[Peanut Butter is Good]

Any work? Any accounting job? Anything with an accounting firm? What are they looking for?

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[Anonymous]

Any work at all is better than none at all, always. For specific accounting work, depending on how much you have, it may move you beyond the entry-level jobs.

[Peanut Butter is Good]

I think what I'm getting at is this: you can't have audit experience, unless you work for a CPA firm, in which case, you're technically not entry-level anymore. So, how could that be what a firm is looking for in experience?

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[OnMyWay732]

None…I never expect my entry level to have anything more than eagerness to learn and ability to pick up the content quickly

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[Peanut Butter is Good]

OnMyWay732, you do hiring at a public firm?

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[UNC MAcc]

Hiring at big firms is almost exclusively from good schools. If you didn't get in as an undergrad or MAcc student, you're prob not getting in

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[Peanut Butter is Good]

UNC Macc, it looks like you have a Macc and MBA. Is there a loophole where I can take a class or 2 towards an MBA (which I wouldn't get), but use it as an excuse to be a student again and get interviews? Sorry, I know you're trying to give me my harsh reality…. I've never been one to give up.

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[PurpleK]

No actual work experience is required.

However, your resume needs to highlight certain “experiences” and can range anywhere from volunteer work, to school clubs/activities, to retail jobs.

1. Teamwork/leadership/communication skills

2. Ability to quickly learn and adapt

3. Attention to detail

4. Customer service/client service experience

For example, something like: Organized a fundraiser with a team of 5 people and raised $X,XXX for local charities.

Or,

Worked as a cashier at (retail store name) and provided on the job training to new hires and customer service to shoppers when they had questions.

[ruggercpa2b]

I totally disagree with what UNC Macc just said.

I worked in internal audit for 5 years and then I got into a Big 4 in audit. Because of my prior experience I came in as an experienced hire. Entry level just means you have an idea of what an audit entails, however, they will teach their methodology and how things are done. Most entry level people are pretty green and they don't really know how to do the work.

I managed to get in by looking online at the firms' websites and applying to those jobs online. I also searched on linkedin for their recruiters and sent them mail asking if they had anything that fit my skillset and any feedback that they could give me.

There is a guy I follow who has a podcast and he mentions in one of his podcasts that he did not go to a school where Big 4 recruited. So, he drove to another school and crashed their recruiting event and got a job PWC. You have to be creative and think outside of the box if you want to get in. If that doesn't work then maybe try to get into a smaller firm and get experience and then make the jump. Remember Big 4 is not the end all be all in accounting. You can get started elsewhere and if its really what you want you make the transition.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[UNC MAcc]

Ruger, he doesn't have five years in IA. He is “entry level.” Please reread the OP and try again.

Peanut Butter,

No. Accounting firms don't recruit MBAs on campus for entry level audit/tax. Your best bet is to get an entry level staff auditor job with a company and follow Ruggers path.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[Peanut Butter is Good]

Big 4 opens the biggest doors from my understanding. And if you stick it out, the pay can be incredible.

Anyway, I'm not worried about my resume whatsoever. I got more interviews this year than you would even believe, yet came up empty handed. Since obviously my interview skills suck, I figure I'll pass the CPA and get some other sort of experience and try again. But, since I'll be out of school, I'm trying to see how trying again can actually happen if I'm still considered entry level. I wouldn't mind making some contacts right here on this site with people who can help me if you want to chat.

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[ruggercpa2b]

Peanut Butter is Good if you are getting lost of interviews that is a good start. I have been looking to make the jump from Big 4 and it has taken me countless interviews and 6 months to finally get another job. I did a mock interview with the guy that runs thebeancounter.org and it really helped. He asked me all the questions and then afterwards critiqued my resume and some of my answers.

I think your perseverance will pay off. Just keep pushing. The problem with getting into Big 4 is your are competing with all the new grads and also other experienced hires. I have worked with people that came in as experienced hires that took significant pay cuts to work at the Big 4. Keep trying and don't give up. Sign up for the free month of premium on LinkedIn and send some emails to recruiters. Good Luck!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Peanut Butter is Good]

Hoooolllld on there chief! Are you telling me that if I upgrade LinkedIn, I will have access to all the recruiters from all the firms? Are they obvious, or hard to find? I need to hear more about this.

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[TNCPA16]

I can't speak for public accounting positions, but I have hired for entry level audit jobs in industry. A perfect candidate would have had an internship in audit, an accounting degree, and be CPA eligible. So far, all of our new staff have met this criteria. I would not expect a person to have any “real” audit experience for an entry level position, BUT I would want to see some sort of work experience on their resume. If not an internship, then some other position where you've had to work for someone or work on teams (not necessarily accounting/audit related). I would take a student with a lower GPA, but good work experience any day over a student with a perfect 4.0 but has never held a job.

[Peanut Butter is Good]

Jilly Beans, have you interviewed for entry-level someone who has already graduated but hadn't started at that point? Or is it students only and everyone else is disqualified?

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[fuzyfro89]

Linkedin is your friend. Search (firm name) + one of the following:

– recruiting

– recruiter

– talent acquisition

– hiring

and combinations of those words plus a location and whatever else you can think of in the search tool. At the very least, connect with a handful and send a brief message “Hi, I'd like to introduce myself and learn more about opportunities with your firm” as an intro in the “connect” request. If you are able to send a message, either with Inmails before connecting, or via message after they accept, then you can write much more.

It's very easy, and costs you nothing but a few minutes per person. Within 15 minutes each day, you could easily locate 2-3 people of interest in various firms/corporations and start sending out quick notes.

Regarding finding work after graduating… the question in each hiring manager's mind will be “Why does this person not already have a job, am I missing something?” Of course, not everyone is totally cynical, but if you can alleviate that concern with a good resume, sharp interview, solid communication skills (written and oral), plus a decent interview, you'll find something. Firms still have a little bit more buying power since there are still more candidates than jobs, but that is slowly moving toward a more level playing field.

[Author]

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