[Poptard]

Hello everyone.

I graduated with a MBA in August (3.9 GPA). Since then, I have been taking the CPA exams. I only have FAR left, and it is scheduled for April 2. While in school and studying, I have been applying for jobs in accounting. I have been trying to get a job in accounting for a year and a half. I have applied to internships, entry level positions, and a few senior level positions. Yet, none of them will hire me because I do not have experience. Even with having the exams nearly complete, I am getting nowhere.

The sad thing is that I have been working for this company for the past two years. Last month I applied for an entry level accounting position with them, and they turned me down because I don’t have any experience. Yesterday, I get a call from my boss offering me a position (not in accounting) that pays over 50K. I would have accepted 30K for the accounting position.

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong here. I have applied for Public, Industry, and Non-Profit positions.

[PursuitCPA]

you have a job that pays =) keep it

CPA EXAM - Passed

[Anonymous]

There are so many people out of work right now that every job has tons of experienced applicants. It probably isn't anything with you so much as the overall nature of the job market right now. At my office we are getting applications for entry level positions that we don't have posted and are not hiring for by people with 15+ years experience.

[financeguy]

yeah, like pursuit said. Take the 50K job man. Lots of turmoil up ahead. I would get while the getting is good.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[wetbandits]

as long as you aren't in a state where you are required to get your experience requirement completed within a year or so, I would take the highest paying job that you can find. why settle for public accounting or accounting jobs if you can get a lot more elsewhere? you can always take the highest paying job now and then if you decide that you need the accounting experience to complete your licensing then, you could go back when this most recent bad employment wave is over. in a couple years hiring at the public accounting firms will pick back up

B 74, 70, 74, 69, 85!!!
A 88 (lost credit), 87
R 74, 78
F 68, 76

[zena]

Poptard, I'm in the exact same situation. I finished my Master in Accounting and Finance last month and I just passed the CPA exam. I am getting absolutely no responses from the accounting jobs I've applied for (including part-time and temporary clerks positions) because they all require some experience and even if I tell them I can come up to speed quickly, it doesn't seem to matter. I have interviewed with only one company for a cost accountant position and the only reason I think they picked me is because of my previous data and information (excel, access, etc) experience I had at my software engineer job. Ironically, this position has a pay range of 50K to 81K (and great benefits to boot). If they offer it to me, I think I'll take it just to get my foot in the door and figure out some other way to get my 1 year of experience in the next 5 years. It's just crazy. I know there are quite a few jobs out there, I applied for 5 to 7 each week, but I guess there must be that many more experienced applicants as well. And, of course, this is a bad time for public accounting to hire…busy season and all. Good luck to you!

FAR 86 | BEC 94 | AUD 90 | REG 85
All done! used Becker

[Anonymous]

Zena What state are you in?

[PursuitCPA]

Zena you are not exactly in the same situation. Poptard has the job already. =) again keep your 50K job or you will regret it

CPA EXAM - Passed

[Anonymous]

Exactly.. I'd stay with the $50k job, …

I just passed the exam, three days ago or so to be exact, and am working on my resume and getting myself up to speed with all the firms in the Northern-Central NJ area (anything above 195 and pref. within 287) and NYC (I'd rather not work there, but will 100%). I will also leave the state if I have to…

Currently,I work in the IT field as a computer operator in a Fortune 1000 company, it pays the bills,,, but I want to get out of there ASAP,I definitely want to utilize my education and the experience with the exam and get on with life. However, as many of you folks said, everyone wants experience in accounting, to which I don't have much of any, though I do have some experience that parallels what I have heard from people on this board and other boards and my friends have gone through in public audit…

The questions I have:

1) Should I wait until tax season is over to start applying to mid-large regional firms?? I know the Big-4 is may be a little out of my league, but I will send them my resume just to see what comes out of it.

2) Does anyone know of any resume preparers/reviewers who are based out of the Northern NJ area who specialize in the accounting arena?

[wetbandits]

NJT – the best way to get into Big 4 and the mid-tier firms is to no someone… if you know anyone that works at one of the firms get them to refer you. Referrals have a higher success rate than simply applying with a resume

if you are thinking tax, i agree it probably makes sense to wait until after tax season is over. however, if you are considering audit, busy season is over for most (although “busy” season is somewhat of a silly term since it's busy most of the year) and IT/Advisary audits positions are also a possibility since you have previous IT experience and they typcially have a busy season that ends in December.

Best of luck and congratulations on passing these exams — I'm still waiting on my scores for FAR and BEC

B 74, 70, 74, 69, 85!!!
A 88 (lost credit), 87
R 74, 78
F 68, 76

[zena]

Well, that's true, I don't have any offers yet.

I'm in CO.

FAR 86 | BEC 94 | AUD 90 | REG 85
All done! used Becker

[PursuitCPA]

Unfortunately, NJ, Pa, and NY are getting slammed right now. It may be really tough to get in anywhere right now unless you meet the right person. I have been looking for a new job for a year in the area and giving up on it now to study. I still see the same lame recruiters and jobs I saw 6-8 months ago.

CPA EXAM - Passed

[sums]

Its is really scary to see people not finding jobs even after completing the exams . I was hoping, having the test done will have better chances. I have a decent audit experience of abour 16 moths ,but I havent found a job yet ,its half a year that I ‘ve been looking .So, I was hoping CPA + some experience would help …

I am planning to have my resume written professionally,if it works .But now I am not sure if I want to spend so much money to be in no good situation …

AUD84,FAR82,BEC77,Reg79

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your insights wetbandits and for the congratulations : ) hmmm.. its going to be tough esp. with my circle whom consists of cops and nurses and my coworkers in the IT field…

Pursuit, are you in the Central/Northern NJ area??

And if anyone can provide insight??

Cumulative GPA : 3.14

Accounting GPA : 3.50 (Consisting of ONLY accounting courses)

Major GPA : 3.30 ( Lower because of Business Law)

Obviously displaying accounting GPA would be preferable, but would this be okay, is this common/acceptable ?

Thank You

[Anonymous]

I was thinking about that too sums, but at $295 a crack?!?!!!

[PursuitCPA]

I dont think GPA Matters anymore the job market is so flooded out there. Its really subjective now…For instance if the partner graduated from your University as a fellow alumni

CPA EXAM - Passed

[Author]

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