[Anonymous]

I’ve been searching around for answers to this question and have found many different opinions on putting CPA scores on a resume. Some people say that it would seem arrogant or aggressive, but here’s my reasoning for why I’m even asking this question.

I just graduated this past May from a well known university, but I didn’t have an “amazing” GPA. I graduated with a 3.34 (while my major GPA is a 3.46). I never had any internship experience because, to be honest, I was not as in-the-know with the normal timeline of accounting majors. It wasn’t until a lot of my classmates were talking about how they landed an internship that I knew people were even thinking about that stuff, and by the time I knew about it, it was too late. I interviewed with a couple places fall of my senior year for a full-time job after graduation, and had no luck. I made the decision that since my GPA wasn’t all that impressive and I had no internship experience, that I would focus on the CPA exam after graduation and re-start the job search once I could say that I had passed all sections.

A lot of people say that firms are weary of GPA because it is indicative of how the person will perform on the CPA exam. I’ve taken 3 of the 4 (REG later this month), and honestly have surprised myself at my scores. I was never the person who always aced the exams in college, and I struggled to keep up with Intermediate I & II when I took them.

SO…(sorry all of that was a bit wordy), I was wondering if, once I complete the exam, would it be weird for me to put my scores on my resume to help bridge the gap that any doubts regarding my GPA/experience might cause for employers??

Any advice/opinions are VERY appreciated, as I’m starting to panic that I’ll never get hired!!

[krschneids]

Honestly, I would be much more focused on getting some work experience in the form of an internship or part-time position than I would be on putting my CPA exam scores on my resume.

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[mla1169]

I would not put scores on a resume. Unless you are an EWS winner with a cumulative score greater than 95.5, passing is passing whether its a 75 or a 91 in the eyes of most employers.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@krschneids that's what I'm trying to do, hence trying to make my resume give me any extra leverage possible. I've been applying to a few places for jobs as well as internships and have not been receiving any responses. The resume comes before the experience.

[krschneids]

I also agree with @mla.

But I really think having some applicable work experience on your resume is going to help as well. Quick example:

When I interviewed for the firm I'm at now during my senior year of college, I interviewed alongside a classmate of mine who I was CONVINCED would receive an offer. She was professional, intelligent, and I was SURE her GPA was higher than mine (My cumulative GPA at graduation was certainly nothing to scream about, 3.2). As it turned out, she didn't get an offer because she had never had an internship or any related work experience. It makes a huge difference.

Plus, you'll be going in at an entry-level, so yeah, it's a bonus if you have the exams done going in, but I think experience shines far brighter.

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[krschneids]

@CNicole, the experience builds the resume.

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[Anonymous]

I would just put CPA candidate on your resume. Like another person said, passing is passing, regardless of what you scored. Maybe add “3 of 4 sections completed” but I wouldn't list your scores.

[krschneids]

But it's not to say that you mention NOTHING about the exams you've completed on your resume! You definitely should! Having a statement indicating that you have 3 of 4 exams completed does help your resume stand out. But like @mls said, unless you've won some type of award for your high scores, passing is passing and no one cares.

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[Anonymous]

@krschneids no no I know, and I'm not trying to sound cranky or anything it's just frustrating! It's a vicious cycle, I need experience to get the job but I can't even get an interview for an internship to get any sort of experience. But thank you for your input!

[M.O.D.]

@ CNicole

Any and all positives help. And scores in the high 80s and 90s are impressive. My accounting professor said so and he recommends putting such high scores on the resume.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

Nicole, I just wanted to say the catch 22 of experience but no experience is a fallacy a lot of people use as an excuse, at least in this industry. Plenty of people are hired for fulltime and internship positions without any relevant experience. We hire kids where the only thing on their resume is scooping ice cream in the summer. We hire adults that have zero accounting internship or work experience, where their only job was being a musician on a cruise ship. In short, experience comes from a wide variety of activities, not just employment. It may be totally true that for you, some experience would push you above some of the other candidates, but it is not some sort of hard and fast rule that this industry (or, to be honest, a lot of industries) go by. When entry level jobs put stuff like “minimum 2-3 years of experience required”.. I hope you guys don't really believe it. This is a recruiting tactic, fyi.

[Anonymous]

@bigfourexpert of course I know that it's a conundrum, and I am in no means trying to make excuses for why I haven't received responses although I know it hasn't made my searches any easier at the very least. But thanks everyone for your input, I'm not discouraged yet I know I'll end up where I'm meant to be, just seeking some advice on how to get there.

Thanks again for all the feedback and good luck to everyone still taking the tests!

[soyanks]

Do not put your scores on your resume. It will stick out like a sore thumb because people usually don't put that on their resume. It will send a wrong message.

FAR - 86
REG - 85
BEC - 90
AUD - 84

[hunter32]

Don't put your scores on your resume. When we see resumes come in at our office with scores listed on them, our HR usually views it as arrogant. Plus nobody really cares about your scores to be honest.

BEC - 80 (Becker)
AUD - 92 (Becker+NINJA MCQ)
FAR - 87 (Becker+NINJA MCQ)
REG - 90 (Becker+NINJA MCQ and Audio)

[samdiegoCPA]

My GPA is very low… right around 3.0, however I passed the exam. I had undiagnosed ADHD all through university which is a reason why my GPA is low. Also, I've never been an excellent student. I understand why it's important to have an acceptable GPA, but someone who is great at school could be a terrible communicator, worker, etc. Someone who is bad at school, could be a great CEO.

I don't put the scores on my resume, but I do put that I am a CPA candidate and have passed all the exams.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Anonymous]

Just put “Passed X Y and Z sections of the CPA exam”.

If they want to know your scores, they'll ask. I had one interviewer ask me, but that's it. Showing that you passed is plenty enough to impress.

When I told said interviewer that I got a 85 on BEC, he said “so you overstudied?”. Trust me, the scores themselves aren't very important, just passing is.

[Author]

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