[Anonymous]

What’s the longest someone can go unemployed in DFW or Houston? Assume they have passed the cpa exam, have no experience, no network, below a 3.0 gpa, little to no volunteer or extracurricular activities, they only look for jobs that meet CPA work requirements (supervised by a CPA; doesn’t have to be public accounting), and they are actively searching 40+ hours a week (calling, emailing, handing out resumes, going to functions to network, etc.)?

And what would be a likely time range without a job with the same facts above?

inb4 forever.

[tough_kitty]

Guess at this point looking only for jobs that offer work exp under a CPA might not be the best strategy. Just find any job which is accounting related and after a year or so you can start looking for something more specific. Houston has an office for Board of Equalization and they hire tax auditors. That would be a great opportunity. Knowing sales tax laws is a huge plus.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[snb]

A temp agency might be your best bet. You're going to need to get some experience doing something before anyone is going to hire you.

IL
FAR (2/20/13): 76
AUD (4/8/13): 78
BEC: (5/20/13): 86
REG: (7/10/13): 76
Ethics: Done
Operation "Hurry up and pass this thing before we have our first baby in October" COMPLETED

[snb]

A temp agency might be your best bet. You're going to need to get some experience doing something before anyone is going to hire you.

IL
FAR (2/20/13): 76
AUD (4/8/13): 78
BEC: (5/20/13): 86
REG: (7/10/13): 76
Ethics: Done
Operation "Hurry up and pass this thing before we have our first baby in October" COMPLETED

[ruggercpa2b]

Also, be prepared to explain the gaps in your schooling and work. I went to school and studied finance and then after I graduated I went to Europe for 3 months. And then when I came back I wanted to be a nurse because I was having a hard time finding a job. It took me a year to find a job and I have always been asked about the gap from when I graduated with my Finance degree to when I actually started working. You don't want to seem like someone who does not know what they want to do. You pointed out all the areas you are lacking to get hired but you will also need to sit down and think about why someone would want to hire you. I always tell myself when I start looking for a job that I need to sell myself. So what if you have zero experience, you have to make that person want to hire you. I have a 2.5 GPA and I goofed off in school but when I start talking about my strengths that low GPA is out the door. I currently work at a Big 4 and when I interviewed I made sure I was impressionable.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[ruggercpa2b]

Also, be prepared to explain the gaps in your schooling and work. I went to school and studied finance and then after I graduated I went to Europe for 3 months. And then when I came back I wanted to be a nurse because I was having a hard time finding a job. It took me a year to find a job and I have always been asked about the gap from when I graduated with my Finance degree to when I actually started working. You don't want to seem like someone who does not know what they want to do. You pointed out all the areas you are lacking to get hired but you will also need to sit down and think about why someone would want to hire you. I always tell myself when I start looking for a job that I need to sell myself. So what if you have zero experience, you have to make that person want to hire you. I have a 2.5 GPA and I goofed off in school but when I start talking about my strengths that low GPA is out the door. I currently work at a Big 4 and when I interviewed I made sure I was impressionable.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[numbercruncher123]

@tough_kitty, did you have to take an employment exam before even getting interviewed? I interned in government and the office that I interned required getting a score of 90%+ to be even considered for an interview. But, I believe some other govt agencies does not require an employment exam.

Also, is the furloughs still in effect in your dept? and did your office had any layoffs this year?

Sorry, just trying to assess how the job market is in the government industry right now.

Thanks!

Review Materials: RogerCPA, WTB, NINJA

BEC - IP (May 2014)
AUD - TBA 2014
REG - TBA 2014
FAR - TBA 2014

[numbercruncher123]

@tough_kitty, did you have to take an employment exam before even getting interviewed? I interned in government and the office that I interned required getting a score of 90%+ to be even considered for an interview. But, I believe some other govt agencies does not require an employment exam.

Also, is the furloughs still in effect in your dept? and did your office had any layoffs this year?

Sorry, just trying to assess how the job market is in the government industry right now.

Thanks!

Review Materials: RogerCPA, WTB, NINJA

BEC - IP (May 2014)
AUD - TBA 2014
REG - TBA 2014
FAR - TBA 2014

[tough_kitty]

@numbercrunchermaniac: Yes, I had to take the exam online. Each position has a different exam but most entry level auditor positions in the state of CA have online exams which are just questionnaires assessing your experience and skills so as long as you have a bachelor degree in accounting, make sure you give yourself advance/more experience grade on stuff like dealing with difficult people etc.

I work for the state of California. We had 1 furlough day per month in 2011 and 2013. Some departments had 3 days. You'd be better off working for a revenue generating department. I heard of lay offs but not in auditing area. They closed one of the state prisons and laid everyone off without notice but I'm pretty sure auditors are safe as long as you pass first year probation and become a permanent employee.

To be honest, at first I didn't like the idea of working for the state but now I'm starting to see the benefits – full medical insurance at retirement after 20 yrs of service, pension, direct loan forgiveness after 120 payments (10 yrs), flexible schedules and more free time! Plus I travel for work and get to do sight seeing after work at no cost to me! Loving it!

Also, usually we get a 5% raise every year and every few years I have an opportunity for promotion which means a 20% raise.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@numbercrunchermaniac: Yes, I had to take the exam online. Each position has a different exam but most entry level auditor positions in the state of CA have online exams which are just questionnaires assessing your experience and skills so as long as you have a bachelor degree in accounting, make sure you give yourself advance/more experience grade on stuff like dealing with difficult people etc.

I work for the state of California. We had 1 furlough day per month in 2011 and 2013. Some departments had 3 days. You'd be better off working for a revenue generating department. I heard of lay offs but not in auditing area. They closed one of the state prisons and laid everyone off without notice but I'm pretty sure auditors are safe as long as you pass first year probation and become a permanent employee.

To be honest, at first I didn't like the idea of working for the state but now I'm starting to see the benefits – full medical insurance at retirement after 20 yrs of service, pension, direct loan forgiveness after 120 payments (10 yrs), flexible schedules and more free time! Plus I travel for work and get to do sight seeing after work at no cost to me! Loving it!

Also, usually we get a 5% raise every year and every few years I have an opportunity for promotion which means a 20% raise.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[numbercruncher123]

@tough_kitty: yup, I'm familiar with the online exam, but I also had to take a written exam (m/c in Govt acctg/ GASB/ etc) + an essay. Not to mention salary is pretty much comparable with the big4! (@ least d office I interned). I have a written exam coming up in a week as a county auditor. So, I'm taking a break from studying the CPA and focus right now in studying mostly govt acctg. 🙂

Review Materials: RogerCPA, WTB, NINJA

BEC - IP (May 2014)
AUD - TBA 2014
REG - TBA 2014
FAR - TBA 2014

[numbercruncher123]

@tough_kitty: yup, I'm familiar with the online exam, but I also had to take a written exam (m/c in Govt acctg/ GASB/ etc) + an essay. Not to mention salary is pretty much comparable with the big4! (@ least d office I interned). I have a written exam coming up in a week as a county auditor. So, I'm taking a break from studying the CPA and focus right now in studying mostly govt acctg. 🙂

Review Materials: RogerCPA, WTB, NINJA

BEC - IP (May 2014)
AUD - TBA 2014
REG - TBA 2014
FAR - TBA 2014

[Author]

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