INTERVIEW REFLECTION

Interview Reflection
Jenny Tan
Professor Elizabeth Bruce
Professional Development, BA 3100.0U1
2014, July 21

In July 11, I interview with Bill McLaughlin the Chief Financial Officer in CPM Medical
Consultants. CPM Medical Consultants is a small company. It provides surgical services and
sells surgical instruments to all hospitals in the U.S. I was a little bit nervous while waiting for
bill, in their conference room. About 5 minutes after, Bill walked in and invited me to interview
in his office. I have never talked to Mr. McLaughlin before. I emailed his assistant at
mlvalenzuela.miller@gmail.com to set up this interview. I feel very honored and lucky to have a
20 minute interview with Mr. McLaughlin in his busy day. Although this is not a job interview, it
is a great experience from me to practice a real job interview. From this interview, I not only
taught plenty of knowledge outside of textbooks and realized education is a good foundation, but
also knowledge I how to be a better and successful person.
Interviewees (Bill McLaughlin) Background
Mr. McLaughlin is forty-one years old and got promoted to be a CFO at CPM Medical
Consultants in the beginning of 2014.

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Education
Mr. Bill studied finance in Chicago University. He graduated with a MS in accounting at
Indiana University in 1984. He achieved his CPA in 1990.
Work History
Mr. Bill moved to Dallas for an accounting job in Dr. Pepper Company in 2003. He
worked with Dr. Pepper as an accountant manager for five years. Then he got hired as a
controller in CPM Medical Consultants in the beginning of 2009.
Interviewees Future Plans
Bill McLaughlin future goal is to lead the company to become one of the fortunes 500 in
the next five years and retire at his fifty. Keep up with school because education is the foundation
of career. Even we dont during the 100 percent of textbook interview, he encouraged me to we
still need the knowledge to enter to social. Bill said that even he is a CFO right now; he only
used about 40% of what he learned from school. His jobs and experience provide the rest of the
60%. This is he shared his story and encouraged every student dont give up school if you have a
chance to stay. As long as you have a based education or strange foundation, it will help you to
walk into the social life and build your career easier. As a student, try to build up your social
network while you still at school by joining the school activities or using intermediate such as,
Facebook, Linkinde, Twitter, monster.com. The more knowledge you absurd from other people,
the better person you will become. When you read more information about the requirements of
jobs in your studying area, you will have better clue about what you are doing. We emphasized
that no matter where you are at, be creative and productive.
Interviewees Advice
Bill said that he doesnt need a fancy office with TV and DVD players. As long as he has
a computer, a desk, and a chair will work great to him. From what I saw, his office is very
simple, no special design or fashion things around. To have a successful career, I really dont
think environment would impact us much. He said that when we talked mistake is about mistake
human being. As long as we do not let any mini mistakes affect my life, we are good. Learn from

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mistakes, and get up from where he fall is more important than anything else. Be creative and
make your own great path in the career.
Computer technologies as the representative of the IT revolution in development of
human social mediate a profound impact on information. Such as, google has become a proper
portrayal. At this time, no matter of social economic environment, people use information is
profound in changing. Two mainly reflected of precedent changes in accounting: first,
accounting techniques update constantly. For example the computerized accounting manual
bookkeeping has been changed as saves in hard drive. Enterprises established also under the
network and updated at every minute. Secondly, the accounting application is speedy expanding.
Enterprise manufacturing environment and management are innovation of computer technology.
We can not only learn from the accounting textbooks, but also in a variety accounting software.
Then have theory and technology is improving, Mr. McLaughlin has been dedicated to
implement a computerized accounting position for a two months internship. In the very
beginning, he directed registration books from an accountant, and then implements a
computerized billing system. When he moved to fill in vouchers content, there is the following
the information: certificate category, number, date, subject content. Next, he calculated product
costs based on invoice. According he calculated the selling price of the product. After, he did
reconciliation based on the data to product costs. All these steps are to complete the general
ledger. Then trial balance was accordance debit and credit balance. As long as journal entries are
record correctly. Computer would automatically fill the accounting books. It should be correct
and balance as well. Accounting is not a perfect operation in computer. Virus can destroy any
data in the computer. In order to ensure the consistent, companies usually back up data after the
month end closing. With the relevant content, he prepared for the balance sheet and income

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statement. Through that month of internship, Mr. McLaughlin cultivated practical ability, and
increased the actual business operating experience.
In the 21th century, computerization is a universal tool that replaces manually entering or
hand writing. After data processing tool changed, it brings a huge impact in accounting and
finance. Computerization promotes accounting standardization, and universal management with
software. As a professional accounting student, I should practice learning objects with
accounting software. All jobs require computer knowledge. Besides memorizing and understand
accounting concepts, I should keep eyes on new technologies. Every position requires good
communication skills as well; I should join more school activities and expand my social network.
After the interview, I realized that share my experience with other people or listen to other
people is a great way to improve my communication skills. If I build up all the above
experiences, I would become a professional student with a bright future. After I graduate from
the University of Texas at Dallas, I want to be a veritable accountant who has my own business.

Assessment

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AREA
Professionalism (10 points)
Essay features APA formatting.
Essay is roughly 1,000 words.
College Level Writing (55 points)
Essay demonstrates effective first paragraph.
Essay includes interviewees contact information in the first paragraph.
Essay demonstrates organization with a cohesive flow and construction.
Essay demonstrates effective concluding paragraph that summarizes essay
and points to the future.
Essay demonstrates college level writing regarding sentence structure,
grammar and punctuation.
Essay demonstrates college level writing regarding word choice.
Content (85 points)
Essay demonstrates evidence of a logically conducted interview.
Essay features biography of the interviewee
Essay explores the educational background and training of the
interviewee.
Essay explores the professional and workplace background of the
Interviewee.
Essay explores any future goals the interviewee has.
Essay features advice from the interviewee
Essay pinpoints specific areas of advice from the interviewee to the writer.
Essay discusses how the interviewee would direct the writer.
Essay discusses areas that were of surprise to the writer.
Essay features reflection on the part of the writer
Essay explores the connection between the interviewee and the writers
Future.
Essay explores how the information learned in the interview can and will
affect the writers journey.
Essay features discussion on how the writer plans to move forward.
Total Possible Points

Possible

5
5

10
5
10
10
10
10

10
10
10
5
10
10
5
5
10
10
150

Earned

INTERVIEW REFLECTION