[pjypjy8520]

For all those working in Texas public accounting, does anybody hire college graduate who has passed the CPA exam? My wife is having a hard time getting any sort of interviews since she doesn’t have 150 hours but that really isn’t that hard to get. She already has 120 and the hard part (CPA Exam is over) I see people at my firm working and getting their 150 hours all the time and she is devastated every time she applies somewhere. I want to bring her some good news, make her feel better and help her gain her confidence back. Any feedback will be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I don't work in texas, but I know that for most states that have the 150 hour requirement, job applicants are required to meet the education requirements by their start date.

‘My wife is having a hard time getting any sort of interviews since she doesn't have 150 hours but that really isn't that hard to get.'

It IS hard to get when you are working 50+ hours a week in a new job. And FYI, my extra 30 credits (in a MACC program) was waay more challenging and difficult than the CPA exam.

‘ I see people at my firm working and getting their 150 hours all the time and she is devastated every time she applies somewhere.'

Maybe your firm is different in that it hires people with 120 and lets people work reduced hours to get the remaining amount of credits. However, many don't because they run the risk of their staff never getting licensed and then having a bunch of unlicensed staff & seniors – and therefore – no one to promote to manager down the road.

‘Any feedback will be appreciated! ‘

It is silly for her to feel devastated – as it is not her herself that they are avoiding/rejecting – more that she probably doesn't meet the minimum qualifications for the job (150 credits). I'd tell her that. I'd also suggest either a) enrolling and start taking classes full-time to meet the requirement b) enrolling in a part time online program and explicitly stating that you are doing this on her applications or c) putting on the application/cover letter that you plan to enroll in the online course ____ at _____ which is really flexible and allow her to take online courses during non-busy season and that she'd expect that, while working full time and taking online classes part time, she'd expect to meet the 150 by December 2015 (or something like that).

Honestly of the above, I'd suggest she do a), preferably at a good 1 year Master of Accounting program – seems the cleanest, though not the only, way to get into public accounting.

[Anonymous]

I don't work in texas, but I know that for most states that have the 150 hour requirement, job applicants are required to meet the education requirements by their start date.

‘My wife is having a hard time getting any sort of interviews since she doesn't have 150 hours but that really isn't that hard to get.'

It IS hard to get when you are working 50+ hours a week in a new job. And FYI, my extra 30 credits (in a MACC program) was waay more challenging and difficult than the CPA exam.

‘ I see people at my firm working and getting their 150 hours all the time and she is devastated every time she applies somewhere.'

Maybe your firm is different in that it hires people with 120 and lets people work reduced hours to get the remaining amount of credits. However, many don't because they run the risk of their staff never getting licensed and then having a bunch of unlicensed staff & seniors – and therefore – no one to promote to manager down the road.

‘Any feedback will be appreciated! ‘

It is silly for her to feel devastated – as it is not her herself that they are avoiding/rejecting – more that she probably doesn't meet the minimum qualifications for the job (150 credits). I'd tell her that. I'd also suggest either a) enrolling and start taking classes full-time to meet the requirement b) enrolling in a part time online program and explicitly stating that you are doing this on her applications or c) putting on the application/cover letter that you plan to enroll in the online course ____ at _____ which is really flexible and allow her to take online courses during non-busy season and that she'd expect that, while working full time and taking online classes part time, she'd expect to meet the 150 by December 2015 (or something like that).

Honestly of the above, I'd suggest she do a), preferably at a good 1 year Master of Accounting program – seems the cleanest, though not the only, way to get into public accounting.

[Mayo]

“For all those working in Texas public accounting, does anybody hire college graduate who has passed the CPA exam?”

Define “anybody” Are talking industry, public accounting, government?

“My wife is having a hard time getting any sort of interviews since she doesn't have 150 hours but that really isn't that hard to get. She already has 120 and the hard part (CPA Exam is over)”

If she's going for public accounting jobs those are probably already filled by previous interns. Ditto for top industry accounting jobs. Government is notoriously hard to get into. Does she have any experience?

“I see people at my firm working and getting their 150 hours all the time and she is devastated every time she applies somewhere. I want to bring her some good news, make her feel better and help her gain her confidence back. Any feedback will be appreciated!”

Wait…YOU work at a CPA firm? Why not just refer your wife?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

“For all those working in Texas public accounting, does anybody hire college graduate who has passed the CPA exam?”

Define “anybody” Are talking industry, public accounting, government?

“My wife is having a hard time getting any sort of interviews since she doesn't have 150 hours but that really isn't that hard to get. She already has 120 and the hard part (CPA Exam is over)”

If she's going for public accounting jobs those are probably already filled by previous interns. Ditto for top industry accounting jobs. Government is notoriously hard to get into. Does she have any experience?

“I see people at my firm working and getting their 150 hours all the time and she is devastated every time she applies somewhere. I want to bring her some good news, make her feel better and help her gain her confidence back. Any feedback will be appreciated!”

Wait…YOU work at a CPA firm? Why not just refer your wife?

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[pjypjy8520]

@Anony: Thanks for the tip! She just got denied at one of the graduate program. I think a lot of the MAcc programs want their graduate students to come from the undergraduate program. I believe at the University of Missouri, their accounting program is just 5 years and you graduate with MAcc. Not sure if I have that right, but that appears to be the case. She has applied to another school but we will see what happens, I think the results come back in June? Sounds kinda late but I think that's what my wife told me.

@Mayo: I am somewhat hesitant to refer her to my firm. I mean, we need people pretty bad; we need people at ALL levels but I just simply don't think they will hire her because they don't want to have to deal with possible HR issues. For example, if I do get promoted to senior this year, there might be a time where I'd have to senior a job and she'd have to be my staff. From our perspective, that's wonderful. From their perspective, maybe not so much (at least this is what I've been told by others at the firm. They don't think it's a great idea. I've not approached any partners about this, but I think general consensus is that it won't work out.) Does that happen a lot in public accounting where the husband/wife refer their significant other to the firm? I know one of my senior is married to a tax senior at PwC and he was thinking about referring her to our firm but ended up didn't because he didn't think that was in their best interest. I've been mulling this option for a long time now. Any of your insight will be helpful. Thanks!

[pjypjy8520]

@Anony: Thanks for the tip! She just got denied at one of the graduate program. I think a lot of the MAcc programs want their graduate students to come from the undergraduate program. I believe at the University of Missouri, their accounting program is just 5 years and you graduate with MAcc. Not sure if I have that right, but that appears to be the case. She has applied to another school but we will see what happens, I think the results come back in June? Sounds kinda late but I think that's what my wife told me.

@Mayo: I am somewhat hesitant to refer her to my firm. I mean, we need people pretty bad; we need people at ALL levels but I just simply don't think they will hire her because they don't want to have to deal with possible HR issues. For example, if I do get promoted to senior this year, there might be a time where I'd have to senior a job and she'd have to be my staff. From our perspective, that's wonderful. From their perspective, maybe not so much (at least this is what I've been told by others at the firm. They don't think it's a great idea. I've not approached any partners about this, but I think general consensus is that it won't work out.) Does that happen a lot in public accounting where the husband/wife refer their significant other to the firm? I know one of my senior is married to a tax senior at PwC and he was thinking about referring her to our firm but ended up didn't because he didn't think that was in their best interest. I've been mulling this option for a long time now. Any of your insight will be helpful. Thanks!

[Mayo]

@pjypjy8520, Yes, I've seen it happen at my firm, which is why I asked about that. They are also different levels, one a Manager, the other a Senior. What actually happens more often is that people within the firm marry each other. It still creates similar dynamics.

Haven't heard of any problems really, but it's a large firm. Might not work out if it's a small firm and they have no choice but to put her on your team. So I can understand any trepidation.

But if you think you can avoid that specific situation, then I don't see any issue with bringing it up with one of the partners you trust.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

@pjypjy8520, Yes, I've seen it happen at my firm, which is why I asked about that. They are also different levels, one a Manager, the other a Senior. What actually happens more often is that people within the firm marry each other. It still creates similar dynamics.

Haven't heard of any problems really, but it's a large firm. Might not work out if it's a small firm and they have no choice but to put her on your team. So I can understand any trepidation.

But if you think you can avoid that specific situation, then I don't see any issue with bringing it up with one of the partners you trust.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[pjypjy8520]

@Mayo: Thanks again for your knowledge. The funny story is, I am on this one partner's job a lot through the busy season. I am also on that partner's bigger public client jobs and what not. She just LEFT!!! I thought once you make partner at any size firm, you ride it out. Not this one. We have amazing amount of access to the partners for the most part (at the office I work) and I am still thinking about it. I think this is probably more personal than professional because a bigger part of me is sad to see her feel this way. I think she will be an excellent staff (based on my limited exposure to the public accounting of course) but I think every day passes by, she is getting a bit more discouraged. I am pretty much reaching out to anybody with connection to the public accounting and see if they will allow her to work and attend school at the same time. I know my wife is a motivated person and she can excel in both work and school. She just needs a platform to perform.

[pjypjy8520]

@Mayo: Thanks again for your knowledge. The funny story is, I am on this one partner's job a lot through the busy season. I am also on that partner's bigger public client jobs and what not. She just LEFT!!! I thought once you make partner at any size firm, you ride it out. Not this one. We have amazing amount of access to the partners for the most part (at the office I work) and I am still thinking about it. I think this is probably more personal than professional because a bigger part of me is sad to see her feel this way. I think she will be an excellent staff (based on my limited exposure to the public accounting of course) but I think every day passes by, she is getting a bit more discouraged. I am pretty much reaching out to anybody with connection to the public accounting and see if they will allow her to work and attend school at the same time. I know my wife is a motivated person and she can excel in both work and school. She just needs a platform to perform.

[Author]

Replies