[SoLost]

Hey everyone,

I had posted here in the past with my struggles at passing my exams. It took me a ridiculously 10 tries total to passed everything over the course of 1.5 years. It was thanks to everyone’s encouragement here that I finally got through it. With that being over, I thought my problems were gone… but I was wrong. I am now struggling with my jobs. I got laid off twice. Once with a big four (tax) and once with a local firm (audit). I realized that I totally sucked with accounting. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. I double checked, triple checked, quad-triple checked my work, but I still get things wrong. What’s messed up was that I got laid off by my second job one month before I can meet my work experience to apply for the CPA license. I am in a position that I am afraid to apply for another accounting job. I really don’t know what to do at this very moment. I am currently living with my gf and we are both unemployed, so finding a job is critical. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[KasiaS]

Whether or not you should quit accounting is a question only you can answer. Just take some time to seriously think about what your strengths and weaknesses are along with your interests to see if accounting fits anywhere in the picture. Have you considered just going into bookkeeping rather than audit or tax? I did that for a year before moving on to another field and it was good experience that sharpened my accounting skills. That may be what you need to improve yours before tackling tax or audit again if you decide that's your career path.

Another thing to cosider is perhaps another field altogether where your accountancy background could aid you – like financial advising/analysis, performance analyst, fund accounting, and so on.

In either case, don't stop your job hunting, if you cast a wide enought net, you'll get something good eventually. Best of luck to you!

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[KasiaS]

Whether or not you should quit accounting is a question only you can answer. Just take some time to seriously think about what your strengths and weaknesses are along with your interests to see if accounting fits anywhere in the picture. Have you considered just going into bookkeeping rather than audit or tax? I did that for a year before moving on to another field and it was good experience that sharpened my accounting skills. That may be what you need to improve yours before tackling tax or audit again if you decide that's your career path.

Another thing to cosider is perhaps another field altogether where your accountancy background could aid you – like financial advising/analysis, performance analyst, fund accounting, and so on.

In either case, don't stop your job hunting, if you cast a wide enought net, you'll get something good eventually. Best of luck to you!

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Anonymous]

This thread is protected.

-DRAMA NINJA

[Anonymous]

This thread is protected.

-DRAMA NINJA

[RalphDoggy]

Drama Ninja can smell trouble from a mile away

REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

[RalphDoggy]

Drama Ninja can smell trouble from a mile away

REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

[Minimorty]

Does “this thread is protected” really mean “No Minimortys allowed”? 😉

I actually think KasiaS said it well. Only you will know if you should quit. I would keep looking for a position under a CPA though. You are so close to getting your license. It will open a lot of doors for you, whether or not what you end up doing is directly related to public accounting.

[Minimorty]

Does “this thread is protected” really mean “No Minimortys allowed”? 😉

I actually think KasiaS said it well. Only you will know if you should quit. I would keep looking for a position under a CPA though. You are so close to getting your license. It will open a lot of doors for you, whether or not what you end up doing is directly related to public accounting.

[jeff]

I wouldn't dare speak for drama ninja, but he or she may have been thinking along those lines. 🙂

If drama ninja HiYas your post…it's like a reverse HiYa…it's the kiss of death…or so I've heard.

[jeff]

I wouldn't dare speak for drama ninja, but he or she may have been thinking along those lines. 🙂

If drama ninja HiYas your post…it's like a reverse HiYa…it's the kiss of death…or so I've heard.

[mla1169]

Were you actually laid off or let go? Laid off is almost always out of your direct control so don't sweat it. If you were let go were you given a reason or do you know why? You need to get to the root of the problem first then decide if you are willing to fix it.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Were you actually laid off or let go? Laid off is almost always out of your direct control so don't sweat it. If you were let go were you given a reason or do you know why? You need to get to the root of the problem first then decide if you are willing to fix it.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Tux]

SoLost –

Don't give up! You've worked too hard to throw it away. Continue pursuing the CPA. Even if you don't use it right away, you will find a way for it to benefit you later. It's too early in the game to make such a BIG decision as throwing away all the studying you did to pass the exams!

Regarding work experience – FYI – I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere, but at my local community center which offers tax preparation to the under-privileged, volunteer work counts as work experience towards the CPA. So, if you can't get an accounting job right now, maybe you can get a different job and volunteer on the side, just to get your work hours completed. Although tax season is almost over, our community center is open year-round. So, find one in your area and ask if that's an option.

Remember, the CPA is a long-term investment. Even if you don't have all the answers right now, and maybe have to work at McD's just to pay the bills, life has a way of putting the pieces of the puzzle together for you – eventually. Sometimes it takes more time than others.

This is just one piece of the bigger puzzle, so get your license, keep up your continuing education, so it doesn't expire and even if you keep the CPA “in your back pocket” for 20 years or so, you'll always have it as a resource and as an option for your future.

Good luck! I suggest praying for guidance. I was just as confused as you not long ago, then things just started to “click”. That will happen for you too.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Tux]

SoLost –

Don't give up! You've worked too hard to throw it away. Continue pursuing the CPA. Even if you don't use it right away, you will find a way for it to benefit you later. It's too early in the game to make such a BIG decision as throwing away all the studying you did to pass the exams!

Regarding work experience – FYI – I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere, but at my local community center which offers tax preparation to the under-privileged, volunteer work counts as work experience towards the CPA. So, if you can't get an accounting job right now, maybe you can get a different job and volunteer on the side, just to get your work hours completed. Although tax season is almost over, our community center is open year-round. So, find one in your area and ask if that's an option.

Remember, the CPA is a long-term investment. Even if you don't have all the answers right now, and maybe have to work at McD's just to pay the bills, life has a way of putting the pieces of the puzzle together for you – eventually. Sometimes it takes more time than others.

This is just one piece of the bigger puzzle, so get your license, keep up your continuing education, so it doesn't expire and even if you keep the CPA “in your back pocket” for 20 years or so, you'll always have it as a resource and as an option for your future.

Good luck! I suggest praying for guidance. I was just as confused as you not long ago, then things just started to “click”. That will happen for you too.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[SoLost]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Really appreciate it.

Kasia – I have not considered bookkeeping because it doesn't fulfill the work experience criteria. However, I do agree that this will contribution to the foundation of accounting. I also have considered other fields that uses accounting too, but the job market currently just doesn't allows it.

Sorry, I have been out of this forum for awhile, but who is this so called drama ninja? =P

mla1169 – I was let go because I wasn't improving fast enough. It's weird because when I am doing accounting work, it's like my brain isn't working at all. Its hard to explain, but it feels like I cannot think out of the box. Whenever a task is given, I just do it. When stuff looks weird, I don't catch it. Its like I have no professional skepticism at all. This might comes with experiences, but even the most basic stuffs I missed. It is so frustrating for me and my in charge. So in the end, I think this is more of a personality problem? If I get desperate for a job enough, I will try again for a public position. I still have my last strike right? =/

Tux – I do agree. This CPA license was everything that I had ever studied for. This is a life achievement. As for the work experience, I will have to check with my state board to see if it qualifies. I am not really religious, but I will most certainly pray in time of need. Good luck with your exams!

[Author]

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