How can one make this transition as seamless as possible? I am trying to make the switch, and would like to trade in my fcps job for one with an accounting firm like KPMG PWC etc.

Assuming I get an interview, and a position, what are some things I can do to prepare me for the transition? I have a strong work ethic, and an entrepreneurial spirit and like to stay on the move.

I got shit-canned three years ago from a private school, partially because I made some mistakes enforcing certain policies, and because I was unable to survive the shifting political dynamics of the main office. I'm ready to give the private sector another try, in a different industry.

It doesn't sound like you are cut out to work. Stay in government.

Are you a Democrat or Republican? Schools have been overshadowed by the socialists, for the last 10 years at least, so you might consider researching other states with majorities most resembling your attitudes and politics. Private schools are more discipline oriented than public schools, but there are jobs going begging in public schools inside the cities because everyone is terrified of the kids..

If you were an accountant, and were bucking the socialist graft and corruption ongoing in Fairfax County, there is no reason why you wouldn't be able to get a job elsewhere. There are still places left where honesty and professionalism are needed.

Hard worker Wrote:
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> It doesn't sound like you are cut out to work.
> Stay in government.


What would make you think that? I bust my ass at my current job in order to compensate for other people's deficiencies. I am by no means perfect, but I get my job done, and even do the job of others.

vtryh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I got shit-canned three years ago from a private
> school, partially because I made some mistakes
> enforcing certain policies, and because I was
> unable to survive the shifting political dynamics
> of the main office. I'm ready to give the private
> sector another try, in a different industry.

Sounds like with the private sector here, that almost works exclusively for the government, is the number one job you shouldn't do.

WEUEX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are you a Democrat or Republican? Schools have
> been overshadowed by the socialists, for the last
> 10 years at least, so you might consider
> researching other states with majorities most
> resembling your attitudes and politics. Private
> schools are more discipline oriented than public
> schools, but there are jobs going begging in
> public schools inside the cities because everyone
> is terrified of the kids..
>
> If you were an accountant, and were bucking the
> socialist graft and corruption ongoing in Fairfax
> County, there is no reason why you wouldn't be
> able to get a job elsewhere. There are still
> places left where honesty and professionalism are
> needed.


I lean republican, although actual politics don't impact my job. I was speaking more to the 'inner-office' politics of my office. At my job at the private school, I had about 3 different bosses who gave conflicting instructions on certain assignments. When I tried to please all three, or ask for clarification I got put through the ringer. I was given my pink slip, but thankfully found a new job the very next day. It's no secret that fcps is a sinking ship. I want off. I actually don't have that much accounting experience. I am more focused on handling customers (students, parents, concerned citizens) and fielding their complaints. I do a pretty good job of it, and i'd like another crack at the private sector, in a different industry however.

Unless maybe you're applying for an internal admin position you're probably unlikely to get an interview or be hired. You're not really the kid of person that they look for on the accounting/audit or consulting/services side. Mostly they hire kids right out of school and grown them from there. They have their pick of the best and brightest so they don't really need you. The other primary smaller group are what are deemed experience hires which are people with some very specific expertise or experience in an area of particular interest. Then in some more rare cases people brought in when they take over some other business. If you're somehow known or have contacts otherwise, then you may have an in but doesn't sound like it from your post.

If in the off chance that you are hired for one of those types of positions, then you'll probably wash out. It's a tough business. Lots of travel. Lots of living out of hotels for months wherever the engagement is. You'll go out on Sunday night, work long hours through the week. Friday's generally are travel days. Then you'll be home Saturday to do whatever you need to and then out again. Side trips to wherever with little notice as required to support other business. If at a more semi-senior level you'll be dragged into proposals and presentations and other business development type work on top of that. You'll be expected to generate business. Plus having to do all of the usual administrative type stuff that you do in a typical job added to that. You'll have both clients, various partners, and other internal 'bosses' all making demands on your time. You'll be on the clock 24x7 and expected to respond immediately.

It's a completely different world vs going into a typical 9-5 government job.

It never hurts to try, but I'd be extremely surprised if you got an interview let alone a job with one of the top accounting/consulting firms. And as the PP points out, you probably wouldn't want to. You'd probably have more luck applying to the usual 'Beltway bandits' (PRC, SAIC, Dyncorp), etc.

In any case, it's important to realize that the private sector is a completely different experience from public service. There is NO job security. If you're in an 'overhead' position you're especially at risk since you're not directly bringing revenue into the company. I saw an entire floor of administrative staff at one major company fired one Friday when the company decided to merge with another firm. Even if you're working on a contract, it will eventually end and you'll need to find a spot somewhere else. Sometimes contracts are simply cancelled and the staff is abruptly fired. I've seen this a number of times.

In addition, be prepared to work HARD. I routinely put in 50 - 60 hour work weeks while getting paid for just 40. No excuses. It can be very hard on a family.

I don't mean to discourage you, but I'd think long and hard before moving to the private sector.

Fuck! All these responses but my original fact remains the same.

You're an idiot, low life, so stay at fcps where you are a clear majority.

Do note that Americans will never let their children attend a public school. That's like murdering them by abortion.

Hard worker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fuck! All these responses but my original fact
> remains the same.
>
> You're an idiot, low life, so stay at fcps where
> you are a clear majority.
>
> Do note that Americans will never let their
> children attend a public school. That's like
> murdering them by abortion.


Are you this big an asshole in real life? A guy wants to push himself and make himself better, and you try to shit on him? That's un-American.

Just to give you an idea of the kind of fun stuff that you'll get do at a firm like that, one day I get a call from one of our senior partners looking for people to represent the firm at a presentation for a job at a big regional bank. So I drop whatever it was I was doing at the time and jump on a plane to be there for a meeting first thing in the morning. My entire background and prep for the meeting is the company name and address. This kind of thing happens all the time so nothing particularly unusual.

Get there an hour or so in advance and meet with about 10 other people who he's pulled in and get a little more info. Half of them are like me and don't really know much about whats happening either. We're just there representing a particular capability of the company. We get a quick brief from the people working on engagement there. Turns out that it's a presentation for about a $20 million job that they're competing for. Pretty standard stuff. I know my piece of it. No problem.

So we head into the meeting and it turns out that it's not just a standard pitch but it's a best and final presentation in an auditorium in front of probably 20 or 30 of their senior executives and department heads. There's a table at the front of the room. The partner walks in first and takes the first seat by the door. I'm hanging back since you always let the partners go first and I'm just along for the ride. As the table fills up, I end up stuck in the center seat at the table. So then everyone thinks that I'm the guy running the show. And since the fucking partner does nothing to dissuade them of that, I then become the one running the show. Which I now can't fuck up or it's my ass since we have a $20 million deal on the line. So I have to pretend that I know WTF is going on and field detailed questions from their execs grilling us about our proposal that I've never fucking even seen before somebody slides it over in front of me. lol Which I do somehow miraculously pull off well enough that everyone's happy and we eventually get the job.

So yeah, lots of laughs. Just nonstop fun. lol

Stay in govt...coast along for twenty years, then retire...if you are still motivated at that point, then try private..take the cushy route if you want to have a life...private sector will drain you dry

Former Big 5er Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Unless maybe you're applying for an internal admin
> position you're probably unlikely to get an
> interview or be hired. You're not really the kid
> of person that they look for on the
> accounting/audit or consulting/services side.
> Mostly they hire kids right out of school and
> grown them from there. They have their pick of
> the best and brightest so they don't really need
> you. The other primary smaller group are what are
> deemed experience hires which are people with some
> very specific expertise or experience in an area
> of particular interest. Then in some more rare
> cases people brought in when they take over some
> other business. If you're somehow known or have
> contacts otherwise, then you may have an in but
> doesn't sound like it from your post.
>
> If in the off chance that you are hired for one of
> those types of positions, then you'll probably
> wash out. It's a tough business. Lots of travel.
> Lots of living out of hotels for months wherever
> the engagement is. You'll go out on Sunday night,
> work long hours through the week. Friday's
> generally are travel days. Then you'll be home
> Saturday to do whatever you need to and then out
> again. Side trips to wherever with little notice
> as required to support other business. If at a
> more semi-senior level you'll be dragged into
> proposals and presentations and other business
> development type work on top of that. You'll be
> expected to generate business. Plus having to do
> all of the usual administrative type stuff that
> you do in a typical job added to that. You'll
> have both clients, various partners, and other
> internal 'bosses' all making demands on your time.
> You'll be on the clock 24x7 and expected to
> respond immediately.
>
> It's a completely different world vs going into a
> typical 9-5 government job.


Jeesh, this sounds like a fucked up job title. Why would anyone take it? Do they pay you in gold bullion?

Jus do uber in a hooked up Chrysler 300.
I makes BANK ($80/day) doing it. I meet a lot of white women that love the BBC!

Think It Through Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It never hurts to try, but I'd be extremely
> surprised if you got an interview let alone a job
> with one of the top accounting/consulting firms.
> And as the PP points out, you probably wouldn't
> want to. You'd probably have more luck applying to
> the usual 'Beltway bandits' (PRC, SAIC, Dyncorp),
> etc.
>
> In any case, it's important to realize that the
> private sector is a completely different
> experience from public service. There is NO job
> security. If you're in an 'overhead' position
> you're especially at risk since you're not
> directly bringing revenue into the company. I saw
> an entire floor of administrative staff at one
> major company fired one Friday when the company
> decided to merge with another firm. Even if you're
> working on a contract, it will eventually end and
> you'll need to find a spot somewhere else.
> Sometimes contracts are simply cancelled and the
> staff is abruptly fired. I've seen this a number
> of times.
>
> In addition, be prepared to work HARD. I routinely
> put in 50 - 60 hour work weeks while getting paid
> for just 40. No excuses. It can be very hard on a
> family.
>
> I don't mean to discourage you, but I'd think long
> and hard before moving to the private sector.


Stephen Paddock was an accountant, and apparently a good one. I wonder if burnout and stress from his job is what pushed him over the edge.

Soul Brother #1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jus do uber in a hooked up Chrysler 300.
> I makes BANK ($80/day) doing it. I meet a lot of
> white women that love the BBC!

Lying ass NIGGA, say; KFC! Louder!, I said LOUDER!

vtryh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How can one make this transition as seamless as
> possible? I am trying to make the switch, and
> would like to trade in my fcps job for one with an
> accounting firm like KPMG PWC etc.
>
> Assuming I get an interview, and a position, what
> are some things I can do to prepare me for the
> transition? I have a strong work ethic, and an
> entrepreneurial spirit and like to stay on the
> move.
>
> I got shit-canned three years ago from a private
> school, partially because I made some mistakes
> enforcing certain policies, and because I was
> unable to survive the shifting political dynamics
> of the main office. I'm ready to give the private
> sector another try, in a different industry.


Are you really ready to give up all those paid days off? I am a 12 month employee and even I get 41 days a year off with pay. You can't put a price on the times of your life.

jim teacher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> vtryh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How can one make this transition as seamless as
> > possible? I am trying to make the switch, and
> > would like to trade in my fcps job for one with
> an
> > accounting firm like KPMG PWC etc.
> >
> > Assuming I get an interview, and a position,
> what
> > are some things I can do to prepare me for the
> > transition? I have a strong work ethic, and an
> > entrepreneurial spirit and like to stay on the
> > move.
> >
> > I got shit-canned three years ago from a
> private
> > school, partially because I made some mistakes
> > enforcing certain policies, and because I was
> > unable to survive the shifting political
> dynamics
> > of the main office. I'm ready to give the
> private
> > sector another try, in a different industry.
>
>
> Are you really ready to give up all those paid
> days off? I am a 12 month employee and even I get
> 41 days a year off with pay. You can't put a price
> on the times of your life.

With a median starting income of $80k+ most people are content with the hours they work. You of course want to find a job with some semblance of work/life balance. Some firms are better at striking this than others.

Actually most all of what I've seen in the last couple of decades says that most people would trade money off against more time off and/or a more flexible work schedule.