[jkpoker1]

Hey, I just wanted advice about my career path. I just graduated college and started studying for the CPA (took BEC 2 weeks ago and will take REG in 3 weeks). So I’ve done poorly in interviews over the past 6-9 months (probably have had 10-15 and have gotten no job offers). I just had another interview this morning and I thought it went pretty well (was introduced to employees as #1 candidate- haha and i fit the mold of what the employer was looking for- recent grad looking to learn).

However. I’m worried because taking this job would require me to move to my college town (45 minutes from home and the area is not ideal imo- solid party atmosphere I’m not in college anymore). Also the pay is disgustingly low (he said $10-12/hr for an accountant position at a textbook store where i would do front end selling of books and 20-25 hrs of accounting work per week). I honestly can’t believe they would offer someone such a low wage with a recent degree. Any advice on what I should do? I think I want to counter-offer and say I will work for $15/hr minimum. Everywhere I read, people make 35K+ in entry-level positions so idk what I’m doing wrong. Finally, he said he wanted me to stay 1 year minimum (unwritten rule), and I would honestly feel pretty bad if I couldn’t live up to this or at least close. I honestly can’t believe someone would offer me $12/hr and ask for me to move closer.

I honestly think my best bet is to ask for more money. I’m going to have to get an apartment in the $350-500 range probably (which is cheap) but when making $12/hr, it honestly isn’t that cheap. I honestly think I would be better off sitting at home and just studying for the CPA and waiting for a better job opportunity. I’ve interviewed for a few jobs where the salary was 35-42k so I feel like taking anything under $15/hr to be a joke. Thanks for any advice. I just feel like I’ll waste a year of my life making a low wage if I take this job and have to live in my college town which I honestly hated.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[Tncincy]

Oh no, they are sure ex-college students or new graduates are desperate. Speak up now or throw your education down the drain. Besides, you will never pay your student loans back. In other words, there is NO reason to settle for less, keep looking.(how dare they, interns make more than that.)

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[jkpoker1]

ha it sounds like you are joking? Sorry about the long rant of my post. Another thing I didn't post is he asked me how much I was paid at my internship. I said $10/hr and I feel like he based his figure on this because the ad said DOE. Also he tried to demean my internship (I think i did a poor job explaining my responsibilities), saying that what I did there was not really important.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[evesocal]

You know, it sounds like you already do not like anything about this job except that it's the one offer you have. And the interviewer sounds like a jerk.

By all means ask for more money. The worst that can happen is they say no.

IF you decide to take it – and probably you shouldn't unless they come up with more money, or unless you are desperate for work – then take it with the attitude that you will be the absolute best at it. You will be the best at front-end selling books and the best at whatever accounting work you have. IF you work there, have respect for yourself and for the job.

Good luck to you.

B: 75 A: 77 R: 80 F: 81 Ethics: 84, 92 and done! Licensed in California

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[Having To Eek My Way Thru Life]

IMO I would suck it up live with the parents and find a real full time job. Working at a college book store has “dead end” written all over it. It is not a bad gig if your still in school though. Did you attend any of the career fairs while in school? You should be able to attend one coming up in the fall semester. That is by far the best way to land an entry lvl position.

You should probably rethink your interview strategy though. Try contacting your schools career center. They should be able to help you out with interview tactics, build your resume, and get you going in the right direction! Most importantly be confident in the interviews. Employers need you just as much as you need them!!!

I'm not trying to bring you down but it sounds like you need a confidence boost and a nudge in the right direction!

[Anonymous]

I got hired at $8/hr as a recent grad, and now make a whopping $9/hr. Our area has lower wages in general, but I'll bet if I adjusted them to the cost of living etc in your area, it'd come out right about what you're looking at. :- (And…I now do 90% of everything that my boss, the owner, does, so I'm doing full accounting work, for $9/hr. 😐 )

However, I didn't have to move and didn't have to pay all my own bills immediately. I live with and care for elderly grandparents, so I get free room & board, and “pay” for it by taking care of them. 😛

So coming from a similar situation pay-wise, I'd have a couple thoughts for you…

1. Getting any job and any experience makes it a lot easier to get the next piece. I was turned down after an interview when great, because they wanted someone with *any* accounting experience over someone smart that could pick it up in a flash. >.< So from that standpoint, if they guaranteed that you'd be doing at least 20 hours of accounting per week, it might be worth it just to have something. But, I wouldn't feel dedicated to the 1 year – if they won't give you a fair deal, then you don't have to stick with it.

2. Definitely don't be afraid to ask for more. It's not likely that they'll give it, but it doesn't hurt to ask. In retrospect, I could've asked for more when I took this job, and probably gotten at least something more. But, I was desperate, and he knew I would be.

3. You aren't likely to get raises to make up the difference. I've seen this many times from many different career advice sources – once you get hired in, it's unlikely you'll get a huge raise at the same employer. So, be prepared to move to a different employer in order to make more money. I want to ask my boss for at least $15/hr, but I know that the most I'll get out of such a discussion is *maybe* $11. If I want $15 or more before 5 years have passed, I'll have to go somewhere else.

4. Being part-time accounting, it's not going to quickly meet your experience requirement for the CPA stuff. You'd have to look into the specific requirements in your state, whether part-time counts towards it at all…in my state, the part-time hours count, but you have to have 2000 hours in accounting total, so at 20-25 hours/week, you'd be there for 2 years before you met the requirements, and it sounds like you're cranking out your tests quickly, so it'd suck to have to wait that long to get certified!

5. Last thought, I promise. 😉 What's the chances that you'll be “laid off” in the summer when there's no students around? And/or have your hours cut when it's not the start of a semester?

I understand the “pickle” you're in. Don't throw away your only chance at experience, but don't settle for something that you won't be happy with, either. There's got to be a happy middle ground somewhere, and I didn't find it, but hopefully you do. 🙂

[Anonymous]

with that amount of pay……youd better consider government job, at least you have more fringe benefits and easy hours so you can have another part-time, may be teaching….

[mla1169]

10-12 an hour sounds just about right for a job that is primarily retail sales. Was the job listing very clear in the job description or were you caught off guard? Not everybody with a degree starts at 35k, it depends on what type of job. Retail sales barely pays 35k to managers with years of experience. Sounds like this isn't the right job for you. Sometimes it takes much more than a dozen interviews to land the right job, don't be discouraged.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[jkpoker1]

I really am not desperate for work. I live at home with my mom (lol), and I'm just studying for CPA right now so I don't have insane expenses our even need to pay college off right away because my parents helped me. Also the job has a lot of accounting functions. A/P, A/R, general ledger management, payroll, account reconciliation, and assistance with month+year end close. Anyone have a good $$$ amount to re-counter with if they offer me job. I was thinking $15-16/hr. He really also wanted me to live in my college town because it would be a 45 minute commute which honestly would suck because I want to study for the CPA while working. My college town is fairly inexpensive in terms of cost to live and I really hated living there. Thanks for all the solid feedback. I really find this forum to be top notch in terms of career and general accounting advice

Also as an aside. At my internship, at the end I really found it pointless to work hard there due to low pay (they hired another accounting employee to replace me, and I knew long-term I wouldn't be there- sorry I know this is a horrible attitude). Making $10/hr (basically anything under 14 for me) to be a waste of my talents. I mean I could probably get a manual labor job that pays similar to that.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[wizards8507]

I don't mean to be rude, but did you go to a horrendous school? The average starting salary for my graduating class was something like $50K.

Saying something like “making $10/hr would be a waste of your talents” is a horribly arrogant thing to say. Honestly, if you were so talented, you would have had a better offer (or several). I'm sorry to be so blunt but your attitude sucks. Get some experience and then you can start complaining about insulting offers.

NY CPA

[jeff]

I would avoid moving to a hotbed of cheap labor (college students) unless there are some major employers in the area.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with wizards. Your post makes me think your grades may not be to good and that you haven't done enough to make yourseld stand out. Did you go to career fairs? Have you spent a good amount of time polishing your resume? I don't know many people that just stop trying during an internship because of pay. Its for experience. Many companys don't pay their interns.

[mla1169]

Just remember those $35k jobs are in areas where apartment rents are double or triple the $350/mo that you're mentioning. There's a reason the cost of living in your college town is so low, and it's not because fresh grads with an internship under their belt are making $16/hour.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[jkpoker1]

I went to SUNY Oswego. Idk how to rate the accounting program but the big 4 and many local firms recruit on campus. Also I call BS on your call that 35k jobs are in areas that are double or triple $350/month. Yea, maybe if you lazily just pick any apartment. I've been to the career center at school and I would say my resume is solid. I have 1 year of internship experience, a leadership position, won a national championship at the JUCO level in tennis.

I'll probably just try to attend on campus recruiting events when they occur in the fall. I believe I should have a slight edge possibly if I have passed 1-2 sections of the CPA exam by then. Also my gpa was marginal in undergrad (3.0) but I honestly didn't focus too hard on my studies. Looking back this was a mistake but I prioritized working part-time and partying a little too much. Honestly I think gpa is useless. If i pass the CPA exam, gpa means nothing in my book.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[Anonymous]

GPA might be useless in your book but think about all the people your competing against for the job. I thinking having parts of the exam finished is going to make a huge difference at careers fairs so I would focus on that.

[mla1169]

Sounds like you clearly know what you want and what you expect. Good luck.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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