[Anonymous]

New graduate Economics major/accounting Minor from top UC who has been looking for around 8 months. I finally landed a AP Clerk offer on craigslist. However, the pay was for a lowly 11 dollars an hour non negotiable and she offered me the job right away after the interview, which led me to believe that it was probably a high turnover job (benefits after 90 days, but I have to pay part of the health/vision/dental and no vacation 1st year). But I decided to take it because I’m guessing one of the most important things hurting me was a lack of experience (had no prior internship experience specifically in accounting). Anyways, I go in first day this Monday and they just throw everything at me. They expect me to know the whole process and system right away. My boss explains the whole AP process in 20 minutes in general terms and he expects me to know all the tiny details. There literally is only a 30 minute training session on Yardi when I come in the first day and that’s it. My boss keeps on making remarks on why I don’t get stuff, but he never fully explains what I’m supposed to do. I could tell he is also stressed because the entire department is so behind on payments and they are missing deadlines. They process tons of invoices, and everything is so disorganized. There are missing invoices and missing P.O’s everywhere. So they are shoving stuff on me without explaining stuff and expect it to get done. They are so unorganized in their process. Lastly, you can tell the department is low on morale. None of the employees in my department seem to care about each other. They work, they go home. No small talk, nothing. Their pay is as low as mine, and one of my co-workers just quit literally the 2nd day I came in. Never showed up again. Didn’t even call them. The supervisor called her and asked her and she just said that she quit. I’m really not exactly sure what I should do. I have to keep the job for the experience, but I’m already looking for ways out. When can I start applying for new jobs? Will employers look bad upon if I were to leave say in 2 months? If I leave in like 3 months, will my supervisor give me a horrible recommendation, thus making this job experience essentially useless? Their lack of a formal training program, lack of organization, and lack of any positives is really making me dread to come to work. I’m going to get berated for things I haven’t been taught yet. AP is simple stuff but its the details they’re grilling me on. I admit I did make a few of mistakes that were my own fault (first week, first full time job) but the rest is b.s.

[foreseeableCPA]

Have you tried going through on campus recruiting? I'd try to stick it out and see if you can get the hang of it. I would also keep applying for other jobs. btw, I also went to a UC. Where did you go?

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[Anonymous]

Is there any documentation? If not, create some. Write the process down and if there is no process, create one. Creating, documenting and implementing processes is great for your resume and will teach you to do the job properly. Typing up that process and making it look professional will show your competence, as well.

I got my start in AR, eventually moved on to AP and have worked my way around the accounting department to the accounting manager and controller positions. I'd hang in there, if you can. If you can't, I'd not tell any future employers you had the position. It will not look good that you left so quickly.

[mla1169]

I would absolutely be looking for another job. Frankly where you've only been at this job for a week, I wouldn't even put it on a resume at this point. Even after 2 months, there's really no point in including it on your resume, its not significant enough experience to impact a hiring decision. Don't worry about your current boss giving you a reference, the only thing they can do is say yes you worked there from x date to x date. They're not going to discuss your job performance while you were there (and your potential employer would be talking to HR, not your supervisor unless you specifically used him as a reference.)

In the meantime, follow AnnaNuthaCPA's advice. Distinguish yourself. Do things that will benefit your successor. Its good practice for future positions where you'll be the one doing the training and mentoring.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Jriver]

Welcome to the real world, boy. Sounds like you never had a office job. Might be new to the corporate environment. The people who you work with are not your professors. They're not going to take care of you like that's their job. Get in there and get the work done is what you were hired for. Another thing is- top UC school huh. They want to make sure you don't go walking in like you're the shit from a top school. Young, full of spirit, and cocky as hell is probably how you feel. Don't bring that to work. They will find ways to cool you off.

[TaRenee]

I understand you a 1000% and personally, I would say do what you can but look for something better.

Accounts Payable is for some people and just not for others. At the end of the day, you don't use actual “accounting” in Accounts Payable… so if you are looking to actually be in the accounting field, I would say search for a lower level staff accountant position, that allows you to get your feet wet in the corporate world of accounting… you won't get it in accounts payable if that's what you are looking for.

REG [75] 02.27.13(1)
AUD [82] 04.15.13(1)
BEC [79] 05.29.13(1)
FAR [62] 08.26.13(1) [76] 02.24.14(2) - God is able!!! 🙂

Licensed NC CPA

[MustPass1988]

I love how people on here think they're so experienced that they can say things like “welcome to the real world”. Chances are if they were in this position, they would also be complaining/ready to quit. I hated my job after a week and five months later I hate it more and I'm trying to get the hell out. I say get out. a week job isn't even worth putting on a resume but it's not going to get better, especially if people are quitting without notice. Everything you wrote, sounds like its a terrible company to work for. NOT WORTH IT

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[MustPass1988]

Also, it is unheard of to walk into a company, being completely inexperienced (which your employer was fully aware of) and being expected to fully understand everything after an hour of training. Maybe if you were hired in at a manager level, but AP clerks aren't paid enough for that.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[mla1169]

A company big enough to have multiple people in A/P, but is still behind on payments is a HUGE red flag. I suspect cash flow issues, but if that's not the issue now, it will be soon enough. That's real world experience talking. Bad management can happen anywhere but AP must never ever fall behind.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Jriver]

Most jobs posted online are a red flag in themselves. They are hard to fill, most likely because they are tedious. Jobs posted on craigslist, even a redder flag IMO. Good luck, bro. Shit falls from the top down in corporate.

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone thanks for the responses!! I'm sorry if I sounded cocky. I did not mean that in my post. I was not trying to be that cocky college graduate who came in to work thinking I know everything. I was just expecting some kind of formal training. More than 1 hour. Anyways to update everyone, today went alot better. For some reason, my supervisor (the assistant controller) wasn't making comments anymore and he just let me do stuff (My other supervisor the AP Supervisor, is really really nice). I don't know it was a really weird change of attitude. Maybe it's Friday and a holiday weekend that made him happy lol. Besides that, I'm learning the little things on my own. I write down all the times he berates me for the little things so I can remember next time. I think I'm going to stick it out for now for atleast 7 months. Maybe once I get all the details down, and we catch up with late payments things will settle down. Rereading my post, it seemed like I was being a little brat. I'm going to follow everyone's advice and make an official process sheet. I'm in charge of over 15 apartments and in charge of all their payments and invoices including thier late payments before I was there so it was ALOT to grasp and somewhat overwhelming especially without the necessary training. In the meantime, I will be looking for lower level staff accountant clerks that I can maybe apply to and not even include this on my resume. How would I go about going to interviews, since i'm on the 90 day probationary period. Do I just take unsick paid days off? Say I have a doctors appointment in the morning?

@ForseeableCPA I went to UCSD, I guess not a top UC (LA + Berk) but I like to include it on there being #3 lol. Not much recruitment there for accounting, but I did finish the minor which has me eligible in units to sit for the CPA. But My gpa was low (totally my fault) so I couldnt break into any public, I def tried though.

[mla1169]

Hwriver, my experience hasn't been that at all. In fact I found my current position on craigslist. It's senior management for a mid sized defense manufacturer. I've had very good luck with jobs that I've listed and applied to on craigslist. Have to disagree with your take on job listings.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Cage dreams if you are offered an interview tell them you're available after work if you're out at 5. I've never had a potential employer who didn't respect my current job as my first priority.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[wendywhite]

Are you in Boston by any chance?

Our centralized AP is in Boston & we use Yardi.

If you have any questions about Yardi or Payscan I am happy to answer them.

FAR 11/2012: 80
AUD 2/19/2013: 90
REG 5/14/2013: 76
BEC 11/2013: 85
Ethics: 100
Waiting on the packet....

[JMadsen]

Yup. Welcome to reality, son. All of what you heard in college were just fairy tales. Everyone will seem to be nice in the beginning, but they don't really want a young guy from a “top UC school” to come in acting all smart, taking charge and all that. You do sound a bit cocky mentioning “graduating from a top UC school” like it needed to be mentioned. Just don't brag about that at work. School life is over. Now get to work!

[MrsBing]

I'm sorry, but the OP doesn't sound cocky at all, just frustrated. What the OP mentioned is not the real world of business. I've never experienced working for a company that didn't spend days or weeks training someone (unless maybe you're a manager or higher). Even when I was a waitress in college (one of the most easiest job's there is), you went through at least a week of training. There's a reason the OP company has a high turn over. You can't expect someone starting an entry level position to know what to do with an hour of training and expect them to do a great job without making mistakes.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Author]

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