3 Career Lessons from Arthur Andersen: Networking, Respect, and Self-Advocacy

It was the beginning of my Senior year at Seattle University and more importantly, the recruiting season for the public accounting firms - aka “Big 6”.  Even though I had been working at Andersen since my high school graduation - slightly more than 3 years, I assumed that I would follow the recruiting process like any other candidate.

Then, Joyce pulled me aside to tell me ‘It doesn’t make sense for you to go through the full recruiting process.  We know you already.  So we’ve set up an interview with Jim - one of our Partners.’

I arrived for my interview in my brand new black suit.  Jim’s Executive Assistant escorted me into his office.  I sat down nervously waiting for the interview to start.  He said ‘We’d like to extend you an offer to join the firm’ and slipped the offer letter towards me.  I was so overwhelmed with many emotions - disbelief, surprise, joy.  I walked out of that office and it seemed that everyone knew the big surprise.  I was enveloped by cheers and congratulations!

My experience at Andersen as an intern, auditor and consultant was full of blessings and lessons.  

Here are a few lessons that I’ve taken with me over my career:

Treat everyone with respect

Rosalie was the much respected receptionist of the office.  She had worked at Andersen when many of the Partners were fresh graduates starting their career.  She was kind but firm.  No one - not staff or Partners - wanted to hear their name on the intercom because they forgot to check in with Rosalie in the morning.

I learned that recruiters often asked her how candidates treated her as part of the candidate vetting process.  Were they rude or disrespectful?

Andersen was a rare office where everyone was treated with respect - from the mailroom attendant to the executive assistants to the auditors and consultants.  We understood that each person in that office played a significant role in serving our clients well.

Practice self advocacy

After I completed my summer internship, I asked Anne, the Regional Controller who managed the office finances, if I could continue working at the office while attending Seattle University - her alma mater.  She agreed and coordinated administrative departments across the office to set aside tasks and projects to fill the 20 - 30 hours a week that I worked around my college classes.  I filed recruiting notes in candidate folders and learned how interviewers assessed candidates.  I assisted the Librarian and learned the resources available to audit and consulting teams.  I set up conference rooms for client meetings and learned the importance of attention to the smallest details - down to the client’s preferred beverage.

If I didn’t ask Anne to extend my internship, I wouldn’t have had the rich experience of working at Andersen throughout my four years of college and eventually, a full time role after earning my degree.

Make yourself known

Senior Managers and Partners had assigned offices in the Andersen Seattle office.  The office culture was that doors would be open unless the occupant was engaged in a phone call or meeting.  

I was assigned to a specific department for each day of my shift.  I would check in to the assigned department and complete the tasks set aside for me.  If I had time remaining on my shift, I would check in with other administrative departments to ask for work.  And finally, if I still had time remaining, I would knock on every open office door of Senior Managers and Partners to introduce myself and offer my assistance.  Other than occasionally asking me to return files to the file room or drop off mail in the mail room, they rarely had work appropriate for a college student.

This experience was my early lesson in networking.  I learned to be comfortable introducing myself and initiating a conversation.  I learned not to be intimidated by their title or position.  I also learned that most people did not react negatively to the minor interruption and at times, welcomed the distraction.  

These lessons served me well throughout my career.  Mostly, I learned that I belonged in this profession and venerated firms, such as Andersen.