[Anonymous]

After I finished master of accounting in June, I passed all sections of CPA exam by the end of October. I’ve been searching for a job since then. What I could get was only unpaid internship. I thought passing the exam could lead me to around $40,000 for entry level. I have work experience in IT.

Please give me an advice to get a paid job.

[JUTTERB]

Try going to a headhunter/recruiter yet? I've always had good luck getting interviews when someone does all the legwork for ya.

FAR - PASSED 11/2009 - EXPIRED, PASSED 11/2012
REG - PASSED 1/2011 - EXPIRED, PASSED 11/2012
AUD - PASSED 5/2011
BEC - PASSED 11/2011
ETHICS - PASSED 12/2012

Licensed Colorado CPA

[Mayo]

“thought passing the exam could lead me to around $40,000 for entry level”

This seemst o be a common belief among soon to be or fresh grads. Unfortunately, while it looks nice and will get an employer's attention, it's not a guarantee of a job.

I think networking is your best option IMHO.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[FlipACoin]

Fully agree with Mayo. I know it's a little more difficult for fresh grads than it is for those of us with a few years of…*ahem*…experience….but it is still the best way to get a face to face interview. Join the local CPA and/or CMA chapter. They usually have regular lunches/meetings and a 45-60 min reception hour where all you can do is walk around the room and shake hands. Especially if you are one of those who presents well this is an excellent way to get out from the bottom of the resume pile….

[JUTTERB]

I don't think 40k is unreasonable for someone who holds and Masters and has passed the CPA exam even if they have no accounting experience. Keep in mind it'll take some serious job hunting in todays economy but I'm confident you'll find a job paying in that range.

FAR - PASSED 11/2009 - EXPIRED, PASSED 11/2012
REG - PASSED 1/2011 - EXPIRED, PASSED 11/2012
AUD - PASSED 5/2011
BEC - PASSED 11/2011
ETHICS - PASSED 12/2012

Licensed Colorado CPA

[FlipACoin]

Jutterb–Depends on where you are! In California, absolutely! In Iowa? Not so sure. What I have realized is that a masters degree, although valuable, doesn't truly bring that much value to employers without the experience to back it up. If the avg no masters starting salary is 35K you might get 40. If the avg however is 25 I'm not so sure….

What it might do, is put you ahead of a the shlump just out of undergrad with 2/4 exams passed and no masters. At the end of the day, and especially so in high turnover environments such as public accounting, employers base the vast majority of your salary on what you can do for them day 1, with a much smaller percentage on what you can do for them 5 years down the road…..

[JUTTERB]

Good point, I would still guess that entry level staff in public (tax or audit) would be at least in the 35-40k range. Hell 6 years ago I had a B.A. with only an accounting minor and landed my first job as a clerk and made mid 30s.

FAR - PASSED 11/2009 - EXPIRED, PASSED 11/2012
REG - PASSED 1/2011 - EXPIRED, PASSED 11/2012
AUD - PASSED 5/2011
BEC - PASSED 11/2011
ETHICS - PASSED 12/2012

Licensed Colorado CPA

[Author]

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