Last week, I earned my Bachelor of Art in Business Administration Accounting.
Prior to my return to college, I have spent most of my life working out of a major construction union. I am approaching the back side of my 50th year.
Most "entry level" accounting positions listed our local newspaper, state work source agency, or posted on job search web sites such as Monster.com require one or two years experience. Five plus years experience open doors.
I am seeking an entry level professional accounting position in any geographic region of the United States.
If you are a professional accountant, have any job search advise that could assist me in obtaining a professional accounting position, please respond alt.accounting or my email.
reply: I was a member of a major construction union. A herniated disk kept me from working in 1999 and 2000.
Also there is not enough work. I was lucky to earn $25,000 a year . This work requires extensive traveling with very high expenses for gas, tires, motels and food.
Remember, when you hear about construction workers making over twenty dollar an hour, rent/mortgage at home plus $250 a week ($1000 a month motel room) can add up to a $1,600 a month housing bill.
Just because I am gone (working) does not mean the bills at home stop. Rent, electric, gas, phone and other bills still accumulate.
I look forward to 40 hours with some overtime as an accountant.
When employed as a construction worker, the hours where at minimum 60 hours (6 days times 10 hours) and some times 7 days times 12 hours).
Most of the jobs are in rural areas requiring driving 35 miles or more one way to the job from the motel. On one job in Montana, I drove 160 miles round trip and in North Dakota I drove 85 miles round trip. It is very very rare for the job to be in town. Coal burning steam generating electrical stations discharge flue gases and coal ash which up sets the those town folk.
After employee taxes, federal taxes, state taxes, if applicable, union dues and state comp, I received 60 cents of every dollar earned on my check less expenses of about $400.00 to $450.00 a week.
Last, it has always be a dream to earn a bachelor degree.
I earned my BBA in December 2001 and was considered "older" when I did. Being "older" is what helped get me my current position, by the way, as my boss was looking to pay entry level but wanted some maturity.
One thing that I feel helped me is that I had done volunteer accounting work while I was in school. Although you are not in school anymore, it's never too late to offer free services on an extremely part-time basis (i.e. treasurer for an organization, small church) to "gain experience." If any of your projects in school involved full accounting, make sure to mention it at interviews. Do not be afraid to try temporary agencies... many accounting positions turn into permanent positions.
I'd go ahead an apply for anything entry level to two years experience. Sometimes what they are willing to pay to begin with will not attract someone with two years experience.
Don't be shocked if any pay you are offered is a little lower than you would expect having a college degree. Negotiate. I, for instance, accepted very low pay (so I thought) to prove myself, with the condition that I would receive a raise in 90 days if I was as good as I said I was. I have not been there quite 3 years and my raises have increased my beginning income by 78%. Additionally, my employer will pay for my classes toward my graduate degree (1/2 way through now) as well as CPA prep classes and the CPA exam itself. This was not on the table in the beginning, but suits me just fine.
Just d>Last week, I earned my Bachelor of Art in Business Administration >Accounting. >
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I went to school 3/4 time. 9 semester hours per semester and took out student loans. I attended school summer semester also. I took 6 semester hours in the summer.
I had it easy compared to most. Not to brag, but to say the really gutsy folks are those who work full time, have families and go to school. Those are my hero's.
I am divorced and my daughters are grown up
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you have 3-6 semester hours to go each semester.Narrow your focus to just the current semester.
And don't let ANYONE tell you that you are to old or not smart enough or it is too late. BS
Both of my brothers have college degrees. Both told me when I started WSU it was too late... you are to old ect, ect... both of my brothers attended my commencement ceremony.
If Rudy can play football at Notre Dame, you can earn a bachelor degree. Damn straight
you asked about my craft??
I am a member of Intentional Brotherhood of Boilermakers. I worked as a Field Construction Boilermaker. Our work includes Coal fire steam boiler electrical generating stations, Nuclear steam generating electrical generating stations,oil refiners, pulp mills, and vessels such as tanks.
Most of the membership are classified as "shop hands" and work in shops, cement plants, shipyards, and other production type businesses. This work is fairly steady, working 40 hour a week with out long breaks in employment compared to field construction "hands". Like, IBEW craftsmen who work in the field compared to IBEW shop electricians.
First, congratulation on not only getting a degree (super)but finding a job.(awesome)
I did not feel, I had time for outside intern or voluntary work. Getting though school was not easy. I would have never make it working and going to school. I tried a couple of times working full time and attending classes part time at the community college but it did not work out. I tried working part time and attending classes full time and well, I do better just putting "my all" in school.
Not having an internship, will hurt my changes of finding a job. Internships at my university were very competitive.
I was told by several professors not to accept a low paying accountant position because it is very hard to recoup lost earnings in future raises.
I would be willing to take a lower paying ( must be at least $26,000 though a temporary agency for the experience. One year plus the time it takes to find another position.
My age 57 year old, this will be a disadvantage. We discussed my age in a Human Resource class I took last semester.Most class mates and the professor with 20 years experience as a HR generalist before teaching, felt my construction background will not hurt my employment but I would have been better off working in an office as far as just pure you are 57 year old and have work experience.
I appreciate your reply and comments. I have read you reply several times.
So you weren't working at all during this time? Instead you lived on savings to pay bills and such?
If yes.... why only 9 hrs per semester? Why not go 12 hrs per semester and take summer off as far as school?
Good point above! Thanks!
No I'm not but my best friend is..so I know a lot abt the unions. I tried getting on with local IBEW but they took a few younger guys (mid 20s) over me (47).
And actually I'm not sure going to IBEW would have been a good move for me anyway..... for reasons you suggest in past message. Work is SLOW here right now. SO Id been traveling a lot, feats or famine.
I completely understand. It took me 17.5 years to get through school from start to finish. Much of that time, I had young children for whom to care. It was not until the youngest were older that I could even consider anything extra-curricular. Now, bear in mind that I took time off from school between the birth of my youngest (who was 14 months younger than his older brother) until he started kindergarten AND that I completed an A.S. (which added an additional year to my studies) at junior college before going to the next school and completing my B.B.A. Additionally, I had moved while on "baby hiatus" and started at a new junior college when my baby hit kindergarten, transferring in whatever I could. I voluntarily repeated Beginning Accounting I and II as well as Intermediate I because I felt I had "lost too much" when on my "baby hiatus." Anyway, the long and the short of it is that it IS more difficult to take on college once your adult life is in full swing than I believe it would be for someone fresh out of high school.
Although my children are grown and almost grown (baby is 15), I am currently finding it impossible to take more than 1 class at a time toward my MAcc while working full-time and caring for my family. I couldn't imagine trying to do anything "extra" right now. Although the class I just passed is the last thing needed to qualify me to sit for the CPA, I do not believe I can study for that as well as finish my MAcc (and work and care for my family), so it is going to have to wait. I'm not concerned, however, because it certainly won't be long in the scheme of things.
This is why I said to negotiate better pay after the trial period BEFORE the trial period begins. People are hesitant to hire someone with virtually no experience and would be willing to pay someone they KNEW could handle the job a bit better. I did what it took to "show my talents" in the field, but not without knowing I had value above and beyond. As I said, in a bit less than 3 years, I have negotiated raises to increase my beginning income by 78% and am currently making a bit above what is considered average pay for my level of experience and area in which I work. Sure, I could have started at a higher salary, but may have been looking for work for another year. Instead, I chose to get started on getting through my first two years of experience so I could command higher pay sooner.
Something to realize as an older person is that each month looking for work is a greater proportion of your "employment until retirement" than it is for a 22 year old. Each month lost is an opportunity cost greater than that of a month lost to a 22 year old. Additionally, you must also consider the time value of money as a lower salary TODAY may be equivalent to the higher salary TOMORROW. Only you can tell what the employment prospects are in your area and how long it may take you.
We had that same discussion in one of my classes and I got the instructor to agree with me on a point which astounded the other students. Although what is taught in the classroom is technically true, I maintained that a female past the age of childbearing could stand a better chance than a younger female. Why? No prospects of parental leave, mandated by law, to cause the company problems. Granted, it is illegal to hire/not hire based upon reproduction age, but it is done all the time without it being a specific, or even consciously known, factor.
One thing an older person brings with them in life experience. Your experiences in other jobs may make you a better candidate for some positions. If I were looking for an internal auditor, for instance, I might choose someone who "worked on the other side" and understands the processes before I'd choose someone whose knowledge of theory was unmatched, but has little to no practical experience.
Basically, what I am trying to say is to NEVER give in to the rationale that age is a deterrent to being hired. Sometimes it is, but I am telling you that there is much more that an older person can bring and you will have to learn to get that message across without drawing attention to your age (and it is illegal for them to ask how old you are). I believe that once you believe your age is a deterrent, it is. Don't believe it... just keep going after what you have qualified yourself to do with the expectation that an employer wants someone who can do the job correctly much more than someone they won't have to replace in 10 years. As statistics currently show in our day and age, the likelihood of someone remaining with the same company from age 22 until retirement is quite slim. Regardless of age, they may be looking for a replacement in 10 years anyway.
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