[Peanut Butter is Good]

Any work? Any accounting job? Anything with an accounting firm? What are they looking for?

[TNCPA16]

Don't delay graduation or get another degree. Not a good idea. Your best bet is to focus on finding an accounting job – any accounting job. I understand the desire to want to do public accounting, but it doesn't always happen for everyone right out of school. You are better off getting some experience in industry and then trying again in a year or two for an experienced hire position than to hold out for a public accounting job right now. Try looking at jobs in internal audit for public companies – that will get you exposure to not only audit, but you will get exposure to the external audit team. You can check with staffing firms, but more than likely, industry jobs will be posted online somewhere (either the company's website, careerbuilder, etc.) We will be looking for another new staff next year if you want to move to the south!

[Peanut Butter is Good]

Jilly,

Thanks for having a big heart! Unfortunately I don't think I can convince my girlfriend to move south with me. I'm in the NJ/NYC/Philly area anyway. I'm sort of a lifer over here.

Although moving could be in my best interest, so maybe I should take you up on that.

I did get a job, which will start soon. It's not what I hoped for. Maybe it's levereagable, maybe not! The job I got was a permanent accounting staff for a staffing firm, meaning instead of placing me in one company, I will be placed on various engagements that last several months each. It's accounting, but definitely not audit or tax, though I'm sure it's related. It's teamwork-based accounting, which is good, and pretty notable clients as well. But it's definitely accounting purgatory, and I'm honestly trying to find something else now before it even starts. I'm definitely worried I'm gonna get stuck in this strange job forever.

[Anonymous]

Knock these tests out and cut your teeth. You'll get a job. Smaller firms will scoop you up in no time.

You'll have hands on accounting experience and can wow the interviewers with your experience with all these systems.

What part of NJ are you from?

I'm in Burlington County. There's no way I'd move down south either.

[Peanut Butter is Good]

I'm in Morris right now, originally from Passaic Co., but I'm going down towards Union/Middlesex/Monmouth area pretty soon, right above Burlington.

[Anonymous]

It's a real nice area up there. I'd live up in the Cream Ridge area if I could, but it's too far from Philly.

Withum Smith + Brown is looking for people in the Princeton area. Not sure If you've tried there or not.

[Peanut Butter is Good]

This late in the season huh?

They're actually one of the few companies I didn't hear back from to come in for an interview. I mean if you have some pull over there…. Ether way, I'm game. Maybe I'll call em up tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

No pull. I did interview there, though.

As it turned out, the first partner I interviewed with vactioned on the beach I used to guard on LBI. I ended up pooching the interview with the second partner.

The recruiter there is named Debbie Lee Ho. You could try to look her up on Linkedin.

I wouldn't be concerned about hiring seasons. There are jobs open all year round. It's true that there are times where there are more open jobs, but there are always open jobs.

[Peanut Butter is Good]

Thank you for this information. If she asks, I guess I'll say Bill Brasskey.

So “hiring season” isn't the only time you can jump on board huh? What about re-interviewing with companies I just did, or is that sort of out-of-the ordinary.

[juuustin]

I am going to hop onto the UNC MAcc is dead wrong train. I graduated from a large state school that has a top 20 business school……. with a degree in criminal justice. I have worked over four years in gov't doing something completely unrelated to accounting. I received my accounting degree completely online through a regionally accredited school. I signed my B4 offer letter less than three weeks after graduating. I was hired through “campus recruiting” and the school from which I received the accounting degree was not even available for me to select in the dropdown box when filling out the application.

I am aware of the fact that I may be the exception and not the rule, but acting as if it is nearly impossible to get hired with no experience is just flat out wrong.

MD Candidate: 10/1/14

FAR - 87 (11/23/14)
REG - 87 (1/30/15)
BEC - 89 (4/19/15)
AUD - 98 (5/30/15)

Ethics - 100

Experience - In Progress!

[Anonymous]

I agree.

My work experience prior to being hired consisted of ten years of lifeguarding on LBI and bartending. I had zilch in accounting.

[cool_kid]

Wow thats actually kind of inspiring that you guys were able to finally get into public accounting without any prior accounting experience. I haven't had any luck with recruiting this fall but I graduate in the spring so I'm hoping that something works out in the next few months.

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of young grads actually do get in after graduation vs. through the formal Fall on-campus recruiting. I can remember my school getting new firms to come look at students throughout the year with another pop right before graduation.

A lot of firms take a reactionary approach to hiring vs. trying to forecast needs a year out. Forecasting may work for larger firms, but it's probably not as reliable for firms with 100 or less professional. There are plenty of firms that won't consider a candidate until after they have graduated.

[Anonymous]

I'm from Morris county NJ too and now I'm settled in NC in the Research Triangle. I never thought I'd move while I was living up there, but trust me it's just all around better here than there… Huge upcoming area that companies are moving to. The cities(besides Durham) are much cleaner than NYC or Philly, and we don't get 100+ inches of snow every year like some states I know.

on a side note:

If anyone could put me in touch with any recruiters they know in the Raleigh area, that would be awesome.

[Author]

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