Quitting job to finish exams?

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    Topic
  • #165566
    ROACH
    Member

    Topic has been brought up before but yay or nay?

    Work and study = possibly finish by the end of the year if things go smoothly and have money in the bank.

    or

    Studying all day no work = finish in 6 months easily maybe less but then but employed afterwards.

    BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
    AUD: 8/28/2013
    REG:
    FAR:

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 28 total)
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  • #321945
    Peanut
    Participant

    If you have the support, absolutely. I had to quit my job. I was working 60+ hours a week.. I still hadn't found the “right way to study.” I kept failing the exams, I couldn't do it. So I figured, I had the support, and I'm really young where a gap in my work experience isn't going to be a big deal.

    AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
    REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
    FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
    BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

    #321946
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    6 months is not too much time to be considered a gap.

    If your job sucks, you're confident you'd be able to find a better one once you've passed, and have money to survive, then why not.

    It's easy to give such advice, but I'd have followed it only if I was coming close to the 18-month deadline.

    #321947
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    If it were an option, heck yes. I can't focus well on both at the same time but am trying to.

    CPAPendiong

    #321948
    Chantel
    Participant

    If you have the opportunity I definitely would. I work a job I only work about 32 hours a week and have some time to study during work in order to pass exams, even though I know I would be working a much better paying job. I'd rather pass the exams and then have better job opportunities and get this exam over with!

    F - F ('12), 90 (Dec '15)
    A - F ('12), 73 (Feb '16), ? (July '16)
    R - 87 (May '16)
    B -

    #321949
    Tootsie
    Member

    @ROACH, I think about this all the time. My husband is graduating in May with his Ph.D. and he will probably be making good money, enough to support us. If I need to, because of not passing the exams, I might work part-time or quit. Once I pass all four parts, I am considering starting my own accounting business. I would love to work for myself.

    FAR - 76
    AUD - 88!!! DONE!!!!!!!!
    BEC - 76
    REG - 77

    never, never, never give up

    #321950
    mla1169
    Participant

    would you have to find a new job afterward or is going back to your current job an option? It sounds good but be warned people look for jobs for months or years right now.

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #321951
    jokami
    Member

    @ROACH

    Hi… If you have the opportunity to dedicate extra time to the CPA exam… Take it.

    After I had my daughter, I had the wonderful experience of post-partum depression… Which I am still working with it but it is a lot more manageable than those first months… During my maternity leave, my husband had some things re-arranged in his job and to get to to the point, economically I had the choice and the opportunity to stay at home with the baby or go back to work…

    Because of the depression.. This is why I bring to the topic; I did not want to stay home… So I went back to work… Which sort of help me, get distracted and my mind off the stupid hormone that made me sad… I had already decided that the next year (2011) I was going to pursue my CPA license… But going back to work, had its challenges for me to take the exams and pass them. I had to; work the whole day, get out of work… go home (tired), cook, bath and sleep my daughter and THEN was I able to study, no time for my husband. I tried it for the first three months that I was back working and although it distracted me… I was not able to study the way I really wanted.

    So I took the courage to leave my job and started to study for my license and from my experience… It has been the best decision I have ever made. It has been a year now since I made that choice, and not only I have the time to study all day. I am home, when my husband comes home from work the food is ready, and I can dedicate time to him and our daughter…

    So for me… it was a very good decision.

    If you have this blessed opportunity, I think you should take advantage of it to the fullest… I believe that the fruit of our effort to become a better professional will be rewarded with the new, better paying job that awaits for us…

    B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
    A - 68, 81
    R - 70, 82
    F - 84

    "The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

    #321952

    It is rough, but unless you are struggling to pass, I would keep your job. The person who passes the exams and works full time shows to be a better candidate for a better job than someone who took the time off. I think it says a lot about a person's dedication.

    B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
    A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
    R 65 - 48 - 45
    F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

    Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

    "The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

    Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
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    #321953
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Hustlin

    In the end, the only one who would really care is you. Only you would know the insane amount of sacrifice it cost you to work and study full time. I don't think employers would be too judgmental about a 6-month gap.

    The only problem is the time it may take to find another job after that.

    #321954
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    It's tough out there yes. There are some people who passed already who want the job you are about to sacrifice. You see them on this board all the time,.some will even work for free, or have some kind of visa issue…I agree with some of the other posters that the gap will be reflected negatively because you cannot multi task and not independent. Remember how long it took to get that job in the first place before you give it up

    NEW YORK- DONE

    #321955
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yeah, it'd be the best, if you could just tough it out…

    #321956
    ROACH
    Member

    Alright I read all post.

    I've been a little emotional lately (aka a lil bitch). But we're closing accounting and the long hours and no weekends have been taking time away from my studying. (i know boo-hoo)

    But I feel this major guilt when I don't follow my studying schedule and I feel super crappy when I push my test dates back. I need to take and pass BEC next month no matter what.

    I'm thinking about quitting because my long-term goal is to work in public. This job isn't fun and is just a stepping stone.

    The people here are good. My accounting manager is awesome. I actually fear the day I give my two weeks notice because everyone here likes me and wouldn't expect me to leave ever.

    I will think about this more and save up. My mindset just gets worse each day though. I know one day I will be gone from this place and jump into another hell-hole but for now I will need to let my emotions subside a little before jumping off a bridge.

    Thanks for the comments and feel free to discuss more. This topic comes up often.

    BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
    AUD: 8/28/2013
    REG:
    FAR:

    #321957
    Justinnnn
    Member

    Before quitting, at least try to work something out with your manager. Let him or her know you are overwhelmed. I scheduled audit with 6 weeks of study time, the first week after I got nothing done because I had a hell week. The next week,I told my manager my situation and he backed off for a while. On the other hand, I have seen people who do not communicate their study needs they seem miserable. No one cares about your test more than you, so you need to speak up.

    REG 80 2/7/11
    FAR 91 10/8/11
    AUD 97 11/22/11
    BEC 96 2/4/12

    CPA 3/15/13

    #321958
    Peanut
    Participant

    @ROACH, that was my exact mindset. My job was SO overwhelming. It was busy season all year round. I too felt like my job was just a stepping stone so I continued to save up. Finally I just threw my hands up and gave my two weeks. I knew I wanted to quit anyway, the CPA exam was a great push to finally leave there. Just keep saving your dough.

    @Justinnnn, My boss didn't give a rat's ass. I had a few different boss's and all were CPA's. I had to pay my dues like the rest of them. And I did, by quitting lol.

    AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
    REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
    FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
    BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

    #321959
    Justinnnn
    Member

    It wouldn't hurt him/her to try it first. Blindsiding people especially in this profession can hurt your future; you might lose a career reference. A few CPAs from different firms have told me a candidate for a position can sometimes be less attractive of a prospect when they have 1 year of work experience compared to someone who has no work experience. The reason is people wonder why they were let go, what is wrong with them if their qualifications are so good but they couldn't be retained for a long period of time. I am not saying that is the way it always is, but I am just the cautious type.

    REG 80 2/7/11
    FAR 91 10/8/11
    AUD 97 11/22/11
    BEC 96 2/4/12

    CPA 3/15/13

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 28 total)
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