[Pete]

Anyone else in my shoes? I’ve passed both the CPA and CFE exam, yet I’ve been sitting on the damn thing for over a year. I just can’t seem to get the experience, which I need for either license. My state requires the experience, so I can’t put the letters after my name, despite passing the test.

Luckily, the scores don’t expire in my state, but I can’t put either letters next to my name, which is incredibly frustrating. I’m hoping obtaining the 150 credit hours will soften things up a bit more; might be too little too late though.

I can barely get people to speak with me on the phone. I’ve contacted some people 5+ times with no response. I don’t ask for a job, just career advice; even getting that is VERY challenging. The recruiter i’m working with has even stated how concerning it is that I can’t find a suitable job, despite passing both exams and earning the 150 credit hours (3.7 GPA); he’s even removed the commission fee from his attempts to get me an interview (which I owe him for big time-it’s an incredibly nice thing for him to do). Despite this, he’s still not getting a response. What the heck am I doing wrong? Did I just waste my $6,000?

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Missy]

I'd have very serious misgivings about a recruiter that was so ineffective as to have to waive his fees. You've got a LOT going for you, probably more than you realize. If you're not getting interviews, there's something that needs attention in your resume. If you're getting interviews but not offers, your interview skills need attention. Unless you're in a very rural area where there aren't many jobs available, it's just a matter of throwing mud at the wall until some of it sticks.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Pete]

I've done tons of mach interviews, spent hours rehearsing for interviews, got 3-4 second round interviews, gotten through 6-7 phone screen interviews (only like 1 or 2, I haven't gotten through), have had like 4 people review my resume, have been constantly updating folks on my connection list, have done an internship (which required I meet with 4 people in the interview process), have been constantly having phone conversations with new connections; this whole thing is insane. 10 years ago, passing the CPA would have been a huge plus, but now it seems like everyone else has one as well. The whole thing is just frustrating, honestly.

I'm about to go through my state's CPA handbook and just start cold-reaching out to partners at those firms, asking for 10 minute conversations. My suspicion is that I will need to reach out to the partners 7-10 times (via email), before receiving a response. Good idea?

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Missy]

It definitely can't hurt to reach out to partners. It's odd you're doing all the right things and still having a hard time. You must be in an exceptionally competitive location.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Pete]

I can definitely improve on my search/interviews; i'm by no means perfect. I'm just shocked it's that competitive around here. I think my state is near the bottom for employment, especially for professional employment. I probably need to follow up with people more, I just don't want to be incredibly annoying.

For the last interview I went on, I was told that I had excellent responses and questions, I was just too intense. I'm not really an intense guy and the headhunter was even stating he was confused by that comment. I'm working with like 5-6 headhunters.

I think the problem is that my experience isn't great. No matter how well I sell said experience, I keep getting beat out by people with better experience. It's a difficult catch-22 to be in, right now.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Missy]

Its true that the hiring process is VERY subjective. You've got a sheet of paper (resume) and perhaps 2-4 hours total between first and second interviews to choose the one person you're going to spend 40-60 hours a week with. Seriously its practically as big a commitment as marriage and you have to basically decide on the second date!

Its tricky but not impossible to convince them that you're the one they want to see every day. Took me forever to realize that, to be perfectly honest. So when I started intensely researching the companies before I interviewed with and went in with the mindset of “Let me show you how I can make things better for you on day 1” my results improved. I asked a recruiter what the best question to ask was when the interviewer says do you have any questions? He said the hands down favorite was “What do you need me to hit the ground running with on day 1?” Its an oppotunity for them to tell you where they're struggling and you to demonstrate how you're up to the task and will take that concern away from them.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Amortized and Energized]

When you are passed up for an available position, have you asked the company if there is anything you could have done differently? Or what the deciding factor was in choosing the other candidate?

AUD - 75
BEC - 79
FAR - 81
REG - 75

Happily Finished

FAR - Aug 2015 (58), Feb 2016 (81)
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BEC - May 2016 (79)
AUD - Jul 2016
REG - Aug 2016

[Pete]

Yea, occasionally I have gotten responses. Usually, I get the response that the “other candidates had better/more experience.” I also get your experience was a “bit light” for a staff accounting position (i have 5 years experience). One time, I was told that I didn't have public accounting experience and they went with someone having public accounting experience. One time (this was probably the most useful one), I was told that I didn't really sell myself well enough to the manager; the other people thought I did really well. She only really asked me two questions, how would your rate your excel skills and something else, then had to leave for a meeting (still, i could have sold her on my skills more).

On the last interview, I was told that I had excellent answers for their questions, great questions at the end of the interview, but my experience was a bit light and I was “too intense.” Headhunter was basically laughing, when he told me this piece of information (too intense). Mind you, I already had a phone screen with the company and was invited for a 4 hour interview series, with 6 different people.

Last year alone, I probably had 30 interviews, of which I probably converted 3 or 4 phone screens (out of 5) into in-person interviews. I also had 2 or 3 second round interviews. Mind you, these were for 50k/year jobs, which is insanity.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Author]

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