[Anonymous]

Hi,

I’m 38 years old and I passed the CPA exam in December. I am trying to get into the accounting field and gain experience. However, I can’t get that first job. I have applied to hundreds of jobs in public accounting, private accounting (small and large companies), and government accounting. I have gotten one interview so far out of that and didn’t get the job.

I’m worried that I won’t be able to enter the field. The reasons are:

1.) I’m 38 years old…perhaps too old for starting positions.
2.) My GPA throughout school was under 3.0. Many job openings want to view my transcripts.
3.) I got a law degree in my 20s thinking I was going to practice law. I ended up not liking it so I didn’t practice. I’m afraid the law degree will steer employers away.
4.) My recent jobs have been doing payroll processing. I have not done accounting work. So, I don’t have the recent experience employers are looking for.

Do you have ideas about how to approach the job search given these circumstances? Have other people had similar circumstances when they started as CPAs?

[Anonymous]

Network network network.

–Linkedin – you can reach out to people directly that work for a company you are interested in

–Career Fair – be sure to attend career fairs and other events where you can get some face time with the potential employers

–Networking events – Join various clubs and organizations (chamber of commerce, business networking groups, niche networking groups, etc.) and start building relationships with various leaders in the community

–Recruiters – Pick 1-3 recruiting agencies and submit your resume. They usually have a process to match you up with roles that may be a good fit

–Consider relocation – your immediate area may not have the best opportunities so if you are able, you can consider sending your resume to firms out of state where there may be more employment opportunities

[MaLoTu]

Networking is very important and Brickell narrowed down some good options.

I am wondering if you are eligible (education wise) to be a CPA? Having an undergrad in a non-accounting field is not a deal breaker, but it is very hard to get you CPA with a non-accounting degree.

Additionally, you need to focus on what you really want to do. Based on your post, you are kind of all over the place in terms of accounting area focus, which I understand due to needing a job. I would recommend that you choose what you want to do and then tailor a story that makes connections between your experiences and what you will be doing. Since you have a background in law, tax might be a good field for you.
I started as a public accounting auditor in my 30s. I had an unrelated BA and no relevant experience. But, I can guarantee that the things you have done over the years you will find robbery beneficial to a new role. You just need to connect the dots. Then network.

[rhayder]

Should be easy to get a job with the feds provided you are open to relocation and have a good federal resume.

[Missy]

If you've applied to hundreds of jobs and only gotten one interview, your resume needs some fine tuning. Are you customizing your resume for every position you apply to, and highlighting the skills particular to that position and leaving off things that aren't relevant like your law degree? Imagine yourself with a couple dozen resumes for the position you're applying to and what makes yours better than any other in the pile. Then you'll start to make headway.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[jtvande]

Email the resume poster or Direct Message them on LinkedIn. You go to the companies LinkedIn page or webpage you can get the information of the people you need to get in touch with. I have had a lot of success with cold emails/cold direct messages. The last two jobs I have gotten are because I cold emailed someone in the company. You have to be smart about the way you go about it though. A lot of people apply for positions online. You need to take the initiative and show that you are interested.

[Want2BeCPAsoBad]

In your situation you will greatly benefit from a staffing agency like Robert Half International, Accountemps, Nelson Staffing, etc. The fact is, noone wants you when you are unemployed, but once you are doing something then you look more appealing. So go ahead apply with all these agencies take a temp-to-hire and keep looking for a permanent job. Polish your resume and LinkedIn. Do not included your GPA in your resume. Include “pass all 4 sections of CPA” to top of resume. Polish your resume in every way you can. (again agencies will help you if you ask them and are willing to take the criticism)

[MasterOfTaxation]

I'm in my early 40's and feel your pain. Did the same thing – decided to pursue accounting later in life with next to no experience. I now have two degrees with near perfect grades and I feel like I have accounting herpes. Here's some of my personal experience that will hopefully help you not waste time:

1) Robert Half – I spoke with one of the recruiters and they are really only looking for people with experience for higher tier public and industry jobs. They didn't have any staff level positions.
2) Accounttemps (Robert Half) – They have lower level accounting positions available in a number of areas, but most don't require a degree. You can probably get lined up with a few temp or temp to hire jobs to feel out what you're looking to do long-term. There were no public accounting positions available through this route though. I was offered a temp job in accounts payable, as an assistant controller, and another industry temp to perm job.
3) Brooke Staffing – Went in for an interview at their office and never heard from them again. (I interview really well, too.)
3) Public Accounting – As much as it ails me to say it, age is a major limitation to get into the better public accounting firms. People will tell you otherwise (particularly young people), but they clearly want a younger crowd. If you have no experience and have no major players you could bring in as clients, you are likely dead in the water.

So as an older person I will tell you to not lose faith, but be practical. If I were you, I'd try to brainstorm what exactly you want to do long-term. If you're wishy washy and sound discouraged, the recruiters are going to be polite while on the phone then throw your resume in the garbage. Recruiters only care about you if you have value to them. And value to a recruiter is you being a highly sought after asset to a company.

Good luck to you, man. I know what it's like.

[monikernc]

Check out hotels – many have huge accounting departments. I work for one now and like it. Very specific accounting specs. Good benefits and growth potential. Hard to find CPAs – no one to sign off on my experience yet but I am gaining valuable experience with better pay and benefits than public offered.
Colorado has a lot of demand for industry accountants in general if you are up for it. Expensive housing and terrible commutes though. Gorgeous views.

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Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[M123]

Any chance you can pass the bar? What did you not like about law practice? I have to think tax law combined with a cpa would be an amazing combination. With regard to payroll processing, ADP have an office near you? Something tangentially related to CPA may be a way in?

I think that law school background is very interesting even though it may not be the thing you want to do – it may be the trigger to set off a fusion reaction. Wish I had one of those 🙂

[Excel14]

Nobody wants to ask me my opinion of these “headhunters”. Sure, we have to do our part and be proactive, but I've found them to be 100% useless. I do realize that they can't guarantee or promise jobs, but all of the ones I've encountered, talk a big game and do nothing. I've had my resume revamped several times professionally, have a lot of experience (albeit not public accounting experience), and still haven't sniffed an interview even for the most entry level jobs. One holdup might be that all of my experience is in govt., and I'd like to go private; but you still can't convince me that I'm not qualified for anything on their job board. I'm sure there are those out there with better luck than I, but I for one cannot sing the praises of recruiters like Robert Half, etc.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of your replies. I have tried various headhunters and they have not worked. I will focus on my resume and try to tailor it for the positions I apply to. I can also point out the skills gained in my prior positions and in law school and how these skills can be a benefit to the position.

[diesel05]

Where have you worked in the past? What industries are you experienced in?

I also agree that if you have applied this many times with only one interview, there may be an issue with your resume. It may be a good idea to reach out to your career center at your college and have them review your resume and reach out to their connections.
A couple of my older classmates in their 30s started at regional firms in the tax departments and have been doing very well, they networked excessively while in school and targeted the smaller firms.
As far as locations: Ohio, MI, Chicago, PA, and NC are usually strong markets for accountants. I've heard TX (around the larger cities) is also a good market.

Don't give up man!

[Pete]

I've passed both the CPA exam, the CFE exam, and completed all required credit hours (got near perfect grades on the additional credits) and have been looking for a new position for months (I started looking-after passing the CPA exam last year, but I was split between taking the classes, working, passing the CFE, and looking for a new position). I also have accounting experience within a small company and public accounting firms.

From what i've seen, age isn't the issue; the problem is the structured hiring methods most accounting firms utilize to gain entry level staff. They will typically recruit interns for people, currently in colleges, within the area. This means you're basically screwed out of luck, if your not currently in a school. Once you graduate, you almost have to be an “experienced hire” for most firms; this means, you must have public accounting experience. This puts you in a horrible catch 22, if you don't have said experience. Additionally, just because you complete an internship, does not gaurentee a job. Firms use this to their advantage. If the firms are uncertain about their hiring needs, they will simply hire a ton of interns, then not extend them an offer at the end-firms then don't have to pay unemployment/benefits but get the benefit of your labor, etc. I've had this basically happen to myself.

Your best bet is going to be campus recruiting. If this isn't available, your best bet is going to be to get a marketing plan ready and start reaching out to people for informational phone conversations. Ideally, you get these contacts through referrals and groups, such as your local CPA board. You can also cold call people, but it's much less effective (it does work though). Expect that most people will ignore you-just keep following up with them until they tell you to stop contacting them or actually speak to you (follow up every two weeks). Smaller firms are less structure, so they will be your best bet, especially if you like tax work. If you like audit work, you might need to aim at mid-sized firms, despite the added difficulty.

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[latecpa]

Well, you had the persistence to pass the CPA exam, that says a ton. Seek help with your resume and work your job serch like it's your job. Lock something, anything down and keep looking. Develop a viable story line as to why you are un/under employed. Remain confident my friend!

[david]

I wouldn't think your law degree would be the deterrent you think it is especially if you get a law degree and strike out on your own or work at a smaller firm. I think age is a factor but as I get older I can kinda see their point in that they want someone not afraid to pile on the hours (and where I worked was salary of $50,000 with no paid overtime). I think 1.) you're much more likely to agree with that arrangement with you're 24 because you don't realize how ridiculously low-balled it is and 2.) as you get older and start having kids you have more limitations on when you can work. The large public accounting firms don't want to come out and say that nor ask about outside work obligations but it's definitely in their reasoning. Since I have 3 kids of my own I'm not a candidate for those positions and since I was late to the accounting game I never was a candidate. Here's how I got into accounting – I worked at a two man operation making $12 an hour when I could have driven a bus $15 but it got me in the door and a year of experience. The good news is once you have experience you will find offers. The bad thing is I've experienced corporate accounting doesn't want people with only public accounting experience and vice versa so I guess once you get in that's what you do. Also, when I was getting my Masters a lot of people put a lot of decision into tax, accounting, or audit. What I've encountered is you do whatever you got that first job doing because down the road you have to start over and take less pay to change what you do. I would probably have to go from making $50,000 (with paid overtime) now to making $30,000 in corporate.

[Author]

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