What to do next after CPA...no job...no internship

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What to do next after CPA...no job...no internship

25 posts from 16 voices

Started 1 year ago by kavs
Latest reply from Tzzel

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kavs

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Hi,

I cleared my CPA in september 2010, since then I'm looking for a job or internship with no luck. Well, in my case I need work permit ( H1 visa) to be sponsored because I came to U.S. 2 and half yr back from India. I already have Chartered Accountancy ( Indian CPA ) degree from India. I'm trying for voluntarily internship as well in my area but none seem to be interested in taking free help. Oh gosh I'm completely exhausted trying in all small firms as well as in tax firms for this tax season. It's going to be 6 mths since I'm sitting at home doing nothing. please help me with:

1) What should I do now?
2) Should I start another course if yes, then which one would be best suited with CPA.
3) What should I do about my license because for that I need to transfer my credits from Colorado university to New Jersey where I live and take ethics course as well. How can I get my license or should I apply for license at all or wait for some more time.
4) How can I get an internship or job or some work in a CPA firm to get some experience?
5) Is there any time limit to take the license?

Please please help me I'm very tensed and getting more frustrated day by day.

Thanks for listening me.
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Posted 1 year ago #
kennethchilders@comcast.net

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Geez ... look for internationally related companies, or for companies in a part of the country that is open and cosmopolitan, such as Boston, or perhaps Houston Texas (which I must say is probably "cosmopolitan" more by accident than anything else). I'm not surprised about them not wanting the free help - it takes a lot of investment to train the free help and no one wants to do that. Forget about transfering your license for now - you're a CPA in a jurisdiction and that should suffice. The most relevant degree would be an MBA, closely followed by a master's in accounting and/or finance.

Posted 1 year ago #
bullandre

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I'm have friends who were international students and I know that is very difficult to find a job because very few company are willing to sponsor especially in this economy.

If you have a girlfriend/boyfriend who is a US Citizen, I would advise you guys to marry to change your status to a permanent resident. Of course, I'm not advocating anything illegal, i.e., marrying for the sole purpose of securing status in the country.

Another option would be to get into a good/respectable Masters program and use the career center to help land you a job. This will be difficult because as I said earlier, few accounting firms are willing to sponsor foreigners because of the cost, time and red-tape.

All the best.

Passed on the 1st try

BEC 87|FAR 86| AUD 88| REG 81

Posted 1 year ago #
CPA_2B

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@KAVS: What type of Visa do you you have? If your prior HI1-visa sponsor retrenched you, then I would think that you are not authorized to be in this country anymore. Once you no longer work for your H1 sponsor, and you fail to find a new sponsor within a reasonable time, you need to exit the USA (to be able to legally return in the future). Otherwise, you will really hurt your chances of getting a future legal status here. You should consult an immigration attorney to discuss your options.

Though, not to fret, with your qualifications, you should have no problem finding a Job in India.....unless there is a particular, special reason to be in the USA. With global qualifications, you are in a global marketplace. Hence, don't limit your opportunities to one specific geography. You can always come back to the U.S. later. once the economy here improves a bit more. Singapore and HK are booming right now, those might not be bad places to park yourself for a year or so. Dubai is another hot spot for finance. Of course China is good...but the language would be an issue if you are not at least conversational in Mandarin Chinese. Europe...I am not too keen on Europe at the moment; but some places in the EU could be another possibility especially if you are young and just want to keep busy until things begin to look up in the USA. Good Luck to you!

Posted 1 year ago #
kavs

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Hi,

@ CPA2B: Thanks for your reply, well I'm on H4 visa that is called dependent visa. I'm legal here and can stay for indefinite time here.
@bullandre : Thanks for the suggestion, it was really a nice idea to get married to a US citizen. LOL but I'm already married here and my husband works in U.S. and our Greencard is due but in meanwhile I have nothing to do.
How about certified financial planner exam in the meantime, Can I do it and is it worth ?
And I have no option to move anywhere else , so I mean I can only work eirher in NJ or NY.

Posted 1 year ago #
CPA_2B

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@kaves: sure no prob. Though, now that you clarify you really have a lot of options depending on your finances, time, and other variables. To keep busy and keep your skills sharp:

1. Wait until your husband gets his green card.
2. Create a non-profit and provide free tax servcies to lower income families
3. Volunteer your services at local non-profits such as hosptitals, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, YMCA, Planned Parenthood, Etc.
4. Get on the Board of Directors of a professional organization or just help out at the office. In California, we have the CALCPA professional organization, and they welcome volunteers. This experience will be invaluable once you are eligible to jump into the labor market
5. Go to a local community college or High School and volunteer as a Tutor for finance/accounting/economics/math, etc.

If it is money you want, well, not sure what State you are in, but it all depends how badly you want the money. You can always start a small business providing tax services, real estate, insurance firm, etc. Where I live in California, your situation is not very uncommon. With the economic downturn, many female professionals without a legal right to work in the USA have gone the "entrepreneur" route..especially if they are very good looking and in shape. There are many, many, good-looking young, female Accountants, Engineers, etc. who charge $500/hr+ ...no one else needs to know!

In fact, many of those young, good-looking women who do work take advantage of lax California laws to afford the little luxuries in life that their boyfriends, husbands can't afford them. When you see a first-year junior from Kansas driving a Ferrari/Big Benz/BMW/Audi, etc., brand-name designer clothing, $20K watch, and flying to Hong Kong for a shopping trip, flying to Cabo for the weekend on a private jet, well it is not difficult to see where the money comes from. There are a lot of people in Cali (and NY) with money to burn, and they burn it without giving it a second thought. Good Luck and stay positive!

Posted 1 year ago #
CPA Someday

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CPA 2 B.. that was an awesome post! Im liking your posts!!! Good stuff! Do you have a facebook page.. I want to be friends.. haha.

REG 81; BEC 79; FAR 81!!; AUD 71, 92
Ethics 98

Illinois DOES post on Saturdays!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
kavs

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Hi CPA_2B,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I really appreciate your advice. Your suggestions are really helpful and I'll try to volunteer my services. I wish I could gain some experience in US taxes and accounting but I'll look for professional organisation in New Jersey just like CALCPA. Hope I'll be able to gain some experience to start something of my own.

Posted 1 year ago #
kavs

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@ CPA_2B: Should I transfer my credits from colorado university to New Jersey state where I live to get into NJSCPA professional organisation.

Posted 1 year ago #
Spectrum

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You shouldn't need to transfer your credits to another educational institution in order to work on licensing. If you have the credits all you need is to submit your transcript with your CPA licensing application.

And you should be able to join the NJSCPA without being licensed I would think.

AUD - 92
FAR - 73, 82
REG - 72, 82
BEC - 84 DONE!!!!!! :)

Posted 1 year ago #
PASSED

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kavs

I am also not able to find a job after passing the CPA exams. Therefore, I am starting my own bookkeeping and tax practice. If you go this route, you may want to think about specializing in helping Indians who own a business. You will have a competitive advantage when you do bookkeeping for Indians. I may be naive, but I think that the only thing separating us from CPA firms is clients.

Posted 1 year ago #
examtaker

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@CPA_2B: I wonder how can a non-US resident legally start his/her own practice in the US? What kind of visa allows one to self-employ, do you know? Thanks a bunch!

Posted 1 year ago #
kavs

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Thanks a lot Passed, that's a very nice idea. But somehow I'm lacking experience thatswhy I feel less confident to start anything of my own. But yes definitely I would have forte with small indian cos. Where are you starting your firm in U.S.? I guess I talked to colorado university coordinator and she said that I need to transfer my credit to the state where I need my license, probably I'm mistaken.

Posted 1 year ago #
kavs

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Does anyone know what the requirements of NJCPA for licencing. I passed my exams from colorado university. I haven't taken my ETHICS EXAM yet.... b'coz of confusion about... Should I go by NJ state or Colorado state exam ?
Any guidance please..... Thanks

Posted 1 year ago #
soumya

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Sailing in the same boat!!

Posted 7 months ago #
indiancacpa

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Hai,
I am also from india. Don't waste ur time in searching for a sponsorship. Do a master degree in accounting or taxation. Hardly it will take 1 year .so u will change ur visa from H4 to F1. I heard big4 companies will recruit students from campus. CPA + masters degree definitely fetch u a job. good luck.

FAR:73,82
Aud:74
Bec:73,73
Reg:72,82

Posted 7 months ago #
CPA Genie

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@CPA 2 B,

It is an amazing post you put. Just curious that how can a beatiful/female CPA can charge $500/hr? Hope you don't mind to share the secret. Thanks.

AUD - Feb 25, 2012 => Really!! I got 82!! I still can't believe it. I am done!
BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
FAR - Passed
Ethics - Passed with 90% with 2 attempts

I feel like a genie in a bottle, and I can't wait to finish CPA exam so I can get out of the bottle!

Posted 6 months ago #
herbert7890

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@CPA Genie - I think he meant that post as a joke................he just used some clever words to hide the real content of the "$500/ hour job" I wont even say it, but just a heads up.

FAR 88 - BEC 86 - AUD 90 - REG 85 - I'm DONE!!!!
Licensed CPA - Puerto Rico

Posted 6 months ago #
mariamb

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It is difficult. I graduated in May, 2011 at age 53 (now 54) and I have not been able to land a job. Just two interviews, one a pre-screening that amounted to nothing, not even an interview. I was put in a conference room with five other candidates, filled out an application and completed a 5-6 page test. After waiting for one and a half hours was told that time had run out. If they were interested I would receive a call back. None received. They were able to interview two of the younger candidates and one older.
The second interview, it was obvious they had not read my resume. I specifically put down my position from 18 years ago (15 years experience in sales and management) in addition to two internships from last year. One gentlemen actually said to me that he thought it was a "typo" but he can see it was not.
I am currently studying for the CPA exam and I am beginning to wonder if I should continue. I, too, have offered to work unpaid and have not gotten any responses. I know I will pass the exam, but what can I do if I can not work for a CPA for one year? I have the required 150 hours completed.
I am scheduled to volunteer for AARP in January, 2012. I am not even sure at this point if that will help.

Posted 6 months ago #
CPA Genie

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@Mariamb,

Maybe you can sign up with a staffing agency to start with temp job to build up your experience from there. Hope this helps.

AUD - Feb 25, 2012 => Really!! I got 82!! I still can't believe it. I am done!
BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
FAR - Passed
Ethics - Passed with 90% with 2 attempts

I feel like a genie in a bottle, and I can't wait to finish CPA exam so I can get out of the bottle!

Posted 6 months ago #
calisteph6

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you should volunteer for VITA. The time for training is coming up and it's nationally recognized and run by the IRS. Really a great program. Google it.

Posted 6 months ago #
mariamb

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@CPAGenie
I am in contact with a staffing agency, and the only positions that were being offered were to be a realtor, sell insurance (Aflac), etc.
@calisteph6
I did volunteer with V.I,T.A. in February/March of this year. In our area the program is now being combined with AARP and I have been in contact with them for the upcoming tax season.

Posted 6 months ago #
CPA Genie

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@ Mariamb,

Sounds like non-profit will be a good route to try out and less age disrimination than a formal business setting environment. Good luck on everything.

AUD - Feb 25, 2012 => Really!! I got 82!! I still can't believe it. I am done!
BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
FAR - Passed
Ethics - Passed with 90% with 2 attempts

I feel like a genie in a bottle, and I can't wait to finish CPA exam so I can get out of the bottle!

Posted 6 months ago #
dreambigCPA

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@Kavs I know how you feel...I was in the same boat. My advice is try for a small business that needs your expertise. You will never get a big 4 firm to hire you and have to sponsor 18K to keep you when almost every accounting student would kiss their nuts to work for them.

I would also suggest to stay away from more certifications..the H1B is a specialty visa which means your salary must be prevailing (above) the average salary grade in your position. Good luck finding a small company to pay you 6 figures right off the bat with all your cpa,mba,cfp etc..

Go for small firms in the middle of nowhere and stick it out....or my opinion is just finish up getting liscened and wait till your hubby gets his GC.

AUD - 74,89
REG - 74,70,84
BEC - 78
FAR - 75!!!!!!!!!!

"Success is not measured in strenght...but in determination"

Posted 6 months ago #
Tzzel

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Dude,

Ask a good friend to marry you so you can work. If they're hesitant, tell them you'll give them 5% of your after-tax wages for the duration of marriage. Or just give them a flat-fee (a new iphone 4s, maybe?). Otherwise, you're at a loss since employers don't want to deal with the hassle of sponsoring you and incurring all the fees and runs to the embassy or city hall or whatever to register.

-Tzzel

Posted 6 months ago #