Career Success Stories

Marteen Bryant, Master of Professional Accountancy '11

Employer:
Ernst & Young, LLP

Title:
Assurance Staff I

How The Robinson College of Business Has Helped in My Career

• RCB has an excellent support system: from the faculty, to the staff and the alumni base.
• Allison Jacobs is an invaluable asset to the School of Accountancy. She is HONEST, fair and provided an unwavering level of support! It was through her advice and support that I was able to achieve so much during my time at Robinson, which ultimately led to my transition into public accounting.
• Sharon Cohen is worth her weight (and more) in gold. It was often our informal conversations that led to some of the best career advice I've ever received.  During a formal counseling session, Sharon made me face certain issues and questions that were pivotal in establishing my professional presence, defining my career goals and identifying the right career opportunities.
• The Career Center and RCC offers a number of services I used to assist with job searching and preparing for informal and formal interviews.

What I like most about attending Robinson:

• I am an alumna from a (top 50) nationally ranked university. It was important to me to further my education at a school that had a respectable reputation and a dynamic alumni base.
• I was attracted to RCB because the business and accounting programs are AACSB accredited.
• RCB is located in the heart of Atlanta and has connections with government agencies and all the major public and private companies in the metropolitan area.
• RCB is within miles of some of the largest public accounting firms in the world and nationwide. Location matters! 

Words of advice or encouragement I would to give current students or recent grads:

• Your academic and career goals should be led by a SMART plan of action: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound!
• Peruse your department's academic advisor and RCC!
• Be involved outside of academics! Develop a name for yourself outside of the classroom. People would be surprised at the number of candidates given an offer because of their commitment to extracurricular activities. These commitments speak highly of your character in a way a GPA could not!
• GET OUT THERE (again). Everyone is not doing it. I was awarded a number of scholarships and attended conferences (free of charge) simply by putting myself out there. Repeat: EVERYONE IS NOT DOING IT. 

What else would you like to add that may be of interest to students or other alums?:

• Measure success within your own parameters. Do not measure what Jane or Joe is doing against oneself. We are all unique in our goals and talents.
• Have a career marketing plan and perform a personal SWOT analysis.
• Have fun and live life. You need to have something to talk about other than classroom assignments in an interview or during an internship. 
• I personally want to thank Georgia State University and the Robinson College of Business for being a platform for my professional and personal pursuits. I entered graduate school seeking a degree and a job. I left with a (really) large professional family, an ongoing relationship with RCB and the School of Accountancy via the Women's Accounting Conference, and a budding career in public accounting.