[yalwas]

Even though I have lower than 3.0 GPA on my undergrad and have a gap in employment due to visa issues, I passed ALL 4 sections of the CPA exam, so why am i not getting calls back?? I dont understand???

I need help with CV.. I tried left and right, I tried going to my school career section and they say my CV is good, but then nothing happens.

I tried to read multiple guides on how to get a job at Big 4, no luck

I tried small firms, they are even worse, they take 2 or 3 people from 400-500 people????!!

I ask them what I can do, and all they say is: “Please undestand it is extremely competitive…..” What does this mean to me, absolutely nothing

These “competitive” people only managed to be lucky and get the right kind of help and referrals.. What if i have aspergers syndrome and I cant get “friends” to help me.

The only career for me that is viable is accounting because of my autism, so why am I being discriminated here….

S.O.S….

[fuzyfro89]

Yalwas:

GPA is holding you back. Keep trying, but remember that timing is also important.

1) Most hiring for entry level is done in the fall for the following January/fall (i.e. hiring in fall 2014 for January 2015 and Fall 2015 start dates). If I had to pick a number, I'd guess 90% of entry level hires are done at this time.

2) Go to grad school and get better grades.

3) Start somewhere else and obtain your CPA license. Once you are licensed and have 1+ years of experience, you are golden to come in as an experienced hire. They LOVE LICENSED CPA's.

Because the Big 4 are… big, they have to be much more structured in their hiring. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for a partner to try to hire someone if they do not meet their minimum HR-required GPA cutoff of 3.0 (for entry level, anyway).

Now that you passed the exam, get some experience. Any experience that will get you licensed. Go from there, and never stop chasing the Big 4 if that's what you really want.

[fuzyfro89]

Dunkindonuts:

I feel for you. Personally, I would love to hire someone who worked their tail off during undergrad even if they didn't do as well in their classes. They have what it takes to succeed from an EFFORT perspective. However, you still need good grades so your resume can speak for itself. Sometimes, people don't take the time to read the *asterisk* next to your low GPA. It sucks, but it happens.

I was one of those “mommy and daddy” people, but am not offended. I realize I had privileges that others do not, but I do firmly believe that with hard work anyone can make it in the US. You may have a tougher time getting into the Big 4 entry level, but you can still get in later once you are licensed. It's a simple concept called risk aversion when it comes to hiring for them. It is almost “easy” to get hired as an experienced hire once you are licensed, mostly because so many people are walking out the door every year.

[fuzyfro89]

Dunkindonuts:

I feel for you. Personally, I would love to hire someone who worked their tail off during undergrad even if they didn't do as well in their classes. They have what it takes to succeed from an EFFORT perspective. However, you still need good grades so your resume can speak for itself. Sometimes, people don't take the time to read the *asterisk* next to your low GPA. It sucks, but it happens.

I was one of those “mommy and daddy” people, but am not offended. I realize I had privileges that others do not, but I do firmly believe that with hard work anyone can make it in the US. You may have a tougher time getting into the Big 4 entry level, but you can still get in later once you are licensed. It's a simple concept called risk aversion when it comes to hiring for them. It is almost “easy” to get hired as an experienced hire once you are licensed, mostly because so many people are walking out the door every year.

[Anonymous]

@fuzyfro89 Thank you for the response. I mean, I had a 2.8, but I guess when they set the 3.0 minimum they really stick to it.

[Anonymous]

@fuzyfro89 Thank you for the response. I mean, I had a 2.8, but I guess when they set the 3.0 minimum they really stick to it.

[Mayo]

“I guess when they set the 3.0 minimum they really stick to it.”

@dunkin, Yes and No. Remember, GPAs are cumulative, so if you screw up during Freshman or Sophomore year it's really hard to bring it up.

Sometimes a stellar performance during Junior and Senior year can help mitigate some of that low GPA stigma. Regardless, you do need someone with access to recruiting to champion for you. These can be professors, Manager level employees or above, or Big 4 alumni that know you well and have active contacts in that office.

Recruiting is just like anything. It's structured a certain way due to the high competition and pure number of people wanting to apply. Some semblance of structure is needed. But like toe old adage says, “Rules are meant to be broken”. There's nothing written in stone, however difficult it may seem.

Once again, networking is the OP's best bet, but starting from scratch at this point is difficult to make something happen in the short term.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

“I guess when they set the 3.0 minimum they really stick to it.”

@dunkin, Yes and No. Remember, GPAs are cumulative, so if you screw up during Freshman or Sophomore year it's really hard to bring it up.

Sometimes a stellar performance during Junior and Senior year can help mitigate some of that low GPA stigma. Regardless, you do need someone with access to recruiting to champion for you. These can be professors, Manager level employees or above, or Big 4 alumni that know you well and have active contacts in that office.

Recruiting is just like anything. It's structured a certain way due to the high competition and pure number of people wanting to apply. Some semblance of structure is needed. But like toe old adage says, “Rules are meant to be broken”. There's nothing written in stone, however difficult it may seem.

Once again, networking is the OP's best bet, but starting from scratch at this point is difficult to make something happen in the short term.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

Re: Mayo… ummm… I want to be Partner. I'm going to have to work hard no matter what so I might as well get compensated for it.

[Anonymous]

Re: Mayo… ummm… I want to be Partner. I'm going to have to work hard no matter what so I might as well get compensated for it.

[Mayo]

@Danileaf, that was kind of half joking, but mostly just based on my own personal preference

For me the cons outweigh benefits, but that's just me.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

@Danileaf, that was kind of half joking, but mostly just based on my own personal preference

For me the cons outweigh benefits, but that's just me.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Anonymous]

@yalwas My boyfriend as Aspergers so I understand the challenges you face with it. He was an adult diagnosis (actually he hasn't been clinically diagnosed yet, cause he didn't have insurance, but we're starting that process now – have had several independent confirmations through from coworkers etc. who were familiar with it and had been like “Have you ever considered the possibility of being an Aspie?”), so he had the years of struggling job-wise, people-wise, etc., without knowing why. Now we know why, but it's still not easy.

The hard truth of Big 4 is that interpersonal skills seem to rate very high with them. Some people with Aspergers still have very good interpersonal skills, but some people really struggle with it. If you feel like winning people over and being friendly and personable is one of your weak areas due to Aspergers, then I would strongly suggest either looking somewhere other than Big 4 or finding coping mechanisms to cover for those weaknesses at least long enough to get through the interviews. My boyfriend is one of those that somehow has learned how to be extremely charming and even somewhat charismatic – it takes everything out of him and he's extremely mentally exhausted after just a short time of having to turn on the charm, but he can when needed…so, it might be worth looking into some type of therapy that might help you learn some of that. But I also know that each person with Aspergers has different challenges, so that might not be an option for you.

However, looking outside the Big 4 is always an option. 🙂 A small local firm with a stereotypical accountant might be easier for you to get in with. (The stereotype doesn't seem to be the norm, but I've known some who fit the stereotype – the ones who are more interested in numbers than people, so are quite happy if you're not going to want to chat all day and go out for drinks after, cause all they want is a balanced set of financial statements!) Or something within private accounting. I know that finding the ideal job isn't easy and especially when you add complications like Aspergers, but if you want it, you can get it eventually…it just might be easier to get somewhere other than the Big 4. 😉

[Anonymous]

@yalwas My boyfriend as Aspergers so I understand the challenges you face with it. He was an adult diagnosis (actually he hasn't been clinically diagnosed yet, cause he didn't have insurance, but we're starting that process now – have had several independent confirmations through from coworkers etc. who were familiar with it and had been like “Have you ever considered the possibility of being an Aspie?”), so he had the years of struggling job-wise, people-wise, etc., without knowing why. Now we know why, but it's still not easy.

The hard truth of Big 4 is that interpersonal skills seem to rate very high with them. Some people with Aspergers still have very good interpersonal skills, but some people really struggle with it. If you feel like winning people over and being friendly and personable is one of your weak areas due to Aspergers, then I would strongly suggest either looking somewhere other than Big 4 or finding coping mechanisms to cover for those weaknesses at least long enough to get through the interviews. My boyfriend is one of those that somehow has learned how to be extremely charming and even somewhat charismatic – it takes everything out of him and he's extremely mentally exhausted after just a short time of having to turn on the charm, but he can when needed…so, it might be worth looking into some type of therapy that might help you learn some of that. But I also know that each person with Aspergers has different challenges, so that might not be an option for you.

However, looking outside the Big 4 is always an option. 🙂 A small local firm with a stereotypical accountant might be easier for you to get in with. (The stereotype doesn't seem to be the norm, but I've known some who fit the stereotype – the ones who are more interested in numbers than people, so are quite happy if you're not going to want to chat all day and go out for drinks after, cause all they want is a balanced set of financial statements!) Or something within private accounting. I know that finding the ideal job isn't easy and especially when you add complications like Aspergers, but if you want it, you can get it eventually…it just might be easier to get somewhere other than the Big 4. 😉

[GSU-CPA]

My friend i work with now had a 2.7GPA undergrad but he was in the process of doing his masters. I believe he put his masters GPA on there and got an interview.

The interviewer asked him what his undergrad gpa was and he reluctantly answered 2.7. She said that is ok we dont care about that much and passed him.

He went to his office interviews and got an offer for a full time tax accountant … he starts in August working for PWC.

I hope that can help.

My GPA is not great either i have 3.0 overall (dual major) but my accounting GPA is 3.7. I plan on putting only accounting gpa on resume.

Lets just say i couldnt force my self to study hard for classes like art history and film history. In my film history class we would watch boring black and white movies all the time. I seriously couldnt stay awake as it did not interst me at all. I got a C+ in that class and same semester i got a A in Cost accounting which was highest grade in class.

REG-77
BEC -Waiting on score May 5th
AUD - May 30
FAR - Q3 depending on if i pass above two in Q2

[GSU-CPA]

My friend i work with now had a 2.7GPA undergrad but he was in the process of doing his masters. I believe he put his masters GPA on there and got an interview.

The interviewer asked him what his undergrad gpa was and he reluctantly answered 2.7. She said that is ok we dont care about that much and passed him.

He went to his office interviews and got an offer for a full time tax accountant … he starts in August working for PWC.

I hope that can help.

My GPA is not great either i have 3.0 overall (dual major) but my accounting GPA is 3.7. I plan on putting only accounting gpa on resume.

Lets just say i couldnt force my self to study hard for classes like art history and film history. In my film history class we would watch boring black and white movies all the time. I seriously couldnt stay awake as it did not interst me at all. I got a C+ in that class and same semester i got a A in Cost accounting which was highest grade in class.

REG-77
BEC -Waiting on score May 5th
AUD - May 30
FAR - Q3 depending on if i pass above two in Q2

[Author]

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