[Anonymous]

I’m planning to quit very soon after 4 years in public accounting without a job lined up due to move with SO to hopefully something less stressful in industry while studying for the exams. Being in the state with the second highest unemployment rate at above 12%, I understand I might be looking for a job for a very long time and might have to settle with any accounting job (AR/AP) in between to fill the gap in between the resume and for plain survival. How would that look to future employers? I understand that other firms tend to discriminate against people without prior experience (mine doesn’t). What about non current experience? What if I were to be out of public accounting for 2 to 3 years?

[misanthrope87]

And why you would want to go back is beyond me. @.@

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Anonymous]

Are you saying you want to go back to public accounting after you get your test done? With 4 years of experience already, you'd probably go in as a senior level. I'm sure you'll find firms that will take you especially with past experience and your CPA done. Seniors are always in demand (probably b/c it's the most miserable position to be in …haha). There's people that take a couple years off to start a family and come back to public accounting and there's people who leave for industry and then come back. I don't think you should have any problems.

[Yvonne570]

It might not be a good idea to quit public accounting without another higher level accounting job lined up. The competition is fierce nationwide. Employers may look down at your resume for quitting without another job – and especially downgrading to a clerk level. If I were you, I would ride it out until you get another job lined up.

AUD - Passed:)
FAR - Passed:)
REG - Retake TBD
BEC - Missed by 3 points Retake TBD

[Anonymous]

With 4 yrs of public accounting experience I dont think you should have any problem finding a pretty good job in industry. Where I live the unemployment rate is 12%, but the unemployment rate for accountants is more like 4% (at least according to the robert half website it is). I think no matter what you really dont want to be unemployed because its much harder to get a job when you are currently unemployed.Gaps in your work experience are never good.

What do you mean about no prior experience? you have 4 years of public accounting! that is worth ALOT! I had two years of public accounting and got a job as a project manager in industry. What ever your industry specialization was in public accounting, look for jobs in that same industry.

[mla1169]

One caution: I seriously doubt any employer would consider you for an AP/AR type position. You are beyond overqualified for that type of position and even though logic tells you that they would want the “best” person to apply, they will think you expect more salary than someone with lower qualifications (even if you insist that is not the case) and they will assume you are only there to fill a gap (which you are LOL)

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Herbieherb]

For some reason employers don't like to hire people who are unemployed currently or have gaps in employment.

NEW YORK- DONE

[Author]

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