re: This Job Market Stinks

Out of school did you go industry or did you spend any time in public? The problem with industry is that you don't progress quickly...at all In public you are moving up every 2-3 years.

But don't lose hope! You'll get something. I probably left public too soon and I've had to move around a bit but I'm doing fine now.

That cpa will open doors. Just knock it our man. Just practice question after practice question after practice question. Then, apply to all level of firms. Ain't nothing wrong with a small firm. You can have a very good career at one of those. If you want the big firm experience, apply there too but don't sleep on the small firms. If you can do it, relocate or tell them you are open to relocating. Experience is everything in this business. The more you see, the more marketable you are.

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It may be a regional issue. You are in Nashville...maybe you can expand your search to Memphis, St Louis, Atlanta, and Cincy if you haven't done so already.

I'm sure you'll find something relatively quickly. Like others have said, get the certification if you have the time. It will certainly help you in the long run.

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As someone who's girlfriend is HR for a very large company this is almost always the case. You either are unwilling to move to where the jobs are or believe you are more qualified than you truly are.

This is equivocal to an Engineer wanting a job in industry but choosing to stay in Louisiana right now instead of expanding roots to Texas.

Got some good news. I got a contract gig as an accountant at a downtown bank. I plan to do great at this and hopefully complete my CPA certification this year.

congrats!

After reading the thread, happy to hear you landed a spot.

I am half way through the CPA now and taking a third section this week.

I feel like networking is very important in accounting, which seems contradictory to the stereotype nerd accountant, but when I was in school I went to every single event and talked to the same people over and over again. Even in my first year, I was applying to internships I couldn't get, but I would talk to the campus recruiter, get my name in their head, and I applied every semester. Landed that internship, kept talking to recruiters and got an offer for a permanent job 2 months prior to graduation. Obviously not what you can do now, but if it hasn't been mentioned, join your local cpa society chapter (most, if not all, have free or reduced rates for candidates) and attend every social event.

I'm not either. Felt too much (and it honestly is) like arse kissing. I got a buddy that can't get a job because he absolutely refuses to do any type networking or put any effort into improving his chances. Feels, moronically, that he has a degree and "knows" the work and that should be enough (straight moron)

So it sounds like you are making a lot of the right moves

What study material are you using?

Not going to lie, I use 3. Lectures from Rogers CPA (Roger is flamboyant/active enough to keep me engaged)

Books from Gleim

And Multiple choice Qs from NinjaCPA ($49 for one section, 3 month subscription, and the questions are hard. I felt they were much more difficult than the actual exam)

I like wileycpaexcel, and I also use the aicpa blueprints to pinpoint on what I need to study. I have materials from Gleim as well, but I use that as a supplement along with ninja/superfastcpa notes. If it doesn't work, I will just fully commit to gleim.

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Since then I have applied to at least 40 jobs and NOT ONE positive reply so far, already over 10 rejections. And I'm not just looking locally. Big blow to the ego for sure

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i just did the same thing, but coming out of undergrad.

i applied to about 75-100 positions, had three positive replies (two didn't go beyond a phone interview), interviewed for one and got it. although i have been getting some emails and calls recently for jobs i applied to in feb/march/april.

Why did you get fired? A young CPA should not have trouble finding work unless of have a felony.