[GSU Josh]

Hi, everyone. I have spent the bulk of 2010 trying to get these three letters behind my name, and they’re almost there (hopefully). Now it’s time for me to find a serious accounting job. I live in the Savannah, GA area, but am not limited to this area. Relocation is no problem. I have a year of audit experience and will be able to obtain my license after I get a final passing score (150 credit hours satisfied). Just trying to get some leads so I can start networking and jump start my career. Any help/comments at all would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, apparently, CPA’s are in demand as I read an article yesterday on yahoo.com. It was about jobs that desperately need to be filled, and accountants/CPA’s were number one on the list! Can someone please prove to me that this is, in fact, true?

AUD - 74, 87; BEC - 84; FAR - 78; REG - 79
It's done, Son!

[financeguy]

I'm pretty sure the only job in demand is the one in which you hand out unemployment checks

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[gabe1475]

That and the medical field, but not much use to us. There are some jobs out there, but if you are in a smaller area, it will probably require a long commute unless you get lucky.

FAR - 95
AUD - 82
REG - 94
BEC - 84

[Vince]

GSU Josh, I am in Kennesaw, GA waiting on my AUD score as I took it AUG 21. Since then (after I got kicked out of my brothers house a few days after the exam and homeless for a few days) I am currently networking. Network, network, network. You can apply online to your desired companies, but most goes to the recycling bin or in their “database” and you never hear from them. Its all about who you know, not what you know, when it comes to job searching. I made new business cards, updated my resume, contacted with recruiters I talked to before studying for the CPA, contacted old professors, attend job networking events, and being involved in volunteer work.

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[financeguy]

are you seriously homeless vince?

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[Anonymous]

GSU Josh

Have you considered project work or temp assignments. With companies running so lean there may be a need for someone to come in and catch up on tasks that have been set aside and left undone. From there you will be in a better position to network and the company may actually hire you.

[GSU Josh]

I would consider anything at this point. I have signed on with Accountemps, but they're a joke if you ask me. I'm going to give it a few more weeks in my local area, but if I can't find anything I'll just have to start looking anywhere in the state. I have some contacts that may be able to help me find a job somewhere else, but just not where I am now. Lived away from my wife for a year when I was working in 2009. Thought that the CPA title would make a difference. So far it doesn't seem that way, though, I don't have the last one passed on paper yet and no license in hand. We'll see if that makes a difference if I get a passing score back.

The problem is everyone wants all kinds of experience. Apparently, I'm not capable of doing anything since I only have one year experience. I'm almost 26 and have a year of auditing experience and basically done with my CPA. Don't know that I could have done a whole lot more at this point.

AUD - 74, 87; BEC - 84; FAR - 78; REG - 79
It's done, Son!

[Anonymous]

GSU Josh

Sign up with more than one remp place – try 3 – 4.

Also do any of your area churches have a between job ministry? These are people who have set up a ministry to help folks find either perm or temp. You don't have to belong to the church and they are a wonderful way of networking. Memebrs who find a job will often list jobs even before the general public is aware of the opening. They also have point of contact instead of tryong to get past HR.

Another avenue is the federal government has some good auditing jobs in DoD, Veterns Admin.betc. You may have to relocate but it is a solid place to start.

PS – when these recruiters tell you thay can't place you because you lack A B or C – code for they just don't know how to market you. Once you get A B or C – then they move onto another reason they can' place you. Their ideal candidate is with an employee fresh from a Big 4 firm with 3 – 5 years expereince. Outside that – they don't always know how to market you.

If youhave friends or family in a stronger economic area – perhaps target those areas and then stay with them when you get an interview.

Hope this helps – it is hard out there. You are doing all the right things and it will pay off

[Anonymous]

I live in Ohio, and I applied for jobs (accounting) last few weeks in New York City. I mean, I lived in NYC for 12 yrs. Nobody called me back, even though I have my phone # NYC area. It was shocking. I work in a local bank as a collector (isn't ridiculous??? my “bosses” have a HS degree and they “proof my writing.. I have a mba degree as well besides accounting :))) . I probably have to take that out of my resume, better write, …no job, but studying full time for CPA exam.

I would try every avenue, and I would send out tons of resumes. And please be confident, you have a CPA exam PASSED, and I guess you have so much better chances to get that job. From my previous experience – the last past year, I would have been hired for any SR Accountant job here in Ohio ( where the job market is dead), just if I could have “proved” that I passed at least … FAR… So, be confident..

But, please review, redo, UP TO DATE your resume and just apply apply apply…. Even http://www.indeed.com works. Actually it’s a good website. Accountemps pay cheaply ($10-$15/ hr). Robert & Half, I never liked them, because they were charging enormous fees, and overworking me…..I know you’ll get a job.

About me? I am heavy into AUD… and I am looking to prepare myself to know, and pass, I just don’t want to go in there and look like an idiot )) and wonder another month if I passed. Wish me luck in ..studying.

[GSU Josh]

Thanks for the encouragement/info, cpa journey and camelia. I'm going to keep on trying. Hopefully, I'll get a passing score here in a couple weeks and can apply for my license. I think that would help some. The church networking sounds like a good idea, I will look into that. I will also look into other temp agencies and keep on applying to anything I see. I just hope I get a passing score back in two weeks. I don't want to study anymore, and I especially don't want to wait until third week in November to get another score back.

Camelia, as far as AUD goes, it's one of the easier tests. Only reason I failed the first time (by one point) was because I didn't read the text whatsoever. I used Becker and only watched the lectures and did mc twice and sims once. Just make sure you at least read/skim the text once so you don't miss any grimy details.

AUD - 74, 87; BEC - 84; FAR - 78; REG - 79
It's done, Son!

[Anonymous]

I would have to agree with Vince. It is all about networking. Sometimes, it's is about networking to people who you would not even think would be helpful. Take my situation as an example. I got my first (and current) accounting job at a local firm through someone I worked with at a grocery store. His brother is the owner of an accounting firm in town and he hooked me up with an interview. However, before I talked to him and shared my goals/aspirations, I didn't know he was related to the owner. So, the moral of the story is that you have to always and constantly (although not annoyingly, if possible) market yourself to everyone.

Also, I would encourage you to use your alumni network and college's career center. That's how I got my upcoming job with EY. I go to a small college (about 1,500 students) in a rural area (about 1.5 hours from the EY office and almost 3 hours to any city you've heard of (Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, etc.)). Therefore, I was at a huge disadvantage when it came to finding a job outside the area since I was born and raised in the city where my college is located and nothing is around here. Every firm wants “local” candidates, and I am not “local” to any of the major cities. Further, since my college is so small, no major firms recruit here. So, I leveraged my firm's career center and got in touch with some graduates (however few) who work at Deloitte, EY, PwC, etc. and they got my resumes to the right place. Sometimes it didn't work out – I met with a Senior Manager at Deloitte who is an alum of my college and I completely bombed the interview. But, eventually, it did. I got a staff in Columbus to forward my resume to someone in Cleveland who forwarded it to the right person in Charleston at the right time. I nailed the interview, got an internship, and after working my heart out (and butt off), I got an offer.

So, overall, I would just encourage you to stick with it (i.e. be persistent), network, and use your college's career services office and alumni network (which should be very easy at a big school like Georgia State).

Good luck on the job hunt!

[Anonymous]

@GSU Josh, I know AUD is pretty much ok :)) I am second language speaking, which I few weeks ago AUD was japonese to me :)). I remember one thursday night i came home, I was so upset, and down, and I read one of your posts here (I don;t remember who was that person), but it was so touchy, the user was speaking about personal achievements, a lot of things…and since that day I started to put passion and dedication and …pretty much now I am half way throught the AUD concepts. Also, my work schedule is my #1 enamy; it's 10a-10p mo -th, and that takes away a lot of time.

But for you, with the exam passed, I am sure 100% you'll have a few good offers on the table to choose from. And don't think you don't have experience. You have the FAR that talks for you.

[Vince]

@financeguy I actually have a roof under me right now. But yes I was homeless.

Story:

I got kicked out of my house the day (in fact the drive home) of my REG exam because my stepfather was tired of seeing me study before he went to work, after he got home, and studied until dinner. I moved into my brothers place which took 2 days. That was my break-between-sections as I started BEC the 3rd day. Studied BEC and AUD at my brothers house which almost killed me bc he is COMPLETELY opposite of me and has no friends (I need a social life, he is introverted). Because he thinks he is “overqualified” but yet has zero work experience in his education, he couldnt pay his rent from working at Moe's and playing world of warcraft all day. I got an unexpected call while driving back from a networking event and dinner with friends at midnight saying I had 9 hours to move out so I stayed up all night packing up. I was living out of my car for a week, washing up at a waffle house restroom, job searching/resume updating at caribou coffee, etc. I actually had an interview with a recruiter and she asked me where I was staying, I hesitated and was very hard to tell her my situation but at the end she mentioned she would try to get me in asap bc she felt bad about my situation. My friend talked to his friends and they let me stay at their apartment and now sleeping on their couch. I am now searching for a job as a full time job just like how I treated my CPA study.

It is a struggle and it sucks that my mother loves me very much and has given me 100% support but my stepdad hates me. Oh and you might be asking where my brother moved to. His father (mine too but his cold heart takes an effect on how I think of him) who has a 5 room house, 2 only being occupied, let my brother live in one. He denied me. Maybe if I didnt go for my cpa and was like my brother, not being able to graduate high school with a college prep and have to go tech prep, cant find anything in his video production or his surgical tech thing. you know Im going to stop now bc this will get long and dirty. Lets just say life is not fair and the best of us must tough it out and be persistent. what doesnt kill us makes us stronger.

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[Anonymous]

Vince

I admire your ability to set goals and work without wavering. Passing three parts of the exam under these conditions says a lot about you and your drive. When you present yourself to the right employer this will shine through and an opportunity will open up. You are on the right track and will succeed.

Families can be difficult but take the best of what they can offer and continue to leaave the worst behind.

Networking will lead you to the opportunity and I will pray it is soon.

[financeguy]

Well Vince, I would say you win the award for the most difficult situation on this forum. Did you just recently graduate from college?

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[GSU Josh]

Back at the job hunt tomorrow!! Another business day. Also sick of waiting on my final score. Would like to know if I'm done or not.

AUD - 74, 87; BEC - 84; FAR - 78; REG - 79
It's done, Son!

[Author]

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