[HustlinHustlin]

For those of you who left the public accounting world what were your reasons when going through interviews? Also, for those of you who were fired from public – how did you ever get rehired by other firms/companies?

These are my worries today. I had a poor performance evaluation lately so getting fired is a threat now. I also would like to go into private accounting but am afraid my boss will be less inclined to sign off on my hours after I leave the firm and really don’t have time to search for jobs on top of studying. I’m just stuck and want to hear from others’ experiences who have been through the same thing.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[HustlinHustlin]

Whoops didn't mean to post this in FAR exam prep

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[MustPass1988]

My main reason was the amount of travel, as well as not being passionate about public accounting in general. I knew that I didn't want to be on the partner track and got in to get my experience and got out.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[LSNYC]

I will try to make this short, I could go on for 5 pages on this topic. First do not let a bad review break you, its one person or groups opinion it is not fact.

I left public a little under two years ago, my situation was similar I got a bad review and felt pressure to get out. I had been there 5 tax seasons just under 5 years when the bad review came. It was one review out of 10 maybe? But I was devastated I didn't see it coming and felt blind sighted. I was able to talk to two people I really respected and get their point of view and some reassurance. They basically said while they didn't agree it was in my file and that can't be undone. They told me I was safe and not to worry. I stayed another year but began interviewing when I realized they could only help me so much if the company was going to fire people it was possible with this review I was up for debate.

I started interviewing, I found a great recruiter and set up interviews, it was hard and it sucked but it was the best move I ever made. They ended up firing a bunch of people about 2 months after I left I will never know if I would have been one but I am really happy I didn't stick around to find out.

My main advice is go with your gut, if you feel like the ‘writing is on the wall' I would get a recruiter and start interviewing. This recruiter makes money by finding you a job, tell them you want to meet them before work or on a weekend, if they aren't willing to accommodate you they won't work hard enough for you either.

As to the firing part, I wasn't fired but I have friends who were they all have found jobs and a few of them say getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to them. So think whats worse case? You get fired and you find another job, to be honest in this market a lot of candidates have been fired and it doesn't hold as much weight anymore.

Hustlin – I'm thinking of you, I know how hard this is if you want to talk more I'll give you my email

I will probably get some heat for something's I've said, so this is a disclaimer this is MY OPINION no one else's feel free to disagree with me but please be nice about it.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[LSNYC]

So much for making it short!

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[HustlinHustlin]

No, thank you so much! It really helps to know other are in my situation. I feel like around the managers or partners leaving the firm or even thinking about it is so looked down on and they make it seem like you are doomed if you ever leave the firm, especially on a bad note.

However, we have had two people quit since I was here. One of them just straight up stopped showing up. They are both working at better firms.

I do not like the travel, long hours and low pay where I am now. However, being young in the industry I sometimes feel like I do not know what is best or that I am just being a wimp about my first hard-working career. Doing payroll testing is most depressing – all these people get paid way more than me, work way less and I come in to tell them how to do their job correctly?! Wow.

It's really nice to have other people's input and shed some light on life after public accounting…

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[MustPass1988]

payroll testing was the most depressing thing EVER! I remember testing an accounting manager who made more than i did, and strictly worked 8-5, no overtime ever. I seriously knew within 2 months of starting at my firm that i wanted to be out within 2 yrs. I was only there about a year and a half before I left.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[HustlinHustlin]

Where did you move onto @MustPass?

My other concern is working somewhere more laid back but also under someone who can sign for my hours if I need it…

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[MustPass1988]

I moved into an internal audit role at a midsize public company. It's very relaxing…I actually have to chill out every now and then because i am so used to constantly having things to do. Depending on how much experience you have when you leave, you can always go back to your manager and have them sign for you. I left on good terms so that's what I plan on doing.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[jelly]

Unless you did nearly no work, usually your firm has to sign your work experience hours b/c it's a professional responsibility. If you feel queasy about how it's going to get completed, definitely start to personally track and record all your hours so that you have your own records for reference. It's a messy employment and licensing issue with the state if you don't get your hours signed. Also, I doubt the firm wants bad client publicity over this, b/c you already know what the firm's poor practices and skeletons are.

Generally if you are let go, there are all kinds of waivers that you sign, that you won't sue the company, that racial/pregnancy discrimination or sexual harrassment did not take place. You will be incentivized to sign by being offered some money, sometimes 1 or 2 paychecks' worth. Before you sign these waivers and take the money, you can negotiate for things like a few extra weeks of health insurance, to see what will be included in your personnel file, etc, but you can definitely use this opportunity to get your hours signed and see how the work experience paperwork will be filled out for you.

I will post as I have before, that I had to deal with someone who was resistant with signing my hours. So I walked out without signing the waiver, and left the incentive money on the table. I guess this person, with the nonexistent HR procedures, enjoys the risk that I can initiate an ugly employment lawsuit, take clients, and that I know enough questionable accounting procedures that occurred that could cost this person's CPA license. This person doesn't mess with me anymore, and last I heard from an old coworker, client work was declining.

When someone calls up to verify your past work experience, the dates of employment are checked. The most that can be answered is “Yes, I would hire this person again” or “No, I would not be hired this person again.” You are free to explain the latter as the place was not a good fit (very common), that client work declined (very common too), you were sick of the commute (happens a lot), or that you were looking to learn something new (nothing wrong with that).

I once had a HR person not understand the “Not a good fit” explanation, so I gave her information to directly contact that past employer to verify. The next time I spoke with this HR person, she told me that she had no further questions, and no further explanation was needed (and really did not seem eager to explore this issue like she had initially). This inquiry had no impact on my position at that place.

Peer pressure, whatever in the office. You need to look out for yourself, b/c the partners and everyone else in management can be a selfish bunch too, b/c they are all making money off everyone below them. Unfortunately, most worker bees are just that in accounting – making money for the partner or anyone else with ownership stakes. The way out of this is to go into sales, or have a good mix of technical and sales skills.

I've gotten my other positions by talking to family, cousins, other people's friends at birthday/holiday parties or happy hours (I guess people like to call it networking), old coworkers, people who are part of other companies that do nearly the same thing, and 2 positions through Craigslist (which is getting harder and sketchier to do). I've jumped from external audit, internal audit, and now in tax (which is where I'm likely to stay). I can say that it's been a long slow slog, but the technical stuff from my past positions has helped me better understand what I do and make me a better, more confident accountant. It might not seem so at the moment, but you seem to be getting there.

Couldn't pass again!

[mypetmeatball]

If you don't mind me asking, why do you think you got a bad review? I'm joining my firm this summer and I'm really paranoid. I didn't do a stellar job during my internship and I felt really lost learning all of this new stuff. I really wanna do anything I can to get decent reviews. Is it an interpersonal thing?

[neika822]

I hated working in public accounting and left without a job lined up. It was very awkward explaining the situation in interviews. Finally, one person who interviewed me understood my decision and hired me. I love my job now! And I actually have time to study. So, while it was a very scary few months of temping and not knowing what was going to happen, I'm so happy with my decision to jump ship.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[nbad311]

Yes, highly consider using a recruiter. While some are very “shark-y” and will do anything to make a “sale” (a.k.a. send you job listings you are totally not qualified for, or even worse, send you to job interviews that are way beyond (or below) your skill set), once you find a good, nice recruiter that is patient in finding you the right fit, its great. They do the grunt work in finding you something and getting you an interview. Also, I think many firms *only* use recruiting services so any attempts to get your resume in for consideration on your own are very futile.

Having said that, I opened up to my recruiter like a bff on girls night. I told him how I worked with all guys and definitely felt some sexism, how they'd sometimes unneccesarily pick on me; how management was unreasonable, narcissistic, and one of the partners for my group had bonafide psychosis. The work itself was ok but the working conditions, bad. I was physically stressed out a lot, was expected to answers emails with lightning speed and be on call all weekends. I told him I was desperate to leave, would take a demotion, a salary cut, a crappy commute. Really all I wanted wsa something with less stress. But with his help, patience, due diligence and guidance, he got me 2 interviews over the span of a few months and this is how what all that was translated into for interviewers:

Mainly, I couldn't envision myself in that group in say, 5 years. I want to be in a group that allows me to grow, learn, be promoted (even if this isn't totally true – say it). You didn't see that happening in your current job. Companies want motivated peeps.

All the things I hated about my job were turned into my “positive attributes” when interviewing. Multi-tasking (asking to get 75 different things done at once); ability to work well and efficiently under pressure and deadlines (just every day working conditions); works well with all levels of personnel (works well with a**holes); great client service (answers novel of client questions on latest projections on Sunday afternoon or else sr manager chews you out Monday morning).

As you've probably already heard, never trash-talk your job or previous job. Portray your experience there in a positive light despite the fact it kills you inside!

Sorry, that was long. I go off a little bit when I get talking about my last gig.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[neika822]

Agree with nbad – Use a recruiter! I loved one of my recruiters, and he only set me up on interviews for jobs I was interested in. At the same time, continue on with your own job search. I was lucky and found my own position, but I had 3 interviews because of my recruiter and was about to get one more but I accepted my current job. He also coached me on how to answer the tough questions and what he thought they would specifically ask based on the job description.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[Anonymous]

@HustlinHustlin – Moved it from FAR Prep to Accounting Careers for you

Good luck with the situation. Hope it works out for you!

[HustlinHustlin]

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it. It's so relieving to know this job won't define the rest of my career.

I will look into a recruiter. For now, just thinking about it all is stressing me out…but I know it will be worth it in the end.

We actually had a really good career center at my college which helped alumni too. I might get back into contact with the lady I met through the accounting club at school – she seemed to work wonders for some people. Out of curiosity – how much do they typically charge?

I didn't exactly get a bad review…yet. A manager I work with told me he had discussed with the partner that I wasn't progressing where I should be. It's hard to say how much of a threat it is, that manager tends to use a lot of scare tactics and borders between being your buddy and bullying depending on what he wants from you.

Regardless, I know I haven't progressed the way that others have and to be honest, I am really starting to lose my ability to give a damn. My unhappiness in this job overcomes my desire to excel right now.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[Author]

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