[Anonymous]

Title says it all. I’m frustrated and ready to take any under-paying bookkeeping position offered but still no luck. What should I do?

[lateralus ag]

If you are willing to move, there is a guy from Addison Search that I saw from another message board that has a lot of hiring managers looking for positions in Houston. Entry level all the way up. I don't know the rules to posting other links in this forum, but I bet if google it you might find something.

I found him on one of the local message boards here in Texas. I looked it up. Seems legit.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with this person or this firm at all. Just trying to help you guys out. I know what it's like to be unemployed looking for a position. It sucks big time.

Good luck to everyone. If you need more info, I will do what I can. Just reply here.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Anonymous]

I passed my CPA Exam in 2012 with the hopes of soon finding another position with a step up in responsibility and pay grade. I HAVE NOT HAD ONE JOB OFFER (not even with those that read “CPA or parts passed” in the job description) WITH ANY COMPANY NATION WIDE: Chicago, NYC, North Carolina, Las Angeles, Las Vegas, Ohio, Atlanta. My CPA designation MEANS NOTHING!!! The only thing I can say is that I've recouped the cost of Becker courses and exam fees with the $5,000 or so a year, the last three years, I've made in tax and business plan consulting fees. ALL OF THAT STUDYING TO PASS THE EXAM HAS NOT PAID OFF in an advancement of my career. I FEEL LIKE AN ASSHOLE!!!

[tomq04]

bummer

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Mamabear]

CPA4Nothing–I can tell you from experience that a lot of companies aren't willing to relocate people. Prior to the CPA, but still relevant, I applied to over 100 jobs in Atlanta when I lived in North Carolina because we were going to move there once I got a job. I wasn't granted an interview, not one. Ultimately we decided to move to Florida and I used my parent's address and got 3 interviews almost immediately with the exact same resume. Two backed off when they realized we hadn't moved down here yet. I was without a job for 6 months after we moved here. I had a bachelors and masters degree and 2 years of entry level experience. It didn't matter. Overqualified in education and underqualified in experience was a saying I heard often. I stuck it out and took a temp job, but continued to look. I got into my current position 6 months later and have been here for 8 years, including being promoted. Careers require a lot of patience and being willing to keep going even when you want to give up. Just keep pushing. Have people look at your resume, network and meet people to give your resume too, try placement agencies if you need help, etc. Don't just apply to the black hole of the internet. Keep trying.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Last Chance CPA]

3 years on this of 40 and about to pass the CPA exam (awaiting REG). I already have a solid career in IT consulting. But accounting/CPA has always been on my mind. I hope I can find a hybrid career utilizing my consulting skills and CPA, so that I don't start over at 37.

Sigh…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Mamabear]

Last Chance–I think you'll be surprised at how useful an IT/CPA overlap can be. The two departments work closely together a lot and you can only improve accounting at any company by having an understanding of IT. It would be a huge benefit to have someone that can speak both languages. Seriously.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Last Chance CPA]

@Mamabear – I hope you are right 🙂

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[MydnightDarkfyre]

@Last Chance –

I'm 42 years old. Had a 10+ year career in IT. Got laid off in 2009. Went back to school and got my Accounting undergrad and then graduated with a Masters of Science in Information Systems Audit and Control (MSISAC) in May of last year. I was immediately hired as a new college graduate at a Big 4 and I'm currently doing IT auditing.

I hope that makes you feel better 🙂

FAR: 82 (Becker) 07/09/2014
AUD: 80 (Becker) 10/01/2014
BEC: 76 (Becker) 11/26/2014
REG: 82 (Becker) 02/16/2015

GA Licensed CPA 8/7/2015

CISA: 564 (PASSED) 6/11/2016 - Certification pending

[Last Chance CPA]

@MydnightDarkfyre – Yes, it makes me feel better 🙂 I am at a high salary though, so gotta be careful about that. I presume your IT knowledge was a factor in getting hired? Did you come in as an associate/sr associate? I think your CPA will bump your rank up as well…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[MydnightDarkfyre]

Yeah, I came in as a staff….but interestingly, it's still a tiny bit more than what I was making when I got laid off. We do get a CPA bonus…as well as yearly performance review raises. I'm up for staff 2 this summer, and then senior next year.

Any job that mixes IT/CPA are in high demand right now…number one because SOX isn't going away…and number two, from a consultant side, the cybersecurity/data breach issues.

FAR: 82 (Becker) 07/09/2014
AUD: 80 (Becker) 10/01/2014
BEC: 76 (Becker) 11/26/2014
REG: 82 (Becker) 02/16/2015

GA Licensed CPA 8/7/2015

CISA: 564 (PASSED) 6/11/2016 - Certification pending

[Author]

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