[jkpoker1]

I just finished up interviews on campus after graduating college this past May. Anyone have advice for getting a job in public? I’ve interviewed with small firms and mid size firms (more prestigious in my area), and I swear it seems like nobody likes me. I’m quiet, my gpa was a 3.0, and I was somewhat involved on campus and I’m currently studying for the CPA exam and I believe I just passed my first part. Why does it have to be difficult to get an entry-level accounting job?

Honestly, I’m not too upset about the on campus interview failures I’m currently experiencing. I interviewed with some solid local firms that typically interview on 3-4 campuses and are only looking to add a few staff accountants. Honestly, on paper and personally I will not compete well with other applicants that have higher gpa’s and maybe are better talkers than me.

Sorry for this rant but I thought a degree in accounting would lead to getting a job easier. I probably will have to take a low end A/P job making pennies or move far away from my hometown if I want to have a shot at getting a decent paying job because all of the jobs in my local area want 3-5 years of experience with LOL low pay (30-40k).

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[Anonymous]

Let me just put this out there: You will NEVER get a job in public accounting if you are timid/shy/quiet (assuming you're doing audit, and sometimes even tax).

[KADFC]

I don't know about you, but I have a plan. Don't know if it's going to work. Regardless, I'm following it through.

Get a list of all the accounting firms in your area

Take the CPA exam section and hope to pass 1 of them

Put that on your resume. Create a cover letter saying you want to get an entry level position

Send that resume (and CL if appropriate) to all those firms

Go to their website and see if you can get in touch with the recruiter/HR, email or phone

Every cpa section you pass, put that on, send

Repeat until you have passed all section

In the meantime, look for accounting related work. MORE Internships if possible. It doesn't have to be public.

I'll tell you if this works out. This plan may follow through IF I get a passing score tomorrow. I just got a temp job doing some data-entry stuff (I don't really consider it to be data-entry…). It's not accounting, but at least it can get me there. Looks better than what I currently have on my resume at least. If all what I said doesn't work, I'm moving to a different state.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

I don't know about you, but I have a plan. Don't know if it's going to work. Regardless, I'm following it through.

Get a list of all the accounting firms in your area

Take the CPA exam section and hope to pass 1 of them

Put that on your resume. Create a cover letter saying you want to get an entry level position

Send that resume (and CL if appropriate) to all those firms

Go to their website and see if you can get in touch with the recruiter/HR, email or phone

Every cpa section you pass, put that on, send

Repeat until you have passed all section

In the meantime, look for accounting related work. MORE Internships if possible. It doesn't have to be public.

I'll tell you if this works out. This plan may follow through IF I get a passing score tomorrow. I just got a temp job doing some data-entry stuff (I don't really consider it to be data-entry…). It's not accounting, but at least it can get me there. Looks better than what I currently have on my resume at least. If all what I said doesn't work, I'm moving to a different state.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[Anonymous]

Don't feel bad I'm also having a ton of trouble finding a job in public accounting or any sort of accounting. I graduated over a year ago now and every I graduated with except 5 people got a job with Big 4. 1 person got a job with Goldman Sachs, 2 with the state, and then me and 1 other guy are still unemployed after a year even with 2 parts of the CPA exam done. My GPA was good, my CPA scores are good, but the no internship thing kills. I was sick through part of school and also wasn't aware of internship opportunities so I never had an internship and now I am paying for it. I've gotten turned down from jobs that pay as little as 25k a year despite having a masters.

So trust me your not the only one having trouble. The other guy has been turned away from accounting jobs that pay as little as 11.65 an hour. I am starting to question my major or if even school was worth it all together.

[Anonymous]

Don't feel bad I'm also having a ton of trouble finding a job in public accounting or any sort of accounting. I graduated over a year ago now and every I graduated with except 5 people got a job with Big 4. 1 person got a job with Goldman Sachs, 2 with the state, and then me and 1 other guy are still unemployed after a year even with 2 parts of the CPA exam done. My GPA was good, my CPA scores are good, but the no internship thing kills. I was sick through part of school and also wasn't aware of internship opportunities so I never had an internship and now I am paying for it. I've gotten turned down from jobs that pay as little as 25k a year despite having a masters.

So trust me your not the only one having trouble. The other guy has been turned away from accounting jobs that pay as little as 11.65 an hour. I am starting to question my major or if even school was worth it all together.

[KADFC]

@candlemassisawesome: Even though you have graduated, have you still tried to apply for internships? Someone told me it's worth trying. I would, if it wasn't for the exam (first priority) and my current situation right now.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

@candlemassisawesome: Even though you have graduated, have you still tried to apply for internships? Someone told me it's worth trying. I would, if it wasn't for the exam (first priority) and my current situation right now.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[Anonymous]

Yeah I tried but most people still want college students. Also I am making like 400 bucks a week at my current job working only part time so it's tough for me to just give that up to work for free for an internship. It's not an accounting related job though it's landscaping.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I tried but most people still want college students. Also I am making like 400 bucks a week at my current job working only part time so it's tough for me to just give that up to work for free for an internship. It's not an accounting related job though it's landscaping.

[KADFC]

Not all internships are no pay. Some do pay.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

Not all internships are no pay. Some do pay.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[Anonymous]

Yeah I know that but most of them require you to be a college student or I can't even find them because I am not a student and don't have access to a college career site. I wish I could go do a big 4 internship honestly it would pay better but what I have now but they don't hire non college students for internships I believe.

It pisses me off every day knowing that some kid whose a junior who might not even graduate is making more than me at an internship. I really feel hopeless at this point and like my five years of college and hard work to get a high gpa was for naught, its been so long since I graduated and made little progress on the job hunt and my school won't help me. I honestly think most these places don't even consider hiring me for internships because they suspect I won't stick around.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I know that but most of them require you to be a college student or I can't even find them because I am not a student and don't have access to a college career site. I wish I could go do a big 4 internship honestly it would pay better but what I have now but they don't hire non college students for internships I believe.

It pisses me off every day knowing that some kid whose a junior who might not even graduate is making more than me at an internship. I really feel hopeless at this point and like my five years of college and hard work to get a high gpa was for naught, its been so long since I graduated and made little progress on the job hunt and my school won't help me. I honestly think most these places don't even consider hiring me for internships because they suspect I won't stick around.

[KADFC]

Yeah, that's what the rumors say as well, but I don't find to be completely true. I know someone that graduated earlier than me. At their 4th year at attending meet the firms (3 years after graduation), they actually got job offers where they didn't get a single interview in the previous 3 years. Yeah, it might be a long wait, but it at least tells them that you are still interested and they know you year after year. He also passed his exams and just needed experience for licensing. That could also be another reason.

Not sure if it helps, but he did join BAP after graduation. I want to join, but the gas/time/effort. I guess that could be the same for you as well. In order to gain, we need to sacrifice something. My school still offers BAP membership for alumni, not sure if you get that luxury as well. BTW, Internship are designed for short-term. It's not your choice to make for sticking around or not in the first place. I just heard a rather angry story today (not accounting related). She did an internship for a company for 10 months; suppose to be 1 year. After 6 months, her duty was to train new recruits. At the 10th month there were 2 full time positions. Both of the positions were taken by the new recruits she trained. She quit after hearing the news. She doesn't regret it. I wonder.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

Yeah, that's what the rumors say as well, but I don't find to be completely true. I know someone that graduated earlier than me. At their 4th year at attending meet the firms (3 years after graduation), they actually got job offers where they didn't get a single interview in the previous 3 years. Yeah, it might be a long wait, but it at least tells them that you are still interested and they know you year after year. He also passed his exams and just needed experience for licensing. That could also be another reason.

Not sure if it helps, but he did join BAP after graduation. I want to join, but the gas/time/effort. I guess that could be the same for you as well. In order to gain, we need to sacrifice something. My school still offers BAP membership for alumni, not sure if you get that luxury as well. BTW, Internship are designed for short-term. It's not your choice to make for sticking around or not in the first place. I just heard a rather angry story today (not accounting related). She did an internship for a company for 10 months; suppose to be 1 year. After 6 months, her duty was to train new recruits. At the 10th month there were 2 full time positions. Both of the positions were taken by the new recruits she trained. She quit after hearing the news. She doesn't regret it. I wonder.

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[Author]

Replies