[philb]

Hello all, long time lurker, first time poster.

A little about me, I graduated with honors from a lesser known school with a bachelor’s in accounting degree a little over three years ago. I’ve also held a part-time job at a small accounting firm since then. My current job can’t give me more hours, so I’ve been looking for F/T work since I graduated. Three years, no offers. I go to job fairs and network with as many people as I can, but a lot of people I talk to are under/unemployed and asking me for leads, and people I talk to at staffing agencies have a tendency to fall off the face of the earth. I get very few interviews or call-backs when applying for jobs, so I thought I would post here for help. It seems a lot of people on this forum are getting multiple job offers or are already gainfully employed. Basically I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong. Maybe my personality sucks? I’m naturally an introvert, but I feel I come across as affable and easy-going when I interview. However, after job-hunting 60-80 hours a week for three years, I am burnt out, frustrated, and ready to throw in the towel.

[philb]

Tasia – Thank you! That would be great. My email is philb4550@gmail.com

[philb]

R1racer – For the most part I try to tailor my resume for the job I'm applying for. If I'm applying for an auditing position, I highlight my auditing skills. A tax position, my tax skills etc. I've shown my resume to some people, no one really in the accounting world though. I've talked to agents at staffing firms and they've given me pointers on my resume, however for the most part they've said it looks good. I live in the NYC area, and I feel like there are a lot of opportunities, but even more competition. If I was offered a job in a different part of the country I would certainly consider relocating. I think I suck at marketing myself though. I try networking and reaching out to people, unfortunately so far it's been fruitless. I agree with you that personality is more important than skill sets, especially in accounting. It's something I'm working on.

[philb]

R1racer – For the most part I try to tailor my resume for the job I'm applying for. If I'm applying for an auditing position, I highlight my auditing skills. A tax position, my tax skills etc. I've shown my resume to some people, no one really in the accounting world though. I've talked to agents at staffing firms and they've given me pointers on my resume, however for the most part they've said it looks good. I live in the NYC area, and I feel like there are a lot of opportunities, but even more competition. If I was offered a job in a different part of the country I would certainly consider relocating. I think I suck at marketing myself though. I try networking and reaching out to people, unfortunately so far it's been fruitless. I agree with you that personality is more important than skill sets, especially in accounting. It's something I'm working on.

[Tasia]

@philb I will email it to you tonight and you can tailor it how you want it, if you do like it!

And like everyone else is saying, another good thing is to incorporate key words and specific items or responsibilities from the job posting into your resume to show you will be good fit at that company. If you ever submit your resume online, some companies have software that look to match specific words in your resume to items in the job posting. I don't know if that's true or not, but I have heard that!

BEC - 78 (8/30/13)
REG - 73 (1/31/14) - 76 (4/7/14)
***GETTING MARRIED 7/19/14***
FAR - after the wedding
AUD - also after the wedding

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

[Tasia]

@philb I will email it to you tonight and you can tailor it how you want it, if you do like it!

And like everyone else is saying, another good thing is to incorporate key words and specific items or responsibilities from the job posting into your resume to show you will be good fit at that company. If you ever submit your resume online, some companies have software that look to match specific words in your resume to items in the job posting. I don't know if that's true or not, but I have heard that!

BEC - 78 (8/30/13)
REG - 73 (1/31/14) - 76 (4/7/14)
***GETTING MARRIED 7/19/14***
FAR - after the wedding
AUD - also after the wedding

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

[mla1169]

You say you're getting very few interviews so your issue is eithrr your resume or your cover letter. Don't underestimate the power of a blockbuster cover letter

in your cover letter mention specifics from the job postings, and why youre the person for the job. Dont reiterate your entire resume but DO give them a reason to bother reading it.

your resume should be one page only. 2 pages is ok for someone like me whose been working 20+ years but if youve been working less than 5 years, never.

leave your GPA off your resume. If an employer cares they'll ask…youve been out of school 3 years let your work experience speak for itself.

Make sure your resume contains the right keywords. Don't know what keywords to use? They re the words you see most often in job listings. Words like reconciliations, general ledger, journal entries, etc.

Its a numbers game. You should be getting out no less than 4 resumes per day. If youve got a strong cover letter and resume (search examples on monster, about.com, and others' resumes on indeed.com) you should end up with at least 2 interviews a werk. If you can't get out 4 a day, you're being too narrow in the scope of your search and need to expand it geographically, by job title or by salary range.

when you do interview, remember to reseaech the compsny, arrive with a leather portfolio, and extra copies of your resume. Offer a copy even if its clear the interviewer has it. Be positive and upbeat, have an answer prepared for common questions like what is your greatest weakness. Have 5-7 questions prepared to ask THEM. If you ask no questions they assumryoure not really interested.

ive bern unemployed for 6 weeks, been on over 20 interviews and currently have 2 offers in hand.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

You say you're getting very few interviews so your issue is eithrr your resume or your cover letter. Don't underestimate the power of a blockbuster cover letter

in your cover letter mention specifics from the job postings, and why youre the person for the job. Dont reiterate your entire resume but DO give them a reason to bother reading it.

your resume should be one page only. 2 pages is ok for someone like me whose been working 20+ years but if youve been working less than 5 years, never.

leave your GPA off your resume. If an employer cares they'll ask…youve been out of school 3 years let your work experience speak for itself.

Make sure your resume contains the right keywords. Don't know what keywords to use? They re the words you see most often in job listings. Words like reconciliations, general ledger, journal entries, etc.

Its a numbers game. You should be getting out no less than 4 resumes per day. If youve got a strong cover letter and resume (search examples on monster, about.com, and others' resumes on indeed.com) you should end up with at least 2 interviews a werk. If you can't get out 4 a day, you're being too narrow in the scope of your search and need to expand it geographically, by job title or by salary range.

when you do interview, remember to reseaech the compsny, arrive with a leather portfolio, and extra copies of your resume. Offer a copy even if its clear the interviewer has it. Be positive and upbeat, have an answer prepared for common questions like what is your greatest weakness. Have 5-7 questions prepared to ask THEM. If you ask no questions they assumryoure not really interested.

ive bern unemployed for 6 weeks, been on over 20 interviews and currently have 2 offers in hand.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[philb]

Tasia thank you!

mla1169 Thank you, excellent advice. Looks like I've got to get out more resumes. Also, on my resume I don't mention I've been working part-time. People have told me not to mention it, it doesn't really matter etc. However, on preliminary/phone interviews, they always ask why I'm looking to leave my current job. When I mention it's part-time, that usually kills the interview.

[philb]

Tasia thank you!

mla1169 Thank you, excellent advice. Looks like I've got to get out more resumes. Also, on my resume I don't mention I've been working part-time. People have told me not to mention it, it doesn't really matter etc. However, on preliminary/phone interviews, they always ask why I'm looking to leave my current job. When I mention it's part-time, that usually kills the interview.

[mla1169]

Mention that you are looking for more responsibility instead. If its a different type of company mention that youve always been interested in that industry. Make it about them, not about you. The only time you need to mention youve been working part time is if they ask were you working full time.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Mention that you are looking for more responsibility instead. If its a different type of company mention that youve always been interested in that industry. Make it about them, not about you. The only time you need to mention youve been working part time is if they ask were you working full time.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[nishvik]

Hey tasia, will you send me the template as well. My email id jus2havfun@hotmail.com

Would really appreciate that 🙂

FAR- 79 -->Becker self study, Final review & Flashcards
REG -72-->Becker ,76-->Becker plus Wiley test bank
AUD- 73 Becker,72-->Becker+Wiley,69-->Added ninja notes,89 --> Added Gleim review
BEC- 84 Becker plus Wiley Test bank

I am Done !!!!

[nishvik]

Hey tasia, will you send me the template as well. My email id jus2havfun@hotmail.com

Would really appreciate that 🙂

FAR- 79 -->Becker self study, Final review & Flashcards
REG -72-->Becker ,76-->Becker plus Wiley test bank
AUD- 73 Becker,72-->Becker+Wiley,69-->Added ninja notes,89 --> Added Gleim review
BEC- 84 Becker plus Wiley Test bank

I am Done !!!!

[CPA soon]

@philb, are you considering the fact that you need to apply for a job that relates to your knowledge and experience and not for a career change. I noticed you mentioned applying for tax and audit and various thing. You need to be searching for something similar to what you do until you have a solid experience at a respectable big company. So if you are currently a staff accountant, don't be looking for an auditor position and something you are not specialized at. Look for staff accountant position, once your foot is in the door working for a big company then you can make changes. If you are a tax preparer you need to look at tax prepare positions at a bigger firm to work your way up to an staff accountant, I don't know what you do but your experience needs to be relevant to what you apply for. And you can't apply to be at a multi billion dollar firm if you're at a 100K firm, you'd want to find the best reasonable balance to upgrade and look marketable, just my 2 cents.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[CPA soon]

@philb, are you considering the fact that you need to apply for a job that relates to your knowledge and experience and not for a career change. I noticed you mentioned applying for tax and audit and various thing. You need to be searching for something similar to what you do until you have a solid experience at a respectable big company. So if you are currently a staff accountant, don't be looking for an auditor position and something you are not specialized at. Look for staff accountant position, once your foot is in the door working for a big company then you can make changes. If you are a tax preparer you need to look at tax prepare positions at a bigger firm to work your way up to an staff accountant, I don't know what you do but your experience needs to be relevant to what you apply for. And you can't apply to be at a multi billion dollar firm if you're at a 100K firm, you'd want to find the best reasonable balance to upgrade and look marketable, just my 2 cents.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Author]

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