[Anonymous]

So I recently graduated college and I am currently working as an administrative assistant at this company. I know I should be grateful that I have a job right now but I’d rather be working at a mid-size firm as an audit associate. My g.p.a wasn’t the greatest in college and so my plan is to try and get at least 2 sections of the cpa exam passed and then apply to any of the mid-size firms. I thought that that would maybe be enough but I ran into an old friend yesterday and he told me he’s passed the cpa exam but hasn’t been able to get a job with any of the mid-size firms. And now i don’t know what to think anymore because this whole time i’d been thinking that having the cpa exam passed would instantly open doors for you and it doesn’t seem like it has for him. so heres my question: i graduated with a not so great gpa a few short months ago, with more than 1 but less than 2 years of general accounting experience..will I be able to get an auditing job with a decent accounting firm if I pass at least 2 sections of the cpa exam? I don’t really wanna wait until i’ve passed the whole exam because I want to leave my current job as soon as possible.. i really don’t know.. what do you guys think?

[evesocal]

You know what berrygoose, there are so many variables involved in getting a job, there is really no way to say “If I pass two sections I have a good chance to get the job I want, or if I pass all four I'll definitely get what I want”. It just does not work that way. Even more important than the exam is, what are the opportunities in your location? What is the competition? Are you a good fit for the firm at which you're applying? If there are 50 applicants for every job then even if you passed the exam, your odds are less than if there are 5 applicants and you didn't pass.

Stay at your current job at least a year. Be the very best you can at it even if you don't like it, so they will give you a good recommendation. Take the exam in your own time and keep your eye out for other jobs. If you see one that looks good, apply for it and don't worry about how many parts you passed or your GPA. Personally I don't think GPA matters at all and I don't know why you'd even put it on your resume if it's not that great. Leave it off, it does not matter, and if a firm is interested in you they can ask but I doubt they would.

Experience matters way more than your GPA. So do intangible things like how well you interview and if you are perceived as someone who will fit into the “culture” of where you are applying.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll get the position you want if you keep at it.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[evesocal]

You know what berrygoose, there are so many variables involved in getting a job, there is really no way to say “If I pass two sections I have a good chance to get the job I want, or if I pass all four I'll definitely get what I want”. It just does not work that way. Even more important than the exam is, what are the opportunities in your location? What is the competition? Are you a good fit for the firm at which you're applying? If there are 50 applicants for every job then even if you passed the exam, your odds are less than if there are 5 applicants and you didn't pass.

Stay at your current job at least a year. Be the very best you can at it even if you don't like it, so they will give you a good recommendation. Take the exam in your own time and keep your eye out for other jobs. If you see one that looks good, apply for it and don't worry about how many parts you passed or your GPA. Personally I don't think GPA matters at all and I don't know why you'd even put it on your resume if it's not that great. Leave it off, it does not matter, and if a firm is interested in you they can ask but I doubt they would.

Experience matters way more than your GPA. So do intangible things like how well you interview and if you are perceived as someone who will fit into the “culture” of where you are applying.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll get the position you want if you keep at it.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[tat314]

@berrygoose I went through the same situation. Finished my accounting degree in August of 2012 with a poor gpa, 2.98. I tried to pass an exam before recruiting started the next fall but unfortunately failed it. I was unable to apply to any of the recruiting interviews at my campus because my gpa was below the minimum requirement for every firm there, so I took it upon myself to apply to nearly every firm in Seattle and Spokane. I got one interview out of it and I'm sure I didn't get it because once they had my transcripts in their hands I was no longer considered. I worked construction at the time and was lucky to have a job but got laid off for the slow season of winter. In my time off I passed two exams and put that on my newly updated resume. I waited until June to reapply to all the firms in hopes I would score a job because of the passes. I will admit I got a lot more feedback from places I applied from June through August but once again they would ask for my gpa and I didn't get a second interview. I had high hopes for my second attempt at my campuses recruitment and was much more proactive in trying to get interviews, but once again they would not let me apply to any of the firms because my gpa didn't meet the minimum. I was furious because I had passed two exams and they still would not consider me. I believe that it was my fault for not networking while in college and going to all of the accounting events held by the campus and firms, I think if I would have personally met some of the recruiters at the events I would have worked my way into some interviews. Nevertheless I was still working a construction job and looking for an accounting position. By July of 2013 I had applied for well over 200 positions and finally landed an interview for what turned into the position I have held for the last 4 months. It just worked out and I couldn't have got a public accounting position that suits me any better. Looking back at it instead of just applying to jobs for over a year I should have been networking and going to events. Having cpa exams passed will make your resume look better but it won't necessarily get you the job. Networking and showing recruiters/firms how well you fit in their organization will. Good luck on your search I know how frustrating it can be!

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'

BEC 68 (8/20/12), 78 (2/28/13)
AUD 77 (4/2/13)
FAR 69 (5/30/13) 77 (11/15/13)
REG (10/12/13)

Rogers CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank

[tat314]

@berrygoose I went through the same situation. Finished my accounting degree in August of 2012 with a poor gpa, 2.98. I tried to pass an exam before recruiting started the next fall but unfortunately failed it. I was unable to apply to any of the recruiting interviews at my campus because my gpa was below the minimum requirement for every firm there, so I took it upon myself to apply to nearly every firm in Seattle and Spokane. I got one interview out of it and I'm sure I didn't get it because once they had my transcripts in their hands I was no longer considered. I worked construction at the time and was lucky to have a job but got laid off for the slow season of winter. In my time off I passed two exams and put that on my newly updated resume. I waited until June to reapply to all the firms in hopes I would score a job because of the passes. I will admit I got a lot more feedback from places I applied from June through August but once again they would ask for my gpa and I didn't get a second interview. I had high hopes for my second attempt at my campuses recruitment and was much more proactive in trying to get interviews, but once again they would not let me apply to any of the firms because my gpa didn't meet the minimum. I was furious because I had passed two exams and they still would not consider me. I believe that it was my fault for not networking while in college and going to all of the accounting events held by the campus and firms, I think if I would have personally met some of the recruiters at the events I would have worked my way into some interviews. Nevertheless I was still working a construction job and looking for an accounting position. By July of 2013 I had applied for well over 200 positions and finally landed an interview for what turned into the position I have held for the last 4 months. It just worked out and I couldn't have got a public accounting position that suits me any better. Looking back at it instead of just applying to jobs for over a year I should have been networking and going to events. Having cpa exams passed will make your resume look better but it won't necessarily get you the job. Networking and showing recruiters/firms how well you fit in their organization will. Good luck on your search I know how frustrating it can be!

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'

BEC 68 (8/20/12), 78 (2/28/13)
AUD 77 (4/2/13)
FAR 69 (5/30/13) 77 (11/15/13)
REG (10/12/13)

Rogers CPA Review, Wiley Test Bank

[calicpa]

theres only one way to really find out

BEC - 84, 4/6/13
AUD - 77, 5/28/13
REG - 83, 4/12/14
FAR - 83, 10/3/13

Ethics - 90% 4/24/13

150 unit education requirement met!
Work experience met!

[calicpa]

theres only one way to really find out

BEC - 84, 4/6/13
AUD - 77, 5/28/13
REG - 83, 4/12/14
FAR - 83, 10/3/13

Ethics - 90% 4/24/13

150 unit education requirement met!
Work experience met!

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for your encouraging words and invaluable advice! @evesocal I will definitely take these words to heart. Thank you for showing me that gpa isn't everything. Thank you @tat314 for sharing your experience with me. I am going through what you went through a year ago and you have showed me that with much perseverance, something good will come out of it! I'm glad everything worked out for you in the end.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for your encouraging words and invaluable advice! @evesocal I will definitely take these words to heart. Thank you for showing me that gpa isn't everything. Thank you @tat314 for sharing your experience with me. I am going through what you went through a year ago and you have showed me that with much perseverance, something good will come out of it! I'm glad everything worked out for you in the end.

[Author]

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