[Anonymous]

I’m full of frustrations now…

I have been working in a very very small public accounting firm for almost three years now. I passed my CPA exam since Nov 2012. I have been searching for mid-size accounting firms since tax season was over, but so far I don’t even have a job offer!!! I mean, I will become a CPA within 3 months and I m that incompetence??? This is totally out of my expectation!

I have sent out resumes to almost everywhere, I have 7 agents helping me for job searching as well. The agents were helpful in general because they really brought me some interviews with some firms within 5 days. So far I had 4 interviews but I got rejected in all, which I had no clue completely. I honestly thought I nailed those interviews down, because our conversations were pretty good, I was able to answer their questions firmly. I shared my tax, audit experience with them and they seem impressed! I even sent out thank you letter after the interview and they got back to me saying we would be in touch for second interview next week. But then next week, all I received were “Thank you again for your interest in xxx. While we enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about your background, we will not be moving forward with your candidacy at this time.”

This is a disaster for me, I thought passing the exam, having 3 years of experience would help me land a job in one of the firms easily. I’m not asking for high salary anyways. My small accounting firm is closing anytime soon (bosses are 75 years old, retiring, wanna sell the business for extra $$)

I’m lost, I’m panic, I m thinking..was passing the CPA exam was a mistake? because I don’t see the benefits so far…

[mla1169]

Just keep at it, you've been actively looking for about 5 weeks and already had 4 interviews. The average job search takes longer than that (and it isn't a peak hiring time right now anyway).

Besides, passing the CPA exam is hardly a mistake, think how much less marketable you'd be without it!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[henryv]

Retiring? Bosses? I'll assume that they are partners. Aren't there any young bosses (IE partner) in your firm that could basically get the clients of your retiring boss??

FAR - 92 02/2013
AUD - 90 05/2013
REG - 85 10/2013
BEC - 80 12/2013

I'M DONE. THANK YOU LORD!

[Anonymous]

Well, like I said it's a very very small firm

Two partners, one part-time CPA (65 years old), a receptionist and myself

I was trained by one of the partners and he's gone.

[Anonymous]

keep us updated! I am in a similar position but with a year less accounting experience and still completing my cpa exams. I work for a small firm (5 employees and 2 admin) and I can't seem to get a job offer either, even after interviews and friends forwarding my resume. I'm starting to wonder if the experience I'm gaining will only allow me to find a job at another small firm. I want to break free from the small firm circuit!!

[Tncincy]

With this economy it Is pretty tough trying to hire new and keep the old. Be patient and keep looking. Maybe a spot will open up on the current job. In my case, the larger firms are at least two hours from me in any direction, I have run my own small business for 15 years so after I pass the exam, I may have to learn how to build the business I have instead of trying to go larger. Patience is the name of the game……….

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[ParanoidAndroid]

The CPA exam is the biggest rip-off of any type. I cannot believe I spent $7,000 (including graduate level courses to meet the 150) for something that will not take me anywhere in life. Accounting is all about kissing ass, no one cares about your professional designations and abilities. I'd rather be a lawyer at this point.

CPA for life...

[Topsya]

@ParanoidAndroid

you are being ridiculous.

first of all, I do not know why you spent so much money on the exam. Accounting is not at all about what you are claiming it is. You've got it all upside down.

Please dont discourage other people

@crossovercpa

How long have you been looking for a job? Do you put a “CPA” on your resume or not, since you do not have a license yet?

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[STAT]

From experience, most firms aren't looking to hire this time of year. Everyone is out on vacation, enjoying their comp time. Hiring usually picks up a great deal in September and October, when people working in public realize another tax season is approaching. It's like clockwork.

And I don't think just having a CPA license is going to get you anywhere in life by itself. That's like spending $7,000 on a car and getting upset with it for not driving you anywhere.

[Anonymous]

@Topsya

I started searching since 4/16/2013, I haven't put CPA on my resume yet because I haven't received the certificate nor the license number. But I expect I will get it some time in July 2013.

[Topsya]

the average recruiter spends no more that 2 minutes per resume. They basically just scanning it not paying any attention to the details. Even if you put something like: passed all 4 parts of the exam – its not the same is I am a CPA simply because average recruiter is really far from the CPA exam process and they wouldnt know how many parts there and what ther requirements are.

Besides, 4 weeks is not enough time. You can never land a great offer in such a short period of time. It takes months, trust me. Trust me, because I do accounting for a recruiting company – lol

Have you tried contacting anyone from large accounting firms? Find any recruiter from a Big 4 or any regional firm in your area and send them your resume, see what they say.

Try to talk to your school career center maybe? (this might help)

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Onmyway82]

@crossovercpa – I would at least put that you passed all four parts of the CPA on your resume. That is what I was told to do and I really think it helped me land my current position. And it can take awhile to find a job but it doesn't have to. I was laid off from my last job because my company was acquired and I landed a job with the first place I interviewed and I think it really helped that they knew I had passed the exams. I am in industry so I know it is different with public accounting, but don't get discouraged, maybe take a look at your resume and try to improve it. My last company gave me a months worth of service from a resume consultant and they totally revamped my resume and I think that really helped me as well.

FAR- 70, 68, 90
AUD- 72, 85
REG- 74, 83
BEC- 81
ETHICS- 90

CA CPA
CMA

[Anonymous]

@topsya I have sent to all regional firms, I even googled all the accounting firms around my area. Applied on their websites, enclosed cover letter etc. No news heard. I already intended to search around since the beginning of the year, but due to my business integrity, I stayed with the firm for the tax season, I felt like I shouldn't walk away from them during busy season. The thing that concerns me is that I got rejected 4 times! there were even 2 of them preferred to hire somebody with less experience.

[MBA MST CPA]

@Crossover – You've only been looking for a month and are surprised that you haven't been hired yet? Do you realize that the unemployment rate is over 8% and you are most likely competing against candidates who have as much, if not more experience than you? I know that it is very hard but you have to be patient. I remember reading that, as a rule of thumb, job searches take one month for every $10,000 in salary you expect. If it's only been a few weeks, it's likely that some of the companies that you interviewed with haven't made a hiring decision and you still might get a call.

If you keep at it and sell yourself when you interview you will land a new (and hopefully better) job. You just have to be patient and keep at it

REG - 11/5/2012 - 80
BEC - 1/17/2013 - 76
AUD - 2/22/2013 - 70 4/5/2013 - 75
FAR - 5/28/2013 - 75 - Done!!!

Question: What do you call someone who only gets 75's and 76's on the four parts of the CPA exam?

Answer: A CPA

[Anonymous]

@Onmyway82

I already did put “passed the uniform CPA examination” on my resume

My resume is ok already, it was edited by a cpa professional.

[lpribac]

Crossover–that might be your problem. To get the interview you are dealing with HR, not a CPA! Speaking as an industry hybrid HR Manager/Accountant, we look for other things besides degree, license, experience. Often it is about personality (as in how will you be with clients, and do you fit with our current staff?). My advice is to have your resume looked at in a different way (if you don't know someone in HR, how about a friend with creative writing skills?) and brush up on your interviewing. Lots of good resources on the web about types of interviews, good answers to standard questions, current interview etiquette, etc. And don't psych yourself out! It is like the exam in many ways–you need the knowledge but you also need confidence and motivation. Good luck!

FAR-end of Aug
AUD-Oct
BEC-end of Nov
REG-January

[Author]

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