[Anonymous]

Title says it all. I’m frustrated and ready to take any under-paying bookkeeping position offered but still no luck. What should I do?

[Anonymous]

p.s. I would rather have the four exams passed and no job than having a job and having two parts left to go (or maybe 1 part).

😀

[Anonymous]

@cpham: The feedback that I am getting from corporate positions is that, they are concerned about my willingness to stay in corporate accounting. They seem to think I have better chance of having a fruitful career in public accounting. And more importantly, for staff accounting positions they don't seem to like me having passed CPA. They would rather hire someone with a degree in accounting, no public accounting experience, but 3 to 5 yrs of corporate or bookkeeping experience. Because that sort of candidate is not likely to move to a different company or to public accounting, or demand higher sallary anytime soon. As for me, they see me as someone with more theoratical knowledge since I have passed CPA, but less practical knowledge, as in ARs and Aps, payrolls and other corporate operations that most staff accounting rolls in corporate accounting require. Only time corporates hire public accountants, with public accounting experience and CPA is at senior accountant or accounting manager level or controller positions. The stage that I am at right now, I believe my best shot is to somehow land a position in a mid to large sized public accounting firm, because they are the only ones willing to invest into training an employee. Corporate accounting will be there 5 years later when I have 5 yrs of a big 4 or other reputable public accounting experience on my Resume. And at that point, they will be willing to hire me at managerial level. But problem is, I don't have a clue how to get someone at a good accounting firm to look at my Resume. I am in touch with college recruiters, but they only pick up candidates twice a year in fall and spring. only other way to get into an accounting firm in middle of the year is to know someone who works there and would let you know if the firm desperately needs to fill a position during the year.

[OUCPA84]

At my school, a few 40+ year olds have stellar GPA's like 3.7+ but are unable to get interviews let alone jobs. The reasons why are obvious and I don't think I need to explain. I feel bad for them as they could really add value to any firm or company.

For the 21-30 age group that got Big 4 internships / Offers they had these attributes :

1. GPA 3.3+

2. Social skills—Eye contact, Confidence, ‘Swag'

3. Played the recruiting game

4. Luck

AUD Pass
REG Fail, Rematch TBA
FAR 11/26 Certain I failed
BEC ?

Becker

[lateralus ag]

“When asked during an interview my reason for leaving I don;t say that I left to study for CPA, I tell them that since it was a very small firm it had a limited growth potential, so I left to look for better opportunities.”

If I was doing the hiring and you told me this, I would probably not hire you. No one quits their job to look for another job. You look while you are still employed.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Anonymous]

OUCPA:

My GPA , 3.4

Social skills/ Eye contact: Better than anyone I know

Played the recruiting game : For too long now

Luck: I guess this is what I am lacking

And totally agree about the 40yr + mark. These are skilled candidates with what matters more than anything, experience (even if its not relevant).

[lateralus ag]

“At my school, a few 40+ year olds have stellar GPA's like 3.7+ but are unable to get interviews let alone jobs. The reasons why are obvious and I don't think I need to explain. I feel bad for them as they could really add value to any firm or company.”

I don't think the reasons are obvious. Why don't you explain them?

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Anonymous]

@lateralus: any suggestions?

[lateralus ag]

I know some on here would disagree with me, but I would tell them the truth. If I had a young man or woman sitting across from me and they told me that they wanted to make sure they did well on the exam because that was their goal and that they had tried to stay part time but the firm was too small to afford a part time staff member, I would be totally okay with that. I would especially add that your relationship with your old employer was a good one and that you parted ways under excellent terms.

Having the dedication to quit your job to pass the exam says a lot to me.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Anonymous]

@lateralus : thank you! that makes a lot of sense. If I was the interviewer, I would have similar sentiments.

[Anonymous]

I hope someone here has something to say about my inability to get recruiters from Public accounting firms to look at my resume. The online career links to most accounting firms websites are inresponsive and seem to be connected directly to trash can.

[OUCPA84]

lateralus ag—Public accounting firm wise, there is age discrimination. I think that is obvious. Like i said, the 40+'s i know are great and would be a great addition to any firm/co.

Why is there age discrimination in Public?

Others that actually work in public accounting can answer that.

AUD Pass
REG Fail, Rematch TBA
FAR 11/26 Certain I failed
BEC ?

Becker

[lateralus ag]

No problem. I hope you do well and I wish you the best of luck.

Just as a plug, it's hot as hell down here, but Texas is a lot of fun, lots of big cities, lots of small towns, and LOTS of commerce. You should check out the jobs in the Dallas Metroplex and Houston. Lots of oil and gas entry level stuff. Two girls I graduate with (one of which was a “nontraditional” 45 year old mother of 3 with a 4.0 GPA got an offer from Anadarko. She was HIGHLY recruited by the big 4, Exxon, Marathon, as well as a couple regional firms. That's why I asked the other guy to explain what he/she meant about the 40+ folks having trouble for “obvious” reasons) both got positions in oil and gas and the both LOVE it.

If you have any interest in oil and gas accounting, there are jobs to be had down here.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Anonymous]

I think public accounting job require one to endure both physical and mental strain. I am not saying 40+s can't handle that, if anythign they could probably do a better job than most 21-25s or 27s, but again public accounting is the only place besides mcdys and bk where you are considered manager in less than 5 yrs. They want someone right out of school who can be there work horse for first couple of years, pick up on the tricks of the trade, and then rev the new incoming candidates after reaching senior or managerial level. Ever wondered why it takes at least 8 to 10 yrs to get the title of account manager in corporate accounting? Besides, I know pleanty of 40 yr olds who would consider it a disgrace acnswering to a 20 something manager. just my two cents

[Anonymous]

I got my CPA license and also my PMP and I still can't find a job. I was trying to open up new doors and got doors slammed in my face due to “no experience” *sigh*

Who cares that my certifications show I know my stuff, I'm stuck in the catch-22. Oh well, continue plugging along on the job sites.

[lateralus ag]

You have to ask yourself why you want to be in public accounting. I was highly recruited for public accounting while I was in school and I was just turned off by the whole process and the whole public accounting mess. The regional firms seemed to be a little better, but not by much. They seemed to have a chip on their shoulder because of the big boys.

Frankly, you probably should do a lot of soul searching about what you want to do with your acct degree/cpa. Once you have that goal in mind, find out the best way to get there. If that's public accounting, then great.

Some folks LOVE public accounting. My boss worked for Deloitte and she LOVED it. She also freely admits that she loves being around arrogant and obnoxious people….so you have that to think about.

I was offered a Staff position with a small firm out of Houston that specializes in certain types of audits. I went through the interview process, but decided I wasn't at all interested in that kind of work. Like I said, I took a job with a small, but global, consulting firm (and took a LOT less money to do it) but it's more in line with my ultimate goals and I am happy that I did it.

Oh, and yea, I get what you are saying about the public accounting firms being bad about age discrimination. I thought you just meant that older candidates were having trouble across the board. I get what you are saying there. Sorry to misunderstand.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Author]

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