[Lost1]

Hello,

I’m 13.5 months into my first big corporate accounting position (entry level) and lately i’ve been growing very impatient with this whole waiting game. it seems like everyone else is getting promoted. i know the company policy is to stay in one position at least a year but now that I did my time in my current position, I wanna get a promotion and take a different role so bad my blood itches..I’m getting so used to my current role that it is getting boring and losing motivation to excel at what I do.

I recently had an interview with another department but they haven’t got back to me yet.. If I don’t get the job, I might be stuck at my current position for who knows how long.. until another position in my level opens up. I should be thankful that they let me interview for the position and I know that I shouldn’t complain just because things don’t happen my way..I mean there are plenty of candidates with better qualification for the position but it is matter of recognition.

more than raise and making more money, to me, it’s about getting recognized that I am worthy of taking on bigger roles.

I feel like first promotion is very important because it’s like setting a bar/benchmark – if you get promoted after a year, another promotion is expected after another year. similarly, if you get promoted after two years, it will take another two years for managements to even consider you for a promotion..

I’m afraid that not getting promoted on time will have negative effects on my career – my mood, motivation, and pride..

I know I should have faith and keep a good attitude but it’s not easy to focus on my current job with all of this is going on in my head.

what’s your thoughts on getting promoted at work? can you please share your experiences and give me some advice?

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[mdrobbin]

Make sure you are telling your manager that you want the additional challenges and responsibility… you need to make sure that those in the position of making a decision are well aware of how you feel. It's a bit of a thin line… you need to make sure it doesn't come off as you thinking you “deserve” a promotion/raise… but in my opinion there is nothing wrong with sitting down one-on-one with your boss and saying, hey, just want to let you know that I'm ready and willing to take on more responsibility. Ask for constructive criticism and take it as positive feedback. Respond to the feedback and show you are serious and committed.

If you are excelling at your current role, maintaining a healthy dialogue with your manager, and eagerly seeking self-improvement, they will either recognize your effort and find a way to promote you or you need to decide where to draw the line and find a company that will reward you for your effort.

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[SeattleAccountant]

@CPAismyonlywayout, pass a CPA exam, bring in paperwork and excitedly tell all and your boss especially that you are ready to take on additional tasks, etc. A few days later, get a sit down time to chat with boss about (current/future) opportunities within the firm. Ask for suggestions and advice. And “dance” on from there (his response, your understanding, etc.).

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[MrFish]

I would take mdrobbin's advice if I can go back in time when I was still with my first job. I think I will have a better and faster chance being rewarded for my effort.

[Lost1]

Thanks guys,

@mdrobbin – My manager is fully aware of how I feel, in fact he said he wants to help me but if there's no position open, there's nothing he can do about it I guess. I love my company, i'm excited to be part of this big organization. I want to put in all I got and hopefully things will happen in a way that I can give all I got.

I will take your advice and get back in focus and kick ass in my current position again. I also need to pass my CPA exams, as my screenname says CPA is my only way out. it really is my only way out at this point.

Now back to internal control MCQs..

@MrFish – can you share your experience? what happened in your first job? how did it impact your career?

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[Anonymous]

Well, maybe you should focus on passing the CPA exam. Nothing says, “I'm worthy of more challenging tasks” than being able to pass all four exams. Good luck.

[MCLKT]

To add to BaseballCPA – additional workload can be a huge challenge to passing the exams. If you are complacent and not that challenged in your position. Try to get all of your work done efficiently, and well, then use the extra time to study. I would LOVE to be in an easy position at work so I would be able to work normal hours, not take work home, and not get stressed out about it.

By the time you finish up the exam, it may be time for you to get a review… and who know? 🙂

If you still don't think you are advancing, you'll have a CPA after your name and an opportunity to find a better position with a new company.

A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
*NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

[Lost1]

@BaseballCPA – you're right, I should keep my mouth shut until I pass CPA exams. I will talk when I CAN talk, Right now, I have no other option here.. so I should stop crying and pass this damn thing first.

@MCLKT – Thanks, I read your inspiring story, you have my respect.I will get a review soon so let's see what they really think of me. If things don't work out, I'm thinking about getting into small public firms and eventually go for my own practice route. so passing CPA exam is very crucial and I should study while I'm at 40hrs/week position.

does anyone want to share their situation at work? or are you afraid your company HR department will somehow trace you down and tell your manager about you venting online….

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[mla1169]

Think of it from a hiring manager's point of view. Sure you want it, and that's nice, but what have you done to be an exceptional candidate? If you only are doing exactly what's in your job description, and clocking out promptly at 5 pm you may want to think of ways to distinguish yourself from other candidates. Also if you think a promotion in one year makes a second promotion a year later more likely, you may want to reconsider. All businesses are fickle and hoping to move up the corporate ladder is often disappointing. Took me over 20 years in accounting to realize what I just shared with you. I moved up by getting my CPA and getting out of there.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I think the other posters have given you some great advice. A year into a job isn't THAT long, however it's good you're looking up and up towards your future.

I agree with what previous posters have said about getting the exam done and out of the way now while you seem to have the time and as evidence of being a hard worker when you speak to management about a promotion.

[Lost1]

@mla1169 – throughout my employment, I tried to separate myself from the rest by always finishing up my work early and asking my manager for more work, investigating irregularities to come up with better workflow/procedures, – at one point I almost got in trouble because I was trying to do too much (outside of my job description). My manager was impressed at times, but looking back at it, a lot of it was me crying for attention/recognition and my boss had to deal with it somehow.

what made you leave corporate world and why leaving corporate world helped you move up? what field of accounting are you in right now? are you self employeed?

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[Anonymous]

Oh…I didn't mean it like you should keep your mouth shut…I just meant that it should be your primary goal, because it will make for a strong business case for promotion. It's good you're hungry and looking to the future…keep that attitude, it will benefit you.

[mla1169]

I didn't leave corporate, went from being a small fish in a big pond to a big fish in a small pond. I'm an accounting manager at a small manufacturer, and will try to return to a publicly traded company as a controller or CFO in a few years.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Lost1]

@BaseballCPA – I know, it's just my way of motivating/pumping myself up.

@mla1169 – I went from a big fish in a very tiny pond to a tiny little living organism in the Pacific Ocean lol. not sure what's better..thanks for your advice and good luck in your career

No matter how I spin this, it always ends up in the same place – gotta pass my CPA exam

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[jeff]

More important than passing the exam – you gotta start your thread topics with capital letters because my inner-OCD can't handle it 🙂

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[FlipACoin]

Patience! The corporate standard (company/skillset/needs dependent) is usually 18-24 months for an entry level person. Look at it from your bosses perspective. He brought in somebody green and trained them. For an entry level position, right about the time you feel the boredom is also the time he is finally getting some ROI on his training investment (i.e you are becoming productive). He probably deserves another 6-12 months before going through another year of training somebody green again.

The most important thing is…please tell me you have cleared this with your boss first. See it's common business practice to have the conversation with him (unless your boss is an ass, but that's a whole different situation). Tell him you are getting bored and are interested in more interesting assignments (you should be sure to distinguish this from just “more work” because there is a huge difference). Then, if that doesn't or can't happen in the current structure, you have the follow up conversation a few months later that you are interested in applying for a transfer because you feel you can't grow where you are at. The key is using a respectful approach (thank him for everything he has taught you, even if that was actually nothing, etc.). It is considered very poor communication if your boss has to hear that you interviewed for an internal position from the hiring manager. It just makes him look like he has no idea what's going on in his department and I have seen the “behind the managers back” type of thing turn a good relationship bad. When looking for a transfer you NEED to have your boss in your corner and I've found the “two step” conversation is the best way to make him feel like he has done everything to keep you. Bosses have egos too only they have more power when their egos get bruised. Just keep that in mind.

Ideally you should wait at least another six months, but if you are insistent on interviewing for other spots now, have that conversation with your boss if you haven't already done so. Good luck…

[Author]

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