[OnMyWay732]

So first things first. This is NOT a bragging thread. I am not bragging and I don’t feel like reading about anyone else bragging.

Second, I am very happy with my job and I am not looking to change at all, this is purely just out of curiosity.

So I got through all exams. First attempt for each. Started studying May 14, finished my last exam end of Jan 15. I am very proud of myself, so regardless of anything else, getting through it the first time is such a gratifying feeling.

Anyway, when going to an interview, talking with a higher up at your company, etc, is there any good way to bring up that you passed all on the first try without sounding like you’re bragging?

“Oh so I see you passed the exam..”

“Yep, luckily on the first try”

Just curious if any one has any experience on this

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[Anonymous]

I recently encountered this situation in an interview on Tuesday. I didn't want to brag about passing all four sections in 5 months, but I did want to highlight that because that's a really exciting accomplishment for me. I worked it into the conversation when providing my career background…”I finished my MBA in December 2012 with a focus on accounting and then started studying for the CPA test in February. I became licensed as a CPA within 5 months.”

[yamar]

Looks like you've got the humble brag down pretty well.

FAR: 65,49,61,74,78
AUD: 65,68,64,78
REG: 56,77
BEC: 75

[OnMyWay732]

I love all the different input. I figured there would be some debate about it. I remember before I even got my MBA, one of my professor's kid (not really a kid, she was like 25 at the time) told me she passed them all on her first try and I was impressed beyond belief. Granted I knew next to nothing about what was actually involved in it.

I am still impressed when somebody tells me they pass on their first try even though I did because I know what went into it. I understand the sacrifices that must be made, and I think that is what it shows more than anything else.

**DISCLAIMER** This is not knocking anyone who is struggling or just didn't pass on the first try…

But getting it done all in one shot shows that you really focused and prioritized yourself. I agree if you say you took off work and did nothing else, then I would tell them that my expectation would be for them to pass. Anything less is underachieving. But if you are like most who had to study while working (most likely at a public accounting firm) and had family issues such as myself, etc…then it shows that you were dedicated and you are able to achieve what you focus on. Just my thoughts

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[Anonymous]

Could anybody explain What is EWS?

[jeff]

“But getting it done all in one shot shows that you really focused and prioritized yourself.”

Not necessarily.

I'm guessing that you didn't have all AUD topics mastered (?).

You were just one “oh crap” sim topic away from that 76 being dropped to a 74.

If this happened – would that have meant you didn't really focus and prioritize yourself?

No. You can prioritize all you want – but sometimes crap happens on exam day.

Sometimes you get a ridiculous sim topic.

Sometimes you get a great sim topic but can't figure out what they freaking want you to do because the instructions suck.

Sometimes you sit next to a dude carpet bombing the room with last night's burrito exhaust.

Sometimes you kick your computer power chord and lose 15 minutes.

Sometimes crap happens on exam day.

</soapbox>

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Kimboroni]

I agree that passing them all on the first try shows you were probably good at prioritizing and applying yourself. But that doesn't automatically mean that if you *didn't* pass them all on the first try, you *weren't* good at prioritizing and applying yourself. There is still a certain amount of luck involved either way.

(edited because I messed up noting who made the original comment)

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[OnMyWay732]

Jeff – touché, but I must kick that soap box from under you (sorry!)

Kimboroni said what I'm about to.

It wasn't to say that not passing means you didn't prioritize and focus, however, passing it means you did. I suppose it is a little unfair because it might not be priority. You may have had the exam scheduled and something happened in the months studying which was so serious it took away, but you decided to try it anyway…but I suppose this theory goes for those who didn't have some life-tragedy happen.

Regardless, when someone tells me they passed on their first try and even if they got 75s each time, I would still be impressed, and I think to say you aren't is borderline…risking when I say this…jealousy. DON'T STONE ME!!! If someone told you they passed all parts of the CFA first try, would you not be impressed? I understand that is more widely known as a difficult test but same idea

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[mla1169]

“But getting it done all in one shot shows that you really focused and prioritized yourself” not really. Don't believe me? Look at the people who claim to have studied 4, 5, 6 days and passed on a first try. Thats focus? Nah.

Well like your reference to those who didn't have to work while studying for the exam, that is a function of what else you've got going on at the time.

Kricket was dealing with the physical symptoms of thyroid cancer. I'd bet that despite the many times she had to retake an exam, it was not a reflection of her focus OR priorities. For me, I was exceptionally focused and prioritized, but on far too many things at once.

I am not at all belittling your accomplishment, I wish I had passed all 4 the first time. I think its fabulous and you deserve to be proud. But its those generalizations like you made above that prove that you've decided that anybody at all who doesn't pass all 4 the first time didn't give it their all. Meanwhile you had many luxuries during your exam process (good health, no children to tend to, wasn't splitting your time between a full time job,school AND the exam simultaneously) that not all of us had.

Again you're ignoring my most important point. In an interview let it go,doesn't tell an employer what type of employee you'd be at all. Plenty of people ace this thing but can't function in a work environment and deal with other human beings, plenty of people bomb over and over and are model employees.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[OnMyWay732]

I understand how you perceive it that way, but this wasn't really to be taken negatively if you hadn't passed the first time. I had personal issues as well so don't think I came in, no one bothered me, I focused solely on this, and nothing else mattered.

Forget an interview. Pretend we're at a bar. I just think that if someone in person told you that they passed all 4 on the first time your first instinct would be to be impressed…even if you passed them all yourself on the first try. If you can honestly say that you are not when someone tells you that, I believe there has to either be a trace of jealousy or it's someone who knows completely nothing about what the CPA entails.

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[mla1169]

In a bar is absolutely different, and I've said multiple times it IS impressive. I just think that two people can put in EXACTLY the same effort in every aspect from number of hours, to focus level, to ambition, etc and one can pass while the other fails. Doesn't tell me anything at all I need to know about a person.

If two people bust their asses exactly the same, then I have the same respect and admiration for both.

Let me give you an analogy, the SuperBowl. Ya think the Seahawks were less impressive than my Patriots? Or do you think they were equally as focused and prioritized, and this time it worked to the Pats favor, a day earlier or later and it may easily have gone to Seattle.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Kimboroni]

I really have to hand it to the people who struggle and keep going, since that takes even more focus.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Not too many people use soap and water, gosh! I can't live without them!!

I don't understand how people could get up from the seat using only Charmin or any kind of paper, yikes!

[OnMyWay732]

I agree. I have much admiration and respect to anyone who continues through any struggle they have. I personally have a friend who is close to try number 20 and I tell him time and time again I don't think I'd be able to that. Mentally, physically, emotionally, that must be exhausting.

And so I believe the answer to this thread is there's no need to tell a prospective job about passing on the first try. Got it.

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[Son]

I'm relatively new to the forum, but saw the same argument here over and over again in the past couple months: even if you did great on the exam, it's no guarantee that you will strive in the office environment, get better job opportunities etc. Is that true? Yes, for sure. Just as the fact that you had bacon and eggs for breakfast won't guarantee you'll do great at work today. My point is, people are comparing apples and oranges, and for some reason I cannot fully understand (jealousy as OnMyWay732 suggests?) it is presumed that people who did great on the CPA exam are arrogant douches with no social skills who won't success in “real life.” My, albeit limited, experience suggests the opposite: grades on the exam do give you some input into how (un)successful a person might be in the professional environment, just like school grades do.

Yes, I'm totally on board with people who say it all depends on circumstances etc. But let's be realistic – your journey and grades (time you spend preparing, attempts it took you to pass it) tell a lot to your future boss how seriously you're taking your career, how dedicated and focused you can be when necessary and how you handle stress and ambiguity. I'm glad there are people like mla1169 who are not trying to belittle accomplishments of those tho passed on the first try and with a high grade, I'm just disappointed at times with people who try to set a lot of newbies who come to this forum for advice with unrealistic expectations.

Sorry, just felt like this had to be said, you can stone me now:)

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Son]

also, to answer the original poster, I also totally agree with people saying you DON'T mention this to anyone unless asked. It's ok if you use it to illustrate a particular skill during an interview and if it fits the storyline (skills like ability to focus, work under stress), or if the recruiter asks you to describe a situation where you have achieved a lot in a short time frame.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Author]

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