[Rocky123]

I thought that once I became a CPA, I would have better career options. I didn’t expect to become a CFO over night, but I thought that it would open some doors.

Now, I think prospective employers just view me as someone with past crappy jobs and now a CPA.

They probably see me as “overqualified” for some jobs and “underqualified” for others. I’m lost in the gap.

I want a more challenging position that will someday lead me to becoming a controller. I see my next job as a stepping stone where I can get my hands dirty, so to speak. Now I need someone to take a chance on me…

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[thelawnwranglers]

Rocky how far along in your career or you? Try not to get bogged down in that what is happening right now and keep trying to move forward. It is a marathon.

[Anonymous]

From my experience, I would disagree with this thread. I've worked in public for a little less than 6 months and I've noticed that any senior or manager in assurance with those 3 letters has multiple options going for them, whether it be getting recruiter calls or job offers to jumping on board with clients as manager/controller/senior accountant positions. Mind you these positions paying at least $70K+ on the low end (assuming $80Ks average).

Additionally, the three letters transitions into many other professions. Sales, finance, banking, etc….

It's all what you make of it. Anyone disagree?

[OnMyWay732]

I think the best view of the CPA was told to me like this.

The CPA might not rocket your career, but NOT having it will definitely hold you back.

Might have actually been someone on the forum. Plus, now you can impress family and friends.

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[taxman89]

“The CPA might not rocket your career, but NOT having it will definitely hold you back.”

this^^

as big of a pain that this test is, it isnt exclusive enough for it to be something that will be a “golden ticket” for anything. My sole reason for getting it is how limited i would be if i didnt have it.

AUD - 75
BEC - 77
FAR - 78
REG - 82

AUD: 61-67-75 (Thanks ninja aud)
BEC: 77
FAR: 78
REG:69-73-70-82

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[Anonymous]

I'd be curious to see what people's salaries and/or job prospects are usually like based on if they are/arent a CPA, experience, field, age, etc.

[howmany74s]

In case you are not doing this already, networking is always a good way to interact with experienced people and be exposed to those jobs that are not always announced on the internet/recruiting firms database.

I am a member of the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and I interact with a lot of people from various backgrounds/firms.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

@ Blackhawks32 I disagree with you disagreeing. I don't think that anyone is denying the fact that a CPA on top of an established and accomplished career is great. What I think that people are suggesting is that the CPA is the cherry on top of an already established career and is less beneficial for someone with no relevant experience.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[Anonymous]

I'm of the opinion that sending out resumes is a very bad job strategy. First of all, virtually everyone does it. Second, the resumes are filtered by a computer (not a person) for resumes which contain certain key words. Third, even after the computer has filtered thousands, tens of thousands, of resumes and narrowed it down to (for example) one hundred, the HR department still needs to choose a select few to interview, and they might only give each resume a ten-second glance.

When I came to Dallas to search for work I went to business networking meetings and kept talking to people. I would continuously ask for leads into public accounting firms, and in that way I had gotten several interviews, and I almost never had to send a resume to the HR black hole. On top of that I met multiple business people, expanded my horizons, and had fun on the search! I also got MANY more interviews.

[Herbieherb]

When I first got licensed, I thought every job I applied for with this newly minted CPA license would call me for an interview…it wasn't the case. I think for every 15 to 20 resumes I sent out, I would get a call. Keep at it, and yes its worth it…think of all the others who don't have it, you are special ^^

NEW YORK- DONE

[Martin]

There are not that many CPAs here in South Florida. I have a theory that people who live in hot climates do not want to do anything that requires a lot of thinking. I have worked in 2 fortune 500 companies. We were around 110 Accountants in the office and only 10 CPAs. The last job that I had I think the accounting department only had 50 accountant and only 5 CPAs. Bottom line, there is a huge demand here in South Florida (Miami,Fort Lauderdale) for cpas.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[mla1169]

Here's my deal. I got fired from a job on 1/31/14. Boss quickly realized he had bigger problems than finding my replacement (he fired me for refusing to ignore the IRS rules), sent me a big fat check if I'd sign a letter agreeing not to sue his a$$, which I signed, gladly!

Beginning that day I sent out 8-10 resumes per day until March 8. Yes you read that right, 300+ resumes. Landed an AWFUL job that I started on 3/31. I continued looking even on the very day I started that job. In all Id guess 460+ resumes landed me 50 or so interviews and 5-6 offers. I'm sure there are other people who find THE job after only sending a dozen or so resumes.

Did it take longer and more effort than I would prefer? Yeah, of course. But I wrote a “wish list” of my ideal position from salary, to company size, to responsibilities to benefits. THIS job hit every single bullet point on my wish list. Even though it's been 3 years since I got my license, I have no doubt that without it I wouldn't have this job.

And never once did I question the effort I was putting in.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Network network network

[Anonymous]

Network network network

[Mjganier]

It can be very hard to find the right job if you're in an area with low demand for accountants. It took me 2 years with hundreds of resumes sent and 30 interviews before I landed my current job. Either I wasn't what they wanted, my grades weren't good enough, they weren't right for me, or what they offered was highly unreasonable. I didn't have the financial resources to move as well as my fiance didn't want to leave her family. I know it can be frustrating and demoralizing but, wallowing in this state of mind is counter productive. Finding what you want will take time. Best thing to do right now is to continue busting your butt at your current job and keep on applying. Law of large numbers. The more you apply, the higher your chances will be. Also, as an interview pointer, make sure you portray yourself as someone who is willing to learn and will bust ass for them. Having the CPA is not a golden ticket. Continuing to work hard for what you want is. Do that and someone will give you your chance just as I was given.

FAR 8/18/2014--87
AUD 10/18/2014--78
REG 11/24/2014--76
BEC 2/28/2015--76

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"-Albert Einstein

Study Mats: Cpaexcel study text and EQ, Ninja MCQ, Ninja notes

[Anonymous]

I've been known to say on here that any good candidate should be able to get a job within accounting, so if I'm one of the commenters that Rocky has seen, I'll just clarify my comments…

There's two things I want to point out: one is that it has to be a solid candidate – there may be something in how you're presenting yourself that is harming your “solid candidate” status. Could be anything from a issue on your resume to some behavior you exhibit during interviews to any other item that people are picking up on. I don't know what type of job you have right now and what the “next step” level is that you're trying to step to, so not sure what specifics would play in, but if you're getting no calls then there's probably something with resume/cover letter; if you're getting no 2nd calls, then there's probably something with how you present yourself on interview day. I've recently, for the first time, been on the interviewer side of things, and was genuinely surprised by the resumes that we received, some from people who came to us with high recommendation and were quite possibly good candidates, but you couldn't tell it from the resume. On the flip-side, some of the ones with strong resumes were strong “no”s once they got in the interview due to their behavior. The tough thing is, no one can judge their own behavior well, and most people we know are too polite to tell us what we need to hear. If you've got some people with business sense who are willing to be brutally honest, having them review your resume and do some mock interviews may be valuable.

Second thing I wanted to clarify is that even though I do believe every strong candidate can get an accounting job, I don't mean to imply that it will be quick or easy. I like to think I'm a strong candidate; I was looking for 6+ months for my current job. (I don't remember exactly when I started looking, but know I had an interview in June and started my job Dec 1, so over 6 months.) I didn't send out hundreds of resumes and applications, cause I'm in a small-town area where there's just not that many openings, but it still took awhile. However, eventually, it worked – I got a job that was a step up and I love it. I hope I don't have to do any job-hunting for many years to come cause I hate it…but I do understand that solid candidates don't get better jobs quickly, just do believe that they get them eventually.

[Author]

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