Getting into accounting.

"Greg Hansen" wrote

Talk to your professors. Many know of internships or other opportunities that would fit your experiences.

The bulk of what you need to know for an entry level position will be taught to you by the employer.

Send out resumes to prospective employers. Be sure to request them to forward your resume to anyone they know that may be looking. I get dozens of resumes a year and a couple of inquiries from clients and other businesses asking "who I know" that may be looking for a bookkeeping job.

I've been recruiting 20 years. You have enough to get started in an entry level job. Look for one that has enough flexibility to allow you to continue your education. There is NO substitute for a B.S. degree. Get your degree. Try to find a company that has a TUITION REIMBURSEMENT plan to help with your expenses. Employers love to see resumes of people who earned their degree while gaining experience at the same time. It connotes character, drive, focus, commitment, stick-to-it perserverence, etc. In the end you'll be highly marketable and will increase your lifetime earnings by hundreds of thousands dollars.

Greg Hansen wrote:

I've been recruiting 20 years. You have enough to get started in an entry level job. Look for one that has enough flexibility to allow you to continue your education. There is NO substitute for a B.S. degree. Get your degree. Try to find a company that has a TUITION REIMBURSEMENT plan to help with your expenses. Employers love to see resumes of people who earned their degree while gaining experience at the same time. It connotes character, drive, focus, commitment, stick-to-it perserverence, etc. In the end you'll be highly marketable and will increase your lifetime earnings by hundreds of thousands dollars.

Greg Hansen wrote:

I actually already have a science degree, which hasn't taken me anywhere. I'm a returning student, a bit older than a fresh grad. This is sort of starting over. But I'd certainly like to find what you've described.

From what I've read, I can rule out the Big 4. That's okay.

You need to do what I'm doing lately... market yourself, but don't have expectations of results overnight.

What about temping? I have a little game theory problem there. Give up the schlub job that I know I have, that will give me a modest increase in pay and benefits soon, for the sake of (e.g.) a six month appointment and possibly extended unemployment after that, but while it lasts would pay better, give some experience, and a boost to the resume.

I think a more permanent job must be better as far as things like tuition reimbursement goes. Who wants to pay to school someone that will be gone before the class is over?

I got a job in a accounts payable department with a Fortune 500 company several years ago with just a high school diploma. Several years later, I now have solid experience with the liabilities side of accounting while they paid for my tuition and other great benefits. It is never too early to get a job in some sort of business environment, as experience can be as valuable as education.

Emboldened by the advice here, I've sent out a few resumes. I sent a resume to one company on Saturday, they called me today, on Monday, to schedule a phone interview. Dang, that's the fastest response time I've ever had from a job application! And that's counting the weekend, too. I suppose the resume has done its work, I'll see how this turns out.