their time at an educational institution. It encompasses academic, social, and personal growth. In the video, Eric shares his positive student experience at Walsh College, highlighting the impact it had on his career.

πŸ’‘Engagement

Engagement, in a professional context, refers to the level of enthusiasm, interest, and active participation an individual shows towards their work or opportunities. In the video, engagement is highlighted as a critical quality that Baker Tilly looks for in potential hires.

πŸ’‘Career fairs

Career fairs are events where employers meet with job seekers, often students or recent graduates, to discuss potential employment opportunities. In the video, career fairs are recommended as a valuable resource for students to connect with companies like Baker Tilly and learn more about the industry.

πŸ’‘Relationship building

Relationship building is the process of establishing and nurturing connections with others, which can lead to mutual benefits and opportunities. In the video, it is presented as a significant aspect of the accounting industry, where personal relationships play a crucial role in career development and client interactions.

Highlights

Eric Van Djk and Nick Ferguson discuss Baker Tilly's presence at Walsh College for on-campus recruiting.

Baker Tilly is a top 10 accounting firm with a strong presence in Michigan, offering traditional services as well as consulting and business advisory.

Baker Tilly prides itself on being different from other accounting firms by doing a variety of work and maintaining close relationships with clients.

The purpose of the visit is to recruit students for positions starting next year and to connect directly with them.

Eric shares his experience as a Walsh student and alumnus, emphasizing the impact of the opportunities provided by the college.

Walsh College offers a supportive environment where students are not competing against each other but are encouraged to succeed.

Eric suggests that students should focus on building relationships and networking as these connections can lead to job opportunities.

Engagement is a key quality that Baker Tilly looks for in new recruits, as it indicates a proactive attitude and willingness to connect.

Baker Tilly values candidates who are open to learning and growing within the firm.

Eric's favorite aspect of the accounting industry is the social opportunity it provides to connect with people and build lasting relationships.

Accounting is not just about the numbers but also about the people you work with and the experiences you share.

Baker Tilly and Walsh College have a long-standing partnership, and the firm is eager to continue engaging with students.

Students are encouraged to attend career fairs to understand the opportunities available and to gauge their interests.

The accounting industry has evolved to become more relationship-based, requiring professionals to understand and work with different personalities.

Eric emphasizes the importance of early career networking, as it can lead to long-term professional connections.

Baker Tilly seeks individuals who are not only knowledgeable but also engaged and willing to contribute to the firm's culture.

The accounting profession offers a variety of experiences and opportunities for growth, contrary to the common perception of a solitary job.

Eric shares his journey from being a student to a current master's program participant at Walsh, highlighting the continuous learning aspect.

The importance of taking advantage of the opportunities provided by educational institutions to kickstart a successful career is emphasized.

Transcripts

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hi everyone my name is Eric Van djk here

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at Walsh College I am joined here today

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with Nick Ferguson over at Baker Tilly

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Nick thank you so much for being here

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thanks for having me you bet you bet so

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can you tell us and tell our audience a

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little bit about Baker Tilly as a whole

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yeah so we're a top 10 accounting firm

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um really heavy here in Michigan um the

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traditional services that you think of

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but also a lot of Consulting a lot of

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you know business advisory stuff so we

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really pride ourselves in that of being

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a little different than other accounting

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firms um but but do a lot of different

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things and and work a lot closely with

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Walsh awesome awesome and uh why are you

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guys here on campus today what brings

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you in the door so we did on campus

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recruiting okay um trying to meet

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students and working with some of the

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career services folks to connect

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directly with students and and things of

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that nature you know we're recruiting

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you know it's a busy busy time of year

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for us right we're we're recruiting for

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next year though but um that was our

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goal today was to you know really

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recruit meet students um you know that's

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how I came out I'm a wal Shalom that's

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how I came out here right you know doing

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the same things that I used to do so um

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so yeah really just a chance to connect

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with students tell them a little more

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about Baker Tilly give them a chance to

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really learn more about us I mean

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there's a lot of options out there right

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sure um for careers and and paths right

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so um doing a lot of things of that

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nature awesome awesome well thank you

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guys we appreciate you being here um you

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mentioned you're a wall Shalom and also

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a current student I am heard in our

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master's program so that's awesome um as

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a Walsh student in Alum can you can you

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talk a little bit about your experience

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as a student here and kind of what

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that's meant to you yeah I mean I you

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know we just all of a sudden you look

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back and you're like okay it's been 78

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years since I

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graduated um you know you look back at

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the things that made a difference right

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you know Walsh is a big thing for me you

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know we've met before we we see each

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other at stuff and I'm like I bring it

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up all the time you know opportunities

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here that um carried me the past eight

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years in being in the profession that I

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look back on and it's like wow that was

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a change that was a turning point right

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there were there were experiences here

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opportunities that were provided that I

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really lean back on um and I look at

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that as caring me through that

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profession right the past eight years

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even now as a current you know I take a

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lot of pride in the undergrad that was

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that was the big achievement to get into

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it you know kind of what you need to do

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first The Graduate degrees you know on

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the side not as I'm not as intense into

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it um don't tell any of our our

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professors that right um but you know I

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look back on that on fondly and look at

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the things that you know the people I

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got to meet the sure the events that

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Walsh sponsored and you know when I was

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a student and I think it still is this

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case it was hey we have this opportunity

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you know you weren't competing

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necessarily to go to it right it wasn't

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an exclusive thing it was we want you to

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succeed we want to connect you here's

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your chance do you want to take it um so

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I look back on that really fondly of hey

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it was a great great Kickstart to the

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career um and great great things came

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from it that's great that's what we love

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to hear yeah um what would you suggest

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so just to kind of change gears here

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what would you suggest to a student you

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know who's either fresh out of school or

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or trying to get into the profession of

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of maybe something or some things they

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could focus on early on in their career

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that helped you or

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that yeah I would say you know looking

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back now um we've you know everything's

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changed right in some way but then at

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some point you kind of step back and you

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say some things never change right sure

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so you know as a student now yeah you

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know there's all these different you

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know we're in when I was a student there

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wasn't a podcast facility I don't know

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you know Studio facook yeah exactly it

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was a bookstore right and and so you

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know these all these things are changing

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right but at the same time there's some

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things that never change you know like I

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said when I was a when I was a undergrad

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student you know you took the

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opportunities to network and meet people

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right relationships carry um you know I

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got connected at Baker Tilly through a

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relationship from recruiting years ago

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um and it got rekindled I think there's

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things that you know everybody's looking

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to do something different and try

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something new and do all these things

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which is great

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but when you go back to it there's

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things that never change right yeah

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there's things that um you know if

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you're a student you

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know you know putting in the time to

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meet to meet people in the profession

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right putting in the time to go to

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things and and kind of get that

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connectivity that's always going to be

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there because our whole you know our

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industry our business in business

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professional industry all these things

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they're carried by those relationships

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so you know when you step back and look

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at it yeah I graduated at a time we were

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here 6: to 10 you know Monday Tuesday

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Wednesday Thursday depending on the

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class right sure I think at my time at

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Walsh I had one class that wasn't from

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6:00 to

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10: well that's a little different now

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right yeah but what's not different is

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you know your connection with the

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professor might get you a job right

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right you know if you can connect with

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the student you know another student

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you'll run into them down the road you

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guys hear you know the the folks you

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know managing the career services you

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know those are all people that you know

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if you spend the time and get to know

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them I think those things carry you

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right um and I think that's something

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that you know I don't want to say is

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lost now but you know everybody wants to

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be a podcast host and I I I have high

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hopes for you Eric but uh um I know I'm

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not going to be a podcaster right right

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I'll join a few when you guys want me to

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but sure but you know you step back re

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and uh there's these you know there's

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these things though but doing this stuff

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right I mean coming on and talking to

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you and and those things build

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relationships and I would say any

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student you know from from two

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perspectives one to build the

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relationships and and hopefully find an

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opportunity but also to find what you're

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not interested in right you look back at

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that and you'll meet somebody that

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you're like oh I don't ever want to work

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for that person not in a bad way not you

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know sometimes in a bad way but but

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because you don't you don't click with

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them but sometimes in a way that no I'm

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just not going to be good in that

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setting so why would I put myself

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through that versus doing it blindly and

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then having to live through it right

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yeah so those are all chances for

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students to really gauge their abilities

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early on without being at a job per se

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and gauge their opportunities right yeah

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I think that's what I would say is the

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biggest thing I would encourage because

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looking back that paid a lot of that set

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up a lot of pass right and a lot of

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things to think about and kind of hone

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in on what I was really interested in

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build your sounds a lot like building

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your network right TR to make you get

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those folks in order and and utilizing

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the the resources that are available to

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you and especially right at such a early

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time in in a

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career to to build that and understand

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what's out there right yeah it's great

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later on too there's other reasons to do

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it things like that but early on to

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really understand everything I don't

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think you know when I my first day at

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Walsh I didn't have a clue you know and

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I say say that in a in a in a way to you

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know I didn't have a clue what was out

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there fully I kind of maybe a little bit

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I had a direction right yeah but I

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didn't have a clue of all the

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opportunities out there so you know

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you're not going to be able to Google

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you know this exact you know what what

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your exact path is sure um so yeah

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that's that's what I would give to

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students awesome man so students if

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you're out there make sure you attend

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Career Fairs yeah exactly come see I

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mean I will trust me those are super

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helpful I will talk your ear off so

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you'll you'll find out really quick if

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you want to be around somebody that

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talks your off or doesn't talk to you at

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all you'll get a good you'll get a good

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flavor for one of them that's funny

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that's funny um what are some important

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qualities that you guys look for um at

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Baker Tilly and New Student interns or

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entry-level folks that you guys bring on

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yeah I think um a couple things right

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you know the biggest thing I found is is

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looking for people that are engaged you

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know you can't coach that you can't

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teach that so so people that are engaged

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you know what does that mean that means

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following up on you know the opportunity

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itself trying to connect trying to make

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sure that you're flexible to you know

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with an employer to make sure that

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you're you know connecting with them and

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and working you know to to put that best

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foot forward I think when people are

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engaged in something you know no

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different than you know this am I

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engaged here you can tell right yeah you

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can tell if somebody's engaged so that's

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the biggest thing I look for first then

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comes some other things like you know do

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their goals with what we're looking for

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right yeah you know we're a accounting

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firm it's really built on learning you

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know it's kind of an apprenticeship in

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some

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ways do those you know is this somebody

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that will want to learn is this somebody

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that wants to grow obviously a lot of

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wall students are already doing that so

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we we know that's that's you know the

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the not really a concern you know if

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you're here learning you know we kind of

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know that but I'd say those are the two

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big things um that I really that we

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really look for as a whole of saying hey

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is this person gonna you know succeed

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here right because that's what we're

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looking for is people who can really

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succeed and um those are the big things

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now especially and it got hard got a

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little hard during Co to monitor that

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right but now it's like okay you've

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found ways to to kind of scope that out

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and see see where people are at so sure

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well that's great that's great uh last

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one here uh thank you again for being

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here appreciate um what do you like the

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most about working in the accounting

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industry your favorite thing oh I

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mean accounting journal entries right I

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mean I mean gosh tax returns I mean you

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know Financial I mean it just blows my

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mind that people don't love this stuff

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right I would say for me it you know I

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don't want to keep saying the same thing

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so I'll kind of dig into it a little

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different way but like relationships

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right you know I look at when I started

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you know everybody thinks you're coming

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in and like like I said doing those

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things tax returns financial statements

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there's a few people out there that

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really truly truly love that work right

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and more power to them um but I think a

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lot of people you know in the uh in the

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space and this is again a thing I didn't

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realize coming in from day one was it's

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a very social opportunity in some ways

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to connect with people um especially as

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your progresses but even from day one

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you know we have a group of interns

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right now that are all connecting and

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getting to know each other and you know

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they don't have to be friends but

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they'll carry those relationships for a

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long time because they're going through

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something together that um you know is

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challenging right it's a new job it's a

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new new experience um might be a little

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scared or inated about it right you know

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100% And and I think that's where yes

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there's the scary part of it right but

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there's also the huge reward that

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sometimes people forget about of having

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somebody that you know those you'll be

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able to go back 10 years later and say

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oh yeah like we you know it's been a few

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years maybe but we both did that

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together and remember that one time Nick

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drove us nuts you know on that one

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project and you know you you know you

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laugh but you can probably think of it

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too right you know you can remember that

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you know some that bonding experience

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right so looking you know stepping back

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now a little bit and and really thinking

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about it that's the part that's kept me

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in it you know it's it's not the tax

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returns it's it's not the it's not

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reading the the code sections um it's

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the people right it's the chance to

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connect it's the chance to be with

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people that you know want to help a

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client want to help a staff person or an

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intern grow and learn that's what draws

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draws me to it because the work is what

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the work is and we do all kinds of

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different things every day the work's

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never the same sure it's it's really

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connecting with people you know wherever

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that form may be um that that keeps I

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think a lot of people into it and I

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think a lot of people um

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especially students that are listening

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don't realize you know they think it's a

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you know I'm in a cube by myself not

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talking anybody right and I'd say even

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in the even when I started it wasn't

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like that but in the time that I've done

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this it's changed even more so or it's

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so far away from that now um it's kind

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of wild to see yeah um awesome it's

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become a true you know relationship

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based kind of field almost of you know

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you have to work with people right you

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have to learn people's you know ticks

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you have to learn these things but again

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on the flip side of that is there's this

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huge opportunity for you know lasting

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connections yeah so that's great there's

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still some tax there's still some yeah

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there's still some I mean no matter how

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hard I try uh they you know they still

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make me do some tax returns so that's

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funny well it sounds like a great place

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to work AB yeah we certainly appreciate

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the partnership bakertilly has been

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involved with Walsh for many many years

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and hopefully many more years to to come

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here so and and come you know students

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that are listening to come see us at the

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career fears come connect with us we

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have a great team so awesome um yeah for

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sure happy to do it yeah well thank you

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so much we appreciate it thanks for

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having me you bet thank

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you

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