Audit trainee : how to develop skills at a race pace

The first thing I'd like to say is that this article is written in my own point of view. I wish my managers actually noticed my improvements not that it's spectacular yet but it ought to be mentioned. 

Auditing requires a large range of competences from communicative skills to technical accounting stuff.

Big auditing firms tend to hire people with quite different backgrounds like students doing their major in science. That is to say that the knowledge in accounting is a secondary criterion. As far as my understanding of my new job goes, auditing is rooted in the relationship you build with your client. I feel more comfortable having a chat about technical stuff with my clients after 4 weeks of work than when I started.

I also understood a vital thing: when you interview someone, you need to have a grasp of the subject you're inquiring on in order to avoid any uncomfortable situations. One day, a client took the lead of the interview and started to ask ME questions. I was puzzled and tried to put my ideas together in a rush. I understood that any inquiry has to be consistent, justified, complete and that the context has to be well described to the interlocutor. This rule might be applicable at the everyday life as well. Now, I'm more able than ever to avoid confusing chats.

So far I also improved my organisation skills. At the beginning of every mission, I get to know on which part I'll have to work on. Usually, on Monday I'm aware of the amount of work I'll have to provide during the week. Depending on the tasks, the documents to collect in order to support my analysis are numerous and from various sources. Gathering documents requires strategic organisation leaning on the capability to be flexible and to adapt to a new environment quickly.

Come back

Since I came back from Aussie I wasn't quite assiduous in keeping-up my blogger activity. I looked for some excuses and those are the following one that I please you to accept:

• Coming back home after a year abroad is challenging: 

I lived for 10 months away from everything I first learned to be the World. My experience opened up my eyes and threw me in front of a brand new World. Not to mention that there's quite a huge gap in between.

Everything I learned during my exchange became more real than ever once I went back because. I had the feeling I was on a diffrent planet for 10 months. My dreams grew bigger during thisyear abroad.I Met people. Get the concept of  "think global". Spoke several langages. Discovred new cultures. And so on.

When you return it first seems that your former life isn't in compliance with those dreams you strived for abroad.

In other words, it took me much effort to get back on my roots without forgetting all what I've learned in Australia: being myself, mind the people around me and BE HAPPY!

• My everyday life : not much of an excitment

I worked in a supermarket for 4 months. I was responsible for the merchandising and supply of three aisles: breaskfast drinks, breakfast cakes, marmelade & fruit purée. Those ranges of products don't have any secret to me anymore.

The thing is that the work timetable wasn't approriate to enjoy a partyful summer. As I started at 6am from monday to saturday, I could'nt afford to party or even to enjoy the nice and cosy hot nights in Strasbourg (Temperatures were astonishlingly high!). My first concern during the day was to find some time to take a nap... #ILoveSummerJobs 

• I finished reading a 1000 pages novel (no kidding)

I read the first book of Justin Cronin's trilogy. It's an apocalyptic book I bought accidentally in Asutralia. I didn't excpect to be able to read through 1000 pages narrating a vampire like story. The Passage is a marvellous written book who takes you away from thecontemporaray aspects of life. The autor brings you in a new world through the eye of sensible and appealing characters. 

See you very soon. 

McLaren Vale

I drove some friends to McLaren Vale (wine region located south Adelaide). There are many wine regions around Adelaide (Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Barossa Valley and many others) but this one has a real advantage: it is located really close to the beach.

What's better than chilling at the beach, then enjoy the perfect surroundings of the valley and the precious beverage in welcoming wineries estates (for free!!!)?

My friends were quite surprised that wine tasting were free. One of the staff answered to my curious friend (who was ashamed not to buy anything) why it was so and what was the advantage wineries take from this wide spread "wine tasting" concept? Of course, they want us to enjoy our time in their winery, to have a chat with us and eventually that we'll tell our friends how amazing this experience was! Simple as ABC. Word of mouth! What else?

Picture: Hugh Hamilton Wines

BYO

I was first stunned when I heard about the bring your own concept. I didn't get the point of going to the restaurant and bringing your own alcoholic drink.

But it actually makes sense, I mean, as a consumer I'm happy to drink the wine I chose. You save money and you enjoy the meal even more!

Some restaurants even encourage you to come by with your own drink even though they have a wine list. Where's the trick then? Do we consume more (go for a desert for instance) when we're actually saving money on the drinks? Are the restaurants able to save money if they have a smaller stock?

Somehow, everyone's a winner!

Picture: lately I enjoyed a fine wine from Adelaide Hills in a Greek restaurant. It was a nice combination!

Bounce

Last week-end I had some fun at Bounce with my friends. The concept is simple: bounce, have fun...but at your own risk!

The premises are quite big, like a huge sports hall but furnished with trampoline everywhere. It's cool  to experience the feeling of being a kangaroo while jumping from one trampoline to another.

BUT, as I'm not an experienced "bouncer" the opportunity of having fun is fairly small. Back flip? No way! I'm not even capable of doing a front flip! Indeed, I think the concept is fantastic for people experienced in extreme jumps or in gymnastics. One hour (15 AUD) of bouncing was a bit long. The only attraction that was awesome to me was the basketball area. For the first time of my life I hung on the basket!

Anyway, the entrance fee is quite high, you have to pay for adhesive socks (2 AUD and they're yours) and for the locker (2 AUD). I bounced once, I won't twice!


PS: the back pain next morning was dreadful

Discounts mania

I discovered a new way to do my shopping in Australia: running after discounts just before closure time.
Indeed, when products are close to due date they're gradually discounted 1 hour before the shop closes its doors. It often gets really interesting cause you get quality food for a really good price.

Look, I went shopping for 20 cents !!!

No, I'm not stingy! It's just a fun and cheap way to do my groceries and to make it a less boring experience.
I'm not a shopper anymore, I'm bargain hunter!

Verdict : I'm a freak

I had the chance to jump from a 134 meter high platform. Yes, I call it chance!

New-Zealand is world known for its extreme adventures spots and I simply couldn't leave the country without trying out something crazy.
The range of choice is quite large in NZ but I wanted to do something unique...

I choose to do a bungy jump with A.J. Hackett, the company who popularized the bungy jump. First, it provided me some reassurance according to their background (30 years without any accident, actually not that bad!) and it brought some more uniqueness to my experience.

Based in Queenstown, the company offers three different bungy jumps:
- the classic, the same where the very first jump was completed,
- the free-style, for experienced jumpers
- and the Nevis (134m high).

It was quite hard to choose whether to die in a classic or freestyle way. While you are at it, let's do the highest one!

Surprisingly, I jumped without any hesitation (after I made sure many times I was properly attached, of course) and I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH !!!!

All I could feel was excitation, adrenaline and a tremendous feeling of freedom... The service provided was perfect: lovely staff, nice premises, awesome pictures..

I strongly advise to anyone who wants to dare something nuts to jump from a bridge (please make sure you're attached). Go out of your comfort zone and test your limits!

I personally didn't find my limits doing it, I'll have to try some other extreme adventure to frighten myself... To be continued !