[Anonymous]

My background:

Graduated with MSA in 2011

have short term internship experience in a small CPA firm before graduate

do not have working experience after graduation

passed all parts of CPA exams

want to land a job in a small-mid size firm on tax side

I have some connections through linkedin who are staffs or managers even partners in CPA firms, I do not know these people at all. Is it proper to contact them for job openings through linkedin massages? Who shall I start with? Staff, manager or partner?

Please give some suggestions on how to perform the networking through linkedin.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I would not contact staff and managers on linkedin that you do not know about job openings.

Networking (especially for your first job) should be done live imo.

[Anonymous]

But I am out of school for several years and there is no way to network with them on campus. Shall I just focus on there job listing on their website then?

[10keyLeah]

Are you a part of your State's CPA Society? They may have a place where jobs are posted, a forum, or events you could attend. That may be an option to help you network.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[soyanks]

Through Linkedin, if you have anyone in your network who went to same school, you can try to initiate a conversation through Linkedin. When I used to work in Big 4, I used to get these few times and the key is to keep it concise, and to the point (without being intrusive or obnoxious).

Example:

Hello XXXX:

My names XXXX, I graduated from XXX in XXXX and I came across your profile as I was researching [firm/company]'s page.

I'm very interested in working for [firm/company], specifically in

, and I would love to be able to speak with you about your experience working there.

I also noticed you've done extensive work in [i.e. – tax, audit]. Being interested in this field of work, it would be great to hear about your experience with those fields.

Thanks for your time. I hope to be hearing from you soon!

Best,

XXX

Again, key is to keep it concise and to the point. Don't write a novel or ask for ton of stuff off the bat. Don't ask for a job. If they give you some time to chat etc, and they like you, they will initiate the topic of forwarding the resume themselves.

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[Anonymous]

LinkedIn networking, the way you talk about it, is mostly for recruiters.

To attract recruiters:

1) Join groups

2) Add as many key words as possible. (IE: FIFO,LIFO, Languages, cities, skills, CPA, Courses, volunteers, interests)

Personally if someone tried to strike up a conversation on linkedin I would not respond. I would be more likely to respond via Facebook. I find Linkedin to be a better research tool than anything else. Your best bet is to take 20 minutes out of your day to go old fashioned by calling people on the phone to say whats up. I like to think I'm well networked and even I got my job by writing a script and cold calling HR.

[lakersfan24]

@soyanks

That's pretty much how it should be done as far as networking on LinkedIn. That's what I did and I got into contact with multiple different partners from big 4 to mid size firms and landed my job.

[Anonymous]

@soyanks

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I got your idea, but what if I relocate to a different city and I did not found connections from my school (it is not a good university though)? Can I start the email with “thank you for accepting my invitation through LinkedIn?

I appreciate all the reply that provide suggestion to me. I want to start my career asap, and I do not know how to do after I searched the firms' official website and found no openings for entry level position.

[jbarwick]

I am going to be brutally honest @cpatobe2013. Are you an ESL? The reason I ask is because your responses are tough to read in English and if so, have someone proof read them. Have no one you can trust? Go to a local library, school, university and explain you need help with proof reading your writing as you are looking for a job.

Second, LinkedIn works if you have a good professional page. Get a professional photo that is not blurry. Somehow in the age of smartphones, people have blurry pictures in bad lighting.

Third, contact recruiters at the medium sized firms as they may be looking for people. Ask them if you can have a few minutes of their time to talk about their firm as this at least gets you and introduction. Recruiters have a hard job as they get bombarded with inquiries but if you stand out in a good way they will remember you.

The small firm I worked for was back in 2007 when monster.com was not a bad place to look. Good luck and put the best candidate forward they have seen and you will land a job.

Journey Started - January 2015
FAR - 4/2015 - Passed
AUD - 7/2015 - Passed
BEC - 8/2015 - Passed
REG - 11/12/2015 - Passed

[Anonymous]

@jbarwick

I went back to my response, and it is tough to read for me too, :(. Thank you for pointing it out. I guess there is one more thing I can do before actually starting my career (improve the writing skills). As for your third point, do you mean that even they have no openings on their website, I can still contact their recruiter for possible hidden opportunities?

[jbarwick]

@cpatobe2013 – If you want to work somewhere, reach out and initiate contact with a recruiter/HR to see if you could have a conversation about public accounting and their firm. Getting to talk on the phone is a big plus as emails can be ignored. In my experience they have been happy to help as people love talking about themselves and their company. Make a list of questions to have if you happen to get a call and feel around during the conversation to ask some follow-up questions to something they say. Don't ask about openings on the first call as that is just poor form. In a thank you email, tell them it was great speaking with them. Hopefully they respond saying “no problem” or something along those lines.

Now they may bring up an opportunity or they may not. What I would then do is follow up a couple weeks later and say, I have been having discussions with other insiders in the industry and I think yours is the best. What can I do to work there? Are their openings? Something along those lines. If there is a connection, maybe they can help, otherwise you just keep looking.

I have felt good vibes that were ultimately crushed when the person says, “I can't help, apply online.” Maybe that means the person didn't think it was a fit or maybe they really can't help/think of a job right now.

Also you have a lot of qualifications as you must have a bachelor's to go along with that Master's. Have a reason why you went this route instead of getting a job. It will be a big hurdle as people will look at this and think “This guy/gal is qualified, why has no one taken that opportunity.”

Journey Started - January 2015
FAR - 4/2015 - Passed
AUD - 7/2015 - Passed
BEC - 8/2015 - Passed
REG - 11/12/2015 - Passed

[Vern -No what I mean]

One other way to network and get your foot in the door is to reach out and ask someone a simple question. For example…. Hi, I'm cpatobe2013, and I'm about to start my career in accounting. I see that you have audit experience listed in your profile on Linkedin and thought you could give me advice on whether or not I should pursue audit? How did you decide to go with audit?

Asking a simple question can often lead to a longer conversation and ultimately a working relationship.

AUD - 90
FAR - 71, 76
REG - 75
BEC - 76 (bubble sucks)

Becker + Ninja MCQ's

[Anonymous]

If you ever have the urge to contact an employee at a firm directly, shut your computer until that urge subsides.

Go through a recruiter. They exist to find you a job. There is an abundance of accounting jobs every direction you look. Take advantage of them. Any other advice – throw to the curb.

[Mamabear]

There are a lot of companies that will not use outside recruiters because they don't want to pay the fee. If you completely rely on recruiters instead of attempting to network you may miss out on some great opportunities.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
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[Anonymous]

@Mamabear

That is what I have been thinking about. Do you have any suggestion on how to reach out for these kind of firms?

[hasy]

What I've done and it's worked in the past is that I've google my “County CPA firm”. Then there is your list of potential employers. Or even go your business journal and find the list of accounting firms ranked in your county. I've cold-emailed and personally wrote a cover letter for at least 10+ firms and received 4 interviews and 3 offers (2 tax permanent and 1 audit). I took an audit internship and paid my dues, however the firm wasn't able to extend me an offer because there were no open spots left. 🙁 But I know that I can go back to them or they will contact me when they have an open spot.

I played the game again and managed to land one interview with a smaller firm. It sucks to play the waiting game but those who keep playing sometimes get a break.

Also, I want to note, most recruiters who recruit FOR accounting firms, are looking for experienced hires, not entry-level. I want to say, try to garner at least a year's worth of experience, perfect your Linkedin profile, and the recruiters come to you (I was approached for an internal audit position). Another thing, my audit manager gave me a tip in regards to the applying. He said that try to pass out your resumes after April. April-May are when people quit, that's why people have fall start dates. You only give up when you don't try. Good luck!

AUD - 83
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FAR - 83
REG - 78

BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

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Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
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This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
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REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

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[Author]

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