[Hollinsanity]

Hi everyone, I realize people post career-related and job-search-related questions all the time… but mine’s super duper unique, I promise!

Quick background: I interned in audit with EY from January 2015 – March 2015 and received an offer, but later had it pulled due to poor grades. Since then I have graduated with 150 credits in 3.5 years total, passed 3/4 CPA exams, took FAR on 11/30/15, and just started applying for jobs.

One problem: I have no professional experience in the last two years. Why you ask? Because I have been making decent money as a small-scale ticket broker online. In 2014 I sold $72,000 in tickets via Stubhub for a net profit of around $16,000. So far in 2015 I have sold $171,000 in tickets via Stubhub for a net profit of approximately $25,000.

I’m interviewing for an entry-level audit position on Friday and am looking for feedback (particularly from recruiters – if any are here) on whether I should bring this info forward in the interview, and if so how I should approach it.

[monikernc]

did it give you good accounting and tax experience? are you prepared to discuss the tax treatment or accounting methods applied to this experience? i wouldn't talk money with them and you risk that the person you are interviewing paid a higher price for a ticket to a concert than they would have had brokers not scooped all the deals. if you did everything on the up and up ran a reputable trade i think this can fall under the “self-supporting” through school heading on your resume. if it is something you are in any way ashamed of it may be better left unsaid.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[ohiostategirlcpa]

Don't see why not mention it, if it is legal.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[nyclife]

OP – No experience v. having experience in the past two years? Pretty obvious.

@ Moniker – I doubt they'll talk about the accounting application of the business. Everyone pays more. It's capitalism. It's a question of whether or not OP is willing to talk freely about it. If he hesitates on certain questions, then he will give a bad vibe and probably not get an offer.

[Missy]

Yes but focus only on the skills that translate to the position you're applying to (general rule not specific to being a ticket broker) like prompt response to customer requests, excellent handling of customers complaints, etc. Focus on soft skills, customer retention and custody of money (if you handled the cash rather than just getting a commission.)

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

[Anonymous]

Basically what mla said – definitely list it and highlight the skills that relate to the position. I'm reviewing resumes right now for a fairly entry-level position and if you were an applicant, in my mind, your experience in this role would put you above a resume that was otherwise identical but didn't have that experience, especially if you were good at pulling out the relevant parts of the work and highlighting how you've gained skills that would contribute to the job that you're applying to.

[MaLoTu]

Maybe not the resume, but it will most likely come up in the interview … I don't think it is going to be avoidable if you want to explain that employment gap.

[Author]

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