[tsokoberst]

Brief background about me: Passed all four parts but never had any work experience. I would like to enter Public Accounting Firm.

What should I do next? Will I be expecting any letter from NASBA on my mailbox?

What kind of AICPA membership am I eligible? (Associate member, CPA Exam candidate affilate or etc.?)

Whenever I try to go to CPA Firm sites and look upon their career section there is a section for students(internships) and experienced professionals. Which one should I should I choose because I’m both inexperienced and non-student?

Advance thanks for any help! 🙂

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[Noct]

Well you're definitely not an experienced professional, so you may need to start with an internship if you want to work at a large firm. Job searching is like fishing, put your resume out to as many employers as possible and see who bites. You can always throw one back if it's not what you're looking for.

You might also consider working for a smaller firm. They will have you doing actual accounting work faster, and it's great way to get a diverse experience base and determine what type of work you enjoy.

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[tsokoberst]

Thanks mate, that definitely helps.

How about my other questions?

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[MCLKT]

Yes, you should get a letter that you passed all 4 parts of the exam.

I think you have to get licensed before you can join AICPA. So that might have to come after work experience, depending on your state.

Congrats!!!!

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[nimmle02]

You would probably have to go for an entry-level full time position, not an internship particularly if you are finished with school. Most firms will not take you as an intern if you are not currently in school.

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[Anonymous]

I'd recommend sending your resume out to a bunch of different places with a cover letter including your situation and what you are interested in. Working with a recruiter can always help too.

[tsokoberst]

Thanks guys! that helps a lot! 😀

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[tsokoberst]

One more thing. On my resume, can I put California CPA under my professional certifications?

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[Noct]

You can't hold yourself out as a CPA if you're not actually licensed. That's a big no no. But you can say that you've completed the CPA exam.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[tsokoberst]

Thanks for the info, mate! 😀

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[Anonymous]

I graduated in the month of December – right before tax season – and I wanted to get into a firm. I emailed several firms in my local area and offered to be an intern for tax season – easier time to get in as they are scrambling for help. I actually offered to work for free just for the experience and I was hired by one within 4 days (with pay) and a year later still work there. I think offering to do an internship after graduation is fine – worked for me at least. Good luck!

[tsokoberst]

I was trying the same thing on passing my resume to different CPA firms but to no avail, I haven't receive any replies from them or a rejection that I'm not qualified. I'm still inexperienced and I'm trying to have an internship but even on internships it feels like everyone of them is ignoring me. 🙁

I'm beginning to get frustrated! 🙁

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[Anonymous]

@tsokoberst its been a month since your last post about this, did you find a job? I'm just wondering because I'm in the same situation now, I have passed the exam and will start applying for jobs, but have no experience.

[acamp]

I sent this email to someone who asked me about getting in with Big4, some of it might apply to you. I think the idea of peppering online adds is an approach that doesn't really work, see below:

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I would suggest finding ways to network–does you school have a “meet the firms” type of event, where various accounting firms meet students and collects resumes? Another one might be to join CalCPA (should be free for you) and attend a few of their events.

The problem I found with the electronic age is the sheer volume of data recruiters receive. As its so easy to submit a resume online, recruiters end up with thousands of applicants. For that reason the key is finding a way to hurdle the online application wall. Its not so much as “who you know” as it is “who you've come in contact with”. For me I met someone through CalCPA that worked at a Big4 and she forwarded my resume onto recruiting; next thing I know I'm getting a call back. So don't think of it as needing to have a best friend on the inside, but rather, attend some events, meet some people, and ask them for Campus Recruiting contacts of if they could forward your info to Campus Recruiting. (I say Campus Recruiting, as you'll be starting as an entry level person, so Campus Recruiting is probably the best place to start).

Good job on starting on the exams, make sure highlight that on your resume, carries a lot of weight. One of the things I brought with me to networking events were business cards (bought business card paper, printed myself) and included my degrees and progress on the CPA exam–the response from people was well received and it sent them off with a mini snap-shop of my resume and a piece of paper to remember me.

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California CPA

[tsokoberst]

@chakdey: I still haven't found any job since I started applying for the last three months. Competitions seems very strict.

@acamp: Thanks for the advice. I tried to attend a “meet the firms” before and started to submit my resume but I haven't received any replies. It simply hard that I'm still inexperienced and also earning my degree from a different country. I'm still hoping for the positive though.

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[Anonymous]

@tsokoberst Have you had interviews?

[Author]

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