[Ajaz0810]

Has anybody had success working with a staffing agency? I’m not interested in a temp position but was wondering if anybody has found good employment in accounting with a reputable staffing agency. I have an appointment with Vaco next week to meet someone. I don’t have any accounting experience. Just curious

Thanks.

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[cpagal]

I have. I found my current job through an accounting staffing agency 9 years ago. It is in industry and not public which will make a difference.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

I mentioned this in elsewhere recently, but to my experience they're either 100% awesome or 100% useless. I have had good luck with Accountemps (the temp side of Robert Half) and Office Team in the past. Don't listen to any recruiters that tell you not to use other recruiters.

[Ajaz0810]

Wow cpagal. You've had the same job for 9 years. It must have been a good fit.

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[EuroAddict]

Do it but go with caution. Some agencies won't tell you the name of the company that they are sending your resume to. Just that they have openings and will fwd your resume. Also, get a feel for them. Are they going to put you in any position just so they can get their commission?

I worked with one locally and the guy seemed legit. Very on top of things and always sending me emails of companies that he thought might be a good fit. I had a job offer within 2 weeks of going to him.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[MaLoTu]

I have tried a couple staffing agencies and none of them have been able to find me anything accounting related. I also do not have any accounting experience. I have found that when companies use recruiters for accounting jobs they are usually looking for people who have experience.

[Monkey Wrench]

Advice:

Give them a high range, because they are going to put you in as low as you will accept, because they are looking for a quick sell.

Make sure they are knowledgeable of the industry you are trying to get into, if there is specific industry. Ie make sure they can ‘talk the talk'

Be wary of what all you let them apply you to, make sure you really like the sound of it, if you were to turn down to many jobs they would probably stop sending your resume because they don't want to look bad.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, somehow you posted one thing, and i read the exact opposite.

Got my current job through robert half and have been there for 4 years. RHI argued and got me a $10k raise even though i was unemployed and had no bargaining power. But i have also been with a few rhi/accountemps offices that were useless and didn't seem to want to help and never did a thing for me. Dont know why or how to pick out the good ones. I guess just interview and see if they call. I also interviewed with a few others (accounting principals, etc) who were useless.

[taxgeek83]

That's how I got into state government almost 10 years ago – data entry 40 hours a week. Keep in mind I was just finishing my Associate's degree and the core of my job shadowing “thesis” paper was “There's no way I would ever want to be a CPA.”

Oh how times have changed…haha…. 🙂

[cpagal]

I ad the “There's no way I would ever want to be a CPA” mentality until a few months ago. I love private industry, but to get the higher jobs, a CPA is pretty much mandatory.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

Same here. My best friend in college was doing the 5-year BBA/MPA track and wanted me to do it with her (I was majoring in finance), and I remember announcing that I had no interest in being a CPA. Then I ended up in industry, worked up from staff accountant to assistant controller to controller at a small company, and realized if I ever wanted to leave that company, I'd need my license or I'd have very few chances at landing a controller or higher position anywhere else.

I went to a school that churns out Big 4 hires, and there was very little acknowledgment of mid-market and smaller CPA firms as a legitimate employment option, let alone taking your CPA license to industry, so I never even realized how useful it would've been until a year or so ago.

[taxgeek83]

Strangely enough, the only thing I knew about CPAs at the time was that they were one-man shops run by guys who decided to do taxes for a living. I had absolutely no idea whatsoever that the title was so flexible. After a few years I saw all of my coworkers getting licensed, and the competitive nature in me came roaring out. The rest, as they say, is history. 🙂

[Missy]

I agree with the advice to exercise caution. I landed my current job through a recruiter and it is beyond a perfect fit. I will be here until I retire without a doubt.

However I worked with several recruiters and more were bad than good. I told them what my salary requirement was and was told I would NEVER get that salary (I did, thanks), was told I would NEVER get a management position (oops, wrong again) and they were sending me to A/P type clerical listings. I've got a masters degree, a CPA license, 20+ years experience and 3 years as a manufacturing controller. These recruiters were kids, maybe a year or 2 out of college telling a 45 year old professional that her expectations were “unrealistic”.

Ultimately I found one who said what I was looking for would take time, but was not unrealistic. I think it took him 13 months to come back to me with my perfect job but indeed it was everything on my wish list from location, to company size to benefit package to salary.

Whatever you do, do NOT let a recruiter tell you what you;re worth. Think independantly and research salaries and job descriptions. Don't let them convince you to settle for anything less than you'd accept if you found the job yourself.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Before I started my accounting career, I was working part time as an teacher's assistant and did some office work when the bookkeeper needed some help as well. She told me around my first day “this is how I started, and you're going to work in accounting as well”. I thought she was crazy. I follow Pearl Jam around the country, I could never be an accountant. And then I realized I was good at it, I liked it, there are always jobs, and it pays well.

Pretty funny being in the front row of one of the 22ish Pearl Jam shows I saw in 2003… During the last song of the show, people were leaving, and Ed changed the lyrics to something to the effect of “all these f'n accountants are leaving because they have work tomorrow”.

[okcpa2015]

Sure have, I've gotten two great positions from the same one.

Also, they've gotten good feedback from my employers and check up on me about every 6 months just in case I want to make a move.

It's pretty cool knowing that if I want to make a move there is already someone there with some opportunities.

Btw, I didn't pay for the service… I would never do that.

FAR - 91
REG - 88
AUD - 98
BEC - 88

[CPA CMA]

Most of the staffing agencies are pretty useless, I don't know how some agencies have won “the best of XXX” but good luck getting a hold of them. Also, some agencies are extremely unprofessional and they lie to you, they would tell you “we have openings all the time” one day and tell you “that kind of opportunities are rare (they can't do it), good luck to you” a couple of weeks later. For instance, Cornerstone staffing is one of them if anyone is near Omaha NE, do not wasting your time work with them, they will get you nowhere.

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) 12/17/2014

BEC 76 (10/3/14)
FAR 75 (10/24/14)
REG 83 (4/6/15)
AUD 75 (4/20/15)
Anticipated Licensure: August 2016

CMA part 1 passed (6/15/15)
CMA part 2 Passed (9/4/15)
Anticipated Licensure: August 2017

[Author]

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