Monica Sander is a junior in the accountancy program at Boise State University and will complete her degree in the fall of 2017. During the fall semester of 2015, she learned about the mentorship program that the Accountancy department offers to students every year. This program is designed to pair students with various professionals in the valley to educate them on the industry and the different career paths available to students with accounting degrees. When Monica heard of the program, she was eager for an opportunity to interact with accounting professionals in a more casual environment than what she had experienced in Beta Alpha Psi.
After applying to the mentoring program, Monica was paired with two professionals from Eide Bailly, LLP. The two professionals included her in office social events, such as a Stampede Game, and also helped her with resume review and networking. She describes the experience as informal, but enjoyed that aspect of it because it took some of the pressure of networking off of her shoulders and allowed her to develop her professional skills more comfortably.
Having enjoyed her experience with the mentorship program the first year, Monica applied for the program again this 2016 fall semester. This year she was paired with a professional from KPMG, LLP. While this year’s mentorship experience is still fairly new, she describes it as being just as beneficial as the first year.
When asked what she felt was the best aspect of the mentorship program as a whole, she said she really enjoyed the chance for professional development in a more casual setting. She likes the opportunity to interact with professionals, gain feedback, and learn more about the industry without the pressures that networking sometimes can bring. She recommends the program to any accounting student wanting to learn more about the industry or to those who want to begin expanding their networks with the many successful accounting professionals in the Treasure Valley.