key points summarise: 1. ask questions 2. just ignore the attitude and keep your patient to find the answers 3. improve the communication with people 4. finding something you really like in your work then you will get the recognitions

I’ve been working for a long time and mentoring many people. One of my top rules is to raise problems and questions as soon as possible. It doesn’t get better ... it gets worse the longer you wait... no matter what it is.

Man you just vocalized what I've been feeling working in public accounting the past year. Feeling like you're an idiot because why would they give you this task if you couldn't do it, feeling like you're annoying people by asking questions, etc. Makes me feel so much better knowing I'm not alone in these feelings.

Great video Paul! I had exact mistakes at my previous job, but thanks to this video I now know how to handle these mistakes better.

This video was class, these are the sort of insights that it is difficult to find online

This video is so true from the start till the end, I’m working for one of the big 4 as an auditor and your experience is so relevant. Thanks for sharing!

You are a very likable and believable person. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Thank you so much for sharing. I m so sorry you had to go through that, I am also happy that you have learned a lot from this experience and again thank you for your advice. I also think that I can relate ,I hate when people communicate with attitude AT WORK,it just indicates their unprofessionalism.

this is a great video thank you so much. a lot of the videos giving advice on audit, finance, accounting, etc generally say the same things but i loved how you gave personal and unique tips

This is great. I've experienced similar things in my previous employment. I am starting in a new industry soon and it was important for me to be reminded of this.

The 1 dislike is the manager from his first story

Great video quality and insightful information, thank you for this!

That was excellent content! Just what I needed. Thanks so much x

It's the PwC, top 4 accounting firm's way...they recruit far more people than they need...then put them through the meat grinder (stick junior people in front of senior people at clients, without any real guidance or hand holding...yes, they send you on long formal glossy courses which are stiff, boring, technical information overloads but which don't explain things in plain speak..and if you magically manage to work out for yourself what PwC are really looking for and your 'face fits' then you get fast tracked for promotion...and end up as the prime sausages.. whilst the others fall by the way side as meat by-products, stuck in dead end roles doing the same thing year after year until they realise this and leave of their own accord or are 'guided out of the firm''). Then they trawl the top universities again the next year, like a whale scooping up plankton, for the next horde of hapless recruits.

if you are unable to do your job or task! It's not because you are stupid, but it is the person in charge who hasn't communicated the task/strategy properly....

Thank for sharing your knowledge!

I got a good glimpse of audit and assurance through your video

Enjoyed watching that from start to finish. Like your sense of humour as well was in giggles along the way, I think you very cool man. I think all somewhat introverted people have the same problem you highlighted particularly communication aspects.

Man, I'm not even half into the video, and it's SO RELATABLE. Noone knows what they're doing, but they're pretending to. The result is a complete and utter mess, and the stress you mentioned. I guess it's a trait of this company all across the globe (or the plain, depending which version you believe in ;)))) ). Thanks for this video!

Nice video Paul starting work at big 4 in October always interesting to hear from you. Very real guy

One thing I learned from my internship is that you have to ask questions. It does not matter how other people think about you or how they feel. Cause I reach to the point if I do not ask, I can not get my things done. Also because of this, I get more comfortable ask stupid questions. Then at the end, those questions you asked may not seem stupid any more, cause they helped my get things done.

Hello Paul, I came across your video and this is amazing content! This is exactly how I felt too, especially, your last point about working long hours as long as you get recognized somehow! keep up the good work and looking forward to watching your contents more.

One should strike a balance. Figure out the things you can find out yourself, especially if it takes more than a yes/no question; you’ll grow this way. If you take the easy route and keep getting others to do your job, people will take note of that even if on the surface they seem very willing to help.

I can relate to the first point. Great tips thanks!

This was very insightful, thanks for sharing.

This is video is much more personal and useful than the other finance videos. Keep it up.

Will be starting soon at EY, and really enjoying your video! Thanks :)

‘Sorry you don’t want to help can I speak to your manager’ *saves for next passive aggressive confrontation* 😂 gréât video mate new sub 🤝

Hey, Paul, it's a very informational video. Thanks

So clear and hepful! Thanks

Crazy how much this aligns with my experience. Literally exactly what I am currently going through.

Also work in PwC in HK, useful tips! Thank you!

In big4 everyone who is in their first to third year knows nothing and they just do what they’re told to produce half ass jobs. Ask all questions the moment you join and don’t feel bad for it because the first two years are really your only chance to ask questions without looking like a moron.

I started applying the process to PwC and I found your first video about the experience in the company. I was so afraid, but I continued and passed \o/ I really don't know WHY, but they choose me! This second video is going to be so helpful to me during this new experience in my life, so thank you so much! (I'm sorry about my English haha) I realize that communication is so important at my internship experience, I was so proud of me that I didn't ask for help, but with the time I learned that asking help for everyone that you can is the best thing to do. So, now I feel more prepared to PwC ^^

Thx q so much sir for this good information!! Have a nice day!!

Thanks for sharing, This so resonates with me

This was literally me learning financial statement audits! He's so right.

Very useful content. Please make more videos like this.

Wow! Thanks for making this video!! 👏🏻

Great initiative brother... Being in similar industry could relate to all that you days... Things you talked about really felt untouched till now.... Tha ks for the insight 💯

Im exactly the same as u, go with the flow during this peak. Good point there bro!

hi. i really wanted to work in one of the big4s, you are really inspirational! thank you for all your vids.

Thank you for your Honesty

1000% me when you were talking about everything that you did on controls. thanks for opening up and normalizing the experience for those who felt like it was just us being stupid

Precious! So much anxiety is projected inwards when really, it's the environment that doesn't set you up for success. They owe you the training!!!

Very Helpful thanks!

Great video, really helpful fir my future

Story of my life now😂😂😂.Thank you for this video!!!!

Why are managers and seniors so unapproachable ? Not only are they supposed to be teaching you, but that would also save valuable time if they took just 5 minutes of their own time to guide juniors. One thing I will pride myself in is that I had an open door policy for my juniors, and no question was too stupid.

I can relate. Thanks for sharing

His experience sounds just like mines when I interned at Bank of America I’m glad I learned from my mistakes early I just got hired by PwC straight out of college after hearing this video I think I will be just fine in the firm thank you for this video

Thanks for the advice:)

Hi Paul, all you are saying is true because I'm facing the same issues at PwC in the U.S. PwC must find a better way to get newly hired Associates to get good Seniors to help them. Because PwC bombarding new Associates with a lot of assignments and asking them to work 10-14 hrs for 6 days, including Saturdays for that scanty annual salary is inhuman, atrocious, and insane.

This is so me in the first example ! Always so lost as a first year associate. I kinda miss PwC.

I work in KPMG lighthouse, I felt the same thing there is no definite process that I needed to follow or training program they assumed I knew what I was supposed to do. But when I went for the audit there was a team there and I was were to observe and learn so that helped me to learn how to audit a client.

Great content again Paul. Could you do a video rating qualifications that compliment chartered accountants?

Omg! I am about start my job at BDO as assistant auditor and this really helps

I can’t believe I came back to this video to see for myself how truly bad the “bad hair day” was, from your response to the comments video 😂 Have to say I didn’t even realise it the first time i watched this video. Anyway, an ex PwC auditor here! You pretty much spoke my mind!

I gave my 2 weeks notice from PwC.I had anxiety not sleeping for a week.Felt overwhelmed with even the smallest of stuff.

Everyone who is starting out in a career needs to watch this. Great vid.

I can relate a lot as an associate 1. Looking back at the several months in the company and summarising the points you mentioned in the video, there are a lot I find my self can work on!

I'm not even from audit but from tax PwC and I feel you man. Exact same thing happened to me. However though if I kept asking questions I would feel or be made feel dumb.

amazing. bless you

thank you for this!

This is so accurate 👌🏾

I’m from big4 for 1.5 years. Hehe I can relate to everything you say. I don’t feel so alone now :)

Really enjoyed your insight, thanks for making the video! I'm in my second year at one of the Big 4 working in audit and definitely found myself relating to both of the scenarios you discussed. Do you have any advice particularly on moving into an in-charge role for the first time?

3:30 I remember feeling the same way. I left the audit agency to get more experience in Accounting and Internal Controls. Now I’m confident but I can’t get the job back with the audit agency so I could show em what I learned. ❤❤❤❤❤

Thanks for this!!!

I really enjoyed this video :)

Thats what happens in Cooperate. either you swim with the sharks or "drown".💯

as an auditor in big4, I can totally relate with what he's saying.

Hi, Very good point you made. From the start of the job, they did give you any training or guideline on what to do or they just say here is the project and you figure out on your own.

This was a great video Paul. A few thought provoking things for me to think about. Question: Can you pick and choose the clients you want to work with? Can you pick and choose the industries you want to audit?

true the same st Brazil for 4 years! EY, this is very hard mode job, resolve and solve anything anytime, and make the impossible happens yestaday all the time!!!

Attitude that we can face is maaad but gotta stand up for yourself - a lot of it comes to communication but also defo takes 2 to tango hah

Love you videos Paul, question from me, what are your chances being an FD/CFO if haven't got big 4 audit experience? Also best roles to take if you don't have big 4 experience to becoming FD/CFO?

Great video Paul! I share many aspects of your experience during my time at PwC audit also. What was the reaction from management like when you handed your notice in? Sorry you had to experience that feedback despite the long hours and effort, it definitely happens more often than thought and as someone who isn't as keen on 'bigging my self up' I found sometimes the 'person with the loudest voice' is the one who gets heard, leaving the quieter but hard working ones behind...

I had something “similar”, if I can say this way...when the company required me to assume a project with previous 10 years of execution, with a previous project manager with a profile completely different them me. In a kind of project scope that I don’t wanted be involved anymore....In my case I accepted also in order to not lose the job at that specific moment of my life...As everything in life, it had benefits, but I should have negotiated it. PS: The project was a complete mess!!! I should have investigate more about the project health and negotiate an increase of salary!

Great video! Would love to know your opinion on the best way to progress from newly ACA qualified to CFO/Partner?

What he said is very true. If you will join public accounting, ask around of which managers/partners are very vocal in the meetings. Make sure not to piss them off. Even though auditors are supposed to be "outspoken," "good presenters," and "comfortable in their skin," (BS) the reality is that most managers will stay quite during the talent review and you will be the prey of those talking shit of you. Make sure that you get along with those that are outspoken during these meeting and you will get to manager in no time (sometimes, some just became their pets). The opposite is true: you can kill yourself working 80 hours a week, if the manager you worked for stays silent during the talent review, your work will never be known by others and your career will be stall (until you quit).

I didn’t have any guidance at my first week intern at Deloitte. I also was too nervous to ask questions and I feel lots of pressure on my tasks. They gave me the feedback about my communication skill is not good enough and that makes me fail to secure a graduate offer at Deloitte. Now I have to apply jobs again and go through those long recruiting process..

Very informative video.

Wish I could get in on the big 4 but I have not had the chance

Im going to start a grad scheme at pwc soon. In my current IT position im always encouraged to ask questions, and I ask like 100 questions. The managers at pwc are gonna hate me loool.

lol, i am on my 2 out of 3 client and have been getting attitude and no response. getting yelled at for not knowing how to do something and when i ask for coaching, they tell me to try it on my own and after i try it and do it wrong, i get spammed with the things i did wrong and that i need to be better. this video will hopefully help me understand ways to respond.

Come and work for our company instead. We have grads that stayed with us so long they became senior directors and higher. We're very pleased at how we do our on-boarding and retain our talent. One of the often heard phrases around our company is "there's no such a thing as a stupid question".

so true hahah if you are 120% sure what the testing is for and what you are doing, it is difficult to ask a question.

I’m not in accountancy but relate with my profession.

I qualified as an accountant in a tiny firm and then went through an insanely rigorous process to get a job at EY. I remember being so happy when I got the offer. It was the most depressing, soul destroying, life sucking, anxiety provoking, insulting, cliquey, confidence destroying, hierarchical, political and quite densely pointless experience of my entire life

Have a question for the Q&A, find the vids very helpful! As someone who has 3 ACA exams left (work in practice not at a big firm though), what advice would you give in terms of finding a job in industry? and have you personally regretted making the move? Thanks a lot!

Attending a stock count at a builder's yard as an audit junior is one thing, but finding your way around a complex financial institution just bailed out by the govt. as they often don't know the products and services they provide is quite another. Unfortunately you're not told this beforehand and the surprise that is waiting for you. You just have to paddle against the adverse current and try to get back to the shoreline as best you can...

I feel like we worked at the same company. The financial companies can be a toxic/dog eat dog World. Everyone is trying to keep afloat and forget to be humane.

PwC..... ah the good ole' days

Hi there I work in pwc too. Personal experience I think as a junior team member you could be more proactive where update manager on your progress rather than trying to solve every problems yourself cause you are new, it is normal to be dunno what to do. For the senior and manager aspect they might have lots of jobs or overload with work and you just can't expect them to baby sitting new member for all the time :)

Past from EY - ppl in practice expect from you to be astronaut, know anything, do everything with few months experience whereas, Leaders themselves sucks.

I also worked for PwC in Germany but at the end it was just a fckin scam for me. You work like a finance department leader for a minimum wage per hour. Of course it looks fine in your CV but don't miss the point to take exit. That's what happened to a lot of people.

Hi Paul, I’m starting as an audit assistant in September and will be studying the ACA. I have no accounting or finance educational background, and was wondering if you could advise me on any textbooks or other materials that will help me get a head start before September. Thanks

this is so accurate

Hi, Also, Did you have to work in team on a project and if your partner does not finish the for you move on then YOU have finish their work to move forward. I appreciate