[Anonymous]

Hi everyone. I graduated couple months ago with 150 credits, and excepted an offer for Staff Accountant position at a relatively big company. Before that I worked for 2 small CPA firms doing taxes seasonally (2 tax seasons January-June) and as a bookkeeper for a small business in between the seasons, that served me as my internship and I gained some experience through college in both public and private. I had an offer to stay at the last CPA firm, but the pay would have been so + no benefits, that’s why I took the Staff Acc. job. I am currently working on my CPA, and my goal is to come back into public accounting again but be hired by a big acc. firm. I am not aiming at Big Four, but mid-tier firms like Baker Tilly, Wipfli, CLA, or smth else regional would be just fine. I am thinking there is now career progression without public acc. experience, and don’t want to sit in the industry and wait to be promoted, besides in public you learn way more. And, I don’t mind working long hours during the season… So my question is: would it be possible to be hired by a good and reputable regional firm if I show up on the job market again in a year with the CPA passed? I am kind of worried because those firms they hire their own Interns, and also, would the year in private be an obstacle to get that kind of job? I really didn’t have a chance to do internships at big acc. companies, cause I am 28 now and I wanted to graduate as soon as possible, and I didn’t want to take the whole semester off to do internship (it is a requirement at those firms), so had to go with smaller ones, ’cause they’re more flexible if you’re still taking classes at school. Also, I didn’t have any chance to wait until September, when those firm start to recruit, and I needed a good job with benefits. So, would my come back be possible, would age be an issue, would working in private be a problem? I would appreciate any advice.

[WeWillSee]

I work at one of the firms you mentioned. I was 29 when I was hired as a new staff, they don't ask and you don't have to tell them your age – I did get my job offer after my internship here but I know that they do hire people from smaller firms with some experience – because the interns aren't always hireable! Give it a shot, I don't think you should assume you won't have a chance because of the route you have taken.

[Anonymous]

Oh, wow. That's really cool that you work for one of those firms. Yea, by just studying people's resumes on LinkedIn, I noticed that a lot of their current employees worked in the industry or for tiny CPA firms before. But still I heard they hire more people through internships. Is it true though??

[WeWillSee]

There are definitely more staff here that were hired after their internship, than staff that were hired without an internship but, the year I was an intern there were quite a few staff hired that had never had an internship or any experience at all.

Has our region hired any interns from the past couple years? – No they haven't – so this coming fall they'll be hiring staff that haven't had internships here. It all kind of depends on the office, the area, the needs of the office/firm – but you never know, so you should definitely submit resumes. The fact that you went private for a short time shouldn't be a big problem.

If you end up getting an interview my advice would be:

Don't say that you didn't have an internship because you didn't want to take a break from school, try to avoid the fact that you didn't have an internship and highlight the experiences you had doing tax work in small CPA firms instead. Also, don't say that you went private because you missed the application deadline, or whatever, just say you wanted to try something different but now that you have been there for however long you realize that you like the pace and type of work you saw in public accounting and believe it is the right fit for you.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

That is a very helpful answer. Thank you, WeWillSee.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

whoops wrong thread

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 worked in industry in college full-time, and after graduating took a paid internship. It was a tough decision for two reasons- the company I worked for offered me $10,000 more than the starting salary I'd be making if hired at the public firm, and there was no guarantee I'd get an offer. But, I knew that if I didn't take the leap, I'd guarantee my experience would be limited to the industry I was in (retail – how exciting!), and I would never know “what might have been.” I took the internship, accepted a offer three months later, and am living the glamorous life of a staff auditor. In the six months since I started my internship, I have become infinitely more marketable than I was if I was still at my old position.

My advice – it's not impossible to get hired with limited experience, especially with a CPA – but have you considered applying for an internship? Accounting internships pay very, very well, and all but guarantee they will hire you full-time. During my internship, I was working 50-60 hour weeks, but was getting paid hourly, so my paychecks were bigger than the seniors. Furthermore, if you haven't already started your CPA review program, just about any public firm will eat the cost for you, and give you a bonus upon completion.

[Anonymous]

I can apply only as an experienced employee, cause I am not in college anymore. There's no way to apply for internships anymore.

[Author]

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