[UnderemployedCPA]

Anybody else feel this way?

I personally went from 0 accounting credits to passing all 4 parts in just under 2 years.

I have also went from “you don’t have the education in accounting we are looking for” to “You are far too overqualified for an entry-level position”

Btw, i have an MBA-Finance and am a licensed CPA.

I am currently an accounting tutor at a local community college.

Anybody else feel this way/similar experience?

[nextstopCPA]

And Mini is right. For positions that say CPA required or preferred, include CPA designation on resume. Otherwise, don't mention it. Just list education and if they ask, tell the truth then. I don't see how that is unethical. You aren't lying. There is a lot we don't put on the resume.

FAR Passed
REG Passed
AUD Passed
BEC Passed

All aboard, this train's leaving. Next stop, TBD!

[Anonymous]

You have a really really odd mix of education.

If I were a hiring manager, I would be in a quandry. Your eduction is suggestive of someone applying for a Finance Management position but you are applying for an entry level accounting position. I see where they are coming from now.

What's your degree in? If Finance, maybe try applying for Management roles.

[jeff]

“Your raise is effective when you are.”

– Dave Ramsey on employees who come in and expect a raise just because they added another degree.

[mmcgrad1]

Based on your degree, I would expect you to be looking for jobs in Corporate Finance or transaction services. If you're not, you may be applying to the wrong kind of jobs.

Otherwise, like others have said, maybe it's your resume or interviewing that are lacking.

Venting and complaining aren't going to get you the job. You need to treat finding a job as a job. I failed out of school and struggled to find a job once I graduated. For a year I took on temporary work to get my foot into the door at a company. Hard work and perseverance will pay off in the long run. You might have to bite the bullet for the time being and take something that is not ideal but you can't feel sorry for yourself. Looking for people to share similar situations and commiserate with you may be what you want to hear. However, that is not what you need to hear. Finding a job is like any other challenge in life. For some people it comes easy and for others they have to work at it. It seems you need to pick yourself up and keep trying.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Anonymous]

Get into tax. Many tax pros are on their death bed, with lots of positions will open up soon. Have a look around H&R block, or any EA meet up. Most of them are about to croak any second.

[kgirl]

I'd recommended targeting positions that state “CPA preferred or CPA required”. Work your network. Try volunteer opps with your state CPA society to meet others, Chamber of Commerce, any professionals network in your area.

Also, based upon my job searching experiences, it seems larger companies are more likely to interview a CPA or a candidate pursing the CPA. In total agreement with others that in some smaller companies a CPA is seen as a job threat to the hiring manager who doesn't have their CPA license. I've experienced that too and don't have advice on that issue.

Are you tailoring each resume to each job you apply for? Has your resume and cover letter been critiqued by someone? Try your alumni career office. Are you on Linked-In? If not, check it out.

[kgirl]

Forgot to add- try practicing your interviewing skills with your alumni career office or a someone that will give you honest feedback. If you have to, try for a job at H&R Block. I did that 2 tax seasons in college and used the experience to land a job with a small accounting firm where the managing partner said he hired me because I had some tax prep experience. Granted the returns at Block aren't difficult but the experience was great b/c you gain experience working with tax clients and conducing tax interviews.

Are there any small businesses you are acquainted with that you can assist with their accounting? It would be a start and some experience.

[Mayo]

Here's how I see the CPA credential:

Relevant work experience > CPA alone

CPA + experience > either one alone

Effective networking (i.e. campus recruiting, meet the firms, accounting organizations, etc.) > time studying for the CPA

Time studying for CPA > non effective networking and/or non effective job search (i.e. cold calling firms, applying online, going to networking events and not talking to anyone)

Like someone said earlier, the CPA is what you make of it. When you consider that ~85-90% of entry level jobs in accounting are offered through some kind of on-campus recruiting pipeline, it's no suprise that the job search post college becomes very difficult/ineffective.

That being said, it does add value IMHO.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[kgirl]

My situation: passed all 4 parts in 2012, 5 years public accounting experience in construction, manufacturing, retail, wholesale distribution, non-profit, and governmental industries and having difficulty finding another job due to no one is hiring right now. Well, no place that will pay very well at this time, including my current employer. But for what they lack in salary potential is compensated for with experience by having clients in various industries, which can mean better career opportunities in the future.

Agreed with Mini you've gotta try to make things happen for yourelf. Networking events, volunteering in professional societies, even talking to those you meet on the golf course, etc can land you contacts and opportunities you didn't have previously. Keep trying to make things happen for yourself and eventually it will happen.

[Author]

Replies