(Alumni are listed by alphabetical order of last name)

Name: Artin Avanes
Employer: McGladrey & Pullen LLP – Audit Services
Graduation Date: Winter 2007
Involvement: AS President Summer & Fall 2006
How got the first interview: Through the on-campus interview program.
Comments: I would suggest everyone to become involved with the Accounting Society and not to be scared of being a leader. In the short run it may look like a hard and time-consuming job that does not pay; however, in the long run it would be one of the best unpaid jobs that you ever had. PAY OFF IS SIGNIFICANT. GO FOR IT AND BECOME A LEADER!

Name: Rick Bautista
Employer: L.A. County Auditors
Graduation Date: Winter 2009
Involvement: Also a member of Beta Alpha Psi during 2008 to 2009 

Name: Vasilisa (Lisa) Budnikova
Employer: California State Auditor (Bureau of State Audits)
Graduation Date: Spring 2008
Involvement: President (Winter - Spring 2008) Vice President of Public Relations (Summer - Fall 2007) 
How got the first interview: Through Meet the Firms in October of 2007 
Comments: Get involved in student life on campus: especially accounting related clubs such as Accounting Society. Regularly participate in various events and attend weekly meetings. This will help you to get a good scoop of what the work in different accounting organizations (public/ private/ government) is like so you can make an educated decision. When you are choosing where to apply, make sure to pay attention to the work environment and culture of the organization that you are thinking about. This factor is extremely important if you plan to build your career in that organization.

Coming back to involvement in student organizations, I definitely recommend you to get the most out of your college years. Looking back, some of my best memories of CSULA come from the days when I was deeply involved in the Accounting Society: our officers meetings, socials, and a whole lot of other events.

Name: Frank Chen
Employer: Ernst & Young – IT Audit
Graduation Date: Fall 2007
Involvement: AS President Summer & Fall 2007; AS Member Summer 2006 - Fall 2007
How got the first interview: On Campus Interview Program
Comments: Take every opportunity to attend professional, social, and community service events. Each event will not only help you to network and develop your professional contacts, but also to befriend others who share the same career goals as you. I have made many friends in the club that have not only made me enjoy the club more and college in general.

Name: Sabrina Chen
Employer: Singer Lewak & Greensbaum
Graduation Date: Fall 2007
Involvement: AS Community Service Coordinator Summer & Fall 2007
How got the first interview: Becker CPA Review Meet the Firms

Name: Jessica Cisneros
Employer: Kelmar Associates, LLC
Graduation Date: Spring 2008
Involvement: AS Controller Winter & Spring 2008; AS Historian Summer & Fall 2007
How got the first interview: I first heard of Kelmar Associates, LLC through CSULA's MonsterTRK during the time of the On-Campus Interviews.
Comments: I really encourage everyone to be involved as much as possible. Honestly, if it wasn't for the Accounting Society I don't think I would be working for this great firm, because the way I found out about On-Campus Interviews, Meet the Firms, Resume Review Workshop, etc., was through the Accounting Society. Something that the Kelmar recruiter really liked about my resume was my involvement in the Accounting Society and the skills I developed. Accounting Society did not only helped me build a great resume and practice my interviewing skills, but it also helped me acquire many other skills that have helped me in my career.

Name: Yanzhu Dai
Graduation Date: Summer 2008
Involvement: Membership of Accounting Society since Summer 2007. Beta Alpha Psi membership in Fall 2007. Toastmaster in Summer 2008.
 

Name: Andranik Ghazarian
Graduation Date: Fall 2008
Involvement: AS member Winter 2008, Summer and Fall 2008
Comments: I wish I had joined AS earlier and for consecutive quarter. A couple of things I wish I had done was become an officer or just simply more involved in the activities. I want to say thank you to all the offers and members that have helped me a lot.
 

Name: Nancy De Leon
Employer: Deloitte LLP – Tax, Global Employer Services
Graduation Date: Spring 2006
Involvement: Member of Beta Alpha Psi and ALPFA
How got the first interview: Through a person who I met at Spring Awards Banquet
Comments: Participation in the Awards Banquet was beneficial to me as I was able to meet many accounting professionals, especially the one from Deloitte, who eventually helped me to get an internship.
 

Name: Susana Fierro Brown
Graduation Date: Spring 2011
Involvement: Accounting Society
Comments: Hey guys! It's Susana here. I just wanted to say that you should always get involved even if you are a freshman, like myself. It's really helpful and you can get to meet people that in the future may help you get a job.

Name: Simon Lai
Graduation Date: Summer 2008
Involvement: Accounting Society
 

Name: Linda Jung
Employer: McGladrey & Pullen LLP – Tax Services
Graduation Date: Fall 2007
Involvement: AS Secretary Summer & Fall 2007; AS Member Winter 2007 - Fall 2007
How got the first interview: On Campus Interview Program and Firm Tour organized by AS
Comments: Attend events and join other organizations as well. Networking is beneficial and will help you gain more insight and open more doors. Start your job search early, don't wait until your last quarter to start.

Name: Kuniko Mizuno
Employer: California State Franchise Tax Board – Audit Division
Graduation Date: Spring 2004
Involvement: Member of Beta Alpha Psi 2002-2004; Attended numerous meetings of the AS and Toastmasters
How got the first interview: On Campus Interview Program
Comments: Regarding job hunting:
     1. Practice your interviews! I was terrible at my Mock Interview and I bombed on my very first OCI (with another agency) - I would not have hired myself if I was the interviewer. But only few weeks later, I did excellent on others.
     2. Polish your resume, especially when there's limited face-to-face interaction (before Interviews). Have your friends and/or Professors review your resume before submitting.
     3. Learn about the organization before approaching. This includes ARD and Meet the Firms - since first impression counts
     4. Always send Thank You Card/Letter/Email. It may not directly get you a job, but will leave a good impression. I used the card mainly because there's less space to write, also I have good penmanship. (Sometime it was hard NOT to write same messages when meeting ten partners/managers on the same day.) Cards worked for me; but some believe email and cards are not too professional, so modify accordingly.

Name: Christopher (Chris) Pham  
Employer: Stanislawski & Company, Inc. – Tax Services
Graduation Date: Fall 2008
Involvement: Accounting Society AS President Summer/Fall 2008, AS Fundraising Coordinator Winter/Spring 2008
How got the first interview: Through a former VP of AS
Comments: Who knew networking with AS members would have ended up giving me an opportunity to work for a great CPA firm which ultimately led to a full time offer! Take the initiative and become a leader within AS. I guarantee you it will be one of the best experiences of your college careers!

Name: David Rangel
Employer: Moss Adams - Business Assurance
Graduation Date: Summer 2007
Involvement: AS Member Winter – Summer 2006
How got the first interview: Accounting, Information Systems, and Finance Recruitment Day hosted by the Career Center and from presentation at the AS meeting

Name: Patricia (Patty) Rico
Employer: KPMG
Graduation Date: Spring 2007
Involvement: Accounting Society VP of Administration
How got the first interview: Accounting Honors Program
Comments: Hi y'all! As an active member of Accounting Society I must say that the Accounting Department at CSULA is one of the most active departments on campus. It is because of the clubs and professors in the Accounting Department that I have had several interviews and now will begin to work for KPMG in the Fall. So join Accounting Society. Half of your effort goes to getting great grades, the other half is networking/school involvement.
 

Name: Ovanes Selian
Employer: Moss Adams – Business Assurance
Graduation Date: Spring 2006
Involvement: AS President Winter & Spring 2006; AS Treasurer Summer & Fall 2005
Comments: I believe that what you put into the Accounting Society is exactly what you will get out of it. So try to put a lot into it - become an officer or get involved as a member. You won't regret it.
 

Name: Scott Tuck
Employer: McGladrey & Pullen LLP – Audit Services
Graduation Date: Summer 2007
Involvement: AS President Winter & Spring 2007
How got the first interview: On Campus Interview Program

Employer: Rothstein, Kass & Comp. - Audit Services
Graduation Date: Spring 2008
Involvement: AS VP of Administration Winter & Spring 2007; AS Member Fall 2006 – Fall 2007
How got the first interview: Contact gained through an internship at Bidz.com and through On Campus Interview Program
Comments: Don't give the President a hard time ;). Go to all events and meetings (you never know who you're going to meet). Keep your GPA high. Practice interviewing skills. Join professional organizations such as ISACA, CalCPA, and ALPFA.

Name: Gary (Jing) Zhang
Employer: CBIZ & MHM LLP
Graduation Date: Fall 2008
Involvement: Accounting Society 4 quarters, Beta Alpha Psi 4 quarters
How got the first interview: Through Accounting Society and Career Center
Comments: I would definitely encourage everyone to become a member of AS. It has been very helpful as far as developing social and professional skills. On top of that, I have had a lot of fun through all the social and community service events hosted by AS. Join today and get all the benefits for becoming a member!!