[Anonymous]

I feel like I have developed thick skin going through this CPA process but I have 1 coworker that gives me grief because I have not passed the entire exam yet. I am a year out of college and have been working full time for almost 8 months now yet I have only passed FAR (after my 2nd try) and took AUD for the 2nd time Saturday (got a 74 on the first try but I really think I did better this time) and jumped straight into studying for REG today.
However, my coworker always seems to take interest in my progress with the CPA but never in an encouraging way. He constantly keeps track of when I will be finding out my scores even though I try to avoid talking about the exam with him. While most of my coworkers encouraged me as I restudied for AUD and gave me advice/pointers he constantly feeds me with negative comments like “That’s a retake for you right?” or “Are you done yet?” or “You think it will be harder?” or “How many more do you have left?” in a judgmental way and it’s starting to annoy me and even give me anxiety to hear negative energy before going into an exam. He passed them all on his first try and I can sense that he looks down on me because he has already passed. Like I said, when it comes to studying and exams I try not to tell my business to everyone but it does come up that I’m still studying if I talk to my manager or someone else and he always seems to find out. I feel like I can’t directly come out and tell him to stop talking to me about the exam though.

Has one ran into situations like this and have any advice? I’m starting to understand my weaknesses and motivate myself more as I try to pass but it’s literally like this guy crushes my energy and positive thoughts.

Thank you in advance 🙂

[GitRDone2017]

Answering with non answers seems to be the way to go. I hope that when you are really starting to feel the pressure you come here and vent, this is a great forum for that. Keep your chin up and remember your goals, to hell with the rest of them! It does kind of sound like this person may have a little envy in your direction. Good luck and keep up the good work!

"Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking tartar sauce with you" - Zig Ziglar
Ninja book + Ninja MCQ + Roger
AUD Oct 2016
FAR Nov 2016
BEC ?
REG?

[Trele6]

@porma fierles, I'm not saying its fine, I'm just saying it might be the driver of the comments.

Some people get off on seeing others fail. Maybe he is one of them.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Kettlepot]

This was a big deal for me a while ago; Everytime I failed there was like twice the anxiety because now I also had to inform the nine people in my office that cared that I had failed ~again~. They weren't looking to harass me about it; they were genuinely curious as to how I did.
I ended up switching departments during my testing and in my new department I am not telling anyone that I'm even taking the exams. It'll just be a big secret until one day (any day now!!!) I just show up with a CPA License…

Far: 49
BEC: 79 (Expired)
AUD: 51, 67, 64
REG: 59, 64, 59, 69

[Porma Fierles]

Hm, I believe it can be motivating to tell people what is going on with you. It motivates you to seek support and try harder to be able to say you accomplished whatever next time you speak. It can increase motivation I think.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't want you to pass and sounds like a mean-spirited a-hole. Some good previous replies from other people so I don't have a whole lot to offer. But – if you really want to get him to shut up, answer his questions with other questions.
If he was making the dig about retakes, I'd answer “And you need this information because…..?”
If his answer was “Oh I was just curious”, then you'd come back with “You've asked me this before and I told you yes?
You forgot already?” Don't let him off the hook and don't show weakness. That's what he wants. If he was secure and
content with himself, he would not care. I would refrain from speaking to someone like him unless it was strictly about work.
If he's not your supervisor, you owe him zero answers. Eventually he will give up on you and just not care anymore. I've worked with a small number of people like him – one of them was an astonishing 50 years old and still acting like a kid, always putting himself on top and always decimating others. Or trying to. The best cure for them is silence and not to add fuel to their ridiculous fire. Something tells me that he's a bad CPA. Anyone who goes so far out of their way to make someone else feel like dirt is definitely hiding something.

[Skynet]

The only way to deal with a nosey coworker is “Extortion”.

Those embarrassing Half Naked Christmas photos will do the trick.

[Author]

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