[Anonymous]

I graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting along with 150-hours required to be a CPA. I worked part time at some non-accounting related jobs in college. In spring of 2013, I landed a job at the daughter company of the actual company I wish to end up at. And fast forward to present day, and basically I am just frustrated at life. Firstly, I am frustrated that I am not having success at the CPA exam. Secondly, I am frustrated at my current job. It’s not really accounting related, and the daughter company is mostly a contractor, so jobs come and go at big numbers depending on how the contracting goes. And the thing about applying for jobs at parent company (or anywhere for that matter) is that I have to compete against people who have 5, 10, 15 years of experience. How am I suppose to compete with people with so much experience being just a recent graduate? And the thing about applying outside the company is that I have to be careful of where I wish to go, cause it would be really silly if I were to move to somewhere and that place turns out to be worse than where I currently am.

TLDR: I hate my life, I feel trapped, and I don’t know if there is anything I can do to change it. Comments? Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Just a comment:

Don't hate your LIFE. Maybe your professional life…but just look at the homepage of cnn.com, things could be so much worse.

Sorry, wish I had more than that haha. I'm sure some great suggestions will come soon! In the meantime, keep your head up and be grateful you have some kind of job. Glass half-full!

[teeteenounouche]

Why don't you focus on one thing at a time? Stay where you are and study for the CPA and stop your job search so you can put all of your attention to it. Once you're done, you will have more options available to you. You have a job so that's something to be positive about…

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Anonymous]

Not having success with the exam? You have BEC out of the way! I am anxiously awaiting my BEC score and would love an 81! Look at your improvement in REG- serious progress being made!

I'm in a stalemate with my job as well. I work at a great firm with affordable benefits, competitive salary, and great work/life balance- but every day I go to work, I feel like I'm on the verge of getting fired because of recent terminations for under-performance, and I am angry that people have been promoted to senior without passing a single section of the exam, whereas I plan on being licensed before being promoted. But what can I do about it? Nothing, aside from doing my very best to make my situation better for myself. Look at where you are now and think about where you will be in two, three, four years – not where you want to be, but where you WILL be. I'm not talking about that “positive energy in the universe” crap, I'm talking about believing in yourself, passing the exam, and knowing that someway, somehow, it gets better.

Chive on!

[stoleway]

You've passed BEC, there is no reason to hate your life. The job market is actually not fair but its always good to have a job whilst you fight for a career. I used to work in AP department for a very large telecom giant, I stayed there longer hoping to get a breakthrough into the accounting department, but anytime I apply for an open position, its always given to an outsider or a crony. I really love the company but I realized they actually didn't care about promoting people from within.

What did I do? I kept applying for jobs outside and finally landed a cost accounting position somewhere else, my salary has increased over the years but I know cost accounting is not what I want to do so I'm still searching for that great career.

You still need this job, so stay and apply for some other jobs outside. Don't be scared about changing jobs, there could be some great opportunities out there for you!

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Kls238]

I'm sorry to hear that you feel dissatisfied with your life at the moment. Ironically, I actually logged onto this site because I am feeling similar to how you are.

I graduated in 2013, but I have yet to find a job that is related to finance/accounting. This worked out okay last summer because my current position is sporadic hours, and I had a lot of medical setbacks that would not have allowed me to work full-time initially. However, although my medical setbacks are resolved, I'm in the same exact position I was last year with the exception of now having passed REG. It makes me feel inferior to most of my college friends, who are now further in their given career than I am.

Passing REG was a huge relief to me because it had been a rough year, and I had finally passed after several failures. Most importantly, though, I thought passing an exam would finally get me more interviews. Wrong.. I've sent several resumes since passing, but I'm receiving the same result: rejection. It's extremely frustrating!

To make matters worse, since I obviously can't find a job in accounting, I've now been applying to every finance position I can find. Most want/require you to have your series 7/63 license and/or CFA/CFP credentials, not the CPA. So basically, if I get one of those positions, the work I would have put into taking these exams would mean little, and I'd have to start studying for a completely different exam(s). I feel defeated thinking about it sometimes.

Sorry for the lengthy rant that was all about me, but the point was that you're not alone. You just have to force yourself to keep plugging away at the exams, to keep a positive attitude, and to have the faith that things will work out in the end. Even if it takes you longer than others, I'm confident things will start turning in your favor soon. I mean, you're already are on your way by passing BEC!

I wish you luck with the remainder of your exams. Hopefully, everything else will fall into place soon, too.

Passed all sections.

[Sir Study Alot]

..

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[John Tucker]

Determined,

I can help provide some direction but to begin, I have some questions:

1.) You mentioned that you began working non-accounting jobs in college, and that you started working at a daughter company in 2013 in again a non-accounting role? Okay, what are these roles? And overall, how many years of experience do you have in these non-accounting roles individually?

2.) What's your career goal ultimately within 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years? You mentioned that you have been in non-accounting jobs that have been on and off, what roles would you PREFER to be in?

3.) Keep plugging away at the CPA Exam.

Answer the questions above and I can help provide some direction. I will tell you though, as I preach on these forums, to get into any PROFESSIONAL entry level and above position in today's job market you have to have the following:

> 2-3 years of relevant experience

> 3 solid professional references

> The relevant education (degrees, certs, etc)

You mentioned that you are competing for positions with people who have up to 15 years of experience? It doesn't sound like you are truly targeting the jobs you TRULY qualify for AT THIS VERY MOMENT.

With every professional position there's a promotional ladder, it will begin with a non-entry level position that might be a contracting job or volunteer job or internship or apprenticeship type of position. You will get paid very little in that position but the point of it is to obtain the 2-3 years of relevant experience WHILE you obtain the relevant education and 3 solid professional references.

Then after that, you would begin applying for the actual entry level positions. Once you land the entry level position and stay there for 2-3 years, now you look for the “experienced” position right above entry level and stay there for 2-3 years. Then you would look for the mid-manager position and stay there for 2-3 years. Then you would look for the manager or top executive position and stay there until retirement.

That's the promotional ladder that's present in ALL professional positions today. You can't ignore this ladder unless you have some serious connections with people inside of the company to move you up quicker.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[005]

I'd recommend focusing on one exam, don't jump around. Focus on one and keep taking it until you pass it.

Good luck.

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[mla1169]

Of course you can change whatever you want to about your life. But you'll need to understand it rarely happens on your timetable. Keep plugging away toward what your goals are and you'll get there eventually.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

It sucks that you're going through this. Just know that most of us have been there. I applied to 100+ jobs after grad school and it was always–“overqualified in education, underqualified in experience”. To gain experience I went to staffing agencies and started working temporary and contract jobs in accounting (AP, Cash Applications, Inventory Control). I didn't get into my current company until 3-4 years after I graduated. I've been here for 7 years now and I'm still wondering if this is where I should be. There have even been times here that I felt stuck because of situations going on at work that were out of my control. The one thing I've done over the last year is decide not to make any career changes while I'm going for the CPA. I just want to focus on this and get it done. Most companies want to hire from the outside because if you are good at your job, they want to keep you there because having you move could affect them negatively for the role you are currently filling. People that move around a lot within the same company (excluding upward mobility) are usually not considered that valuable or they would have kept them where they were (in my experience). I know it is disheartening when the two biggest priorities in your life (work and school) seem to be working against you, but I believe that if you forgot about the career changes (for now) and focused on the CPA exam, you'll finish that and then doors will open for you. You may find that working for the parent company is not at all what you had thought it would be and it could be a blessing that you haven't gotten a job there yet. I'm not a hugely religious person, but there are times where I think things happen for a reason even if it doesn't feel that way while you are going through it. Keep your head up, work on the things you can change right now, pass the CPA, and then move on to bigger and brighter things.

[Anonymous]

@Determined…

I can definitely relate to your frustrations.

I've been toying with the CPA exam since 2010, and didn't get REALLY serious about passing until 2013 (I had to step back and decide whether I wanted this or not…for me…for my family). I needed a complete life make-over in regards to passing this exam. My final test is in 13 days.

Regarding, frustration with your job…I've been passed for numerous positions due to lack of experience (internal & external positions). If you're getting your CPA, and are planning on having a career in the accounting field…find a job that will get you that accounting experience. If not, you'll never reach those higher positions unless you have prior experience. I would suggest leaving that subsidiary and finding an accounting related position. You need to think long-term for resume' building.

I got my foot in the door 9 years ago interning for a public firm, worked there 5 years, transitioned to corporate for a senior accountant role, and today just accepted on offer elsewhere for an accounting manager position. After all that, I just now qualify for mid-tier management.

Just some personal advice, corporations LOVE hiring people with public accounting experience. If you can can that and your CPA license on your resume', that will definitely put you to the top of the list.

Best of luck with your exam.

TLDR: You can do EVERYTHING to change your situation. It's your life, no one else's. Don't feel trapped.

[tomq04]

No one has mentioned this side of it yet,

WELCOME TO YOUR 20'S!!!

They are awesome, but they are terribly frustrating!! You see your own potential, but you have to have be patient!! Our generation sucks at patience, but it is one of the most important characteristics you can develop. Keep kicking ass, and keep chugging on these tests.

I have an interesting swap, I have a job I LOVE!!!!! But the pay is such that we are barely surviving, but I can't imagine doing taxes or auditing for a 50% raise and hating my life. Life gets better, you adapt to your situations, and you keep chugging on.

NEVER STOP RUNNING!

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Lindrobe]

CMaxwell, I was reading your post and interested in the comment you made about companies loving to hire people with public accounting experience. Do you think this statement is true only for audit, or does it apply to those with experience in tax too? I am trying to get my foot in the door at a public firm and really struggling with where a tax position would lead to. I live in an area that does not have many in house tax jobs, but much of my experience in in non-profit tax at a University.

Sorry-not trying to hijack this thread, but would love it if you would expand on your comment above. 🙂

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Skynet]

To the OP, if you are frustrated with Life, just don't play the game anymore. Play Monopoly instead.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's necessarily true only for Audit. I think companies love accountants with public background because public accounting (from my experience) helps to hone your accounting skills, time management, and project leadership with your numerous engagements.

If you are planning on pursuing tax in public accounting, it can open quite a few doors in the corporate world as well. The tax department in a lot of corps are some of the most coveted positions. They range from the obvious preparation and filing of returns, to a very strategic planning role on the corporate structure. Pretty much, any M&A we perform, it runs through tax first. I'm sure I'm just scratching the surface here, but tax is huge in the corp environment.

[Author]

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