Coming to America: An Associate’s Journey to Weiss

My family immigrated here 10 years ago from India. Originally, I did not plan to become an accountant; I was thinking of medicine or engineering. But when my father retired, I needed to be the sole bread winner for my family. So I went to Northeastern Illinois University and majored in management, and worked full-time at the airport while in school.

When I graduated, I got a job at a bank, but I wasn’t happy. Some of my friends were accountants, and I thought I could be good at it. So I got an internship at Weiss in January 2020. A lot of people told me it wasn’t a smart idea, since I already had a full-time job, but it turned out to be the best experience I ever had. At the end of the internship I was hired on full-time.

The culture here at Weiss is great. Everyone is super friendly, and the partners are approachable. That’s not something you can find elsewhere. The mentorship program is also something I’ve never had in my career before. I feel like I’m in good hands.

In India, everyone dreams of coming to the United States. It was a great opportunity for me, even though I had to work hard while in school. But my sacrifice has paid off. Now my younger sister has gotten into medical school, and I’m pursuing my master’s in accountancy. I feel really fortunate for the opportunity and the chance to make the most of it.

— Shaz Shah, Staff Accountant