[WantJobCPA]

Hi all,

Well I am a new accounting grad decent GPA 3.2 and experienced bookkeeper. I am a little older than the norm for new grads I am in my early 30’s and I cannot land a job

I’ve been thinking that getting the passing the CPA exam will give me the edge I need…. bur I really don’t want to spend too much money so any ideas? Also, do i really need to spend 3000 dollars on materials or can i go cheaper?

Thanks for any feedback!

[EuroAddict]

You mentioned your GPA, did you just graduate college? If so, do you have enough credits to sit for the cpa?

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BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[MaLoTu]

It just takes a lot of work. I am starting at a public accounting firm in September and I have never worked in accounting before. I am also in my early 30's. Passing the exams will help you get a job, but it isn't going to stand alone. It will be more pertinent to public accounting.

Almost always from my phone... please excuse my typos!

All 4 passed - 2016

CA CPA

[Missy]

Its a tool and can help but as mentioned above won't do the heavy lifting for you. If you're having a hard time now finding a job give some thought to what's holding you back. As a point of reference I was out of work and sending out 8 resumes a day, to jobs I was overqualified for, underqualified for and just right for. Sent to places that were too far to commute, places that were in my comfort range and places I would have had to move to get to. Ended up sending out over 300 resumes in 90 days, something like 30 interviews, 3 offers 2 of which were a joke. My CPA may have helped land this job but honestly my experience was what impressed the most because I had many years of very similar experience.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[CPA2BEE]

Emphasize your bookkeeping experience. Two years ago, when I was 23, I landed a job in public accounting without even having an accounting degree yet. I had BS in Business Admin and listed on my resume “Accounting Certificate in Progress” and “will be sitting for the CPA exam”. I had a bookkeeping job in college that gave me about a year and half of experience in the field. Perhaps employers saw I was ambitious and working towards the goal, combined with me being young and fresh out of college so I was probably relatively cheap. But I got a lot of hits. Being in your 30s, are you maybe asking for a salary requirement that exceeds your experience? Most accounting firms I've interviewed with are sticklers on pay according to your experience/skill level. They will evaluate you and consider you as staff, senior staff, manager, senior manager, partner, etc. If they find you in that staff range, they aren't likely to budge on pay. But whatever it is, sell your work experience and illuminate what you can bring to the firm, they want to know what you have to offer to them. Good luck!

CA CPA - est. Dec 2016

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Pete]

I'm in a similar situation as you. The way I found my job last year was to network, NETWORK, NETWORK. Unfortunately, that position didn't pan out, but (it can't be stressed enough) NETWORK. Ask how you can help others, offer to buy people coffee, asking for informational interviews (this means you don't ask for a job).

In this economy and from most of the competition i've seen, a 3.2 is on the low end. Big 4 at my school had a 3.4 min a few years back. When i was in college, i couldn't land an INTERNSHIP with a 3.4 GPA (most of my competition had a 3.6+); it's a competitive field. Reason, you have to focus on networking even more.

I would absolutely focus on passing the exam; it certainly won't hurt you. I've passed 3 sections so far and people seem to think I'm smart and are very impressed (even if it isn't true-it's the perception that counts). Doesn't guarantee you a job (nothing does), but it will certainly help. From talking to the Big 4, at my colleges career fair a few years back, simply sitting for the exam might not be enough anymore. I've spoken to someone else from a large regional that said the same thing “simply passing the exam, without the credit hours, won't qualify you for jobs in our firm.” So basically, regardless of if you can sit for it, a lot of firms won't consider you without the 150 hours (at least in my region), which is frustrating because grad-school ain't cheap.

I was hoping to have a firm pay me to go to grad-school, but after 5 year (graduated in 2010), i've come to the conclusion it's extremely difficult to get into a larger firm without the 150 hours. A few smaller firms might consider you though, which is how I got lucky last year (usually firms under 100 employees). Problem with the really small firms is you'll pretty much be confined to almost exclusively tax work, so if this isn't your forte, you'll prob need the hours.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Anonymous]

Having a CPA license increases your options.

You're always guaranteed a job if you're willing to become self employed. That's something the OWS crowd conveniently ignored.

[hasy]

@Ratfus, I've been seeing your comments around the forum lately and trust me when I say this, your situation is EXACTLY like mine. I got hired at a small firm (less than 75 employees) and I got let go at exactly 5 months at the end of Oct of last year, where I was practically screwed since recruiting was over and who hires in December?

I graduated late 2014, however, I was still at my alma mater, I've enrolled in community college classes for my additional units. Within 2 semesters of CC classes, I got about 27 units and I've surpassed the 150 unit count. Also, those classes were free. Aside from ~$200 on books and required online homework, my classes were free since I applied for FAFSA (yes, it does apply to graduate study as well). I believe you can obtain those units from a community college by taking online classes if you don't want to go in. All my classes were online and honestly, a joke.

Firms want CPAs, if you already have the 150 units, they're willing to wait for you to finish your exams. They want a return on their investment in you. For them, they see getting 150 units a lot easier than passing the exams.

There are many creative ways to get units, there are even threads in this forum for the very dillemma that you have.

AUD - 83
BEC - 80
FAR - 83
REG - 78

BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
-
This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Spartans92]

@hasy are you serious. FAFSA works? I applied and those people there said it doesn't work since I have already obtained my bachelors and I paid over 4k for all my credits. They lied to me and I racked up my credit card for that. I could have at least gotten subsidize for 1k. My classes weren't at a CC though but another university as a guest student with 12 Credits.

BEC - 76
REG- 67, 85
AUD-63, 74, 80!!
FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

BEC- PASS

[Pete]

Someone told me the FAFSTA is based upon YOUR income, not YOUR parents income; this is GREAT news for me :). Since I don't make alot of money now, my FAFSTA package will be amazing. I'll probably have nearly free classes at the regular graduate schools around here. I was also thinking about being a TA to get the classes completely tax free. TA's only make like 15$/hour though, plus they're rare at the accounting dept at my school. Worth it for the free classes though.

Anyone else here think this 150 credit rule is kinda stupid? I mean, i can just take bs agriculture classes to get to the 150 hours, so why even have such a rule? I wonder if colleges/universities paid the local boards and the AICPA to stipulate this rule as a requirement to hike up their long term accounting graduate revenues?

I KNOW for a fact in my area, i heard this from career development a few years back, that EVEN if the BIG 4 hire you with 120 credit hours, which seems to be pretty rare, you have to sign a contingency contract for employment. You don't get the 30 extra credit within 1 year of your start date, you're gone.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Spartans92]

Ratfus, within the requirement of 150, 30 credits needs to specifically from accounting. So a lot of people come short in undergrad so they either go to CC or keep getting masters which is only 1 year. Some believe it may be more beneficial getting a Masters so they go for it. Yes, my offer was on a contingency basis.

BEC - 76
REG- 67, 85
AUD-63, 74, 80!!
FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

BEC- PASS

[Pete]

@hasy It's good to know others have had similar experiences as I have. I truly wouldn't wish that to happen to others, but it's just the nature of the beast i guess. I guess if/when I ever get into another accounting job, I should assume they operate like a large accounting firm and will toss you under the bus in a matter of seconds.

@Spartans92 If you were taking the exam, wouldn't that mean you had the required credit hours. At least in my state, you need the required accounting hours to sit for the exam. I'm planning to call Monday, but I think i just need 30 hours in whatever, i'll prob end up CLEPing it for around a 1k total.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Spartans92]

Ratfus, for my state all i need is 120 to sit. The 150 is not required to sit but it is for the license upon passing.

BEC - 76
REG- 67, 85
AUD-63, 74, 80!!
FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

BEC- PASS

[hasy]

@Ratfus, I don't know about that. The previous firm I was with, they operated like a different small firm. Only the audit dept had a tradition of overhiring for the busy season and letting people go after, no perf review, no meeting or anything. Of the 5 people they hired for the busy season, they let 3 people go, including me. [insert strong expletives here] But not ALL small firms are like that. The firm that I interned at is NOTHING like that and that's where I might want to end up one day. However, since transitioning to private, I'm VERY comfortable and I intend to stay here for at least a year until I get promoted and complete my CPA licensure.

Honestly, I know you want public, but try to get any experience for a year first. Complete the 150 units and get your CPA license. Like your motto, if you network well, I'm sure firms will want you. I don't have my license yet and I have plenty recruiters referring me to audit positions in private companies.

As for the classes, yes, they are free up to a certain point. I know I got a Board of Governor's Waiver or something and it paid for all my classes, just not the class materials.

AUD - 83
BEC - 80
FAR - 83
REG - 78

BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
-
This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Sleep Optional]

Passing the CPA does offer a competitive edge if you are willing to put yourself out there. It alone won't get you a job, but it will definitely make employers see you in a brighter light.

Just a bit of background on myself- I didn't go the traditional route. I graduated with an MBA in my early 20s with almost no relevant work experience (zero internships). After sending out 500+ online applications and getting nowhere, I buckled down, and passed the CPA. I went to Staples, bought a stack of resume paper and manilla envelopes, wrote tailored cover letters, hand signed them, attached a resume, and a copy of my cpa passing score letter, and mailed them out to random partners.

I sent out roughly 40 letters within 2 weeks. Out of the ~40, 6 responded that same month. 3 said they'd like to consider me for the future but currently didn't have any openings (one of the partners in a 200+ sized firm even wrote me a handwritten letter), 3 offered me an interview, and of the 3, 2 gave me a full time offer. I ended up taking one of the offers at a law firm that specializes in complex cross-border tax issues.

If you want to get your foot into the door, passing the CPA certainly helps. But you have to really put yourself out there. In my experience, online applications are worthless for entry level. Cut in front of the line and bypass HR; I know there are a couple HR people on this forum that would hate me for saying that, but hey, it worked for me. In my case, I mailed out letters. If that didn't work, I was planning on straight up calling random partners. And if that didn't work, I would have dropped off resumes to the receptionists in person.

Some people will hate you, but my experience was pretty positive. Some people may consider my actions desperate, but the partners/managers that did contact me seemed to have liked that starving dog spirit. Who knows. Maybe the other 34 hated me for wasting their time, but you only need 1 yes.

BEC x1 - Passed
REG x2 - Passed
Audit x1 - Passed
FAR x2 - Passed

BEC: ☑ x1 attempt(s)
REG: ☑ x2 ''
AUD: ☑ x1 ''
FAR: ☑ x2 ''

Done!

[fuzyfro89]

No, passing the CPA will not make it easy to get a job.

If you search this blog, you'll see many threads of people who passed all exams (or 2-3 parts) and found it was still challenging to find their chosen jobs.

You still have to network heavily and practice interview skills to actually land an offer.

The market for accountants/auditors/tax professionals/etc. is strong, but both employers and potential employees are choosy on what they want, making for a strained recruiting process from both sides.

[Author]

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