[rbrown15]

I could really use some career advice if anyone has time. I will have my MBA in December and be qualified to sit the CPA exam in May.

Right now I am working as an AR Clerk making $12 an hour (really, $15, but the temp agency I’m with gets 20% off the top). I took this job when we moved here a couple of months ago because it was the first thing I found and I HAD to go to work. We were drowning in bills living in the Miami area on a graduate stipend after moving cross country. But the truth is, the pay is crap, and I am bored out of my mind most of the time. I’ve not only caught up the backlog that had built up here over several months but have improved a lot of the processes. Most of the time I have nothing or very little to do.

My question is…should I start looking for a better job now, or wait until I graduate in December?

I don’t want to look like a job hopper, but I’m doing a job that only requires a high school diploma with most of a Master’s degree and am only making a little bit more than our preschool bill. I also have NO idea how to go about finding an entry level accounting job in this area, so if anyone has any advice on that end, it would also be appreciated. Thanks!

[iloveaccounting220]

Are you on linked in? I would start there and reach out to recruiters. If you could survive on this salary until December, then wait since you won't be too busy at work and won't be super stressed trying to do work and school. If school is not too stressful, i would start looking now. You are being underpaid because you still have your bachelor's. Do you have any other accounting work experience?

BEC - 76 (1/24/15)
REG - 82 (4/13/15)
AUD - 89 (5/31/15)
FAR - 78 (8/16/15)

Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

[rbrown15]

My only other accounting work experience is as a tax preparer this past season. We can survive until December, but not well. I've never been on Linked In, but I'm going to join this weekend.

[Missy]

There is no harm in beginning a search now. While nobody wants to “look like” a job hopper, you also don't want to “look like” someone with a master's degree who is doing a clerical job. Job searching can take several months anyway. Be clear on what you're looking for, preferably something with growth potential, a bit of flexibility since you have a youngster. If you search this forum you'll see a remarkable number of people who accepted a job then lament it's not what they expected. I can't even wrap my head around someone who can pass the CPA exam and not ask dozens of questions before accepting a position.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Author]

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