[nyc77]

Hi people,

i really want to get into public accounting, so i am studying for the CPA exam. but the problem is that my resume does not look good and i was fired from my last job.

do public accounting firms ignore candidates with a bad resume, or if i am able to explain myself will they give me a chance? i just want to know what kind of attitude a public accounting firm has towards someone who was fired versus industry…

any advice would help.

[Anonymous]

How did you get fired? Corporate downsizing?

[nyc77]

no, for cause, poor performance.

[KEMcpa]

Just being honest…..a resume that does not look good and being fired “for cause, poor performance” is likely to make your search for a job an uphill climb.

I am involved with hiring at a small public accounting firm. We don't have a lot of turnover, so we normally have several resumes to review when we have an opening. We only contact individuals with great resumes/cover letters or those who have a personal referral. The cover letter often goes a long way in getting our attention. We look for skills that match position, “fit” within our small office culture, and ability to learn/adapt as the top criteria when hiring.

Knowing that a candidate was fired for poor performance from a prior job causes me concern in all 3 of our top criteria. IF I were desperate enough to fill a spot that a candidate with a resume that “does not look good” received a phone call, I would be interested to know what you learned from being fired, what actions you've taken to improve ability, and your plan to ensure quality performance in a new position.

Best wishes in your job search.

Licensed Texas CPA!

[kgirl]

What do you mean by your resume doesn't look good? Can you consult with Career Services to rewrite it and improve it? And being fired doesn't disqualify you from a productive career. My last job's managing partner was fired from public accounting many years ago. He went on to manage the most successful accounting firm in our area.

There's great examples online of how to explain being fired. “I was eager to prove myself and was afraid to tell my bosses I was overwhelmed and couldn't keep up. I realize the importance of communication and wish I'd handled it better”.

“The job required I focus on preparing 5500s and my strengths lie in corporate tax consulting. I'm interested in this job with your firm as it focuses on corporate tax consulting”.

“The job evolved into a poor fit and I began checking out mentally. I realize the importance of a good job fit and am excited about this position because of xyz”.

Hope this helps!

[Author]

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