[HT415]

Basically, is anyone else struggling to find a job in public due (or assumed due) to their college GPA?

I graduated college in Spring 2016 with a cumulative 2.68 (ACCT: 3.0) GPA and accepted a full-time offer (audit) at a mid-level size firm, which began that fall. Just about at the end of our busy season, the firm had experienced many layoffs and so my only option was to focus on the CPA going forward, but I had lingering doubts about whether I’d be able to get back into public.

Obviously, having the CPA done would cure my doubts.

[plewpaasdfasd]

I'm on the same boat. I've heard from some people who still managed to find their way into public accounting, but obviously see more posts from those who are unable to find jobs even with their CPA. I still get hit with waves of anxiety from time to time worrying about whether I'd be able to get into public, but figure that passing the exam can only make me a better candidate and I've been using that as motivation when moving forward.

Hoping to hear from others as well on the topic. 🙂

[Pete]

I’m shocked you managed to get into a mid-sized firm with that GPA (less than 3-it does happen, but it’s rare). How large was mid sized and did you have a contact there?

Here, one person got turned down to from regional firm with a 4.0 GPA. Hell, I have been sitting with the CPA for over a year, have industry experience, have a 3.8+ GPA from community college (my undergrad is a 3.5 from a reputable school). Recently, I’ve passed the CFE as well and can’t land. People truly can’t understand what the hell that I'm doing wrong. I network, have multiple people review my resume (many hr people have told me it’s great), do mock intervenes (I’m always told I do very well by the people interviewing me at the firms. Unfortunately, I’m lucky to even get an interview. Took my friend years to land at a tiny firm (think he had a 2.8 gpa); this was after he had already worked at a firm. In the meantime, he worked at a call center. Might just be my state though.

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

[HT415]

Wow that's crazy, I would certainly think you'd have no trouble getting an opportunity.

To answer your question,
1) the firm is ranked in the top 5 of the top 100 in Accounting Today.
2) I was very fond of one of the managers who certainly played a huge role in me getting the opportunity

It definitely does come down to who you know, and if you have connections within a firm I believe you're usually gonna have a better shot than someone that submits an online application, generally speaking.

[M123]

“Just remember – this goes on your PERMANENT record”, said every school administrator to me, ever. How do you like me now. That's MISTER CPA 😀

I had a rather bad undergrad GPA but learned the game better in Master's and got an A-. I quote my Master's GPA 🙂

[Author]

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