How does one work 50+ hours a week?

Here's how I get my 55 hours a week in.

They hire me for a 45 hour/week job.

I spend 2 hours on the forum each of the 5 work days.

I end at 55 hours.

Heres what our early retired accountant does. He retired to South Carolina and works for 1 month of the year during the tax season with an established clientelle and probably makes more money than most average people in that time period. It doesn't make him rich but enough to live comfortably when combined with a pension.

1. Not all the time. About half the stuff I enjoy, the other half I don't. During the day, I usually work on my sections of the audit, and at night, I review my staffs' work. It's easier for me to review their work when people aren't asking me questions, sending me emails, or calling me.

2. The pay is enough right now to make a decent living if I lived by myself. Since I live at home with my parents, the pay is really good. There are a few senior associates in my office that own a house and live by themselves. This is easy to do in Houston since housing is cheap.

3. As you progress and get promoted, the hours don't really reduce. As Taxler said above, the hours start to blur on what's work and what's not. I've been working for 2 years and was recently promoted to senior. The past few months I've been working as a senior which is why I've been working so much. Most people will tell you that being a senior is the hardest job which is why most people quit at that level.

Most people when they quit become GL accountants which is pretty easy but boring. They typically make from $50-70k in Houston depending where you go and the experience you bring. Others go to internal audit which pays better then GL accountants and offers better opportunities for advancement.

What is GL? Thanks for the other info btw!

Edit, found it. Is General Ledger your basic private accountant?

Yes, pretty much your basic corporate accountant.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

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If college had been like that for me, I could see where having to work might have been a shock. Luckily I was seasoned by years of having to pay my own way.

+1!

Originally Posted by dusty

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I don't know what it's like in the accounting world, but still, what the hell is going on in this thread? You can't be successful without working more than 50 hours a week? I guess if you don't consider yourself a success until you are driving a Benz, then yeah. But what about those people whose idea of success is maximizing the amount of time they get to spend with their families while still providing a decent living for them?

But dusty, didn't you know? It takes $500k a year just to get comfortable!

50 hr/wk for entry level positions is like vacation for many of the high potential career paths. If earning big bucks aren't your top priority, you should consider getting a job at DMV, USPS or local city/county government. 40 hr/wk jobs plus overtimes!

I still remember my first job in the financial industry... 60 hr/wk when not busy (lol...) and 80-100 hr/wks are the norm.

****, I worked 50 hours last weekend..

I hope to someday work 300 hours a week.

Originally Posted by Connemara

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I hope to someday work 300 hours a week.

Time machine?

The level of one-upmanship in this thread...

Well I'll go against the grain here and brag about how few hours I have to work a week, 36.25 hours (plus lunches). I probably end up working about 38-39 plus lunches and obviously more during the rare week that I travel.

Pretty good gig, pays well enough and as much as I hate to use the term, my work/life balance is excellent. I'm sure as I get more responsibility I'll have to work more, but I highly doubt I'll ever need to go over 50 plus lunches.

Originally Posted by LVoer

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Well I'll go against the grain here and brag about how few hours I have to work a week, 36.25 hours (plus lunches). I probably end up working about 38-39 plus lunches and obviously more during the rare week that I travel. Pretty good gig, pays well enough and as much as I hate to use the term, my work/life balance is excellent. I'm sure as I get more responsibility I'll have to work more, but I highly doubt I'll ever need to go over 50 plus lunches.
It goes without saying, but what do you do? Please and thank you

Originally Posted by LVoer

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Well I'll go against the grain here and brag about how few hours I have to work a week, 36.25 hours (plus lunches). I probably end up working about 38-39 plus lunches and obviously more during the rare week that I travel.

Pretty good gig, pays well enough and as much as I hate to use the term, my work/life balance is excellent. I'm sure as I get more responsibility I'll have to work more, but I highly doubt I'll ever need to go over 50 plus lunches.

Good for you. (I mean that seriously, for once I'm not being snide.)

I have to say, anyone who works 60-80 hour weeks all the time and has more than, say, 100 posts or so on Styleforum either: 1) isn't actually working 60+ hours a week, or 2) really needs to rethink what he does with his down time! If I was consistently working 60+ hour weeks, I would definitely not be spending my free time on internet message boards.

Originally Posted by longskate88

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It goes without saying, but what do you do? Please and thank you

Consultant with the Government. That last part explains it all.