Week 1 – Blog Post: Job Application Experiences

Question 1: Experiences as an Applicant

The last job I applied for was a job here at Oregon State and is the part-time role I am currently still working in. This year, I am a teaching assistant (TA) for the Intermediate Accounting Series (ACTG 317, 318, and 319 or External Reporting I, II, and III). Last year, I worked in a different role on campus. However, over the summer, the professor who teaches External Reporting II contacted me via email, asking me to apply for the TA position.

At first, I hesitated to submit an application given the position I already had from the previous year. However, after further consideration, I decided that this potential job was more related to my future career goal (CPA and auditor at a public accounting firm) than my current position. I knew I might not get the job anyway, but it was worth a shot. I submitted my resume and cover letter to the official job posting on the OSU jobs website.

Shortly afterward, I received another email stating that I was selected for a virtual interview. The interview was conducted over Zoom with two Accounting professors and involved many job-specific scenario questions. I received a third email about a week after my interview, letting me know that I got the job and that I should expect further communication closer to the beginning of the next school year.

Overall, I felt that the application process for this job moved along fairly quickly and without incident. My only concern was that I did not receive specifics about scheduling or training until right before I began working (a fair amount of time after I got hired).

Question 2: Impressions of the Job and Desire to Work There

The questions asked of me during my interview were very job-oriented and unique to the type of job I was applying for. This gave me the impression that the job would be relatively practical without busy work or unrealistic expectations. While I was worried about not having a schedule until closer to my start date, my bosses worked hard to accommodate my class schedule and overall availability. For this reason, I got the impression that the job would be flexible and student-friendly. Finally, when I asked about training during my interview, I learned there would be no formal training for the job. This gave me the impression that my employers would value independence and creative problem-solving skills.

These three experiences and lasting impressions during my application and new hire process increased my desire to work as a teaching assistant. I knew I would have a busy schedule with many other commitments (such as VP of Media and Technology for Beta Alpha Psi, participating in sorority events for my chapter, intramural sports teams, and a heavy course load) so I valued the job’s flexibility. Additionally, I am practical and efficient, which is one of the reasons I love accounting so much. I dislike time-wasting busy work and was pleased to learn that there seemed to be a minimal amount in this position. Similarly, I am generally internally motivated and prefer to work at my own pace. Therefore, I dislike being micromanaged and felt that the independence this job provided was a good match for my work style.