Professional tips from a Bryan School Alumnus
Lawrence Watkins graduated from the Bryan School in 2016 and graduated from Wake Forest University with his Masters of Science in Accountancy (MSA) in 2017.
After graduation he landed a dream job at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Chicago as an advisory consultant on the Mergers and Acquisitions team. In a career where minutes matter, Lawrence developed some tips that help him save time and keep sharp all day, every day:
- If you are immersed in Excel workbooks like I am, the ALT shortcuts are life saving. The time you invest in learning these shortcuts will pay off tenfold. Part of being a professional is being adaptable and mastering technology. The Technology can range depending on the position and firm one works in. In Advisory, we use Microsoft Excel a lot, and I had to learn the shortcuts to saved time by avoiding lifting my hand. We also use Alteryx Tableau for data analysis, and I have learned how to cut the time I put into my projects using this platform.
- Create a daily agenda of what you can realistically accomplish. This keeps me on task even when there are a lot of distractions.
- Know what your team’s or management’s expectations are for that day. This helps me to prioritize my workload and meet my commitments.
- Work towards your strengths and also utilize your team’s strengths. I find it helpful to focus on what is working – this bypasses any negativity and taps the positive energy we need to meet very tight deadlines.
- Be a ‘forever’ student – curious and always seeking more knowledge and understanding of your industry – no matter what it is.
- Be adaptable! It’s human nature to get comfortable and stay where you are. But you’ve got to push yourself – like with weight training where you have to stress different muscles all the time to stay balanced. Don’t cruise – be intentional and disciplined.
