[KADFC]

Get ready for a long rambling.

I’m getting mixed messages and I’m kinda lost on what I should do. I graduated this March with a Bachelor’s in Accounting. I don’t have a job yet. I could easily find a job, but which are NOT accounting related. One of the biggest factor of me not getting any accounting jobs is that I don’t have a experience. On top of that, my GPA isn’t that great.

At this point in time, I don’t actually care what kind of firm I work in, I just want experience. However, I read a message somewhere about a guy that got a job offering after he put on his resume that he has passed 2 of the CPA Exam sections. I was thinking about doing the same thing. Yet, it never mentioned if he has experience before or not, nor does it indicate what his GPA was.

Well, now it’s October and I know for a fact Big 4 is recruiting at PSU (the school where I graduated from). I might even be too late to the party at this point. I only took FAR last week and planning to take AUD in November. At that point, my grades won’t show until end of Nov/Early December.

So my question is, what should I do? Should I start “job hunting” again? Should I just stick with studying and pass all 4 and then work on my experience (1 year under a CPA). Do people/firms accept people who has passed the CPA exam, but don’t have no work experience. I really don’t know how it works.

Regardless, I just want to say, this is driving me crazy. Recruiting season is just starting and by the time I get done with my exams (late Feb) it will all be over. At that point, is there anything left for me or do I have to wait until next Fall instead?

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[tough_kitty]

Have you considered state jobs? That way you will get some audit experience and will have time to study for CPA and then you can keep trying with CPA firms again.

I know state jobs are being criticized and I'm not a big fan of one (although I do work for the state myself) but every single person I meet tells me they left private industry for the state and they love it! Contrary to the popular belief, state jobs can keep you busy!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Have you considered state jobs? That way you will get some audit experience and will have time to study for CPA and then you can keep trying with CPA firms again.

I know state jobs are being criticized and I'm not a big fan of one (although I do work for the state myself) but every single person I meet tells me they left private industry for the state and they love it! Contrary to the popular belief, state jobs can keep you busy!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[KADFC]

At first I thought I was fine with state jobs too, but from what I've heard, which is a long time ago, there is some drawback. From what that person told me, once you get into state (gov't), you can't really get out without starting over. They claim the experience that you get there is different from everywhere else (the experience can't be transferred out). Can someone verify if this is true or not?

So from 2 angles

1) How did you get a state job in the first place? usajobs.com?

2) If I was to go into public accounting and at my current situation, what would you do?

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

At first I thought I was fine with state jobs too, but from what I've heard, which is a long time ago, there is some drawback. From what that person told me, once you get into state (gov't), you can't really get out without starting over. They claim the experience that you get there is different from everywhere else (the experience can't be transferred out). Can someone verify if this is true or not?

So from 2 angles

1) How did you get a state job in the first place? usajobs.com?

2) If I was to go into public accounting and at my current situation, what would you do?

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[tough_kitty]

Well, there might be some true to it but not necessarily. If you move from private into state or vice versa, you will almost always have to face a pay cut.

After 2 years with state I'm making $55K so if I were to move to public accounting now, I'd have to take a pay cut and that's not an option for me. But when I get a CPA license (I have enough experience for non-attest license), I might get a job offer in corporate accounting and possibly a salary increase.

As far as job search, you should probably google “state jobs” + your state. California has its own website for state jobs only.

The best advice I can give (coming from someone who is also confused about my career choices) is to apply everywhere you can and you'll get a job offer which is meant to be the best for you… A state job in auditing/accounting is way better than non-accounting job in private sector, in my opinion.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Well, there might be some true to it but not necessarily. If you move from private into state or vice versa, you will almost always have to face a pay cut.

After 2 years with state I'm making $55K so if I were to move to public accounting now, I'd have to take a pay cut and that's not an option for me. But when I get a CPA license (I have enough experience for non-attest license), I might get a job offer in corporate accounting and possibly a salary increase.

As far as job search, you should probably google “state jobs” + your state. California has its own website for state jobs only.

The best advice I can give (coming from someone who is also confused about my career choices) is to apply everywhere you can and you'll get a job offer which is meant to be the best for you… A state job in auditing/accounting is way better than non-accounting job in private sector, in my opinion.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Here you go 🙂

https://www.oregon.gov

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Here you go 🙂

https://www.oregon.gov

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

You may not have as many options as in California, from what I've seen but it doesn't hurt to try. You might try county jobs as well.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

You may not have as many options as in California, from what I've seen but it doesn't hurt to try. You might try county jobs as well.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Jennifer241]

Why don't you actively look for a job while you are studying for the exam? At least it will help you perfect your interviewing skills until you land one! Watch for small firms too, once you get your foot in the door you can go anywhere.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Jennifer241]

Why don't you actively look for a job while you are studying for the exam? At least it will help you perfect your interviewing skills until you land one! Watch for small firms too, once you get your foot in the door you can go anywhere.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[KADFC]

@tough_kitty: Well I just tried that website and searched about an hour or so. Most of the accounting jobs on there requires prior experience. I haven't seen one that doesn't, so should I apply anyways and going at it?

@Jennifer241: That's also one of the concerns I'm having trouble with. While I was still in school, my audit professor told us job hunting is a part time job in itself. I'm planning to take AUD on Nov 15, so how do I actually allocate time for both? How much time should I devote myself to just job hunting vs studying for AUD? Now that I think about it, I think this is the original question I should be asking

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

@tough_kitty: Well I just tried that website and searched about an hour or so. Most of the accounting jobs on there requires prior experience. I haven't seen one that doesn't, so should I apply anyways and going at it?

@Jennifer241: That's also one of the concerns I'm having trouble with. While I was still in school, my audit professor told us job hunting is a part time job in itself. I'm planning to take AUD on Nov 15, so how do I actually allocate time for both? How much time should I devote myself to just job hunting vs studying for AUD? Now that I think about it, I think this is the original question I should be asking

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[Anonymous]

@KADFC Job-hunting does take a lot of time. But, I don't think you'll find you're able to actually study 8, 10, or 12 hours a day. Most people on here are working while taking their exams and still able to do them at a reasonable pace. So, if you spent a certain number of hours a day focusing on job-hunting and then have a few hours for studying too. Or certain days for each. Like you could job-hunt in the morning, take a break for lunch, study in the afternoon, take a break for supper, and then get another hour in before bed, and be studying fully as much as if you weren't job hunting. Or do like Tues and Thurs are for job-hunting, the other days are for studying, something like that. You have plenty of time for job-hunting and studying both. It's still over a month till your exam, you can get both done. 🙂

[Author]

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