[Anonymous]

On the whole, college recruiting didn’t work out. Mostly because I have more than 10 years experience in a complementary field. I should never have stopped working to go back to school. I even moved out of NYC and then ended up moving back. I am working now as a corporate trainer but the position is not permanent.

I have had some conversations but they never end up panning out. The people usually don’t return my calls. I have thought about H&R Block as well, but the reputation of the company is not that great as they give out those high interest loans.

What do I do? I am very scared. I have passed FAR so far and I took AUD today which seemed to go better than FAR.

[Missy]

How many resumes have you put out?

I sent out OVER 300 resumes to get the job I have. It was a bit harder for me than typical candidates because I'm OLD, I have no public accounting experience, and while I have 20+ years excellent accounting experience it is all for very small companies and the big billion dollar companies didn't feel my experience would translate well to their needs. So be it.

I see all the time here people saying its hard to find a job, and it IS. But if you've sent out a dozen resumes total and having a hard time its different than someone who sends out a dozen a week.

Your experience is lovely but doesn't necessarily make you the best fit for the types of jobs you're applying to so consider yourself entry level even with the complementary experience. Its like interviewing for a mcdonalds job and saying you've got an MBA so you're the “most qualified”. No, an MBA doesn't make you more qualified to count back change unfortunately. If you have skills that don't translate to the positions you're applying for leave them OFF your resume. Programming has nothing to do with a staff accountant job and is irrelevant. Your resume should only include the items that are specific to the position you're applying to its not an autobiography.

Passing one or two exams is a nice start but doesn't exactly have employers knocking down your door. The fact is your competition for each job presents themselves better than you either in experience or interview skills. You simply haven't convinced anyone that you are the BEST of the pool of candidates they've talked to yet despite your lack of accounting experience. It can be done of course, but don't believe for a second that its easy.

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

[ultrarunner]

@John, I believe you. It was a great testimony. Getting jobs in public accounting is really hard. I went through the fall campus recruiting as well. Different firms look for different things. One regional firm liked the fact that I have a CPA, but most firms didn't care much at all. They rather hire fresh college graduates (I am much older than most of the job candidate although I look like a college senior). The firm (who gave me the offer) liked my experience (I work in corporate accounting in 10+ years but no public accounting experience) and my personality (I think?). So it is hard to tell what the firms like. But the first thing they will consider is whether you have a good chemistry. A friend of mine (he got the offer from a big4) told me that it was a lot of laughing during his interview. Also, networking is a good way to find a job. I made a good connection with a regional firm when I attended a state CPA society. I strongly recommend getting involved in your state CPA society. Many professionals in the small-mid sized firms attend the meeting for CPE and networking purposes. You need to market (or sell) yourself. I got one interview this way as well. Please keep trying.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[ultrarunner]

It is already very hard to get into public accounting. On top of that, the firms recruit JDs, the candidates from MIS, engineering, data analytics, and Ph.Ds. So go figure. 🙁

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Anonymous]

I don't believe the following statement: “People who are extremely social, but don't add much value. Supposedly you are not supposed to present yourself on intelligence now.” I just hear people say that a lot and it seems to be posted everywhere.

I am trying to market (sell) myself throughout my risk management experience. I basically say that I am used to looking at large data sets and I am able to escalate anomalies and perform root cause determination.

I have complimentary experience. Will I attract negative employers on Craigslist?

[Pete]

Now that my rant about how difficult it is to get a job in public is over, here are some tips.

Network, network, network. I've gotten 4-6 interviews at various sized accounting firms this fall through networking. How do you network? Start getting people on the phone for informational interviews, where you ask for advice, not a job; it's counter-intuitive, but works. At the end, ask the person if they know someone else, whom you could also connect with somewhere else.

Get involved with your state society of CPA's. Mine actually has a spot, where you can post a resume and employers can look at it. Unfortunately, people with ten years experience, looking for entry level positions, seem to be flooding the board; however, it can't hurt to put your resume there. Also, be prepared to dish out $200+ in yearly dues, but it's probably worth it. They have a few free events.

Others have stated internships as a good experience builder. Most firms will not consider you as you've graduated; however, a few firms might. Keep in mind that an internship does not guarantee a job, regardless of performance. I did one at a firm, where I was told that I did better than most this spring, but “the firm wasn't hiring.” They were hiring, but only people related to the boss and/or people, who had been interning for many years. With that caveat in mind, internships might help, if you can get one.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[MaLoTu]

Ems, Have you looked into firms that do forensic accounting?
The skills you mentioned are not completely relevant to auditing (cannot speak for tax). Unless you are able to tie it back to a specific procedure that we do and explain how your experience will make the audit more effective. Audit is more about identifying risks and building procedures to address them, while expending only the necessary resources. If during your interview you are pushing your prior experience too hard, it may one off as not knowing what work is actually done in public accounting.
I would say pull out key skills and give an example, like: “investigative skills— at my las position I performed complex excel techniques to look for xyz. (If you had an accomplishment in this area add it). I think this will gives me critical skills to be more efficient and effective sorting through client data.”
I hope this doesn’t sound like dumbing it down… rather this is more what we look for in a staff in public accounting. However, personality is still a key factor.

[Missy]

What jobs are you applying to? If in public even with your impressive experience you're starting at the bottom of the totem pole. While you place a great value on your analytical skills, a recruiter may not and in fact may perceive that you'd have difficulty doing the mundane grunt work that inevitably accompanies an entry level position. They want people they can “mold” to perform tasks a certain way and if they think you're coming in expecting to do things your way it's a no go. Having your own established methods is an asset in senior or management interviews, not so much at entry level.

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

[Anonymous]

well, the one thing that could have helped me didn't happen. I failed AUD with a 74.

absolutely ridiculous. I passed FAR amazingly but that miss AUD by a point and I wanted to pass all the exams on the first try and be one of the 7%.

I ended up getting sick towards the end of studying and I was sick for the test. I wasn't able to start studying for BEC until now. Should I just retake AUD?

[lincoln6echo]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I live in California and it seems to be the same. Because when we went to school ( I also quit working thinking it was a sure thing), everybody else decided to go study accounting also, maybe it was the recession……I now have 4 years experience and I am about to be a CPA and still send out lots of applications a day and often don't hear anything back. It is tough out there, not full employment like the government is saying. I have a friend who is in the same boat. Just please be sure 9/10 times it is not you, it is them, because they have so many applicants and can afford to be very choosy. Keep at it, and hopefully we will find something soon.

[Ne’O]

Missy wrote, “It was a bit harder for me than typical candidates

because I'm OLD

, I have no public accounting experience, and while I have 20+ years excellent accounting experience it is all for very small companies”

It is good to know I am not the only

OLD

one here with only private accounting experience mostly with very small companies.
I've got jackets in the closet and fruitcake under the Christmas tree that is older than most of the candidates here.
Well, jackets at least. I should regift that fruitcake to the Aunt I don't like very much. She's a mean one.

_________________________________
emo215- My first job, I had a good degree from one of the best universities in the world and already experience by taking a year off from school and interning.
It still took over 500 resume/CV and talking to people as much as possible to get that first real job paying a whopping $30k in NJ/NYC.

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Author]

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