[Anonymous]

Hello everyone!

It’s been too long since I posted here…last time I posted was when I passed my final section. This site was instrumental in getting through one of the toughest phase in my life. Soon after, I got busy with marriage, moving to NY, life, etc…Now I’m facing another toughest phase in my life…JOB market and I need help!!

Little bit about me, I’ll be 25 in June, I graduated with Bachelors in Accounting, passed all four sections of the CPA exams, have 150 semester credits, and currently working as an accountant in NY. My CFO who is a CPA is willingly to sign on my hours and will have 2000hrs by September, 2014. I also interned for a CPA firm in WA.

I like my job, however, there is potential for growth and I desperately want to work for a CPA firm. I’ve been to three interviews and rejected from all it in the last 2 months. One was for a staff accountant position for a local Newspaper. I had less experience than what they were looking for. Two of them were a CPA firm, one of them I was completely under qualified and surprised they even interviewed me. After three rejections, especially getting rejected from the one firm that I thought I did meet their requirement was heartbreaking and I cried like a baby…like I did when I failed my 3rd CPA exam.

Good news is I have an interview for an entry-level position with a CPA firm next week. Though I’m excited, I am very nervous…this would be a dream job for me in a dream location. Getting that job would enable my husband & I to relocate to where we have been wanting for the last six months. I am nervous because I feel like this would be yet another rejection. How can I make sure I get this job? They are looking for 0-1 year of experience and I believe I fit the position very well. How can I show them my passion, desire and willingness to learn/work for them? This isn’t just about money, but rather about my dream.

I need any advise, tips, suggestions, help I can get!! Please, I appreciate any feedback!!

[Mayo]

From my experience ad what others tell me, second interviews are mostly about fit. If I was interviewing you I'd first scan your resume, get an idea of your background and experience. Then I'd try to just have a conversation and see if I think you'll be a good fit.

Again, in the form of a casual conversation I'd want to find out the following:

-What is your previous experience like? Is it applicable/transferable to what we (tax/audit/etc) do?

-What's your status with the CPA exam?

-Why did you apply for public accounting?

-Why this firm?

-Why did you choose the job you did out of school? (i.e. what has changed since graduation that makes you want to work here?)

-Are you willing to learn and take on challenges?

-How well will you work as part of a team?

-Do you have good communication skills?

I wouldn't ask these questions directly, but I'd probe into your resume to try to tease that information out of you. So i'd expect a laid back and professional conversation by the interviewers to get to know you better. It's usually a lot less structured than the first one. But be ready for behavioral questions anyway.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

Thank you, guys! Yes, I def. agree that confidence is a HUGE issue. I really need to work on that and I'm trying:))

Thank you for the tips, I will def. keep them in mind while preparing for the interview. I hope I get it, I need this right now. Prayers appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

Thank you, guys! Yes, I def. agree that confidence is a HUGE issue. I really need to work on that and I'm trying:))

Thank you for the tips, I will def. keep them in mind while preparing for the interview. I hope I get it, I need this right now. Prayers appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad I have good news to share with you all. I had my 2nd interview on Friday, I thought it went okay…but as always, I thought I could've done it better. Though, I really wanted to believe I would get an offer, part of thought it would be impossible. However, I got a call from firm administrative verbally offering me a position, written paperwork will follow tomorrow!! Thanks for all your help/advice/tips!! I'm so happy to be working in public accounting. I'm sure i'll feel different once I really understand how much work it requires, but I hope I can stick it out as this is my dream!! Good Luck to all who's either studying/looking to jump into accounting world! This site has been tremendous help while studying for the exams, career advice and much much more!!

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad I have good news to share with you all. I had my 2nd interview on Friday, I thought it went okay…but as always, I thought I could've done it better. Though, I really wanted to believe I would get an offer, part of thought it would be impossible. However, I got a call from firm administrative verbally offering me a position, written paperwork will follow tomorrow!! Thanks for all your help/advice/tips!! I'm so happy to be working in public accounting. I'm sure i'll feel different once I really understand how much work it requires, but I hope I can stick it out as this is my dream!! Good Luck to all who's either studying/looking to jump into accounting world! This site has been tremendous help while studying for the exams, career advice and much much more!!

[Anonymous]

Congrats! I'm in the same boat in that I just got an offer for my first public accounting position. Just curious, where is your “dream location” located?

[Anonymous]

Congrats! I'm in the same boat in that I just got an offer for my first public accounting position. Just curious, where is your “dream location” located?

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Congrats to you, too! When do you start? I should get my start date today…though I will be starting in September! I'm little bit scared that I don't start till September and I hope nothing happens in between.

As far as my dream location, I wouldn't call it exactly that but for me & my husband it is. Currently, I live in NY but most of our family & friends live in NJ…we would like to start our family there and settle there. We've been trying to move there for last 6+months, happy it's finally panning out. Hopefully everything goes well with my husband's interviews/job so we can move asap.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Congrats to you, too! When do you start? I should get my start date today…though I will be starting in September! I'm little bit scared that I don't start till September and I hope nothing happens in between.

As far as my dream location, I wouldn't call it exactly that but for me & my husband it is. Currently, I live in NY but most of our family & friends live in NJ…we would like to start our family there and settle there. We've been trying to move there for last 6+months, happy it's finally panning out. Hopefully everything goes well with my husband's interviews/job so we can move asap.

[Lindrobe]

Congrats, CPA628! I am so happy for you!

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Lindrobe]

Congrats, CPA628! I am so happy for you!

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Anonymous]

Haha it almost sounds like we were hired for the same firm; I'm also in NJ. Probably not, but a funny coincidence.

[Anonymous]

Haha it almost sounds like we were hired for the same firm; I'm also in NJ. Probably not, but a funny coincidence.

[WinningCPA]

Congrats CPA628! Persistence pays off! I hope its the right fit for you

[WinningCPA]

Congrats CPA628! Persistence pays off! I hope its the right fit for you

[Author]

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