[outstanding CPA]

I came to the United States five years ago. Before I came here, I had worked for four years as a receivable accountant, five years as a credit control, and one year as a sales supervisor. In the beginning, I applied for tens of accounting jobs, but I did not get even a job interview. I thought the reason could be the bad economy at that time and the large number of people competing for jobs. I then decided to join a local community college and got an associate degree in accounting to be added to my Bachelor in economics so as to qualify to take the CPA exam in Colorado. In the meantime, I had many of low paying jobs because I had to take care of my family. During 2014, I started taking the exams, and now I am waiting for the result of my last section. After taking the last exam on the 20th of November, I started again the job hunting process and applied for more than ten accounting firms in Denver, Colorado. I applied only for internship and entry level positions, but, unfortunately, again there were no responses. Now I cannot control my anxiety and fear. Could the reason for this ignorance be the five years gap in my resume? Could it be my approach to apply? Shall I go directly the accounting firms instead of applying online? I do not have an American name. Is it possible that my name could be the reason? I do not want to believe that.

Far 83 (Jan 2014)
Reg 90 (May 2014)
Bec 84 (Aug 2014)
Aud 99 (Nov 2014)
Ethics 96

[stoleway]

Denver job market is notoriously competitive, especially for accounting jobs. I stayed in Denver for 5 yrs and couldn't get a full fledged accounting job until I accepted an offer in oklahoma 2 months ago. I interviewed with lots of reputable firms in Denver but none of them extended an offer. One thing I realized is that you really have to know somebody in order to get an accounting job in Denver, nepotism plays a vital role in this economy.

I did get series of job offers as an AP person but that's not what I wanted. Your name is not the issue, big issue is the gap in employment , the fact that you live in a emerging and expensive economy like Denver, and not having any concrete American degree to spice up your resume. I don't know about the Dakotas but don't move to Montana, I'm serious!

@ MOD, Denver is very diverse but it's just too competitive right now.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[M.O.D.]

Regarding the name change,

H&R Block was founded in 1955 by brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch, of German descent. They Americanized (English-ized) by changing the name because Americans pronounced the German Bloch as “Blotch”. So “Block” maintains the German pronunciation.

Many immigrants change or adopt an English name because the original is not pronounceable by most Americans, not because they are in hiding. All in my family Americanized our first and middle names upon citizenship. This is specifically an option on the citizenship application.

If his name is “Mohammad Bin-Laden,” he could be scaring people unnecessarily. Prejudice, xenophobia, ignorance is a fact of life in many cases. You can only fight it so much before you have to consider your financial and family situation.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[outstanding CPA]

stoleway, I will give it a shot here in Denver first before making the decision to move. It is probable that, as mla1169 noted, it is too early to panic.

My question, that no one provided an answer for, is:

would it be OK to tour the accounting firms, talk to them and give them hard copies of my resume, or that wouldn't be professional?

Far 83 (Jan 2014)
Reg 90 (May 2014)
Bec 84 (Aug 2014)
Aud 99 (Nov 2014)
Ethics 96

[Anonymous]

Even if it's an American name, if it's worth changing it, I'd do it.

Like if it's Johnny Fart, heck I'd have it changed in a flash!

[xiyame]

I don't think your name is the problem. I have a very Chinese name, and it was never a problem.

I think you applied for positions that you don't fit. For entry levels, CPA firms tend to look for young college students (there are always different cases, but this is the general fact). Although you went back to community college, your resume seems to me is an experienced person without a strong accounting background. I would recommend you to apply for positions in industries.

Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

@outstanding YES tour and deliver hard copies. It might not work, but heck, it might. When I was seeking my first accounting job, I toured all the accounting firms within a reasonable drive. I'm in an area with very small towns, so that was about 30 firms total – out of that, I got 2 interviews and an offer which I accepted. A year later I left that first job for a job in private and within a month heard from another firm I'd visited on that tour who had known I was employed with their friend, and upon hearing I'd left that job, contacted me to offer me a job…so, in a way, I'd say I got 2 offers out of it, even though one was a year later when I was “available” again.

As for listing the other jobs, like Kricket said, employers want people willing to work. I think Kricket's idea of a 2nd sheet showing your “Just to pay the bills” jobs would work, or a listing of them with just dates and titles rather than including descriptions. I've seen some people arrange their resumes to have professional experience in one section and other work experience in another – this might work for you as well, something like Professional Experience, then Education & Certifications (where you could list that you are working on the CPA – don't list that you are one of course, but could list you are working on it, 3 passed 1 pending), then Other Experience. They're not likely to care whether you sorted 100 envelopes an hour or 150, so the details of these jobs may not matter as much, but showing that you were gainfully employed does. Also, with a job as a mail sorter, in my mind that's a step above a job as a cashier or something like that, since I'm pretty sure all postal employees are subjected to more thorough background checks etc., so the fact that you've held a federal/postal job indicates that you've got a clean record, even before they do their own checking.

[fuzyfro89]

OutstandingCPA:

“It will be so devastating if I do not get an accounting job after all the effort I put to pass the CPA exam because the employers do not like my name, but it is too early to give up.”

Why do you think your name is the problem? Just because you want a job doesn't mean you can automatically get one. It's a competitive job market for all jobs… entry level and executive.

If you search this website, you will see plenty of people who need help finding a job who are more qualified (and less qualified) than you. Some people searched for months before they found the right position.

It's not easy.

Accept it.

Try your best and move forward and stop worrying about your name. You are focusing on the wrong problem.

[outstanding CPA]

Thanks guys… I will keep trying, and I hope tomorrow will be brighter.

Good luck everyone!!

Far 83 (Jan 2014)
Reg 90 (May 2014)
Bec 84 (Aug 2014)
Aud 99 (Nov 2014)
Ethics 96

[Author]

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