[Kmrhod]

Hi folks,

Earlier this month, the small accounting firm I worked for (approximately 55-60 people) laid me off. They had an opportunity to bring back an old senior who used to work at the firm but didn’t have the work to support both of us. I had been with the firm as staff doing audit for a year and a half. Before I had worked at this firm, I spent about five years in industry and was a senior/supervisor at my last job.

I’m obviously devastated by this and am now undertaking a job search. I’m worried that since this is the time of year that most firms are gearing up for busy season, I won’t get hired for quite a while. I know I can get a job in private easily. I have not yet passed my exams so I was thinking of holding out for Big 4 while getting those out of the way. Do I have a shot at big 4 at this point, or should I just go back to private and try for public accounting in the spring?

Just a side note, I can be out of when financially for about a year, so I’m not worried about the money, I just want to do what is best for my career.

Several of the supervisors and directors are vouching for me as references. There was no problem with my work.