[kmaahs]

So I worked my butt off all summer and passed the CPA exam 4/4 just in time for fall recruiting.

My theory was that such a move would make me a strong candidate for entry level positions and more or less counter the fact that I have no internships under my belt as I did my MSA program rather fast and had only one shot, last year, to land one, which did not materialize.

Well I talked with 10 firms, 3 of which big 4, the rest were regional or smaller firms. (i spoke with 1 big 4 at a different event and the recruiter told me she had no winter openings and probably no need for a tax guy come fall either due to good internship retention so I didnt burn time waiting in their line)

I’ve got 1 interview with E&Y (yay!) but have been rejected by 6 of the remaining 9 as of today. (3 firms have yet to make a decision.) I’m pumped for my E&Y interview and will be preparing all day today for my 9am interview tomorrow, but reality is slapping me in the face that I may not get a shot at public right now. I suspect my desire for a winter start date has something to do with it as fewer opportunities exist. I told every firm that didn’t have a winter start date that I would entertain later start dates, but I think they don’t want to risk wasting their time with me and having another firm give me my desired start date later in the process.

Ok now for my questions…

I went to my undergrad’s career fair first, and my MSA school is having one tomorrow. There will only be maybe 1-3 firms that I haven’t already talked to. Should I only talk to them or should I also talk to firms that have rejected me through the other career fair for a second shot?

Fast forward…. Say I don’t get a job in public after all is said and done with the few interviews I might get. What next? Who would I want to talk to or what type of jobs should I look for? I do have some minimum wage requirements (i.e. a $12 an hour AP position won’t pay my bills) and I really want to work under a CPA to move forwards with my license-sure process. Apart from small 1-2 cpa firms, where should I look?

Any advice is appreciated! I’m feeling kinda bummed because I really worked hard all summer telling myself that the CPA exam would open doors and I’m not really experiencing that so much…

C.P.A.

[acamp]

OK, lets start with figuring out alternative paths IF nothing pans out–no point thinking that way until you have to.

To clarify, did you have 9 interviews, of which you got rejected by 6 of them?

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

OK, lets start with figuring out alternative paths IF nothing pans out–no point thinking that way until you have to.

To clarify, did you have 9 interviews, of which you got rejected by 6 of them?

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[kmaahs]

“To clarify, did you have 9 interviews, of which you got rejected by 6 of them? “

No, I talked to 10 firms at a career fair and was picked for an interview by one firm. Of the remaining 9, i have so far been declined an interview opportunity by 6 of them.

So….

I have one interview lined up, and only 3 firms that have yet to invite me to interview or decline to do so.

C.P.A.

[kmaahs]

“To clarify, did you have 9 interviews, of which you got rejected by 6 of them? “

No, I talked to 10 firms at a career fair and was picked for an interview by one firm. Of the remaining 9, i have so far been declined an interview opportunity by 6 of them.

So….

I have one interview lined up, and only 3 firms that have yet to invite me to interview or decline to do so.

C.P.A.

[Mayo]

“So I worked my butt off all summer and passed the CPA exam 4/4 just in time for fall recruiting.

My theory was that such a move would make me a strong candidate for entry level positions and more or less counter the fact that I have no internships under my belt as I did my MSA program rather fast and had only one shot, last year, to land one, which did not materialize.”

I think there might be a slight misunderstanding between what many in public accounting recruit for and what you are putting a priority on.

For one, many public accounting firms look for very well rounded students, mid high to high GPA, and a easy going and social personality (YMMV depending Tax or Audit).

Things like volunteering, joining campus organizations like Beta Alpha Psi, leadership roles, participation in firm-sponsored case studies, etc. are all the type of things that will help a student's resume stand out.

So for one, I think that while passing all the CPA parts is nice, your're running into an expectations gap when it comes to recruiting.

As for suggestions? It seems like you're too far ahead to get involve din the activities I mentioned. However, I would suggest to seriously look at your resume and find a way to tailor it to highlight any 1.) Leadership roles you've had, 2) Any situations where you worked with a team of individuals 3) Any situations where client facing activities were important (e.g. being a waiter/waitress).

Then, go to the career fair with your improved resume. Talk to firms, and try and ask good questions.

And yes, go ahead and talk with firms that have rejected you. I mean at the end of the day it's good practice, you might meet some people that you can make a connection with, and all they can say is “no”.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

“So I worked my butt off all summer and passed the CPA exam 4/4 just in time for fall recruiting.

My theory was that such a move would make me a strong candidate for entry level positions and more or less counter the fact that I have no internships under my belt as I did my MSA program rather fast and had only one shot, last year, to land one, which did not materialize.”

I think there might be a slight misunderstanding between what many in public accounting recruit for and what you are putting a priority on.

For one, many public accounting firms look for very well rounded students, mid high to high GPA, and a easy going and social personality (YMMV depending Tax or Audit).

Things like volunteering, joining campus organizations like Beta Alpha Psi, leadership roles, participation in firm-sponsored case studies, etc. are all the type of things that will help a student's resume stand out.

So for one, I think that while passing all the CPA parts is nice, your're running into an expectations gap when it comes to recruiting.

As for suggestions? It seems like you're too far ahead to get involve din the activities I mentioned. However, I would suggest to seriously look at your resume and find a way to tailor it to highlight any 1.) Leadership roles you've had, 2) Any situations where you worked with a team of individuals 3) Any situations where client facing activities were important (e.g. being a waiter/waitress).

Then, go to the career fair with your improved resume. Talk to firms, and try and ask good questions.

And yes, go ahead and talk with firms that have rejected you. I mean at the end of the day it's good practice, you might meet some people that you can make a connection with, and all they can say is “no”.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[kmaahs]

The thing is that in addition to having my cpa passed, I have a 3.8 gpa, was beta alpha psi, won a “gold” award for all the hours I put into VITA where I was a quality reviewer, have management roles on my resume (actual jobs, not school related), have lots of experience in sales, hospitality, and client-facing services (I'm 25 with 10 years of work experience) and my undergrad was HR(well rounded). All together, I'd call my bases mostly covered. My resume, as far as the piece of paper goes, is rather strong.

That is what is getting me. I gave my all into improving myself and taking the steps to land a job and now that the time is coming, it's kind of falling apart. Rather frustrating.

C.P.A.

[kmaahs]

The thing is that in addition to having my cpa passed, I have a 3.8 gpa, was beta alpha psi, won a “gold” award for all the hours I put into VITA where I was a quality reviewer, have management roles on my resume (actual jobs, not school related), have lots of experience in sales, hospitality, and client-facing services (I'm 25 with 10 years of work experience) and my undergrad was HR(well rounded). All together, I'd call my bases mostly covered. My resume, as far as the piece of paper goes, is rather strong.

That is what is getting me. I gave my all into improving myself and taking the steps to land a job and now that the time is coming, it's kind of falling apart. Rather frustrating.

C.P.A.

[UCMCPA]

I have no idea how you aren't landing interviews like crazy. Your resume is better than mine, and of all the firms I have talked to, I was at least offered an interview, and now have a full-time offer from one.

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

[UCMCPA]

I have no idea how you aren't landing interviews like crazy. Your resume is better than mine, and of all the firms I have talked to, I was at least offered an interview, and now have a full-time offer from one.

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

[acamp]

Some recruiters scared to swim with sharks? LOL I got passed up for almost all small-mid tier initial firm interviews and ended up with multiple Big4 Offers.

Prep well for the EY interview, make sure you come in with a genuine friendly personality, try to engage the interviewers, more conversational the interview becomes the better–you can help this along with a great list of questions. Don't worry about the other rejections, you only NEED 1 offer, and who better than a Big4?!

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

Some recruiters scared to swim with sharks? LOL I got passed up for almost all small-mid tier initial firm interviews and ended up with multiple Big4 Offers.

Prep well for the EY interview, make sure you come in with a genuine friendly personality, try to engage the interviewers, more conversational the interview becomes the better–you can help this along with a great list of questions. Don't worry about the other rejections, you only NEED 1 offer, and who better than a Big4?!

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[mla1169]

Do you think the issue is that you appear (in some ways) to be changing career paths? If your degree is in HR (do you already have your MSA or currently completing it?) and you've got management experience in sales and hospitality, maybe they're focusing too much on those? Just a thought. Frankly I see all of those things as an asset, especially in public where you're interfacing with clients but if you're just finishing your MSA and have no accounting experience you might just have to market yourself a bit differently than you are.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Do you think the issue is that you appear (in some ways) to be changing career paths? If your degree is in HR (do you already have your MSA or currently completing it?) and you've got management experience in sales and hospitality, maybe they're focusing too much on those? Just a thought. Frankly I see all of those things as an asset, especially in public where you're interfacing with clients but if you're just finishing your MSA and have no accounting experience you might just have to market yourself a bit differently than you are.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Mayo]

“I have no idea how you aren't landing interviews like crazy.”

Yah me neither. That's just crazy. Are you sure there's not a small typo somewhere that may be causing your resume to be ignored?

Because other than that, it just seems insane to me that you're not getting more attention.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

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