[thelonewolf527]

So I finally am finished with this exam and pretty much have no roadblocks or excuses to not be working now. I’m not licensed since I only have roughly 400-500 hours working as a “seasonal hire” (fancy term for intern with less benefits) with a Big 4 company for the winter of 2014. I want to get into tax and have looked into some job search websites but legitimately can’t find anything for starting positions with CPA firms since everything posted appears to be for senior and above. I’m obviously not looking for Big 4 here (if it happened I obviously wouldn’t complain) but still am looking for something that I think would be both good experience and a possible long term job.

Any advice here on where to look or what to do?

AUD - 08/04/14 - 83
FAR - 11/29/14 - 80
REG - 02/26/15 - 89
BEC - 05/30/15 - 86

DONE!

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

My experience with the job market for something similar has been tough as well. I've fired off applications for public firms, both mid-size and small, to industry jobs in A/P and A/R. I've only got rejections thus far or nothing at all. I have no accounting experience other than volunteer but my GPA is great and I've passed the exams.

Just keep looking and applying for anything, that's all you can do. Good luck!

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[Tscape16]

From my conversations (at least in the Midwest), the bigger firms are shifting focus toward bringing on individuals with experience. In this way, the potential employee pool already knows the expectations of busy season(s) and has had professional interaction, in lieu instead of teaching them along the way. This may be just my experience though. Do you utilize linked in? A lot of recruiters from the firms do their business on there.

FAR - 90 ✔
BEC - 86 ✔
REG - 82 ✔
AUD - 92 ✔
ETHICS - Passed

*Licensed CPA

[Missy]

Apply to companies that don't have listings on job search websites. If you want to work for a CPA firm, just get your resume to them.

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

[Anonymous]

^ That's good advice. A lot of firms have openings but don't want to advertise on the big job listing sites because they don't want to sift through hundreds of resumes from random people. They want to hire someone who has been filtered through their network, i.e. referred to them by someone they know and trust. If you can't make a connection like that, then just send your resume with a tailored cover letter.

I also think, for people who are just starting their careers, that it's a good idea to find a company you are really jazzed about, and then find out what openings they do have that you might be good at, even if it's not accounting. Keep working on your CPA certification, volunteer to help out in the accounting department when you have spare time, and try to make a move to the department when something opens up and you have “CPA” after your name. You are more likely to ultimately get a leadership position in a good company that way than cold-calling a few years down the road.

[Tuffy11111]

When did you graduate? Did your school have an accounting counselor or something? I called mine a few weeks ago and asked her to forward me any opportunities. Because of her I have a Big 4 interview on Monday.

There are also recruiters. I've been in touch with several recently and they were able to set me up on 6 interviews in one week.

Would you be willing to relocate? Perhaps you're just not in an active accounting area?

BEC - 83 7/25
REG - 76 5/2/15
AUD - Hopefully before MY Audit...7/5?
FAR - 83 5/2/16

[Gatorbates]

Move to Orlando. Plenty of jobs for those who passed the exam.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Tuffy11111]

But then you have to live in Orlando :p

Literally the worst drivers in the world. I grew up in Tampa. They're terrible, but Orlando is worse by a good margin.

BEC - 83 7/25
REG - 76 5/2/15
AUD - Hopefully before MY Audit...7/5?
FAR - 83 5/2/16

[shanda98]

My advice, if you're not a part of your society state board, you're missing out big time. As an accounting student or former, you really should be. This allows you to attend events and to network. I did this month when we had a leadership luncheon with special guest speaker Tommye Blair from the AICPA. She was great, but besides that I was able to network to whomever would listen, that I was looking for a job. I told the director of the society and guess what, she introduced me to one of the partners of a firm. A firm that is 10 mins from my house! 2 interviews within a week later and I just accepted their offer job offer. All within 2 weeks of receiving my last score on June 9th.

Trust me, if you want it bad enough, you'll take advantage of every opportunity to network that comes your way. Good Luck!!

[win2bet]

try to land a job at a small CPA firm for now, & keep applying to bigger firms & telling people about your situation & before you know it, you'll be back in the big leagues or who knows open up your own firm after you get your experience requirements taken care off

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[rnin1ee]

I started off my career at a local, boutique CPA office that had only one licensed practitioner. I gained so much hands-on experience since the number of staff was very minimal and I basically covered everything from sending out mails to assisting clients. It wasn't something I wanted to do for the rest of my life but for a staff accountant to gain first 1-2 year experience in taxation was good enough. I'm taking time off from work for a personal reason for now but somehow getting many contacts from recruiters asking if I'd be interested in senior staff or so.

I can't say I liked it but if you can't find anything from big 4 or mid-size, gaining hands-on experience from a small firm can be an alternative especially if you're interested in tax.

FAR - 74, 74, 84
REG - 79
AUD - 77
BEC - 71, 80

[thelonewolf527]

At this point I just want SOMETHING but everywhere I look keeps saying 2+ years experience for entry level positions. Which I'm still confused about since I always was under the impression that “Associate” meant entry level and “Senior” or “Senior Associate” was the 2+ years.

AUD - 08/04/14 - 83
FAR - 11/29/14 - 80
REG - 02/26/15 - 89
BEC - 05/30/15 - 86

DONE!

[Missy]

I didn't have a bachelor's degree until I was 38 years old. Every job I held from the ages of 25-38 said a bachelor's degree was required. What's written in an ad isn't always followed, usually they're just asking for 2 years experience to weed out people who aren't even in the accounting field.

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

[Author]

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