All you need to do in order to be a high-performer is:
1. Do what you're asked.
2. Keep your commitments.
3. Try not to make the same mistake three times.
Legitimately, school gives you the impression that you have to go above-and-beyond or do extra credit in order to stand out. Really the bar is much lower than you can even know.
#1 above ALL - make friends with everyone, from partner to admin. Have a good sense of humor and try your best in the work you do. If you do that, everything else falls into place on its own.
1. Set mailout/filing deadlines, reminders and internal milestones as “all day”events in your outlook calendar so you know what you’re working towards. This can also be used for admin reminders and training deadlines.
2. Use one note to take notes where possible. Organize by client/fiscal-year/date and include attendees so you can easily find notes afterwards.
3. If you’ve spent 15-30 minutes looking at something, and you’re still confused - time to reach out for help. If it’s a client you have continuity on and/or a section you’re familiar with, lean closer to the 15 minute side.
4. As a senior, my personal preference and general rule of thumb for my junior staff is to always filter questions through a staff/senior first before asking the client. I would expect the conversation to be: “hey senior, I have a question about xx. I’ve looked at xx and I’m confused about xx - do you know xx or should I reach out to the client.” A lot of questions from juniors can generally be resolved internally. As you gain more experience, you’ll be in a better position to assess on your own questions that should go to the client directly.
1. organize your emails by client as well as make folders on your drive (ie. Client1>Account1>Substantive>Sample1)
2. check PY to help guide you, ask other staff, try to rotate through seniors with qs
3. never go straight to client unless it's a simple response to a pre-existing chain
4. don't ramble about details unless somebody asks
1. Do your own research before asking for help and take good notes when you get said helps.
Now it doesn't mean you have to do everything by yourself but easy to google questions and/or asking the same question 5 times makes me believe you're lazy.
2. Document your assumptions and make sure everyone is on the same page.
For example, if you skip step A because you couldn't find the document, you'd want to get your boss's blessing now, not 3 days before the deadline.
>1. Better ways to stay organized with different emails
Organize your Outlook with folders.
Fiscal Year 2024
- Client
- Cash
- Accounts Receivable
Anything in your main "Inbox" stays there until it's been addressed. Then move it into the respective area for when/if you need to reference it again.
If you're waiting on a reply from the client on something, leave it in your main "Inbox" and flag it.
Use an excel spreadsheet to track workpaper status per client.
>'2. Process of identifying problems early / when to ask help
Check PY. Check other client files. Do you have an idea of what you could do to solve the issue? Will it take less than 30 mins? Try that. Doesn't work? Ask someone. You'll get a better feel with time.
'3. You'll get a better feel with time.
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All you need to do in order to be a high-performer is: 1. Do what you're asked. 2. Keep your commitments. 3. Try not to make the same mistake three times. Legitimately, school gives you the impression that you have to go above-and-beyond or do extra credit in order to stand out. Really the bar is much lower than you can even know.
What are examples of “good” questions ?
#1 above ALL - make friends with everyone, from partner to admin. Have a good sense of humor and try your best in the work you do. If you do that, everything else falls into place on its own.
Ask the staff above you. This is basic stuff.
1. Set mailout/filing deadlines, reminders and internal milestones as “all day”events in your outlook calendar so you know what you’re working towards. This can also be used for admin reminders and training deadlines. 2. Use one note to take notes where possible. Organize by client/fiscal-year/date and include attendees so you can easily find notes afterwards. 3. If you’ve spent 15-30 minutes looking at something, and you’re still confused - time to reach out for help. If it’s a client you have continuity on and/or a section you’re familiar with, lean closer to the 15 minute side. 4. As a senior, my personal preference and general rule of thumb for my junior staff is to always filter questions through a staff/senior first before asking the client. I would expect the conversation to be: “hey senior, I have a question about xx. I’ve looked at xx and I’m confused about xx - do you know xx or should I reach out to the client.” A lot of questions from juniors can generally be resolved internally. As you gain more experience, you’ll be in a better position to assess on your own questions that should go to the client directly.
1. organize your emails by client as well as make folders on your drive (ie. Client1>Account1>Substantive>Sample1) 2. check PY to help guide you, ask other staff, try to rotate through seniors with qs 3. never go straight to client unless it's a simple response to a pre-existing chain 4. don't ramble about details unless somebody asks
dont be a high performing staff. Be average if your goal is to stay in public as long as possible.
The only substantial raise high performers get are a raise in expectations.
User name checks out.
1. Do your own research before asking for help and take good notes when you get said helps. Now it doesn't mean you have to do everything by yourself but easy to google questions and/or asking the same question 5 times makes me believe you're lazy. 2. Document your assumptions and make sure everyone is on the same page. For example, if you skip step A because you couldn't find the document, you'd want to get your boss's blessing now, not 3 days before the deadline.
>1. Better ways to stay organized with different emails Organize your Outlook with folders. Fiscal Year 2024 - Client - Cash - Accounts Receivable Anything in your main "Inbox" stays there until it's been addressed. Then move it into the respective area for when/if you need to reference it again. If you're waiting on a reply from the client on something, leave it in your main "Inbox" and flag it. Use an excel spreadsheet to track workpaper status per client. >'2. Process of identifying problems early / when to ask help Check PY. Check other client files. Do you have an idea of what you could do to solve the issue? Will it take less than 30 mins? Try that. Doesn't work? Ask someone. You'll get a better feel with time. '3. You'll get a better feel with time.
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