[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

In a nutshell, I recently lost my auditing job due to performance and am having trouble deciding on my next career move. I am starting to lose my self confidence and need advice.

I have been working in public accounting for about 1.5 years and recently was let go from my auditing job at a mid-sized firm. I constantly got below average performance reviews and this is the main reason for my termination. I did everything I could to learn and progress, but I was constantly put on new clients and industries so I struggled. I am not the smartest person and it takes longer for me to retain information, but I work really hard.

I liked auditing, but I am starting to think that private accounting might be better for me. I don’t want to be put in the same position as before and end up losing my job. Does anyone have any advice on my situation?

I also have been struggling with self-confidence and need advice on regaining my confidence so that I can move forward with my life.

Thanks guys.

[EuroAddict]

Maybe auditing isn't for you. My first job let me go (biz decline, not performance) but I think part of the issue was they could tell I wasn't into it. Of course I went and did my job, got along with everyone, but auditing just wasn't for me.

Now I'm in tax. Making more money than I did at the prior firm and really enjoy it for the most part.

FYI – HATED tax in school.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Nessie]

17,

I am sorry to hear you are going through a rough patch. Almost everyone I know has been terminated at least once (myself included) and went on to bigger and better things. Maybe you didn’t get the training you needed like you would at a big 4, or maybe audit isn’t for you. It seems like the big firms funnel as many graduating students as they can into audit only to have them dislike it a short time later.

My suggestion is to just talk to as many people as possible to figure out your next move. I learned a lot by talking to people about going from one firm to another, a firm to private practice, or to people who have been at one place their whole careers. Whatever you do, keep working out and eating healthy.

Good luck,

Nessie

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Anonymous]

There's a couple of possibilities I don't want to dismiss before I say anything else. One is if by lack of confidence you mean that you have little energy for anything or motivation, that is indicative of depression. That requires professional help and not a suck it up and get on with it talk.

To be truthful, you can hate what your doing, have no self-esteem and be absolutely fantastic at it. In fact I would say some of the laziest People I've worked with felt absolutely fantastic about themselves and some of the best are always beating themselves up over one thing or another.

As Euro said, this just may not be for you. Personally I'dve started looking the minute I got that first bad performance review.

[Author]

Replies