[MustPass1988]

On jan 2nd, I made the move from public to private. I was told that I needed to start as soon as possible because they had a lot of things they needed help on. Since I started, I have not had anything to do. I was given a couple very small projects with no real direction or advice, and the senior accountant who gave them to me, would actually redo them and then complain that I didn’t do them the way he wanted. I was then told to study which I did every day for 8 hrs a day, 4 weeks in a row. They said that after mid February, 2013 projects would start picking up and that the reason they didn’t have much for me to do for the last 2 months was because it was easier for them to finish 2012 projects rather than explaining it to me. They assigned me specific sections and I’ve noticed that my manager has started to work on my sections for me, but hasn’t told me what he’s doing or even explained why he’s doing it. Today I got a project from my manager that was essentially researching a topic and summarizing the information, and he actually sent me he websites to use and then told me that he was doing the same thing as me. Also, he gave me another project that basically consists of 2 days worth of data entry. I am really frustrated because it seems like they don’t want to take the time to just explain to me what im supposed to be doing so they’re just giving me mindless projects and doing the “real work” themselves. My position was a new one and it seems like they just didn’t think through what I was going to be doing. My manager is not the easiest person to talk to and he has mentioned feeling badly about not having much for me to do, but said it would pick up in mid feb. I just feel like my 2 years in public accounting were wasted coming to a job where I’m not learning or accomplishing anything. I’m also not part of the team at all, they constantly have meetings without me and they never keep me in the loop with what’s going on. I feel like this weird girl who keeps showing up to study, gets paid, but isn’t really part of the company. There is an internal audit job open at a company that is well known and I have a connection to a woman who works there. What I’m wondering is, is it a bad idea to apply for that job and if not, how do I explain away this 2 month job?

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[henryv]

You're just too hasty. If they ask you to study, just take the opportunity.

FAR - 92 02/2013
AUD - 90 05/2013
REG - 85 10/2013
BEC - 80 12/2013

I'M DONE. THANK YOU LORD!

[LSNYC]

Apply! I think you can explain the two months with something like, I took this job for opportunities that it turns out aren't available to me, if they ask for more info explain no work was given, and you are looking for a place to learn and grow. Be very careful with what you say do not be negative try not to talk bad about your manager or the company.

However there is a chance you won't get this other job so you need to talk to either HR your manager or someone above your manager. This isn't fair to you, you need to be given an opportunity to work and show your abilities.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[mla1169]

First off, it would be unusual to feel comfortable and satisfied after 2 months at any job. The way you're feeling is common and usually dissipates after about 6 months.

That said, if you are adament about the other job, I'd leave this one off the resume entirely. I would never list a 2 month stint with my experience, because honestly that amount of time isn't really “experience”, it's training,

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[MustPass1988]

Well this isn't my first job and I didn't feel like this at my others. Obviously, it took more than 2 months to feel like I knew what i was doing but I didn't feel like they had no idea what to do with me. Even if I put this job on my résumé I would have nothing to put as a description!

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[Keely]

If you want to quit, quit. I did the same thing after about a month. You'll find another job, and it won't preclude you from being successful for the rest of your life. However, if you are still in the process of taking the exam and they are paying you to sit around and study all day, I'd sit tight for a while. A lot of people here would kill to get the extra hours of studying in at work.

In the end, if you're miserable, look for something else. It's always been that simple for me. Granted, I have no kids to support or anything. So if it's just you, do what's best for you. That's kind of lame advice, but I like to follow it.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[MustPass1988]

@keely: what made you decide to quit?

Thanks for the advice everyone! Maybe I'm being too hasty but why be in a job that you don't like or at the very least, you're not learning anything. I actually am supposed to have a review in 30 days and have to write down everything I've accomplished so far LOL. I can't study at work now…I was only really able to for the section I took last week. Although if it continues like it has, I will be studying again in no time!

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[MustPass1988]

Update: I decided to sit down with my manager and explain to him that I have nothing to do & that I don't feel like I'm learning anything. I told him that I wanted to feel prepared for next year and if he is doing things for me, that's not going to help me. He didn't really listen to anything I said, he kept interrupting me and saying things like “don't worry, you're doing exactly what we want you to be doing right now”. This was last Tuesday and I haven't had a single thing to do since then- just now, I got a data entry project which will probably take an hour at the most. I had this training I needed to complete and he needed to set it up for me and I asked him about it three times and every time he either ignored me or said he would get to it and never did. I guess for now, I'll just deal with it and study at work because I have just stopped asking for projects as every single time, they say they don't. But seriously, come May when I'm done with this test, if I'm still doing nothing at work, I'm moving on.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[FlipACoin]

You've done everything you can do! Your plan from here forward is solid. Speaking from experience, if you have the “Give me more work!” conversation and you don't immediately see a change in workload (within 2 weeks max) it probably won't get any better. I would start/keep looking right now though. May is not that far away and it would be really helpful for you to have something challenging ready to go on the other side of the exams.

[ParanoidAndroid]

I've been at my current job for more than 1.5 yrs. I have not really learned anything but it gave me the opportunity to pass the CPA exam on my first try. Currently looking for another job, where people really appreciate me and treat others like humans. Stay strong my friend and dont let those f***ers bring you down.

CPA for life...

[MustPass1988]

Haha thanks guys! At one point they told me to “enjoy myself” at work because they had nothing for me to do. Maybe they'll figure it out if they ever check my Internet history and see Facebook ALL DAY LONG. Haha

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[jamesb]

@MustPass1988…which Co. do you work, if you dont mind telling me. because I would love to “work” at this company. I am assuming your DOB is 1988. Just enjoy your life. If they are not complaining to you the ‘little work” you do, then its okay.

AUD: TBA-
FAR Done
BEC Done

Becker
NINJA for AUD

[Keely]

@MustPass: You did the right thing, and, like the person said above, that's all you can do. Just spend your time studying and before you know it, you'll be out of there.

What made me decide to quit was the simple fact that the ‘culture' of the workplace didn't fit my personality. I come from a small town and I made the jump to Houston, TX and was working downtown in a high-rise, fighting horrendous traffic morning and night. I was sharing a cubicle, none of my coworkers ever went to lunch. It was every fear I had about public accounting realized. The pay, however, was awesome, and everyone was very nice (albeit bland), but I knew that if I stayed through busy season, I'd want to slit my wrists, so I left.

Now I work for a very small firm. We're all friends, if you don't go out to lunch, you're considered weird, which I think is awesome. 🙂 I do both tax and audit, whereas before I was working as only an auditor. I now know I much prefer tax to audit. When you get your first job, it's trial and error. Just know that nothing you do, short of stealing from the company or something you'd be prosecuted for, will forever screw up your chances in the future. There isn't much in life that you won't be able to overcome. Life is too short to be unhappy, and I would much rather be slammed at work and have the day go by quickly than be miserably asking myself everyday, “Why am I here?” That's no way to go through a job, and only puts you at a disadvantage when you do decide to move on. Good luck in your job search, and on FAR!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[MustPass1988]

If your goal is to have a job that doesn't require you to do anything besides sit in your cube and do nothing, I don't envy your life. No offense, but I personally strive for a job that is fulfilling and requires me to learn new things & use my brain. That's what makes me happy and it doesn't matter how old a person is. I didn't work my ass off in public accounting to come to a job that requires nothing of me.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[solis087]

@MustPass1988 Oh, I understand where you come from. I started a new job a little less than a year ago. I didn't have that much work at the beginning, and the project I was suppose to work on when I got here was done by someone else because of software issues.

A thing I did when I started my new job is to ask for prior year's returns (I'm 100% tax) and review them. I would check the workpapers and see how it flows. And if there was something I haven't seen (like, I don't know, some weird forms I've never done at the firm), I would read the instructions, and do some research. And when I did not understand something, I would go to my boss and ask her to explain why we did it like that. When she was seeing that I could do research, and I could understand hard concepts, the work just kept coming to my desk.

There is a huge gap between public and private practice, and people don't get how huge it is until they switch. That probably explains why some people come back to the public practice after a couple months in private.

But as someone said, give it some time. 🙂

But I can understand that having nothing to do just kills you. I hope it will get better soon!

Good luck!

BEC: 80
REG: 75
AUD: 57, 80
FAR: 10/5/2013

[LSNYC]

Mustpass – I think you are doing everything right, use this time to study and pass your last section. Then start applying for jobs and find something else.

Did you apply to the on job that you mentioned in your first post?

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[Author]

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