[JOBSEARCHINGGAL]

Hi— I graduate in Dec last year from a top public university, but my GPA sucks, it’s only 3.0, (my university did not offer accounting a major so I have a really weird major but I have good grades from accounting classes~ accounting GPA is around 3.52) and I’ve only got one tax internship so far, and I hate to do tax again. I finished all 150 units.

So far my job search has been no luck, even my internship– yeah it’s one of those firms that fire tons of interns and only give out one or two positions.

I am having a really hard time finding entry-level audit jobs and even a harder time to get an interview from any of the firms.

Can someone teach me what to do?

[Anonymous]

My first advice would be to search the forum. Like seriously.

[Anonymous]

Probably going to be tough sledding being out of school. What I've noticed is that Big 4 likes CPA eligible candidates right after they graduate. Drift out of that small window and you become essentially untouchable.

Check for job fairs with your state CPA society.

As much as I hate LinkedIn, use it..see if any of your classmates got hired and maybe they can pass along your resume to HR.

Robert Half as a last resort or some sort of resort…

Best of luck

[Pete]

Yea, like others have stated, once you graduate, most larger firms will put a stigma onto you; smaller firms are primarily tax. I'm in the same boat. These firms have the mentality “well, he wasn't hired in this stupid window, so he/she must not be that good.” Further, most larger firms hire almost exclusively through their internship programs.

You should still try getting in with on-campus recruiting; however, you'll find that most firms will no longer offer you interviews, once you graduate. My school offers lifetime access to career services; however, I've yet to have a single large firm interview me, since graduating, through using its services. I have gotten interviews at relatively larger firms through networking though. Unfortunately, my suspicion is that these firms will still not be too fond of you, unless you go through their typical recruitment process (ie. on-campus recruiting for internships, then hiring). I've passed the CPA/CFE, been told I interview better than most candidates, have a near perfect GPA, yet I still keep getting rejected over and over.

You might just need to do what i'm doing and be more open to tax roles at smaller firms, doing a few audits here or there; then possibly transitioning over.

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

[Me.]

You may consider State Government. Most of the Performance Auditors in my State(TN) do not have have accounting degrees, but need to have a Masters. For financial/compliance auditing need to have the units to sit for the CPA to be considered. Just a thought.

REG - 50, 64, 73, 76
FAR - 67, 65, 67 Ugh!!!
BEC - 65
AUD - November 30

"You just can't beat the person who never gives up." -Babe Ruth

[MaLoTu]

I got to participate in recruiting this year on the firms side and I will tell you it is rough for candidates. There are so many candidates and so few positions. I will mimic what has been said:
1) Being out of school for almost a year and NO job is a red flag – if you have a job just not in public it is more justified.
2) A 3.0 is not horrible, but you are competing against people that have 3.8-4.0 GPAs. Definitely inidicate your accounting GPA.
3) This hasn’t been mentioned here, but you have to be likable. Try not to make small talk, but instead ask reall thoughtful questions. If this pertained to a thank you letter or cover letter, try to sound like a real person and not a robot. I know this one is hard.
4) speak clearly and comprehensively. Not knowing what you want to do and why in public is a huge flag. Those candidates that say they want either tax or audit come off as uneducated on what we do in public accounting. Make sure that when you send out any communication it is proper English, spell check, and re-read.

After being on the recruiting side I am amazed that I even got hired, honestly. Lol. It is really hard. You have to do a LOT of leg work and really put yourself out there by all means necessary. Unfortunately, new staff recruiting is winding down for fall 2018. If you don’t get in this year you should get another job in the mean time and finish the exams if you haven’t already.

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

All 4 passed - 2016

CA CPA

[FormerCPA14]

Where are you based and what school did you go to? Just curious to know what school didn't offer an accounting major.

Are you deadset on B4?

[ultrarunner]

@MaLoTu, thanks for sharing. As you said, there were so many candidates with so little opening this year. I was one of the many job seeking candidates. I am amazed that I got hired too (for the 2018 position). It is so competitive to get into public accounting.

@JOBSEARCHING GAL, I met some candidates being out of school while I was attending the Meet the Firm and job fair events. There should be some opening in spring. Firms are hiring more audit people than tax, so I think you will have a good chance. Please contact the career center in your school and make sure that you will be invited. For my school, the Meet the Firm event is invitation only. Also, please join your state CPA society and attend chapter meetings etc. I met someone at the chapter meeting and got an interview with the firm (a good regional firm). Regional firms seem to hire people throughout the year. Good luck.

CPA/ MST/ Roger CPA Review

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[JOBSEARCHINGGAL]

@formercpa14 I went to UC Berkeley. My school did offer some accounting classes, but it does not have an accounting major. I just moved to LA because I could not afford Bay Area anymore.

@ultrarunner can you clarify what kind of chapter meeting you went to? I checked online and the only audit-related chapter meeting is about peer reviews… should I sign up? I don't think any recruiters will be there, do I just ask for other people's email and ask them to pass along my resume? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

They're hard to get. A few years ago after I finished Bachelors Degree #2 (in Acct), I looked and applied for multiple audit jobs. I even went to a couple recruiting agencies in search of one. One of the agencies told me that I didn't have enough experience. While studying acct in school, I did it with the intention of getting an audit job after I graduated, so it was a bit frustrating. But, life is not like that. Often times, we don't end up where we pictured ourselves ending up!! I got a temporary position as assistant to the Sales Audit Supervisor at a company and it lasted 9 months. That job resulted in my getting another temp job that lasted another 6 months, but it wasn't in audit. And then another one after that that lasted 6 or so months! 3 months ago, I landed a very good job in the real estate industry in a big publicly-traded company. I didn't ever think about working in that industry but it just happened.

I'd still like to have an audit job at some point in the future, maybe in internal audit for the company I currently work for. I'm better at finding errors than fixing them, although my present position is just basically hardcore accounting. It seems like most of the “audit jobs” are in public, and they go to the 20-somethings who just graduated and are on the CPA track.
Tons of young auditors out there…although, plenty of old ones too who were young at one time. It seems like those who start in audit stay in audit!! But, I came into it late in the game so who knows.

[ultrarunner]

@JOBSEARCHING GAL, it all depends on the state. My state (CA) has chapter meetings based on the location. Chapter meetings are mostly for CPE, but the CPA candidates or students are welcome as well. You can't find recruiters there, but you will find associates, managers or partners from small to mid-sized firms. It is a good networking opportunity. I met a manager from a firm that I was interested in, and we exchanged business cards and sent emails back and forth. Basically, you have to sell yourself and ask for any opportunity. Getting a job is all about networking and connection.

CPA/ MST/ Roger CPA Review

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[JOBSEARCHINGGAL]

@ultrarunner thank you for this advise! I'm in California as well, and despite how people kept saying that there are a lot of opportunities, I get turned down a lot, and I have a really hard time getting an interview. Maybe because I am currently in a different city from my school, so I had a really hard time finding networking events. Your answer solved my problem! I cannot say thank you enough.

[mad max]

It seems like those who start in audit stay in audit!!

My experience could not be further from this. Everyone I know left pub after a few years due to burnout. Turnover is very high. Whenever B4 Auditors have came to my company, almost everyone is in their early-mid 20s except for 1 or 2 older supervisor/partner.

AUD - 82
BEC - 90
FAR - 90
REG - 86

Four for four. Licensed in NJ as of 10/18/17

[arsenal227]

I would consider State government. I work for my State's Auditor General's office and I only graduated with a 3.25 – granted I was heavily involved with professional organizations while in school and did internships and externships. Goodluck!

AUD - 83
BEC - 75
FAR - 78
REG - 83

.

[Dwill2nd]

I've started in a situation similar and have coached others who has been in your situation. In my opinion there are 3 things I would recommend.

#1 Work on your resume. Use campus resource, dependable contacts, online resume consultants, whoever just make sure your resume is the best it can be and you have a solid method for writing your cover letters.

#2 Work on your job interviewing skills. What do you bring to the table that others don't. Why should they be confident you will succeed. Do you have examples and real life experiences to backup your words? every says they are a hard-worker, team player, dedicated, yada yada… But what have you down to show that and can you effectively communicate that during the interview.

Last but most important be open to relocation. Once you have your foot in the door your performance can speak for itself and carry you the rest of your career. Compile a list of all accounting firms including regional firms. Look for those that have immediate openings. It might require you to move to Kansas, west texas, or some other less desirable market. But with competition being less you have a better opportunity at landing the position. You have to be dedicated to seeking these positions out. After 3 or 4 years of success in the role you will be able to use that experience to maybe relocate to a preferred market.

Prepare, Get your feet in the door, work hard, and all else will follow.

AUD - 98
BEC - 84
FAR - 94
REG - 86

No more procrastinating!

AUD - 98 - 3.9.17
BEC - 84 - 6.8.16
FAR - 94 - 2.22.17
REG - 86 - 5.23.17

August 2017 - Official CPA?!!!!!

Bec, 6/8/2016 - 84!
Far, 7/12/2016
Reg,
Aud,

[Author]

Replies