Question about entering the profession

I've recently become eligible to sit for the CPA exam but have not done so due to the costs of study materials. I would like to obtain a position with a public firm before sitting for the exam.

My question is, what position do I say I am seeking?

Also, what do public firms like to read in a resume "objective statement"? I currently have the following >>"To work for [company] in a staff accountant position which allows me to utilize my business and interpersonal skills among fellow employees professionally within an enjoyable atmosphere"

I would appreciate any advice or information

Thanks in advance, Jason

"d.leinweber" wrote

I'd suggest rethinking that stance. The education you obtained in school is precisely what you need to pass the CPA exam. Upon entering the workforce (or possibly not) you will begin to compartmentalize your work into one, maybe two areas that will flourish with information that will overload the other things you learned in school, that you ~need~ to pass the CPA exam.

It can't hurt to take at least one shot at it. The experience is invaluable, and you might just pass a section or two.

How about a very entry level position. The exact name of the position will depend on the company you are applying with. In industry, it could be anything from AP to payroll, to IA, to credit analysist, to.......

In public accounting, it's assistant to the vice-junior staff auditor, or assistant to the junior tax data entry accountant, etc.

It will vary betwrrn firms, but you should put what your real objective is and not try to coat it to the firm all that much.

If you are freshs out of school, they'll want to know what "business skills" you have. And if it's not obvious from the resume itself, they'll also ask what interpersonal skills you have as well.

This business is, afterall, one of communications.

Sit for the exam ASAP.

While it's important to take the exam, you don't want to go as overboard as I did with that idea, especially if you don't have other accounting-related work experience to back you up. You're probably not like I was (easily sidetracked, and got behind on things, but I'm somewhat better now), but, when I graduated in May of '04, I told myself I'd give myself 6 months to pass the CPA exam. One of my main reasons for doing this was because I had not been as motivated as I should have been in college; thus, I had some pretty horrible semesters on my transcript, along with some fairly good ones, for an overall halfway decent GPA (3.1), but there were a few retaken accounting classes.

But, as the larger firms screen (e.g., look at transcript) applicants well, there was little chance I'd get a job there. Also, since I had no practical experience, it would be tough to get a job elsewhere. I did happen to have a halfway decent (for my school's program at least) GMAT (590), but grad school was not an option (although it may be later for me) because I was told (understandbly so) I would have to retake many classes I made Cs in.

Anyway, I know most people either don't have the luxury of taking 6 months off after college or the pride to do it. Certainly, I didn't like doing it, but I felt it was sort of the position I had put myself in. The top students certainly don't do it. Yet, almost all entry-level accounting people are worked fairly hard in the accounting industry, leaving little energy to study for an exam after work. At the very least, though, I regret not working at least part time, even though I'm not sure how possible it would have been to find part-time work in my town without experience.

What's somewhat disappoting really is that I only passed one section (another section is pending though) in a year's time, so I was only going half as fast as I should have been if I in fact do pass the pending section. Even when you're living at home with no job, and your job is basically to study for the CPA exam, it's easy to get distracted when your test date is so far.

Anyway, I basically have been searching for work since December of '04, and I finally got an opportunity to make below $10/hr at a small, non-audit CPA firm. Even though it's kind of stressful learning everything I need to know, and even though I'd like to make enough to move out of my parents' house (maybe in 6 months if I do well), I'm very very happy finally to be able to get experience, because the time span from graduating was getting to be ridiculous. I was about to go work at basically any place that would have me, e.g., McDonald's, Wal-Mart associate, random chain restaurant. That wouldn't have been the end of the world really, but it sure is nice to be able to get experience in one's field.

btw, try to make your objective shorter... one line should be enough...

something like...

"Seeking staff accountant position to utilize business and interpersonal skills"