[10keyLeah]

I’m looking for tips about how to approach my job hunt.

I just passed the last exam section. I live in a rural area with only a handful of CPA offices and generally they are 1 or 2 person offices. There aren’t many opportunities that come up. Part of the reason I sat for CPA exams was that I had trouble landing a job over a year ago when I was looking and applying for anything business related that came up.

In WV, you do not have to work directly under a CPA, but you have to have a CPA vouch for your work and sign off on it. Am I wrong to think that I’d rather work directly under a CPA even though I would take any job that would fulfill the requirements?

I’ll spruce up my resume, but after that, I’m not sure how to approach the job hunt.

For example, I’d like to apply to work with a CPA that does mainly just taxes, but I know he is in the middle of busy season right now. Should I apply now, or wait until after April 15?

So, I’m looking for some thoughts and direction.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[pikachu]

Congratulations 10key! Be honest, but not rude/blunt. Be positive. If you don't know, just say so, don't try to make up something and make a fool out of yourself.

Don't be picky either if they lowball you either, you don't have much experience. I was making $45k, got a bump to $60k from another firm. Just take in the experience if you can get it.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[Anonymous]

@10key How did you apply, just by sending your cover letter and resume to CPA firms?

[Anonymous]

@10key How did you apply, just by sending your cover letter and resume to CPA firms?

[Anonymous]

Good luck with your interview 10key! Own it!!!!

[Anonymous]

Good luck with your interview 10key! Own it!!!!

[10keyLeah]

Since they got my resume on friday or saturday, I'm hoping I'll get a couple more calls this week, but I'm thrilled to just get one.

@pikachu – thank you for the tips on how to interview.

@chakdey – I couldn't decide whether to hand deliver or mail it. Several of them do have a brick-and-mortar office, but I wasn't sure about walking in and interrupting them during busy season. I also read that while some do have success with hand delivery, that often the return isn't that great (think hand delivering 30 resumes with 1 call-back). Some say it's old fashioned and less acceptable these days especially for white collar. It's different too when you are dealing with large companies vs. small 1 or 2 person shops.

So, I chose to mail them mainly because it felt ‘safe' since I thought they would be really busy right now. They deal mainly with tax here and it's March.

In my excitement, I thought the interview was this week, but it's actually in a couple of weeks. So, the person called me within 24 hours of receiving my resume, but scheduled the meeting for the end of the month. I can only assume this is because they are so busy. So, maybe I was right to not interrupt them and just mail them out.

@Casagarber – thank you!

I'm not sure what to expect since I”ll be meeting with the owner. I'm guessing it will be more conversational and not so much “if you were an animal, what would you be?”.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[10keyLeah]

Since they got my resume on friday or saturday, I'm hoping I'll get a couple more calls this week, but I'm thrilled to just get one.

@pikachu – thank you for the tips on how to interview.

@chakdey – I couldn't decide whether to hand deliver or mail it. Several of them do have a brick-and-mortar office, but I wasn't sure about walking in and interrupting them during busy season. I also read that while some do have success with hand delivery, that often the return isn't that great (think hand delivering 30 resumes with 1 call-back). Some say it's old fashioned and less acceptable these days especially for white collar. It's different too when you are dealing with large companies vs. small 1 or 2 person shops.

So, I chose to mail them mainly because it felt ‘safe' since I thought they would be really busy right now. They deal mainly with tax here and it's March.

In my excitement, I thought the interview was this week, but it's actually in a couple of weeks. So, the person called me within 24 hours of receiving my resume, but scheduled the meeting for the end of the month. I can only assume this is because they are so busy. So, maybe I was right to not interrupt them and just mail them out.

@Casagarber – thank you!

I'm not sure what to expect since I”ll be meeting with the owner. I'm guessing it will be more conversational and not so much “if you were an animal, what would you be?”.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[Anonymous]

Being in a rural area definitely changes things a lot. I've been watching job-postings off and on for the last 3 years or so and have yet to see a public accounting job posted in my rural area! So, going on the proactive is definitely necessary. I opted for hand-delivery, but I was also searching in the off-season. I'm a big fan of hand-delivery, but given that this is their busy season, I think you did the right thing to mail instead. I can tell you for certain that when I worked in taxes, if someone had come in during March and asked to see my boss (the owner), I would've told them to leave a message and I'd pass it on!

When it is not busy-season, you might follow up with an in-person visit, just to get the best of both worlds. It's tiring and a lot of hopping in and out of the car, but assuming that WV is still fairly traditional in the rural areas (KY is very much so – especially closer to the Applachian regions), I don't think that it would be seen as too old-fashioned. If I lived in New York, or even big-city KY (like Louisville or Lexington), I don't think I would attempt the cold-calling…but in the Appalachian regions, I think that the old-fashioned ways are more highly regarded. I would estimate that I dropped off resumes at around 30 firms, and of course not all of them – or even most of them – had a position open. I interviewed at one that really needed someone with experience (of which I had none), so they hired a guy with experience; I interviewed at another and was given a job same-day; and had a 3rd that was really interested and ended up being the guy to sign off on my CPA experience, but he just didn't have enough work to employ another person. So, 10% interest from cold-calls seems pretty good to me!

[Anonymous]

Being in a rural area definitely changes things a lot. I've been watching job-postings off and on for the last 3 years or so and have yet to see a public accounting job posted in my rural area! So, going on the proactive is definitely necessary. I opted for hand-delivery, but I was also searching in the off-season. I'm a big fan of hand-delivery, but given that this is their busy season, I think you did the right thing to mail instead. I can tell you for certain that when I worked in taxes, if someone had come in during March and asked to see my boss (the owner), I would've told them to leave a message and I'd pass it on!

When it is not busy-season, you might follow up with an in-person visit, just to get the best of both worlds. It's tiring and a lot of hopping in and out of the car, but assuming that WV is still fairly traditional in the rural areas (KY is very much so – especially closer to the Applachian regions), I don't think that it would be seen as too old-fashioned. If I lived in New York, or even big-city KY (like Louisville or Lexington), I don't think I would attempt the cold-calling…but in the Appalachian regions, I think that the old-fashioned ways are more highly regarded. I would estimate that I dropped off resumes at around 30 firms, and of course not all of them – or even most of them – had a position open. I interviewed at one that really needed someone with experience (of which I had none), so they hired a guy with experience; I interviewed at another and was given a job same-day; and had a 3rd that was really interested and ended up being the guy to sign off on my CPA experience, but he just didn't have enough work to employ another person. So, 10% interest from cold-calls seems pretty good to me!

[10keyLeah]

@Lilla – did you ask the person to sign-off on your experience during your walk-in? Or did you have a second or third meeting? How did you go about asking them if they would sign-off for you? I was wondering about whether or not I should ask the person I'm interviewing with during the first meeting if they would consider signing-off on my work experience later.

Lilla – 10% is pretty good. You are right, being rural changes the job hunt somewhat. I like your suggestion to follow up with an in-person visit sometime after busy season. I will do that if I don't find work before then. I'm really hoping the ‘meeting' goes well with the person that expressed interest.

I think hand-delivery is still an acceptable approach here in small-town USA. My situation is similar to yours. I imagine many of the places where I sent a resume simply aren't looking to hire right now. I also think they would prefer someone with experience. One thing going for me is that due to being rural, they probably don't have many people that have passed the exams sending in resumes or come knocking on their door that often.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[10keyLeah]

@Lilla – did you ask the person to sign-off on your experience during your walk-in? Or did you have a second or third meeting? How did you go about asking them if they would sign-off for you? I was wondering about whether or not I should ask the person I'm interviewing with during the first meeting if they would consider signing-off on my work experience later.

Lilla – 10% is pretty good. You are right, being rural changes the job hunt somewhat. I like your suggestion to follow up with an in-person visit sometime after busy season. I will do that if I don't find work before then. I'm really hoping the ‘meeting' goes well with the person that expressed interest.

I think hand-delivery is still an acceptable approach here in small-town USA. My situation is similar to yours. I imagine many of the places where I sent a resume simply aren't looking to hire right now. I also think they would prefer someone with experience. One thing going for me is that due to being rural, they probably don't have many people that have passed the exams sending in resumes or come knocking on their door that often.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[Tncincy]

Good Luck 10Key……Keep looking it's out there. You did not pass this crazy exam in vain.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Tncincy]

Good Luck 10Key……Keep looking it's out there. You did not pass this crazy exam in vain.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[10keyLeah]

@tncincy – thank you! I need the luck! I haven't received anymore call backs at this point.

In the meantime, I called the WV State Board to find out if scores expire. I couldn't find anything on their website. I was told scores do not expire for WV candidates after you pass all four sections. I don't know if TN or KY have time limits.

Not having a time limit takes the pressure off somewhat, although I don't plan to slack on finding work.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[10keyLeah]

@tncincy – thank you! I need the luck! I haven't received anymore call backs at this point.

In the meantime, I called the WV State Board to find out if scores expire. I couldn't find anything on their website. I was told scores do not expire for WV candidates after you pass all four sections. I don't know if TN or KY have time limits.

Not having a time limit takes the pressure off somewhat, although I don't plan to slack on finding work.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[Author]

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