[JPM_Chicago]

I wanted to just lay my plan to gain employment out and see if anyone had any thoughts about it. I would appreciate any thoughts, especially ones from some of you out there working as CPAs already (especially with tax). Thanks in advance!

I found out last month that I passed my last exam. I need to fulfill one year of work experience before I become licensed in IL. I have no experience right now bc it was a career change and I was unable to get an internship/entry level job while going to school, studying for CPA, and providing for my wife and children. Now that I have passed the exams, I feel like i am in a catch-22. I have no experience, but I am not necessarily a recent grad. I feel like some employers that I have interviewed with believe I am overqualified for some entry level position b/c I have passed the exam or they believe I am under qualified b/c I have no experience. I have been frustrated at the response I have had so far. I plan on continuing my job search. However, if I do not receive an offer anytime soon, i will follow my contingency plan. That contingency plan is to work at Jackson Hewitt as a tax preparer for busy season (I know. I did not want to have to do this). This will give me some tax preparation experience on my resume. Also, I will volunteer for a VITA program for this tax season as well. I will do this as much as possible b/c I feel this will look good on my resume, gain experience, and possibly some great networking available. During the tax season as well, I plan to study for and pass the Enrolled Agent exam. At the very least, this will give me a greater foundation in tax. Also, I can use that to get a job at a tax debt relief type of place after the tax season (I would not mention that I passed the CPA exam when applying since I have already been interviewed at a couple of these and they both told me that I would have to get the EA and I feel I was passed on b/c I already passed the CPA exam). This type of job would give me good experience with year round tax preparation for individual as well as small-medium size corporations. Also, I would get some experience with representing clients to IRS which I believe has value for a future CPA firm employer. Again, this is only a contingency plan if I do not find employment with a public accounting firm. I will continuously apply to posted jobs as well as contact partners/managers/any contact I have at firms i would like to work for.

Does anyone have an thoughts/suggestions/questions about my plan? Thanks for your help!

AUD - 78
BEC - 83
REG - 5/16
FAR - 7/16

[Allison Strickland]

Create a LinkedIn! And do it as thoroughly as you possibly can. I have gotten 7 internship interviews, 2 job interview, and my current job all through LinkedIn. And I'm continually contacted by recruiting agents and firm recruiters. LinkedIn is an extremely powerful career and networking tool. There are job listing on there as well. I once applied for a job on LinkedIn and had an interview scheduled within an hour! LinkedIn is not like Facebook, it's mainly professionals. The majority of posts I regularly see are career and profession related. Plus, employers like seeing that you can network through different platforms and communicate professionally.

[Anonymous]

agree with the LinkedIn profile. I am also an older candidate – passed the exam and already had experience from my first career so I was licensed. I couldnt get a CPA firm to look at me. Went on several interviews and it was always thanks but no thanks. Honestly I think they didnt know what to do with me! I ended up getting controller position with amazing benefits via my LinkedIn profile!

[Author]

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