[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I graduated last December and took 8 months to study and take the CPA exams, I passed all four in August. I just moved to NY and am feeling a bit cornered as far as career choices go.

I have been trying to get into big4 or public accounting ever since I moved to NY this August, instead I got an internship position at a pension administration firm. I am not sure how this experience will add value to a public accounting career, I’m pretty sure it would not.

I worked in a restaurant all of college and missed out on the recruitment events, but I am going back to baruch college for an MS in accountancy.

What are your thoughts in staying with this pension admin firm? Keep in mind it is unpaid and I am not sure how long of an unpaid internship is normal.

As far as recruitment goes how soon can you land an internship from a college recruiting event with the big 4? I expect about 1 year to 1.5.

thanks

[Chantel]

Personally, I'd find a job that looked better on your resume. I mean that's not a bad job at all, but with you being a CPA it should not be hard to find something in the accounting area. I'm not really sure about New York since I live in Texas, but here, accounting firms including the Big 4 hire new interns and staff all the time with little wait period.

F - F ('12), 90 (Dec '15)
A - F ('12), 73 (Feb '16), ? (July '16)
R - 87 (May '16)
B -

[Anonymous]

Maybe i'm just really impatient, but I moved to NY in mid-August and started looking and had one interview with a small moving firm that needed bookkeeping help.

Or maybe I am looking in the wrong places, I've tried craigslist, linkedin, monster, careerbuilder. Is there any other sites I should try?

The thing is that I never had any office work experience, that's why I was eager to take this unpaid position. But I am seriously considering putting my time to better use, because I am not sure this will be good on my resume anyway.

[Chantel]

Linkedin is the main one I used. Also check recruiters. Here in Dallas I worked with 4 different ones before I decided I was going to move back to my hometown. To move back home I made PERSISTENT phone calls to many CPA firms there. I would first check to see if their website had an e-mail address to send resumes to and if it did I sent it and then called the next morning to talk to someone about it. Most CPA firms I followed up two to three times before we actually set up a time for an interview. This way of doing it got me 5 interviews at CPA firms in one week.

Like I said I'm in Texas though. I don't know how different New York's job market is.

F - F ('12), 90 (Dec '15)
A - F ('12), 73 (Feb '16), ? (July '16)
R - 87 (May '16)
B -

[MichiganStateUniversity]

@cpacuk

Already passing the CPA exam before receiving an accounting job makes you as marketable as a new hire will ever come. Yes, those websites are good, but I feel as though the best way to apply for a job is online through the company website. Go to the firms' websites that you want to work for the most (pick about 6 to 8) and apply on their website. The next thing, which I believe is the most important step in the job-looking process, is to call the human resource department of the firms you applied for about a week after submitting your resume. And of course, put on your resume that you have passed all four parts of the CPA exam. Also, state that you are going back for your MS in Accounting. There is no doubt in my mind that you will not be able to find an internship at ANY firm you want after already having your CPA exam under your belt. Good luck, hope this helped!

AUD: PASSED 2/25/12
BEC: PASSED 5/29/12
FAR: PASSED 8/30/12
REG: 7/5/12 Failed .. Rematch 10/22/12 PASSED!

[MichiganStateUniversity]

I also forgot to add that going to career fairs conducted by your university is a MUST. It helps network and it lets the recruiters be familiar with your name and face.

AUD: PASSED 2/25/12
BEC: PASSED 5/29/12
FAR: PASSED 8/30/12
REG: 7/5/12 Failed .. Rematch 10/22/12 PASSED!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm gonna try contacting local CPA firms directly and see if they need any help.

[Author]

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