[kmaahs]

Long story short, I had two shots at both a big 4 and regional firm, made it to final rounds for each and got rejected at both. (to make it more frustrating, the big 4 said they would have hired me most years except this year had wild competition).

So now that campus recruiting season is over, I’m going to need to move my search outside the bigger firms that recruit almost exclusively from them at the entry level.

I’m looking for some advice on where to turn my job focus to. I’m most interested in tax, and really would like to transition into public a year or two down the road when I’m an official CPA…

The jist of my credentials are:

High GPA MSA degree

non-acc undergrad

CPA exams passed

Management roles on my resume

Any advice would be appreciated!

C.P.A.

[snoop146290]

Just curious, what city are you in?

[snoop146290]

Just curious, what city are you in?

[kmaahs]

Detroit-Metro area in Michigan.

C.P.A.

[kmaahs]

Detroit-Metro area in Michigan.

C.P.A.

[snoop146290]

I'm from MI, but live in nyc now. Not sure if you're able, but I've heard that the GR area is better for CPA firms right now. I get solicited to move back for cost accounting semi often, that's what i do now.

But I am in the same boat, all exams done, over a dozen referrals and no job here.

[snoop146290]

I'm from MI, but live in nyc now. Not sure if you're able, but I've heard that the GR area is better for CPA firms right now. I get solicited to move back for cost accounting semi often, that's what i do now.

But I am in the same boat, all exams done, over a dozen referrals and no job here.

[kmaahs]

So I found a list of top local accounting firms. After you get out of the top 10 or so, the firms started shrinking down to sub 60 or so people. I got online and visited about 15 sites and emailed partners and general info emails of those firms just introducing myself and asking if they had or anticipated having staff level roles open up. Most of the sites didn't have a designated careers section, so hopefully I didn't commit a foh-pah contacting partners.

I also looked up some of the partners on Facebook and managed to connect with a partner. Interestingly enough, I got on my schools careers site and his firm does have an opening aged on it.

Would it be unprofessional of me to LinkedIn message him with regards to that email? I didn't email him for that firm, I emailed a different partner. So it would be our first communication.

I'm really trying to get a bit creative to make connections at this point as the recruiting season for the larger firms is essentially over.

C.P.A.

[kmaahs]

So I found a list of top local accounting firms. After you get out of the top 10 or so, the firms started shrinking down to sub 60 or so people. I got online and visited about 15 sites and emailed partners and general info emails of those firms just introducing myself and asking if they had or anticipated having staff level roles open up. Most of the sites didn't have a designated careers section, so hopefully I didn't commit a foh-pah contacting partners.

I also looked up some of the partners on Facebook and managed to connect with a partner. Interestingly enough, I got on my schools careers site and his firm does have an opening aged on it.

Would it be unprofessional of me to LinkedIn message him with regards to that email? I didn't email him for that firm, I emailed a different partner. So it would be our first communication.

I'm really trying to get a bit creative to make connections at this point as the recruiting season for the larger firms is essentially over.

C.P.A.

[W_HAMILTON]

You could always go the old school route and prepare a nice cover letter, spruce up your resume, get some nice folders and business paper, and then drop off a packet at each firm you are interested in. Depending on the size of the firm, that might make a nice impression. If you wanna go the new school route, I would probably advise against contacting the partners directly (unless it is a very small firm) and instead would check each firm's website to see if there is any information about who handles the hiring. If not, you could always call them up and see who would be best to contact, see if they will give you their contact information, and then go from there.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[W_HAMILTON]

You could always go the old school route and prepare a nice cover letter, spruce up your resume, get some nice folders and business paper, and then drop off a packet at each firm you are interested in. Depending on the size of the firm, that might make a nice impression. If you wanna go the new school route, I would probably advise against contacting the partners directly (unless it is a very small firm) and instead would check each firm's website to see if there is any information about who handles the hiring. If not, you could always call them up and see who would be best to contact, see if they will give you their contact information, and then go from there.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[wizards8507]

Why only accounting firms? I know a lot of the auto companies in Detroit have great management rotational programs that will get you into a senior role in a couple of years.

NY CPA

[wizards8507]

Why only accounting firms? I know a lot of the auto companies in Detroit have great management rotational programs that will get you into a senior role in a couple of years.

NY CPA

[highlightnumb]

Have you considered working for the IRS? I dont know what the qualifications are but just threw it out there.

Mario Marcel, CPA

FAR. Feb 2014 76
REG. Jan 2015 79 half way there!!
BEC. Feb 2015 79 thank you God!!
AUD. Apr 20, 2015 and will be done. Hold that thought 65, 7/14/15 85!
Ok where was I? Oh thats right now I'm Done!!!!!!!!!
Ethics 92!!

"You down wit SEC?, yeah you know me!!!"

Cali Candidate

All Becker Materials, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja audio, Ninja MCQ, Ninja Notes

[highlightnumb]

Have you considered working for the IRS? I dont know what the qualifications are but just threw it out there.

Mario Marcel, CPA

FAR. Feb 2014 76
REG. Jan 2015 79 half way there!!
BEC. Feb 2015 79 thank you God!!
AUD. Apr 20, 2015 and will be done. Hold that thought 65, 7/14/15 85!
Ok where was I? Oh thats right now I'm Done!!!!!!!!!
Ethics 92!!

"You down wit SEC?, yeah you know me!!!"

Cali Candidate

All Becker Materials, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja audio, Ninja MCQ, Ninja Notes

[kmaahs]

Thanks for the suggestion W_Hamilton. i might try and get a day off and drive around and visit the firms. Most didn't say anything about careers on their websites so I'll just ask if anyone who would review a resume is in.

And to the point on autos, I actually applied to a Ford finance leadership program (they dont seem to have a specific “accounting” program on their website) and was rejected about 10minutes after i sent it out… haha

Also the IRS has zero openings in Michigan, and for the short term I will need to be staying in state.

I ended up getting a call back from one of the smaller firms I reached out to. Gonna talk to them tomorrow morning.

Hopefully it pans out, I definitely had the wind sucked out of my sails when I got that last and final rejection from the large firm…

C.P.A.

[Author]

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