[ajurew1]

I was told by a recruiter that passing the CPA exam won’t help me find a job, and employers will not take it into consideration since I don’t have the kind of experience they are looking for.

I have been working as a lease/recovery accountant since I graduated college. I read tenant leases and bill the tenants based on the terms of their leases. I have been unable to get interviews for Staff Accounting type jobs. Do I have any way out of this position and into something that offers more career growth?

BEC - 84 (4/13/2013)
REG - 82 (10/17/2013)
AUD - 85 (12/5/2013)
FAR - 75 (10/11/2014)

[fuzyfro89]

The benefit may not be immediate, but if you want a career in anything related to accounting or even finance, progress toward your CPA will never hurt you.

Maybe the recruiter just doesn't want to wait for their placement commission…

[PocketsWithCash]

StudyMonk – I'm not trying to discourage you, but from my experience with recruiting, once you make it to later rounds public firms more or less assume that every candidate has the ability to pass the exam. You might have a leg up during networking events and first round interviews because “I've passed X parts of the exam” sounds better than “I'm starting in X months,” but after that people might not even ask about it.

Don't assume that passing the CPA exam will make it “relatively easy” to get a job, there are a myriad of other factors that will play a role in getting hired. Just for emphasis, I know people who failed multiple sections (total passed 0) that got big 4 offers over candidates who passed multiple sections.

FAR 97
REG 91
AUD 5/30/14
BEC 7/11/14

[PocketsWithCash]

StudyMonk – I'm not trying to discourage you, but from my experience with recruiting, once you make it to later rounds public firms more or less assume that every candidate has the ability to pass the exam. You might have a leg up during networking events and first round interviews because “I've passed X parts of the exam” sounds better than “I'm starting in X months,” but after that people might not even ask about it.

Don't assume that passing the CPA exam will make it “relatively easy” to get a job, there are a myriad of other factors that will play a role in getting hired. Just for emphasis, I know people who failed multiple sections (total passed 0) that got big 4 offers over candidates who passed multiple sections.

FAR 97
REG 91
AUD 5/30/14
BEC 7/11/14

[Qlad]

whoa….all this is scaring me …as i have never worked till now….never gave an interview at all….was thinking to start looking for a job as soon as i was done with REG though…

FAR 72,71,81 🙂
AUD 64,71, 72, 75 🙂 I'm done !!!
REG 73, 74, 74, 84 🙂
BEC 76 🙂

[Qlad]

whoa….all this is scaring me …as i have never worked till now….never gave an interview at all….was thinking to start looking for a job as soon as i was done with REG though…

FAR 72,71,81 🙂
AUD 64,71, 72, 75 🙂 I'm done !!!
REG 73, 74, 74, 84 🙂
BEC 76 🙂

[GoVPI]

All of my professor have said, if you can pass the CPA exam you can leave your GPA in the car. The CPA exam is THE test that proves you KNOW accounting. It's not something a marketing major can walk into and get a C like Principles 201. If you are a CPA there is someone out there who is wanting you. More CPAs on staff = more clients = more money = more profit

BEC 8/14/14 - Passed
Graduated from college 12/13/14
AUD 8/31/15 - 74. Retake - Passed
REG
FAR

[GoVPI]

All of my professor have said, if you can pass the CPA exam you can leave your GPA in the car. The CPA exam is THE test that proves you KNOW accounting. It's not something a marketing major can walk into and get a C like Principles 201. If you are a CPA there is someone out there who is wanting you. More CPAs on staff = more clients = more money = more profit

BEC 8/14/14 - Passed
Graduated from college 12/13/14
AUD 8/31/15 - 74. Retake - Passed
REG
FAR

[Study Monk]

@MrsBunny I will be taking the first two classes required by the MST program this summer, so if your starting the tax program this summer we might be in the same class! I might take one class online though.

@PocketsWithCash I said it was my theory lol. I honestly have done fairly well at meet the firms events without my CPA, but I also am a presentable likable person;) I do disagree with you that public accounting firms assume that new hires are likely to pass the exams relatively soon. The trend is more likely that at least 25% of their work force will not last more than 2 years and not get their CPA, another 50% will take at least 2 years to get their CPA, and only 25% will get their CPA the first year.

CPA's with no experience will have higher billable hours a lot sooner and the pay increase will be minimal at first. The chances of people getting their CPA's while working 60 hour work weeks is not as high as you might think. These assumptions are based on a couple of jobs I have with public accounting firms.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

@MrsBunny I will be taking the first two classes required by the MST program this summer, so if your starting the tax program this summer we might be in the same class! I might take one class online though.

@PocketsWithCash I said it was my theory lol. I honestly have done fairly well at meet the firms events without my CPA, but I also am a presentable likable person;) I do disagree with you that public accounting firms assume that new hires are likely to pass the exams relatively soon. The trend is more likely that at least 25% of their work force will not last more than 2 years and not get their CPA, another 50% will take at least 2 years to get their CPA, and only 25% will get their CPA the first year.

CPA's with no experience will have higher billable hours a lot sooner and the pay increase will be minimal at first. The chances of people getting their CPA's while working 60 hour work weeks is not as high as you might think. These assumptions are based on a couple of jobs I have with public accounting firms.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[MrsBunny]

@ Study Monk, I will be taking my 6th(partnership) and 7th (Corporation) classes this summer and planning to skip Fall semester. If you can, you should go to the evening class instead of taking it online.

BEC - 80 (10/27/2010)
REG - 82 (11/30/2010)
FAR - 75 (04/01/2011)
AUD - 82 (05/27/2011)
CA Ethic - 90 (12/15/2013) * I am such a procrastinator
CPA Licensed

[MrsBunny]

@ Study Monk, I will be taking my 6th(partnership) and 7th (Corporation) classes this summer and planning to skip Fall semester. If you can, you should go to the evening class instead of taking it online.

BEC - 80 (10/27/2010)
REG - 82 (11/30/2010)
FAR - 75 (04/01/2011)
AUD - 82 (05/27/2011)
CA Ethic - 90 (12/15/2013) * I am such a procrastinator
CPA Licensed

[Study Monk]

Mrs Bunny,

How have you enjoyed the program and teachers so far? Is the recruiting on campus any good?

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Mrs Bunny,

How have you enjoyed the program and teachers so far? Is the recruiting on campus any good?

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[MrsBunny]

@ Study Monk, I like the program so far (not the online class though – i took one and regretted it). If you are taking Advance Federal Income Tax, You should take Eric Lee 🙂 I am not saying the online class is bad, i guess it is just personal preference.

I didn't really participate last Fall recruiting on campus but will do it this Fall.

BEC - 80 (10/27/2010)
REG - 82 (11/30/2010)
FAR - 75 (04/01/2011)
AUD - 82 (05/27/2011)
CA Ethic - 90 (12/15/2013) * I am such a procrastinator
CPA Licensed

[MrsBunny]

@ Study Monk, I like the program so far (not the online class though – i took one and regretted it). If you are taking Advance Federal Income Tax, You should take Eric Lee 🙂 I am not saying the online class is bad, i guess it is just personal preference.

I didn't really participate last Fall recruiting on campus but will do it this Fall.

BEC - 80 (10/27/2010)
REG - 82 (11/30/2010)
FAR - 75 (04/01/2011)
AUD - 82 (05/27/2011)
CA Ethic - 90 (12/15/2013) * I am such a procrastinator
CPA Licensed

[Author]

Replies