[NL9075]

In my difficult situation. I am 35 years old and I have a BA in Accounting & MS in Finance but have been un or underemployed for the past few years. Only have been able to get scattered temp work in Fund Accounting and do not have any public or audit experience.

I qualify to sit for the CPA & take the exam but should I even bother?? My Resume at this time looks horrible, I have had several interviews but no offers mainly because I lack public or corporate accounting experience. I get typecast as a fund accountant for investments which is really just entry level for a recent college grad.

I am in the position where I can live off my savings for 3 or 4 years pretty comfortably as well as relocate to any part of the country. The problem will be my employment history even if I pass the exam. Or is it completely hopeless??

[jjm1181]

From what you said, the answer is “heck yes it can help”. Especially if your having difficulty getting interviews. If your unemployed then now is the time to get the CPA. You'll be able to focus on getting it with all the time you have to study. Also if you have enough savings to get by for a little while I say it's a no brainer. Also, it could help explain away some of the time you've been without a job. You could use it as a positive by saying you knew how important it was to get the certification and you've been studying full time…blah, blah, blah. It won't be the best excuse, but it could help steer any red flags about years of unemployment….maybe.

B 79
A 75
R 78
F 85

[mla1169]

Take it, anything that adds to your education/credentials/experience will improve chances of finding great employment. My work experience is mostly mid-level accounting but I am getting TONS of interviews for management positions. Haven't had an offer yet, but the job market is lousy. When the job market improves (and at some point it will) the CPA designation will likely make you more marketable.

FWIW, when I was 35 I was only a two years into my bachelor's program and was a bill collector lol!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[NL9075]

My work experience looks very scattered an unstable. I chose the wrong path after college and somehow got trapped into Fund Accounting & Fund Administration — many of these jobs get filled by recent college grads and recruiters are always advertising for them because the positions are very unstable. I am in the Boston MA area where the job market is supposedly booming but have a very hard time getting interviews or doing well on interviews due to my real lack of public experience & corporate accounting experience.

I did temp at two places but the positions did not become perm and I constantly get asked about this.

Sorry to be so negative, but I am really looking to get back on track here…

[katiekanton]

I agree. Get the designation. Then if you have to take an entry level accountant job in either public or corporate accounting, take it (using your savings as a supplement if necessary), kick butt, and you'll be promoted in no time. I have never failed to get really great promotions because of my work ethic, even though I didn't even have any accounting classes at the time, much less my degree or the CPA designation.

Re work experience looking questionable on your resume, you could always leave it out and characterize your current job situation as a mid career change. If it's not making you look better, definitely don't include it. If they ask you about gaps say “I wasn't getting it done part time, so I took off a year to get my CPA designation.” You'll obviously need to actually do something like that so you aren't lying. You could even say, “You know, I got into this fund accounting thing and just got stuck. Before I knew it, I'd been there 5 years, but [fill in whatever job you're interviewing for] really interests me, so I took the time to get my CPA, and now I'm looking to make that my specialty going forward.”

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[NL9075]

Thanks — but what about my age — I am 35 which is much older than typical entry level in public accounting. I also have a MS degree in Finance from 2005

[kandisjoy]

You're not old yet. 35 is the new 25. My boss (controller) didn't get his degree or CPA till he was in his 30s, and he was able to get into public accounting and then got into private accounting. It's not too late for you.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[katiekanton]

I haven't found my age to hinder me too much. I got my first public accounting job when I was 35.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[Herbieherb]

Ya definitely, but work and study. Employers don't like to hire people who are unemployed or who have gaps in employment. If you only study cpa u look like you can't multi task.

NEW YORK- DONE

[jjm1181]

Or you could say you didn't work for personal reasons. Not a big fan of fibbing, BUT taking care of a loved one or raising kids while you're wife brought home the bacon could work too.

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A 75
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F 85

[NL9075]

Here is my problem I've been told from five interviewers that they did not believe I was looking for stability. I've given up because I don't know what to tell them other than, I never looked at contracting for two different temporary agencies as a lack of job stability because I wasn't made permanent.

What do you do in an employers market, where the economy can put you in a position to be locked out of employment, like a person that has served prison time. It seems as though I've committed a crime for desiring to consistently work, although the work I sought was through a temporary means and I wasn't able to accomplish or be exposed to all the functions of a job like you would in full time employment.

[Anonymous]

I say go for the CPA. Since you are currently unemployed, why not keep an eye out for small accounting firms in your area that are looking for an intern for the tax season? I'm 32, going back for my Master's and I want to sit for the CPA exam. I had a full-time job (with the family business, non-accounting related) and had the opportunity to take a job as a seasonal tax intern at a local CPA firm. I thought, me, an intern at 32? But I took the chance and they ended up hiring me in at the end of the tax season as a Staff Accountant and I had zero public accounting experience. I don't plan to stay in public accounting, but it's been a great jumping off point for career shift.

Explore your options, you just never know who will give you the chance.

[yankeeaccountant]

@NL9075

I don't think being 35 is an issue at all. I started on getting my accounting hours when I was 45, and started testing a little over a year ago. For me, it was moving to a new state that prompted me to get my CPA. I was a jack of all trades, but master of nothing. At that time, I had banking experience (Controller) investment experience (Series 7, 63), and basic accounting experience at many jobs–I felt like I needed the CPA to tie things together especially since I didn't have my network to help. I think for you that the CPA designation might be something to tie all your loose ends together.

However, I do detect a negative tone, I am sure you feel a bit defeated, but I think you need to also work on that disposition. You don't want to convey that when going on interviews. You said that you had plenty of money to go without work for some time. Have you thought about going to a life coach? I have had friends who have gone to (a credible source of course) and it did wonders for really pinpointing the job search and being productive to attaining their goals. I think it is hard to be objective about yourself. I know I struggle with that.

I say go for it. What do you have to lose? Also, cut yourself some slack, this is a tough job market. I have started the search myself and all I can say is UGH. Maybe embarking on the CPA will help you win some of your confidence back in yourself. You can do it.

Best of luck.

[Author]

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