[DandyDoge]

I’ll be starting grad school (MPAc – Master of Professional Accountancy – program) at the beginning of October.

However, I’m getting anxious about not having any accounting experience. The MPAc program also includes networking events, job fairs, and career coaching. It sounds like grad school plans to prepare many of the students for events like Meet the Firms and job fairs, and I plan to find an accounting-related job during recruiting season. At the same time, I’m wondering if it’s better that I don’t bet all my chances on on-campus recruiting.

A little bit about myself:

• I took FAR in August and am currently studying for BEC in October.
• I have a liberal arts degree from undergrad with an accounting minor and was unsuccessful at finding any accounting-related positions last year.
• I’ve been an HR intern for a little more than a year and will work until the end of November. The workload here isn’t heavy, so studying and working isn’t a problem. I’m only concerned if potential employers won’t like that I’ll be working at my current job until the end of November.

I’m seeing so many new entry level positions on sites like SimplyHired and Monster, which is making me antsy.

Should I try my luck finding a job now? Or should I wait and solely go for on-campus recruiting?

FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD
REG: TBD

[Anonymous]

If you don't mind working and studying at the same time, there's no reason not too. It sounds like you've already made up your mind that is what you want to do so I see no reason to wait to apply. If you don't find something right away, you can always fall back on those recruiting visits and other opportunities that come your way.

Going to school (even for a Masters degree) full time and not working is accepted but it will be questioned. That's what I did and I always explained it as “Yes I was in school full time for my Masters program. I took 4 to 5 classes a semester so I could finish as quickly as possible.” And then based on that, intangible, chemistry between interviewer and interviewee I might joke something like “I can guarantee I was working harder than people with full time jobs with my program. There was no sitting on the couch watching TV for me.”

[DandyDoge]

Thank you, Angelwatch. And your response to the interviewer is brilliant! XD I guess there's no harm in starting early.

FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD
REG: TBD

[Anonymous]

I am in the same position as you. I am in a master's in accounting program (started in mid august), I am studying to take the audit section of the CPA exam in November, and I am a graduate assistant which I work about 10 hours a week for. I have hardly no free time. I could not imagine working an actual job….it would be way too much. No employer is going to think you should have been working when your a full time student and ur studying for the CPA exam…that's just crazy.

Contingent on whether you are able to graduate and are close to obtaining your CPA certification…you wont have any problems finding a job. You can start now, but you don't necessarily need to in my opinion.

[DandyDoge]

Thank you, cprv19! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one in this situation. 🙂 That may explain why so many of my classmates are quitting their part-time jobs. The coursework in the Fall is the heaviest.

FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD
REG: TBD

[Author]

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