[AScott89]

I’ve been applying to so many public accounting positions my head is spinning. I feel like every app I put in is going into a dark hole never to be seen again. I am so anxious to get my career started, especially since the part-time job I’m working at is cutting back our hours and student loans are looming. I feel like with every week that goes by, my chances of starting my career keep dropping.

Does anyone here work in maybe Big 4 or a regional firm in NC? I’ve applied to some positions at Deloitte and KPMG but haven’t been able to get in touch with the recruiters and haven’t heard anything yet. I guess I’m kinda anxious as to whether or not my resume is good enough, especially since I’ve been out of school since May 2012. I know I don’t have any experience, but I’ll never get any if I don’t get hired. I feel like I’m losing my mind some days with the pressure I feel.

Anybody know how to get in touch with Big 4 recruiters in NC or can direct me to someone who can? LinkedIn has not been helpful to me.

Thanks guys

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[AScott89]

Well public accounting is what I want to do. I have applied to industry jobs and been turned down due to lack of experience.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[thechapman]

Jeff has a video with some good advice and personal insight for situations like these. Whether your GPA is considered “low” is subjective, but I think the advice he starts to give around the 23 minute mark is applicable to your situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuoS5MTmDCM

Passed - 2014

[Valerie_Jo]

I was kind of in the same boat two years ago. My bachelors was in HR, and I was working as a pharmacy tech when I started going back to school for my masters in accounting. Along the way, while still in school (which you could do now that you're out of school too) I applied for many accounting clerk or bookkeeping positions. I knew it wasn't where I wanted to stay, but a start is a start. Some experience in any capacity of accounting will be better than none.

Have you tried applying for any of these starter positions? It may be a nice low-stress environment to stay in while you are studying for your exams. Once you pass them, you will have another thing to put on your resume, along with your clerk/bookkeeping experience, and that should be a jump-starter for you. Once people see that you have passed the exams they will see that you know your stuff and be more apt to give you an opportunity to earn the experience required to get your license.

You can do it. Never take no for an answer. You have to make your own success.

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[AScott89]

I've been trying book-keeper and clerk positions too. Always the same thing: MUST have experience. I could cry sometimes I get so frustrated. But I will keep trying. I can't work as a part-time cashier forever. There's no future in it and I hate it. I really want to get started in public accounting. *sighs*

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Valerie_Jo]

This may sound rude, and that's not my intention, but have you had others take a look at your resume to see if there's something wrong with it? Like grammatical errors? If you're getting absolutely no responses, there may be something that you've not noticed.

I suggest making a goal for yourself of contacting x amount of recruiters per day, or applying for x amount of positions per week. If you have solid goals in place, sometimes it's easier to keep going. Treat applying for jobs and networking like it's your fulltime job. I know time can be tight, but you can do it. I worked full time, was studying for the exams, and going to grad school fulltime during my last semester of school. Time is tight for everyone. You have to make it happen.

This may also sound rude, and again, not my intention, but your posts are sort of sounding like you're playing the victim here. You need to stay positive. Negativity and doubt will eat you alive. That's another thing about meeting your little goals…it may give you a sense of accomplishment to see that you've contacted so many people in the last week or month. Try to look on the bright side and look at your efforts you're making in the right direction, rather than rehashing all of the no's you've received.

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[AScott89]

I've had people look at my resume. It is free of grammar and spelling errors but its kinda sparse since I have no accounting experience. It's hard to stay positive sometimes especially when you've been at it for two years with no success and it feels like the more time goes by the smaller your chances get.

I will try to stay positive though. I'm farther down the road than I was before so that's something at least.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Tarheelgirl]

Apply for those jobs that require 1-2 years or less of experience. Who knows they may not be getting in the responses needed for the job and are likely to train instead. If you seem determined, fast learner, and willing to take on a large task during the interview.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[AScott89]

Tarheelgirl are you from NC too? I didn't wanna assume just from your username. Do you know any regional or small firms that need entry-level people? I am really trying to find something accounting-related to get started.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Tarheelgirl]

Yes live in Wilson. I work for the NC Dept. of Revenue at the moment. Took me tons of tries before I got an offer here as I did not have any experience except for working PT at HR Block. I don't know of any firms hiring off the top of my head. I've been looking here and there as I have to get my 1 year experience. Been looking at McGladrey, CRI, and will personally go to the local CPA firms in my city and drop off my resume once I get to that point.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

All your replies sound like excuses. People are giving you suggestions and you reply but I've done that but this and that. This is what you do. You have an easy job so there are no excuses for you not passing the exam especially with two years out of school. You pass the exam. Contact a recruiter. Have them review your resume. They will also be open to helping you get your foot in the door. Apply to bookkeeping jobs that's your best bet after 2 years of graduating and no accounting experience. Just do it.

[Anonymous]

I got my public accounting job from personally going to every public accounting firm close enough to commute to on a daily basis and dropping off resume and cover letter and if able chatting with whoever was there. I'm in a small town (<3000 people) with a couple other small towns around, so there weren't many openings. The nearest Big 4 or regional firm office is 2 hours away. But personal visits found and secured positions that were never advertised.

[AScott89]

So Lilla should I just start cold-calling some of the single-person practices in my area and seeing if they might need some help?

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Anonymous]

I would – it's what worked for me. Look up in the phone book and/or Google every accounting, bookkeeping, or CPA firm, and start cold-calling (edit the names/address on your cover letter to always match the location you're dropping it off at). When you get an interview, basically take anything you're offered. 2-person firm that needs a receptionist who will help with bookkeeping when things are slow? Go for it! Might not be glamorous, but it's a foot in the door. Receptionist work somewhere that small wouldn't take more than an hour or two a day so leaves lots of time for you to prove your worth. Just make a good cover letter and resume, attire yourself professionally, and give it a shot. I was working part-time as a bank teller when I was seeking my first accounting job so would go on cold-calling sprees on my days off. I ended up getting one interview for a position that really required at least some experience, one guy who was extremely interested but didn't have the work to support a 2nd person (and ended up being the guy to sign off on my CPA experience, and offer me a full-time job this past winter, and I worked a bit part-time for him around my FT job to help out during tax season), and one guy who called me about 11am (a couple months after I dropped off the resume – he'd told me when he dropped it off that he'd be hiring in a couple months, so I'd followed up), I interviewed at 2pm, and was offered a job in the interview with a start date in 2 weeks. I worked there for a year and learned a lot, and gained the experience that allowed me to jump to private accounting (which always interested me more). The job didn't pay great (I was hired at an hourly rate that was less than what I'd made as a cashier supervisor at the grocery store 2 years before), but it gave me the experience to go elsewhere, and that was worth more than the pay. I just thought of it like an internship and then the pay was OK. 🙂 My next job (and current job) was a clerk position in private accounting that paid 50% more than what I was making at this first public accounting job.

[TNCPA16]

Here's my 2 cents…

1). Don't make excuses about the CPA exam. You are working part time; you need to pass it now. It will not get easier when you are working full time. My significant other is the only person on the face of the planet who enjoyed studying for the CPA exam. To the rest of us? It sucks. It's terrible. It's hard to stay focused. But we do it. You don't need expensive study materials, but it does make it easier. No excuses. Pass it.

2). Look into internships. The majority of accounting internships are paid, and generally pay pretty well (more than retail). It's a great way to get your foot in the door of a company and also get some experience in your resume. Many internships lead to full time positions.

3). Like everyone else has said – network network network! Find accounting societies and professional organizations. Big 4 firms often do free live CPE events. Call your old accounting professors. Volunteer to do tax returns. Join everything you can and get out there! People remember faces and conversations more than they remember a resume.

4). I checked out your LinkedIn profile. One thing (which probably isn't a big deal, but thought I'd point it out anyway…), why are you interested in doing a MAcc? In my experience people generally only get a MAcc if they don't have enough hours for the CPA exam. Also, many audit jobs require travel, which is difficult if you are in school. When I was interviewing people this year to fill a staff audit position, we wouldn't even consider anyone who was in school. It's too much of a headache for an employer to work around someone's school schedule. I personally think CPA is way more valuable than MAcc.

5). Big 4/regional firms usually hire entry level positions well in advance, and Big 4 tend to only hire their former interns. You are better off getting experience somewhere else and then trying again in a few years for an experienced hire position.

6). Don't give up! 🙂

[AScott89]

I know its easier to pass it now. But I couldn't afford to get started until this year. I hope to get all 4 knocked out by this time next year. I'm trying the internship route now actually. I've applied to two more since they didn't specifically say ‘current students only'. One of them is at a firm I've already interviewed at and been turned down, but I hope that they'll still consider me for next summer's internship. I didn't know you could do the cpe events if you didn't work for the firm or weren't already a cpa. I'll look into that.

The funny thing about why I want to do a MAcc? I'm a nerd and actually enjoy school. The program would be through American Public University which is completely online so I wouldn't have to worry about traveling for work and not being able to do coursework. I'd be set as long as I have internet.

Lilla you actually went in person? I was thinking about just calling and asking them if they needed any help or had any positions open. Do you think going in person is better than calling? I'm trying to conserve my gas as my gas budget is a little short this week.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Author]

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