Dreaded "what is your salary history" question

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  • #824227
    monikernc
    Participant

    mla, thanks for posting. that question is awkward for me because i used to make a lot more in IT than i expect to make in accounting.
    however, NC is a very backa$$ward state and these fools will probably make the question mandatory. hell, they will probably make me tattoo my salary history onto my forehead. stay tuned.

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    #824314
    csvirk
    Participant

    @monikernc always wondered why you switched from IT to Accounting, given you had a good paying job? your input will be valuable.

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    #824497
    monikernc
    Participant

    csvirk, i ran the unemployment insurance systems for the state for close to 10 years. the last 5 were during the worst recession, ever. we implemented more than 15 law changes that were passed by Congress after they had expired and we had to make them retroactive. we were running a 40+ year old mainframe program that was difficult to change because the laws changed some of the foundational requirements. in addition to that full time i was also working full time on the RFP to write a new system with 3 other states. i worked 6 days a week for almost 6 years straight. mostly 60-80 hour weeks. it became extremely political. my boss retired and i was put in interim CIO position for over a year and through 2 leadership changes – each of the new executives had conflicting priorities and work that was completed under high level of scrutiny and impossible deadlines was declared null and void and i was told i was stupid for ever following orders – no option there – so we did a 180 and completed a new pet project – at Christmas. i got a new boss who was an absolute nightmare. went through 4 reorgs in 5 years. at the end of the day the money wasn't worth it and it really was not about IT anymore. i safeguarded more than 20,000,000 wage records and >1,000,000 tax accounts without a breach. designed, developed and rolled out a fraud detection system here and in 40 other states.
    after 5 years of having the rock rolled back over me to the bottom of the hill i said no more. i have been offered opportunities and money to go back into it but refuse. for me the satisfaction is gone. i wound up feeling there was no success left to be had – someone in power was always going to be bitching, the media would always be ready to pounce and people were always going to whine. and of course there is more i am not allowed to discuss.

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    How have you been?
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    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

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    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
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    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #824515
    Skynet
    Participant

    This is actually good news!

    It's these kinds of questions that keeps great accountants out of the job market all because the employers are too cheap.

    Then they complain that they can't find good people or they want somebody exactly like Jesus who will hit the ground running on the first day and solve everything problem and expected to be all and know all.

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    #824524
    csvirk
    Participant

    @monikernc. After working 5 months as a tax auditor I understand where you coming from. Has it ever been occurred to you to start your own consulting/IT business? Please don't mind my questions. Reason I am asking is that I have couple of friends who were in engineer/finance majors and went to IT rout and they always tell me to switch to IT and ditch CPA route. Honestly I would love to have a coffee with you and get know more about your experience. Thank you for your input.

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    Hardwork will always pay off!

    FAR: 71, 77!
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    #824527
    Accountant183748
    Participant

    @monikernc I'm also interested in your answer/experience too. I've heard a lot of people say IT is a lot less stress and better pay.

    #824539
    .
    Participant

    I've heard that some people lie/fudge their past salary, so as to get a better offer. Occasionally the company will ask for proof with your W-2s. Talk about intrusive.

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    #824542
    jm962011
    Participant

    @MLA, I can't find anything to support this but I did hear on the news that the law doesn't go into affect until 2017.

    #824659
    monikernc
    Participant

    my early years in IT were great. the last job just broke my spirit. the environment was so toxic. i was originally an accounting major who wound up as a finance major (because i love it) with MBA who landed in IT for many reasons early on. my career was upward from the get go. i have worked with great people on great projects but when i was done i wanted to give this a go as my encore career. ironically, i have worked on projects where deloitte was a vendor but don't want to work on that end with them or anyone on those particular projects. i will probably end up working just as hard in accounting and hopefully with more satisfaction than IT offered at the end.
    IT is a great career but the target always moves – staying current with changes in technology is a big challenge. data privacy is another area i do not miss. the risks are so great and the threats so real. i never did it for the money but the money got thrown at us just the same. in the end the money could not compensate me enough and i am never offered enough to make me think twice about.
    accountants deserve to be paid more but the money comes eventually. just remember money always comes at a price. do what you love – i just stopped when i didn't love it anymore. it became just a paycheck.
    csvirk, logistically, coffee probably won't work but it is a nice invite. thanks.

    AUD - 93
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    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #824716
    csvirk
    Participant

    Duplicate Post.

    AUD - 80
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    REG - 84
    Hardwork will always pay off!

    FAR: 71, 77!
    AUD: 69, 80
    BEC: 72
    REG: 84

    #824722
    csvirk
    Participant

    @monikernc Pleasure is all mine. Thank you for your input. Lately I am thinking more about doing something which I like/love than looking just for money. Only reason I switched to accounting was because it was the first class I actually enjoyed while in college. Before I used to think money is everything but now, I believe pursuing personal goals are more satisfactory than running after money.

    AUD - 80
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    FAR - 77
    REG - 84
    Hardwork will always pay off!

    FAR: 71, 77!
    AUD: 69, 80
    BEC: 72
    REG: 84

    #824728
    Missy
    Participant

    jm that makes sense as most newly signed laws take several months to become effective but a smart HR department would put the brakes on that question now if for nothing but establishing best practices.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #824836
    SaveBandit
    Participant

    @monikernc

    Have you thought about getting into accounting info systems? It seems there are people who know accounting and people who know IT, but few people who understand both. An accounting/IT skillset is pretty valuable IMO.

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    4 for 4

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    #824971
    monikernc
    Participant

    i would love to be a systems accountant but will not do advisory work. IT audit would be frustrating for me because there are too many vulnerabilities that would go unnoticed/unchecked/unchanged. i have seen it all. i have been involved in too many projects where too much money is spent for what was delivered. i don't agree with the use of the data that is collected on us. i could never be a greedy vendor. the cloud is my worst nightmare. i hate thinking about it. it all took a bad turn around 10 years ago. i have to live with it but i don't have to make a living doing it.

    AUD - 93
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    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #825133
    Nessie
    Participant

    Monikernc, thank you for posting your experience. Everything you said was really interesting.

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