[Anonymous]

I’m a 2nd year tax associate at a 2nd tier firm (1 year of big 4 experience prior to that). Without a CPA license and senior title, would I be able to find a job elsewhere? I want to stay in public accounting and I’m trying to switch to a competitor or a regional firm (for personal reasons, I have to…) Looks like all the companies are looking for senior or managers. Where do I find an experienced level staff role? And do you think Robert Half is a good resource? Do they have connections with public accounting firms?

[OTK1995]

I'm totally biased as I hate Robert Half. I have never found them very useful as an employee or an employer. Maybe the smaller firms may use them but the good firms would have no problem finding their candidates through the universities or their own HR unless their in a location no one wants to be. How far are you on getting your license? I think it would do you some good. Do you know of any associates who can forward your resume to a partner for you?

[DoubleBogey]

They take a healthy cut of your salary as a finder's fee so whatever you're “paid” is actually more than you'll get even after taxes. Had a friend who used them and he said it was a big chunk of his pay like 25%.

[El]

I used Robert Half to look for temp work when I was between jobs. The only work offered was for much less than I made at my previous employer so I rejected a lot of positions offered. I eventually found full time work on my own. I can't imagine a scenario in which I was a Jr Accountant and RH found me work as a Senior.

The good thing about RH is that they are everywhere so they have a ton of clients and opportunities. Yet both of my accounting jobs use RH when they are desperate but hate using them because they bring in sub-par accounting talent.

[TalkNerdyToMe]

Yuck. Not a fan of Robert Half either. Look on LinkedIn, Indeed, Ziprecruiter.. I've been with the same CPA firm for 13 years, and we generally like to hire accounting students straight from our local university. Don't think of your lack of experience as a bad thing. What area are you from?

[Pam]

I'm probably biased b/c my spouse as worked for them for more than a decade… if you find perm employment, the hiring company pays the fee… if you do temp work RH (accountemps) pays you… the company may pay them 65/hr but you may only see 40/hr… but they do cover you with benefits and all I believe.
Honestly, as a hiring manager, I go straight to a recruiter (like RH or anyone else) before internal b/c they seem to have a good pool of people in my area understand what we're looking for more so than our internal HR

[Author]

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