[jamesjohnson11]

I saw another post about leaving your job before one year, but I just wanted to get some input into leaving a first job before a year has passed. I have one section of the cpa left and work at a small-midsized firm. I am interested in working at a larger firm to benefit from the training, larger clients, and meeting more people and to focus mostly on auditing. I currently have experience in both tax and audit, with slightly more experience in tax.

I was just wondering if anyone could talk about what it’s like to leave your first job after you’ve only been there for like eight months. Does it help to have experience in tax and audit if you are looking for a job in audit? Does your employer get mad that you are leaving after such a short time? Do recruiters at larger firms, (big 4 to large but not big 4) like you having small-midsized experience?

Anyone who has experienced this or has any tips would be great.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[Anonymous]

If you leave a job before you have another one lined up, that is too soon.

[Anonymous]

i'm with bobkorz 100% !!! i had EY experience and the people from a different big four were asking me so many questions why do i not want to go back to EY … i had a good reason why …

if you have a good reason why you want to move out … i dont think it will be a problem … but be very smart and think it through … think of all the scenarios they can ask you about it …

a regional/national firm might be afraid that you will leave them for your first opportunity at a big four …

a big four might think that you would leave them for another big four !

I have seen profiles on linkedin who moved from a regional to big four after 9 months … 🙂 good luck for you and for me !!

[mla1169]

Sometimes it takes several months to land a new job, just as well to get a good head start on looking.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Whatdidyou]

“Does it help to have experience in tax and audit if you are looking for a job in audit?”

It helps to have experience in audit.

“Does your employer get mad that you are leaving after such a short time?”

Generally, yes. So obviously keep your job hunt on the down low until you get an offer and THEN quit.

“Do recruiters at larger firms, (big 4 to large but not big 4) like you having small-midsized experience?”

They like you to have public accounting experience and generally the bigger the better i think (particularily if they are going to hire you as an experienced staff/2nd year). Personally what I've seen alot, is for bigger firms to hire 3rd or 2nd years from the mid tier or regional firms, and then “hold” them back a year. So they'd be hired on as a 2nd and experienced 1st year respectively.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[JQA02169]

Hello, I was the one who made that other post.

My interview is in a couple days and I will post what, if any, questions they ask about me leaving before one year.

Also, I just realized that they might not know I have not been here a year yet as I do not list the months on my resume.

[jamesjohnson11]

Thanks for all the great tips. They are really helpful. I definitely want to leave and I certainly am not the type of person to bounce around, I just need to find a delicate way to say that I didnt like my last firm but am still a loyal guy.

I dont think being held back would be the worst thing. I want a firm that has the resources, training and people to make me grow my knowledge of accounting, and I think i have a better shot of finding that at a larger firm then i am currently at.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[Anonymous]

To hijack this thread and not make another on a similar topic:

I've been doing external auditing for a small-medium firm for 9 months now and dislike it a lot. I never liked accounting but it wasn't difficult for me in college so I stuck with it. I'd like to leave soon, probably stick it out to make an entire year. Has anyone with a similar college experience / work experience left to another job and liked it? If so, what?

Things I'd like to learn more about and hear about:

FBI agent, private detective, financial analyst, internal audit at fortune 500, something you liked.

[Author]

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