[noluckcandidate]

Hello all,

Recently I’ve been trying to find a new job at an accounting firm in NJ. I’ve been working in the accounting dept of a manufacturing company, but feel that moving to an auditing role at a firm is the best option for an accounting degree holder. I have 3 parts of the exam passed, with reg scheduled in May.

I’ve been denied at two firms already – is there anything I could do to improve my chances?

Am I wrong about wanting to go to an accounting firm, or can private companies be just as beneficial (if the position meets work requirements)?

[Kimboroni]

Keep trying. Part of it could be time of year. Public hiring tends to happen at the end of summer/early fall as they get geared up for busy season.

You could also work on polishing up your resume and/or interview skills.

My audit professor thinks external audit is a great way to go if you want to learn a lot about business and then go back to private with an eye towards controller/CFO positions.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

Keep trying. Part of it could be time of year. Public hiring tends to happen at the end of summer/early fall as they get geared up for busy season.

You could also work on polishing up your resume and/or interview skills.

My audit professor thinks external audit is a great way to go if you want to learn a lot about business and then go back to private with an eye towards controller/CFO positions.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[fuzyfro89]

Looking back at my entire recruiting history prior to starting my first full time job in Big 4 audit, I would estimate I had 30+ interviews in my senior year alone at various places (given I applied for more than just accounting/audit/tax roles) and ended up with 6 total offers. That's somewhere in the ball park of 1 in 5, or a 20% hit rate.

1) Getting 2 rejections, yes I said rejection, is NO REASON TO QUIT. There are lots of factors that go into the hiring decision and timing is a big part of it.

May-Dec is a big hiring season since that's typically when most people leave. Keep trying and good luck!

2) Keep trying. If you are qualified for what you're applying for, then it will work out eventually. Polish your resume and interviewing skills.

3) The best opportunities are a matter of timing, so the best thing you can do for your career is try for what you think will give you the greatest number of chances. It depends on what you value. Do you want more options down the road? Do you want to be specialized in a certain industry/type of work? Public opens up the greatest number of opportunities in general, but you always have to push ahead to get the maximum benefits for your own career.

[fuzyfro89]

Looking back at my entire recruiting history prior to starting my first full time job in Big 4 audit, I would estimate I had 30+ interviews in my senior year alone at various places (given I applied for more than just accounting/audit/tax roles) and ended up with 6 total offers. That's somewhere in the ball park of 1 in 5, or a 20% hit rate.

1) Getting 2 rejections, yes I said rejection, is NO REASON TO QUIT. There are lots of factors that go into the hiring decision and timing is a big part of it.

May-Dec is a big hiring season since that's typically when most people leave. Keep trying and good luck!

2) Keep trying. If you are qualified for what you're applying for, then it will work out eventually. Polish your resume and interviewing skills.

3) The best opportunities are a matter of timing, so the best thing you can do for your career is try for what you think will give you the greatest number of chances. It depends on what you value. Do you want more options down the road? Do you want to be specialized in a certain industry/type of work? Public opens up the greatest number of opportunities in general, but you always have to push ahead to get the maximum benefits for your own career.

[Author]

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