My second week at work just ended. Now, it’s pretty much a love and hate relationship.
Love
The dual monitor set-up is sooo cool. In the office, we have a laptop and a flat screen monitor connected together. The first time I dragged a window to the other screen, my lips formed into a delighted “Oh!” (Gosh, I’m such an ignoramus. In my defense, I’ve known about dual monitors but I had no idea all you need is a cable to set it up). Today, I went to the computer shop and bought a DVI-to-VGA connector. I stole my sister’s extra Sony monitor, and now I have my own dual-monitor set up (see pic above). I can watch a drama that doesn’t need my full attention on one screen while I fill up my CASB registration on the other screen. Hehehe, talk about multi-tasking. Matt (co-newbie) is so excited that we can start on CASB this fall. His friends at KPMG were not allowed to start the modules this year. The kid is so sickeningly enthusiastic about it…oopps, better switch to hate mode now…
Hate
…the kid is so sickeningly enthusiastic and I, on the other hand, just wanna die. I think I expected too much. It’s too early to be depressed about it and I can’t blame anyone but myself. We transferred from the training room to our official cubicles this week. Our trainer had to switch back and forth to help us with our files. I have never felt so stupid in my life and the fact that I’ve always considered myself above-average in the brains department (sorry, I don’t mean to sound arrogant) makes the blow harder for me to accept. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Next week, our trainer is gone for an audit so we have to ask others for help. Doshio, doshio??? I’m entering panic mode. I still haven’t clicked in with the atmosphere in the office and everybody seems so frightening. I had no idea, we have to work closely with the partners too!!! While watching my trainer fly through Caseware/Caseview and Profile effortlessly, I wonder if I’ll ever reach that level. It’s just so hard to learn with her “watch & remember” teaching style. It’s just impossible when there are a million things to remember. I need a a two-inch thick training manual. I know each file is different, but all I’m asking is some kind of a list or step-by-step tutorial for the all the mundane things like formatting the FS; what I need to include in my document index; when do I need to fill in such-and-such form; or how the heck do I even fill it out so I don’t forget a section…
Frack, I’m so whiny huh. What happen to that “I love it so much” talk last week? I know, I know just crucify me…Even, I hate myself more than anyone else…I love the job, I hate the working atmosphere, and if only I could be my own trainer, I’ll know exactly how to teach myself.
This may be a dumb question and it’s out of curiousity…but is your computer monitored? I’ve heard a rumour that employees’s comps get monitored through the employer’s so that he/she knows what you are doing. Including watching dramas LOL
Yah…I heard about those incidents..well, I don’t think we’re being monitored, but if they do, I have nothing to fear. I’m really a good girl in real life. (wink, wink)
Most accounting firms wouldn’t bother to do that because they trust their employees. Other companies, on the other hand, are known as being INSANE.
I’m sure she’s watching the dramas at home rather than at work though.
I’m fortunate that we don’t use Caseware – the only downside being that we use our own obscure/difficult system.
As with any hobby/game/job, the learning curve can feel impossible but things will improve with time, so don’t stress. Think of it as a bonus that you get to work closely with the partners – in many firms – esp. the huge ones – you don’t. I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to work closely with partners and learned a lot from them. It’s good to either be in a smaller firm or a specialist group.
And don’t stress because even the partners were you in shoes 15-30 years ago, trying to figure out the convoluted jazz you’re dealing with now. Pretty soon you’ll have a heady sense of accomplishment – you’ll be showing up at a client’s doorstep and figuring out their entire business (more or less) in a week or two – things that take ‘ordinary’ employees there months or years to master.
You won’t automatically learn everything. I found myself learning stupidly basic things for the first few months on the job – and everyone returns to reference materials all the time either because the rules they’re dealing with are obscure and rarely referenced or because they’re brand new.
Enjoy the dual monitor setup. I have a huge fat monitor at home but in the office I’m keen on securing a second monitor whenever I’m there. It makes the job so much better, especially when you find yourself running multiple files on the screen at once. It makes all-digital audit files easy and (dare I say it) fun.
Oh, yah you do IT audits so I can’t run to you for help huh. Well, at least for the UFE and CASB stuff, I have your site for reference. =)
Thanks for the uplifting words, Krupo. On Monday, I’ll be brave to ask questions and not get scared!
Good attitude.
And although I’m an IT auditor, to get my CA I *did* do two busy seasons doing the ‘vanilla’ financial audit work, so the basic intro-level stuff I’m definitely familiar with… although maybe a bit rusty.
Thank you for your post