[Anonymous]

I had a job interview for a small CPA firm that needed me to take a test. Mixed FAR and AUD questions. Got all the audit questions right and most of the FAR ones correct. The questions I got incorrect was a journal entry related to payroll and I added a number on the bank rec that should’ve been subtracted.

This guy was acting like I completely bombed the test. I explained to him that in my previous position I have literally done THOUSANDS of reconciliations on the accounting software and was responsible for finding and correcting discrepancies. That I have never been good at test. But this guy had his mind made up. He wanted an automaton, someone who could memorize and regurgitate facts on the spot. He complained about how my generation was too reliant on computers. This guy lost out on literally the hardest worker he would ever have because I am not an automaton.

I wish they highlighted all the negatives about this career path instead of just the positives. Knowing what I know now I would never pick this career. Should have went with engineering. Someone please invent a time machine.

I’m going to knock out the rest of the CPA exam and find out what else I can do with my life. Accounting isnt it since I dont have 5 years of experience, the CPA, and am not built like an android.

[Mayo]

Guy sounds like a jerk anyway. Keep on keeping on!

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[monikernc]

i think this was the best day of your life. the luckiest, at least. don't second guess your career choice because you subtracted rather than added and some guy lost his sh!t
but if you want to be an engineer, be an engineer.

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

[Anonymous]

^I dont have the money. Too much student loans. Whatever else I do I have to do with an accounting degree.

But how was this the best day of my life?

[CPYay]

@Sunni

You avoided getting the position, only to later find out the guy is a tyrant. You're lucky you found out during the interview!

Best day of life because you avoided HATING your life working there!

[monikernc]

you don't want to work for that guy. you deserve better. imagine what would happen if you made an error on something that actually mattered. he would blow up. keep looking. keep your pride. go get something better.

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

[MaLoTu]

Any job that requires a test is not worth it. Good businesses hire talent they can cultivate at entry-level (not sure if that is what this was). I had one interview where they made me do a ton of tasks: an accounting questionnaire, an essay, and an excel task. I didn't get the job either and I am glad because that place felt like a prison.

It took me a year to find a job and the job I got was better than I could have asked for. Keep looking. You say you are the hardest worker, but it sounds like you are ready to give up pretty easy 0_o

[Anonymous]

It was just upsetting because a public gig is what i needed. This is my only interview for public since before I graduated just over 3 years ago.

I guess its time to move on. Thanks

[Tncincy]

Well, like it's been said, be glad you didn't get the job, otherwise you would quit. No you don't want to work for someone who is crazy and bitter at the young people who are not of his generation. That interview has absolutely noting to do with the accounting career. You didn't fail at accounting, you made a mistake that can easily be corrected .Know what you know and keep going. It's your life.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[MaLoTu]

Sunni … recruiting season is coming and public is very cyclical. I was certain I wanted public accounting and I made every effort possible to get a chance to speak with people from companies and recruiters. I ended up landing interviews in the fall during meet the firms events. Check out your school and see if they have recruiting events. Reach out to recruiters and ask if you can have a phone appointment to discuss the firm and the culture. Have a great narrative as to why you want to go into public accounting. It is hard, but not impossible. I am an older candidate and I have no accounting background. If I can do it anyone can.

[iwana_PASS]

yes you deserve a better job with your credential and imagine when you pass all 4 sections of your exam. i work in one of the top 10 firms so a midsize a lot of people from big 4 apply job at our firm. one of the associate i just met told me even a lot of seniors at big 4 doesn't even have CPA or can't even pass the exam and you passed 2 exams and i assume u r actively studying so i bet you will pass ur exam soon so you will have better credential than a lot of candidates. try to apply the big firms and make more money. i got my job from campus recruiting and to me its weird they even ask u such specific accounting questions for my interview it was all chatting. i did so many research about common interview questions and no one even ask me a single question all just informal conversation. keep applying you deserve a better position

AUD - 77
BEC - 78
FAR - 79
REG - 82

[ScarletKnightCPA]

I find it likely that this guy had already made up his mind prior to the test and was looking for a reason to validate his thoughts.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[Nessie]

There are lots of pseudo job opportunities out there. Often, the candidate is an internal hire and the company does rounds of external interviews for show. I’ve heard of 23 interviews for a position that was already selected from within. Imagine feeling upset about not getting a position that was never available in the first place?

Sunni, maybe this was one of of those situations? It just sounds ridiculous that a candidate would be scratched for what you mentioned. In any case, don’t feel bad. Sounds like you dodged a bullet.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Anonymous]

Alright thanks. I'll try to have the CPA exam done by August so its complete by hiring season.

[Anonymous]

I wondered how this interview had gone…sorry to hear it went so poorly. 🙁 Hopefully the next one will go better!

Reminds me of this article I read on LinkedIn the other day: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/worst-intern-interview-ever-cecilia-gorman about people being rude in interviews. Even if he was going to decide not to hire you over this, he didn't need to go off on a tirade in front of you over it. 😐 So, based on his behavior, it does sound like you've dodged a bullet, even though I know that doesn't make it any easier right now.

[thedude]

If that was his attitude at the beginning, he did you a favor. Sounds like you would have had a lot of unnecessary stress from him.

Aud: 42 (ouch)

All others TBD

[Author]

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