[magatha12]

Okay in a nutshell,

I don’t want to disclose too much detail, as I am paranoid my employer might read this (even though its highly unlikely).

(I am an MBA graduate in May- I’ll have my 150 credit hours- and then was planning on the CPA exam. My employer paid for my tuition- I went to a local school so they’ve paid around $5k- where I am required to stay there for 2 years, if not, I have to pay back my tuition)

But I am at a crossroads- maybe a quarter life crisis. I am absolutely, and I mean absolutely miserable at my job. My boss makes my life a living hell, he takes jabs at me when I’m down bringing confidence and self worth further and further down.

No one in management values training or continuous education. They have a very old school mentality with the software they use (as400 from 1975) and the STRICT 8-5pm workday with no flexibility whatsoever. I work for a division of a VERY LARGE and profitable corporation (will not disclose where). My boss has made me cry on various occasions (in the bathroom so he would not know). It is accepted and put up with, which disgusts me. My boss is very aggressive and I don’t know how to put it- but simply does not care about people’s well being.

I am a 20-something looking to develop my career and myself professionally. I don’t feel like it will ever happen here with how I am treated and how I don’t fit in with the company culture. I was not aware of this when I took the job. But I feel like this is a sign that I should move- part time or full time to public accounting. I will even work at the mall!!!!

I know everyone will have an awful boss at some point, but I feel like this is the lowest of low.

I just don’t know if it will be completely stupid, as I will have to pay back my tuition- but I don’t have kids, not married, and don’t have a mortgage yet. Maybe I can just take out a loan and pay them back and move on with my careeer??

Advice please! I am at a low- and can’t think clearly anymore. But my gut tell me I need to go

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[FlipACoin]

@Paranoid…..people that spew hogwash like “you don't deserve to be a CPA” because you don't have work experience are either jealous or insecure. Of course you deserve it, you passed the exams and fulfilled the requirements. Nuff said.

I think some people have some serious frustration early on because they think that having a CPA will just roll out the red carpet to Controller, or Director, Manager or what have you and that's just nowhere near reality. Don't get me wrong, the CPA is extremely valuable and is seen as a significant accomplishment. It's just that without experience, you just won't be trusted to take on additional responsibility. Employers don't just want to see that you know what to do, they want to see that you have done (or can do) what is needed when the time comes. What makes me really annoyed is that there seems to be a lack of good mentors out there bringing you along like you should be. You need to grow into a position to be promoted, you don't start the job that way and it's usually very difficult to do it on your own. You need to be groomed. All I can say is, not all jobs in industry are shitty, but you do need to find the right boss. I would suggest companies that are known for their training programs. Those companies usually hire good groomers…. gl

[neika822]

DO NOT stay at a job you are miserable going to. We have all had our “quarter-life crises,” but there's a difference between questioning your career and being abused at work.

If you can't afford to just up and quit, find a recruiter! They're free to you and will do all the hard work. You don't need to write cover letters or anything. They'll distribute your resume and guide you through sample questions the interviewers will ask.

If you CAN afford to just up and quit, go for it. You have an excuse of being in school. While I don't recommend you quit without anything lined up (speaking from experience- because you will get questioned in interviews), if you're that miserable, your sanity is worth more.

I owed a grand back to my employer because of them paying for Becker. I used my vacation time that I was paid out. Thankfully I had a supportive boyfriend who helped more with the bills and I had a little saved to get me by. I temped for 5 months and searched for a better job in that time.

Good luck with everything!

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[ROACH]

@neika, how do you go finding a recruiter?

and how did you explain the explain the gap in employment during the interviews?

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[MintsRGood]

Wow…that is horrible!!!! Please do not stay in a job with a dysfunctional a$$hole boss over $5k…$15k maybe…$150k and you'd be screwed…but $5k??? Don't think twice about leaving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with the other posters that it's possible they won't enforce the tuition repay, and if they try you can always say “let's make a deal” and settle for half which you mentioned you could cover.

If they are dicks about getting the entire $5k back, I do think it would be a drag to have to take out a 3rd party loan for $2.5k…do you have the type of relationship with your parents or a trusted family member that you borrow the discrepancy from and repay them with interest? Do they know that you are in a BAD situation professionally? I realize that no one wants to ask their family for financial help, but you sound terribly unhappy and you never know unless you ask! If you were my sis or bro, I would send you into work on Monday with a check so you could tell those guys to get F*cked, quit, and be home by lunch to start looking for a new job!!!!! I do hope there is someone in your life that could help you financially right now!!!!

Life is to short to be unhappy! You are clearly a bright and driven person, and with a recruiter you will get picked up right away. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[magatha12]

Unfortunately, my parents are struggling financially, so it is just me on this. I've thought about it a lot and realized:

1. My relationship with my boss will never change, even with a sit down talk- he has been there for 30 years, and is going nowhere, and knows sooo much about this company and has only shared little of this knowledge (aka knowledge is power). He will never be the mentor that I need at this beginning stage of my career. There is only so much I can learn on my own- when I ask questions, I am told to “walk through it” b/c no one can seem to explain things to me..

2. My brain is getting all mushed up with my end of grad school plus dealing with this- but I need to go, I'll have my 150 credit hours, and my MBA and I am a driven, level headed person who wants to be successful and get my CPA…what more do they want?? 🙂 – I just know I will never be as successful as I can be at this place

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[neika822]

@ROACH

In my area (Boston), there are a ton of financial recruiters around. Just google them for your area. Winter Wyman was a big one, as well as smaller, one-manned start-up recruiters.

I was leaving public, so I stated that public accounting wasn't for me and that I wanted to branch out to different areas (just BS, instead of “I despised all of my seniors and the long hours I worked”, etc…). The timing to leave (before busy season) also helped since I didn't want to just ditch my team in the middle of a busy season engagement. Thankfully, my recruiter talked me through better answers to these.

I also didn't have a “gap” since I was temping. I wanted to make SURE I didn't have a gap. I temped at a local college in the admissions office for 5 months, and then found an accounting position at a different college. So, thankfully (and unintentionally), that experience was a bit relevant.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[wizards8507]

I have to disagree with a lot of the previous posters. I agree that you need to absolutely bolt from that company but I wouldn't make the leap until you have something lined up first. Quitting and “probably being able to find a job” doesn't sound too bad IF it works out pretty quickly but that's no guarantee. If you hit a dry spell where the fish aren't biting on interviews and offers, you could be in for a long stretch with no income. You should be confident in yourself and expect the best but also prepare for the worst, which would be a dry job market. I would cut expenses as much as possible and start piling up cash while you're still working there so that you can write them a check for $5,000 and say “good riddance” without putting yourself into debt. I also STRONGLY disagree with the poster who suggested cashing out a 401(k) to pay for the $5,000. The only reason to ever cash out a 401(k), with the penalties the IRS will charge you, is to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Also, there seems to be a lot about your boss that is absolutely reportable to Human Resources. At my employer, a lot of what he does would even be a terminable offense. I'd file a formal complaint with HR. That might get him to back off while you search for a job or maybe even lead to an HR-forced transfer. It sounds like the company itself has a lot of problems but maybe with a different boss it would at least be tolerable until you found something better.

NY CPA

[neika822]

I agree with Wizards… I definitely wouldn't repeat what I did and quit without anything lined up. I was desperate and everything worked out great for me in the end. But the stress of not having a permanent job definitely took its toll. I was able to temp and get by, but as the the temp job was getting closer to the end, I was freaking out.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[kwin]

I was in a similar situation around this time last year. I wanted to just quit my job and go overseas to volunteer rather than working for my controller. But luckily I was able to transfer to another office without having to pay back my tuition.

My advice would be to stick around until you can find another job. Negotiate your start salary at the new job so they can cover for your $5K. If that doesn't work, ask them for a sign-on bonus so at least that will help you with paying back the tuition. I know it is tough and there has got to be a better way to making money. But for some odd reasons, it is so much better and easier to find another job while still having one. For that reason and that reason only, i would recommend stick around until you can find another job.

Do what you can to avoid the verbal abuse, for me it was alot of praying and restroom breaks so i can recoup myself. If you are planning on leaving anyway, why let their opinions or words bring you down? I remember having to write alot of positive/motivation quotes on a sticker notes and put it on my cubical to help me getting through the days.

Good luck and remember “‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”

REG-76
BEC-81
AUD-79
FAR-70, 72, 81

You haven't failed until you give up

[MustPass1988]

I agree- don't quit until you have something lined up. Not having a paycheck twice a month might end up being more stressful and miserable than just going to your job each day, although it might sound better right now. The grass is always greener! 🙂 Not to mention, it might be difficult to explain a gap on your resume and some interviewers might see that as a weakness, that you couldn't “deal” with your former employer, so you quit without having something lined up. Although, I totally sympathize with you and know what its like to have your job make you hate your life, but if it take three more months of dealing with it, to get something else lined up, its probably worth it. Just try to have the attitude of “I'm not going to be here forever” and stick it out!

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[MustPass1988]

And seriously, if he is that mean & rude, I would just go to HR. That's what they're there for and no one should have to deal with a manager who is that awful.

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[jelly]

I'll echo everyone that, yes, line up your ducks by squirreling away some money and looking for another gig. If you ever get asked why you left, yes you were looking for other opportunities. If asked why your time at this hellhole was so short, this place wasn't a good fit with your skills and you were looking for other opportunities elsewhere.

Since you're working while in school full-time, so there's really nothing wrong with leaving earlier (like tomorrow if you felt ready), b/c you have a lot of schoolwork.

I'm sorry that you are dealing with such an ogre. I'm speculating here, but it wouldn't surprise me that your manager might be buddy-buddy with someone at the top protecting him, or brings in spectacular sales, or has tasteless blackmail pictures of everyone in your company. Getting rid of him might mean a serious discrimination lawsuit, or pissing off a very senior person.

Couldn't pass again!

[Groud]

It's a good community here. Sound advice. Us accountants are conservative; prepare for the worst. Here is what I'd do:

Take a look at the job market in your area (or any area you'd be willing to move to). If you feel it inside you that you can get a job well before you ran out of money, I'd quit tomorrow. If not, stay and look for opportunities while your diddle yourself at your current job. Finding the perfect spot for yourself (not just another job, but the right fit) will take effort from 6am-6pm every day. You simply CANT work in public accounting while you do this (assuming you're starting from scratch rather than from some connections/networking).

Be honest with yourself. Are you talented enough to be wanted by any company? If you are shy, come across as socially awkward, or you simply don't have any confidence/talent/savvy, then you wont find the job you want before you run out of cash; which isn't an option as you implied that you don't have the financial backing of anyone (parents/family).

✓ AUD: (85) Apr2014 ~~ (87) Apr2016
✓ FAR: (74) Aug2015 ~~ (74) Oct2015 ~~ (79) Jun2016
✓ BEC: (77) Apr2015
REG: ___

[magatha12]

Thanks everyone for all the support! I appreciate it!

Here's the deal: I can't go to HR, because this place is so corrupt, they will not go against him. I have heard from numerous people that I would just end up in the doghouse..forever. So that's out for me.

I have applied to manyyyyyyyyyyyyy jobs, many many so I think I'm going to be more aggressive and call them all back this week. If I get something soon, I will try to negotiate a sign on bonus, I want to get out of here more than ever!! The world is at my feet!

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[magatha12]

I am excited to say…I've got myself a Big 4 interview next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 I'm overwhelmed and so excited, was not expecting that!

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[Author]

Replies