[mcarras]

I am an inspiring CPA. I recently took the BEC section (70% pass confidence) and am looking to gain the 2 years’ work experience. I am from Western Nassau County, NY. Does anyone know of firms hiring in the area?

[Anonymous]

I mean this as an aid to your job search, not as nit-picking…but anytime that you are doing anything related to your job search, watch your word choice and sentence structure very carefully. From this little post, I know very little about you, but the one thing that jumps out is that you said you were an “inspiring” CPA, and I'm pretty sure you meant “aspiring”. If it was just a random forum post, then who cares – we all make mistakes and the meaning was clear! I probably have or will have errors in this post as well. However, when you're using a random forum post to further your job search, you have to treat it like a resume or cover letter, requiring fine attention to grammar and detail. If I was in NY and had a job opening, I would see something like this as a point against your candidacy, because if you pay the same level of attention to your work, then you're not going to work out. Harsh maybe, but when there's many candidates with equal qualifications, then things like this have to come into play.

However, as it is, I'm not in a position to make hiring decisions and I'm about 15 hours away from NY, so I can't really help or hinder your job search. All I can do is offer two pieces of advice – first, sign up for emails from all the job-search-sites. I did this and it made a HUGE difference in my job prospects! At first I just tried to check the sites regularly, but that's harder to keep up with than just checking your email. I signed up for emails for all accounting or bookkeeping positions within driving distance at CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Indeed.com, and a couple others that escape my memory at the moment, as well as my state government's career site. The position that I have now showed up on one of those sites about 4 days before it did on the others. By being signed up with all of them, I saw the position very soon after it was posted, and was able to be one of the early applicants, the first to interview, and the one to ultimately secure the job. 🙂 Second piece of advice is don't be afraid to go knock on doors. For my previous job, I visited all the accounting offices in the area, inquiring about any open positions and leaving resume and cover letter. I think the first method is more necessary for seeking private accounting jobs, and the second works better for public accounting.

[Anonymous]

I mean this as an aid to your job search, not as nit-picking…but anytime that you are doing anything related to your job search, watch your word choice and sentence structure very carefully. From this little post, I know very little about you, but the one thing that jumps out is that you said you were an “inspiring” CPA, and I'm pretty sure you meant “aspiring”. If it was just a random forum post, then who cares – we all make mistakes and the meaning was clear! I probably have or will have errors in this post as well. However, when you're using a random forum post to further your job search, you have to treat it like a resume or cover letter, requiring fine attention to grammar and detail. If I was in NY and had a job opening, I would see something like this as a point against your candidacy, because if you pay the same level of attention to your work, then you're not going to work out. Harsh maybe, but when there's many candidates with equal qualifications, then things like this have to come into play.

However, as it is, I'm not in a position to make hiring decisions and I'm about 15 hours away from NY, so I can't really help or hinder your job search. All I can do is offer two pieces of advice – first, sign up for emails from all the job-search-sites. I did this and it made a HUGE difference in my job prospects! At first I just tried to check the sites regularly, but that's harder to keep up with than just checking your email. I signed up for emails for all accounting or bookkeeping positions within driving distance at CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Indeed.com, and a couple others that escape my memory at the moment, as well as my state government's career site. The position that I have now showed up on one of those sites about 4 days before it did on the others. By being signed up with all of them, I saw the position very soon after it was posted, and was able to be one of the early applicants, the first to interview, and the one to ultimately secure the job. 🙂 Second piece of advice is don't be afraid to go knock on doors. For my previous job, I visited all the accounting offices in the area, inquiring about any open positions and leaving resume and cover letter. I think the first method is more necessary for seeking private accounting jobs, and the second works better for public accounting.

[stoleway]

Lilla , you're right about everything. I rigorously check my grammar anytime I post something here or any other public forum.I know there are lots of people with senior level positions that offers great opinion and advises everyday on this forum; and for them we are always greatful!

Sometimes I have to come back and scrutinize my grammar for the second time to see if there is a condition for proper editing.

Your advise is really cool and I will take a cue from it as well.

@mcarras….are you currently in school? And what do you mean by 70% pass confidence ?

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[stoleway]

Lilla , you're right about everything. I rigorously check my grammar anytime I post something here or any other public forum.I know there are lots of people with senior level positions that offers great opinion and advises everyday on this forum; and for them we are always greatful!

Sometimes I have to come back and scrutinize my grammar for the second time to see if there is a condition for proper editing.

Your advise is really cool and I will take a cue from it as well.

@mcarras….are you currently in school? And what do you mean by 70% pass confidence ?

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[KADFC]

@ Lilla, I like this part, but I want to get a deeper understanding: “For my previous job, I visited all the accounting offices in the area, inquiring about any open positions and leaving resume and cover letter. I think the first method is more necessary for seeking private accounting jobs, and the second works better for public accounting.”

So would this work?

– Get a list of all the local/regional public accounting firms. Regardless of size.

– Read about each of them. Get their address, phone number, etc…

– Print out multiple copies of my resume.

– Dress up professionally (formal with a tie), go in there and ask about any open positions.

– Insist on them on taking my resume regardless if they are hiring/interested or not.

I've thinking about it, but I'm not man enough (got the balls/courage) to do it until I can put something other than “CPA Candidate” on my resume. My main question is about the cover letter. Are they all the same?

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[KADFC]

@ Lilla, I like this part, but I want to get a deeper understanding: “For my previous job, I visited all the accounting offices in the area, inquiring about any open positions and leaving resume and cover letter. I think the first method is more necessary for seeking private accounting jobs, and the second works better for public accounting.”

So would this work?

– Get a list of all the local/regional public accounting firms. Regardless of size.

– Read about each of them. Get their address, phone number, etc…

– Print out multiple copies of my resume.

– Dress up professionally (formal with a tie), go in there and ask about any open positions.

– Insist on them on taking my resume regardless if they are hiring/interested or not.

I've thinking about it, but I'm not man enough (got the balls/courage) to do it until I can put something other than “CPA Candidate” on my resume. My main question is about the cover letter. Are they all the same?

FAR - 62 (10/2/13), 50 (5/30/14)
AUD - 73 (10/30/13), 66 (5/6/14)
REG - 69 (4/8/14)
BEC - 66 (2/27/13), 73 (4/21/14)

[Anonymous]

lol stoleway

i see what you did there

[Anonymous]

lol stoleway

i see what you did there

[stoleway]

@cpa066729………..I know what I did , grateful …right ? haha, we are all fallible sometimes.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[stoleway]

@cpa066729………..I know what I did , grateful …right ? haha, we are all fallible sometimes.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Anonymous]

Hahaha. I had to re-type greatful to test if Jeff's check speller would work.

[Anonymous]

Hahaha. I had to re-type greatful to test if Jeff's check speller would work.

[mcarras]

I graduated Hunter College in 2008 with a BS Accounting Degree and have not found work since. I do have VITA volunteering experience, however.

[mcarras]

I graduated Hunter College in 2008 with a BS Accounting Degree and have not found work since. I do have VITA volunteering experience, however.

[Anonymous]

mcarras, have you considered going back for a masters. i went to baruch and also did the vita thing…

[Author]

Replies