[gg2929]

I am in my last year of undergrad and would like to work for a manufacturing company. I am open to construction, distribution, and budgeting as well, but manufacturing would be my first choice. Looking at indeed.com, I do not see many jobs posted for manufacturing companies. I live in a town/city where there are quite a number of manufacturers, but I don’t seem to see any jobs posted. A cost accounting position or staff accountant position at a manufacturing company where my work is reviewed by an accounting supervisor/controller is where I would like to find a position.

I’ll be taking part 1 of the CMA exam in February and will hopefully get passing results in mid April, just before I graduate.

I was thinking of contacting the manufacturers in town right after graduation because then I will have the part 1 results and also my last semester of grades to add to my GPA. I have been working 25-40 hours per week the past 2 years and was involved in athletics that took up 25-30 hours per week before that and my time management wasn’t up for it then, but I am figuring it out quite well this year. The realistic accounting GPA upon graduation is a 3.1. with the overall more around a 2.8/2.9.

If asked about my GPA in an interview, my plan is to say, yeah, it wasn’t the greatest, but it made me look harder at what I needed to do to overcome it, and also made me look more closely at what I would like to do in the accounting field. As a result, I decided to pursue the CMA exam while in college and thus I’ve been able to turn a loss into a win, because I found out what I would like to do and preparing for the CMA exam while in college has allowed me to be more prepared to work in a manufacturing/construction/budgeting environment upon graduation.

Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Mamabear]

Have you tried going to the each company's website to look for jobs posted there? Some companies don't use indeed or monster or other websites like that. If you know the names of the companies, that is where I would start. Your explanation about your GPA sounds fine to me. I would emphasize the extra curriculars of working and athletics as well. Most employers will applaud you for working and going to school at the same time and know that people with a 4.0 may have gotten those high marks because of their singular pursuit of good grades. It's best to be well rounded IMO.

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[mla1169]

Manufacturers are highly unlikely to ask a GPA. Make sure to check Craigslist (smaller manufacturers) and LinkedIn (larger manufacturers). Some agencies can be helpful too, if looking for an entry level position..

FAR- 77
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[gg2929]

@Mamabear I have looked at some of the companies websites but haven't seen anything accounting related. I'm mostly just focused on school right now.

Also, I do have 11 months accounting related experience. It wasn't anything extensive and I'm sure I could have done it without an accounting background. It was mostly charging petty cash to the right accounts, month-end recs, and bank recs. Nothing a non-related major couldn't have done.

[gg2929]

@mla1169 Thanks for the response. Why do you say manufacturers are unlikely to ask for a GPA? Even at the entry level?

[Mamabear]

Don't discount your experience. Accounting in industry consists of a lot of things that don't need to be done by trained accountants, but that doesn't mean it's not important on your resume. Build it up on paper without lying about what you actually did. I have several friends that work for manufacturing companies, including big ones like Bacardi, etc, and they really don't have large accounting departments so it doesn't surprise me that there aren't a lot of openings. Also, you typically find a greater pay/benefit from manufacturing companies than distributors/wholesalers/retailers because they all are or have middlemen taking their cut of the gross profit, whereas manufacturers don't. That could contribute to low turnover as well. Don't lose hope. Keep checking the sites and get your name out there with some agencies. They may have jobs that aren't posted on the websites yet and they can keep you in mind for future positions. It doesn't hurt to look and inquire.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Mamabear]

I agree with MLA about the GPA thing. I rarely look at GPA when hiring. It's not as relevant in industry as it is in Public accounting.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[gg2929]

Part of the reason I decided to pursue part 1 while in school (part 2 after graduation) is because I figured it would be a way to overcome the GPA obstacle. I hope that I am right in that sense and that it is not just wishful thinking. I mean the fact that it was passed during school should show some level of ambition.

If I pass of course. Management and cost accounting comes more naturally for me than just about anything else besides business strategy.

[Kls238]

Some manufacturers go through staffing agencies to fill positions. I know that you probably want a permanent, fulltime position, but temporary contract positions have the potential to turn into a permanent position, especially if you make a good impression and network like crazy. Even if it doesn't turn into a fulltime position, it still gives you more experience on your resume.

Passed all sections.

[gg2929]

There are a few staffing agencies around here, I'll check there.

If I get my results in mid April, and graduate 2 weeks later. Would it be better to start looking when I get my results or when I also have my final semester of grades added to my GPA? Does 2 weeks matter that much?

And thanks @kls238 @Mamabear

[mla1169]

The reason I say it's unlikely that manufacturing would ask GPA is because for most entry level accounting positions in mfg, a degree isn't even a requirement. Sure the ad will say degree required but that's just to weed out people with no aptitude at all. I didn't go to college at all until I was 33 and long before that was a staff accountant who had worked her way through starting with doing collections calls. The fact that you have a college education at all sets you apart for those types of positions. Very few of my peers in accounting except at the management level have a BS or above.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[gg2929]

Would it be appropriate to just walk into a plant and introduce myself with resume and cover letter in hand? Or to ask for a plant tour?

[Author]

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