[Anonymous]

Okay so this is my first post-graduate job, and the job I work at isn’t really even an accounting/auditing job (it is labeled as such but it really isn’t). I’m pretty much an over-glorified desk assistant and basically function like a machine (moving, creating, editing files/data) and basically doing something over and over, and then something something else over and over. Also, there have been times (such as right now) that I have to work overtime to meet quotas, and currently I have to work on the weekend as well, which is really hard for me trying to study for the CPA exam. By the way, I don’t really like the company I work for anyways.

The thing is, I really want to work for the company that owns the company I am at, but I have to wait a year before I could internally transfer and I’ve only been here 3 months. I’m not sure if I can last another 9 months here doing this crap. Also, there is this person at my church who is pretty high up in the company he works for who oddly has taken an interest in me working for his company (he’s the one who brought up me applying for his company, the idea didn’t even occur in my mind at the time). But the downside with that is that once again, I only have 3 months of work experience, and I don’t want to have a reputation of job-hopping. Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Hmm, since your post graduate and your skills are not being used nor are you really gaining anything career-wise from being there, I would say that in the interview, explain that your current job is more of a stepping stone rather than a real job. On the flip-side I would say that sometimes you have to do things you do not necessarily like to get somewhere else. I don't see this as job-hopping.

If you were to have worked for say one or two other companies in your field, then perhaps yes.

[Anonymous]

I would talk to the guy at your church. Go to lunch or coffee. Figure out which job you would really like to do in the future, then go for that job. If you really want the job at the parent company, suck it up for 9 months. Having a goal will make it easier to go to work. Remember it's a job, not a lifetime. You need a long term goal. Picture what & where you want to be in 5 or 10 years down the road. If you like the sound of the job at your friends company, go for it. 3 month employment won't be looked at as job hopping.

P.S. I've been in the work force since the mid 90's 🙂

[jelly]

Definitely talk to the guy at the church and find out more. He probably has an idea that you just graduated and started at your new gig, and that you're likely not doing what you went to school for. If you end up working for him in the very near future in the next month or so (he's probably shopping for the upcoming tax season or something), you can drop your current gig off your resume.

There's not much to report on a resume after working somewhere for a few months, so I wouldn't even include it, and that would take care of your job-hopping issue.

Job hopping would be more along the lines of changing jobs every 9 months or every 12 months.

Couldn't pass again!

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone, I just thought I would like to give a quick update. So I was able to speak with the guy at church and he said that he'll be on the lookout and let me know if a job opening opens that I would suit. So until then, or 1 year (whichever comes sooner), it looks like I'll still be at my current job for the time being.

[mla1169]

Just curious, if you don't like the company itself that you work for (aside from your monotenous duties) what is it about the parent company that you perceive as better/different? I'd think the culture and practices would be consistent unless it was a recent acquisition, in which case those things you perceive as better are likely to trickle down, in time.

That aside-try to befriend folks at the parent company. If you have to call or email with info, make small talk as much as possible. Find out which jobs exactly appeal to you, and try to add whatever skills or experience will make you the most desirable candidate when the time comes. Find out through small talk whose boss annoys them (could be YOUR future boss, don't want to be miserable there too) and who adores their boss. When an opportunity comes up, ask why your predecessor left the position–that alone has promoted me to turn down offers. A recent interviewer actually TOLD me the last guy left because he was tired of being tattled on by his peers. Maybe he wasn't very good but I've no time or desire to work with people like THAT. Ask what a typical day will look like for you, and what growth potential there is for that position if you remained at the same position for an extended period of time. How will they keep you busy when it's slow, and how manageable is the workload when it's busy. Nothing worse than being blindsided.

Really know what you want and are qualified to do and keep looking. Don't settle for just any job, know up front what you're getting yourself into.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@mla1169

The company I work for at the moment is a government contractor, so if the government decides not to renew a contract, then we have to layoff people. The parent company is more stable and does not have that on concern. Also, although monotonous, a lot of the stuff I do now is directly related to the kind of business the company I work for does. So even if some of the positions at the parent company are also monotonous, they will at least be different than what I am doing now. Thanks for the suggestions.

Also, before I accepted this job, I was actually being considered for another job at the parent company and the supervisor for that position was legitimately interested in getting me. But, I got an offer for my current job before I had my interview for the other job, so I just accepted this one. And later on I emailed the supervisor of the other job and explained to him the situation and said that I hope we can work together at some future date, blah blah blah. About what you said about getting to know people at the parent company, should I ask that supervisor to lunch or something? Would that be a good idea?

[Author]

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