[Rufio]

A little summary about me
-Houston, TX (big accounting market supposedly)
-Recent MBA graduate, undergrad in accounting. GPA is above 3.0
-Currently waiting to hear back from my CPA application and currently studying for it
-over a year of government accounting experience
-a year of banking (non accounting) experience

I have been having problems landing a job in public accounting. I have gone to many career fairs and I have usually gotten the same response from recruiters. In undergrad it was “we’re looking for someone close to having 150 hours or ready to sit for the exam. This lead me to not landing any internships. In graduate school it was a little mix of both. Some said they only hired undergrads while others said they wanted someone more ready to sit. I have actually had some interviews with those companies because I was near ready to sit. Interviews went great, excellent even. In the end, they end up hiring undergrads who weren’t even close to sitting or having a bachelor’s. Most of them were quite attractive IMO, so that may be the case. I have gone and had my resume revamped multiple times at the career center, mock interviews, pretty much everything. I don’t really know why I am having such a hard time landing a position. I’m not to sure if it is my lack of experience or the color of my skin. I know I am damn qualified.

So any advice on what I should do to land a position? Or maybe I should just go a different route and quite accounting. I feel like this education has just been a waste of time. Even if i get my CPA, will it even make a difference if I don’t have the experience? I am also a veteran btw, but that hasn’t helped me at all. Most places say they’re veteran friendly but it doesn’t seem that way.

[Small4]

For a person (me) who is older than you most likely, your CPA and MBA is definitely not a waste of time. Trust me, there are alot of people who would want to be in your position. Have you tried going through a recruiting firm? OR maybe target lower level public accounting firms just to get your feet wet (and perhaps network for an even better gig after you get in). How about temping? Not a full-time gig…maybe look at recruitment firms that are willing to take you as a client with no experience and help you get any position.

Im sure it can be frustrating but if you keep trying, you will get that job. Your educational background is way better than where others start from (some dont have that CPA) so keep your head up and i wish you good luck.

BEC - 68,70,72,75 5/15
AUD - 78(expired), 77 8/15
REG - 29,58,65,77 1/16
FAR - 56,68,73 - retake October hopefully (last shot)

Been doing this since 2007 on and off...

[Tncincy]

@small4,
I really appreciate your posts. Sounds like you know what you're talking about study wise and now job search. I am toying with the idea of changing my bookkeeping and tax business into a cpa firm after pass. (if I could ever pass). I am 52 am an not sure if I can break into the independent cpa competition, would it be good to go industry since I am so old?

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Tim]

OP, talk to a recruiter for sure. They will be able to tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are, what jobs you are most likely to be able to get, and they will help you with your interview skills. They also have connections of course. Considering you don't have to pay them a dime it's a no-brainer to take on the extra help. Have a little caution, though, because sometimes recruiters will tell you you're worth less than you really are because they want to slot you into a position for one of their clients that isn't willing to pay as much as you're worth. Generally they will want to get you the most pay possible since their fee is based on your income, but if they have an easy position to fill you into vs a long struggle to get you what you're worth they will take it. That said, if you are currently unemployed you may just want to take what you can get and not try to hold out for more money. Try to prioritize positions that will give you valuable skills that you can leverage into a better position in the future.

[Rufio]

@small4 Thank you for the input. I have tried recruiting firms but I haven't really had any luck. They only offered small accounts $12 an hour accounts payable positions. Most of the time they notify me about a position and I will respond, and I never hear a word from them. I have tried local accounting firms. A while back I went and contacted every accounting firm in Houston and have not heard back from them, or they said they were already full. I have been networking with peers from school as well as different recruiters and supervisors on Linkedin, haven't had much luck in that. I think what is frustrating is seeing everyone else make it and getting these offers, while I am doing the exact same thing they are and have failed. I constantly ask those for advice and tips. Even though I use them, it just doesn't seem to work. I'm 27 and not getting any younger, which seems to be a big deal to employers. The older I get, it will be more difficult to land an entry level position. It would be nice to have an employer take on these CPA expenses (my current job doesn't). If the chances of me getting a job are higher, I am considering just not taking the CPA and going to law school instead. I just wished I knew how difficult if was ahead of time so I wouldn't have wasted time in perusing an MBA.

[Small4]

Hey @rufio , i see, im sure that can get frustrating. Just perspective, it looks like in your eyes you're older than alot of folks but it really isnt the case, if you add an MBA (which you have), a 22 + 3 = 25 years old is the average start for alot of folks. Sure some have general experience before, but being 27 isnt old at all. (im in my early 30s and i barely passed my CPA)…Perhaps its the location you are living in? Not sure how the market is like so maybe there there is more of an oil and gas industry type need? Just know there are folks like me (who don't have that graduate degree) who wish we have it….it may not pay off now and doesn't seem like it wont anytime soon, but when you're 37 and you realize upper management usually needs a graduate degree (even in other non-audit non-tax fields)…you will thank yourself in the future. My only other advice is timing: perhaps when there is a spike in need, those accounting firms could have temp positons open…like right now, most likely there is an audit push or when tax season hits (Feb March; July-Aug), your chances could go slightly higher. Definitely don't give up since like i said, i would KILL to be 27 and have what you have already haha…

Good luck!

BEC - 68,70,72,75 5/15
AUD - 78(expired), 77 8/15
REG - 29,58,65,77 1/16
FAR - 56,68,73 - retake October hopefully (last shot)

Been doing this since 2007 on and off...

[Rufio]

@small4 Thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm not trying to make excuses, but I have tried oil and gas companies. Most of them want 3-5 years experience in that industry. All of the big O&G companies that recruit on campus only take a few students a year for internships. They 99% consists of presidents of some accounting club or honor society club with a 7.0 GPA, which I don't really blame theme. It's really my fault I didn't have a perfect GPA. Recruiting firms don't typically have positions for public accounting or even tax. Lol it's literally “We have this payroll position you might be interested in. Pay is $12 dollars an hour with a degree.” I'm still looking and haven't given up all hope yet, just about 90% of it. I'm also currently looking outside of Houston in places like Austin and Dallas. Now when I do get the CPA and still can't find work, that's when I will probably lose my mind and go on a killing spree.

I think law school is out the door. I missed the deadline for the fall semester of 18. That means I will have to start in Fall of 2019 because they don't offer spring admissions. The ones that do offer spring admission are private universities and don't offer tax law or business law. It's also like 35k year…so yeah. CPA it is…

[Author]

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