[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)

[jw_83]

Where in Illinois are you located? The firm I work at is looking for a staff accountant. It's a small city and we have not been able to find anyone to fill the position.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[jw_83]

Where in Illinois are you located? The firm I work at is looking for a staff accountant. It's a small city and we have not been able to find anyone to fill the position.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[fsugirl2005]

@ OP

I've been a full charge bookkeeper for the past several years and currently studying for the CPA exam. Here's the deal. Having the experience is kind of a huge deal. If you're going to work in corporate accounting, it is very important to have the month end close, full cycle AP/AR, and year end close experiences. Unless you're going in straight out of college, you will have a hard time getting a corporate accounting job with a CPA but no experience. The hiring managers really want you to know the accounting processes from beginning to end. If you are offered a staff accountant position, they will probably leave you in the position just long enough for you to learn the basics and promote you. That would be a good idea but they should definitely give you that opportunity.

I interviewed for a staff accountant position in a public company today and my full charge bookkeeping experience sealed the deal. When I get my license next year, they will more than likely promote me.

I think you should ask the managers at your current job if you can spend some time over in their accounting department on a part time basis and assist with month closes and things like that.

In regards to recruiters, I just pretty much gave them the middle finger. I met with a recruiter at Robert Half the other day and he wanted me to change the dates on when I operated my business so it wouldn't look like I had something on the side. The fact that he asked me to lie told me that was a good way to blow me off. If I had changed the dates, he would have probably said that I was a dishonest person. Those people are bottom feeders and they lie a lot. I couldn't sleep at night being that kind of recruiter.

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[fsugirl2005]

@ OP

I've been a full charge bookkeeper for the past several years and currently studying for the CPA exam. Here's the deal. Having the experience is kind of a huge deal. If you're going to work in corporate accounting, it is very important to have the month end close, full cycle AP/AR, and year end close experiences. Unless you're going in straight out of college, you will have a hard time getting a corporate accounting job with a CPA but no experience. The hiring managers really want you to know the accounting processes from beginning to end. If you are offered a staff accountant position, they will probably leave you in the position just long enough for you to learn the basics and promote you. That would be a good idea but they should definitely give you that opportunity.

I interviewed for a staff accountant position in a public company today and my full charge bookkeeping experience sealed the deal. When I get my license next year, they will more than likely promote me.

I think you should ask the managers at your current job if you can spend some time over in their accounting department on a part time basis and assist with month closes and things like that.

In regards to recruiters, I just pretty much gave them the middle finger. I met with a recruiter at Robert Half the other day and he wanted me to change the dates on when I operated my business so it wouldn't look like I had something on the side. The fact that he asked me to lie told me that was a good way to blow me off. If I had changed the dates, he would have probably said that I was a dishonest person. Those people are bottom feeders and they lie a lot. I couldn't sleep at night being that kind of recruiter.

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[Jasper]

Recruiters can be real pains. I remember trying to becoming a staff accountant through Robert Half, and the Recruiter told me that even with my experience in accounting no company would take me serious because I lacked SAP.

Gee, maybe they should then put SAP on the CPA exam.

Currently, I am unemployed and have decided to pursue the CPA exam full time because after a year and half I still could not find a job. If this is how society is going to react to achieving such a milestone of passing the CPA exam, then I guess I will be an overqualified cashier at Walmart.

If that is the case, then what a dead end waste of time. I should of pursued basket weaving.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[Jasper]

Recruiters can be real pains. I remember trying to becoming a staff accountant through Robert Half, and the Recruiter told me that even with my experience in accounting no company would take me serious because I lacked SAP.

Gee, maybe they should then put SAP on the CPA exam.

Currently, I am unemployed and have decided to pursue the CPA exam full time because after a year and half I still could not find a job. If this is how society is going to react to achieving such a milestone of passing the CPA exam, then I guess I will be an overqualified cashier at Walmart.

If that is the case, then what a dead end waste of time. I should of pursued basket weaving.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[ajurew1]

jw_83 I am near Chicago.

fsugirl2005, I am going to ask later this month if I can assist the accounting team. I am worried about asking though, because they might think it means I want out of my current job.

Jasper, I bet if we really try, we could make some amazing baskets.

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

[ajurew1]

jw_83 I am near Chicago.

fsugirl2005, I am going to ask later this month if I can assist the accounting team. I am worried about asking though, because they might think it means I want out of my current job.

Jasper, I bet if we really try, we could make some amazing baskets.

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

[Jasper]

@ ajurew1, LOL.

Guess, I first need to pass all 4 parts before moaning about not being able to find a job in accounting. I will hopefully find out tomorrow.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[Jasper]

@ ajurew1, LOL.

Guess, I first need to pass all 4 parts before moaning about not being able to find a job in accounting. I will hopefully find out tomorrow.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[ajurew1]

Keep me updated. Hopefully you find something, but based on what I am hearing, the process won't be easy.

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

[ajurew1]

Keep me updated. Hopefully you find something, but based on what I am hearing, the process won't be easy.

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

[Anonymous]

@OP – I wish you the best of luck, btw on passing your last part…you'll do great. Definitely continue down the path you're on and become a licensed CPA…it will only help you.

One of your comments made me “lol”. “Rude and disrespectful”. C'mon…I have to disagree with you on this. Asinine? Yes. Ignorant? Yes. But rude? Disrespectful? Definitely not. Just my two cents as you potentially launch a new career (which I hope you do), you should develop some thicker skin because if THAT bothers you, you will defenestrate yourself after 6 months. I'm not sure how experienced you are, but people say a lot of stupid crap. Most of it is just noise. Personally, someone could tell me my CPA license is garbage/waste of time/equivalent to a real estate license/just alphabet soup (i.e., no real value-add)/etc. and I can tell you I wouldn't bat an eye. I wouldn't even give it a second thought. I'd probably say, “ha, well good thing you didn't waste your time with it then! you're the lucky one!”. Sometimes people are ignorant, other times, they want to build themselves up by diminishing your achievements. Most of it stems from self-confidence issues where they compensate by trying to knock people down. Let it roll off your back and don't dwell on it. Just my advice to you.

Good luck on the new job and CPA exam. You'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

@OP – I wish you the best of luck, btw on passing your last part…you'll do great. Definitely continue down the path you're on and become a licensed CPA…it will only help you.

One of your comments made me “lol”. “Rude and disrespectful”. C'mon…I have to disagree with you on this. Asinine? Yes. Ignorant? Yes. But rude? Disrespectful? Definitely not. Just my two cents as you potentially launch a new career (which I hope you do), you should develop some thicker skin because if THAT bothers you, you will defenestrate yourself after 6 months. I'm not sure how experienced you are, but people say a lot of stupid crap. Most of it is just noise. Personally, someone could tell me my CPA license is garbage/waste of time/equivalent to a real estate license/just alphabet soup (i.e., no real value-add)/etc. and I can tell you I wouldn't bat an eye. I wouldn't even give it a second thought. I'd probably say, “ha, well good thing you didn't waste your time with it then! you're the lucky one!”. Sometimes people are ignorant, other times, they want to build themselves up by diminishing your achievements. Most of it stems from self-confidence issues where they compensate by trying to knock people down. Let it roll off your back and don't dwell on it. Just my advice to you.

Good luck on the new job and CPA exam. You'll be fine.

[fsugirl2005]

@ Jasper

Funny you mention SAP. The company that interviewed me today uses SAP but they are willing to train me on it. I have zero experience with it. You're probably better off just finding a job on your own although it may take a while. Also, make sure you list on your resume or cover sheet that you pick up new software quickly.

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[Author]

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