If You Don’t Get Your Job Offer, LEAVE!
Yesterday I had the please of speaking with a Bean Counter reader. She called me out of the blue as people sometimes do. She had an internship with a Top 25 accounting firm this Spring. Going into the final exit meeting, she was confident, worked hard, showed up early, and asked for feedback consistently. She…
Can My Resume Show I Passed the CPA Exam, Before I am Licensed? [VIDEO]
Congratulations! You have passed the CPA exam. But wait… You still need a year of experience before you can call yourself a CPA? WHAT! That’s right. Becoming a CPA usually involves: Obtaining educational requirements Passing the CPA Exam Passing an ethics exam (depending on the state) Gaining 1 year of work experience (length varies by…
How Does Being A Picky Eater Affect Your Career?
Being a picky eater myself, this was a perfect question for me! From the mailbag: Hi Andrew, I’m starting at my firm in the fall in Audit. I’m very excited to start but I have one concern that causes me quite a bit of anxiety and need to know your opinion on how I approach…
How Important is an MBA for Accountants? [VIDEO]
From the mailbag: Hi Andrew, I was curious to get your thoughts about acquiring an MBA for accountants? Is it something that is necessary for upper management, or general upward mobility? Or does it have substantive bearing on your potential promotions, etc…? For a technical skill set job such as Accounting, would it even be…
My Anxiety Disorder Is Hurting My Accounting Career
From the mailbag: Hello Andrew, I messaged you the other day about your Big 4 course and my anxiety and you told me to email you my resume and tell you more about my story. Recently we had our second child and after she was born I developed postpartum depression (PPD). I sought out help for…
How To Overcome A Conflict At Work
I’m no stranger to conflict at work. One day I was playing a friendly game of foosball. Something we did often (yes, we had a foosball table in the office – see photo proof of me on the right). But this day was different. As I was losing, I decided to use my secret weapon:…
15 Things Bean Counter Readers Want From Accounting Firms and Companies
Over the last few weeks I’ve been running a survey from all of you. I shared some of the results last week with 17 career concerns from fellow Bean Counter Readers. Now I’d like to share some of the answers we received to the question: “What are you looking for from an accounting firm or company you will…
Top 2 Challenges Facing May Accounting Grads
Many of you are graduating this May and will be actively searching for a job. I’m not going to lie: you are LATE! But that doesn’t mean you are doomed to fail. Here are the two top challenges you are facing: 1. Student Loans What I’m about to tell you is not my own opinion,…
How to Make the Transition from Accounting Student to Professional
The first week of my PwC internship training, I was OVERWHELMED! Seriously. I mean, I had never: Worked in an office before, Dressed up in business casual every day, Met with clients, Been surrounded by so many smart people competing with me, Been expected to travel alone (with the company card) It was one of…
I’m 39 Years Old, Can I Still Get a Job in Accounting?
I received this question on my Webinar last week (sign up for my next webinar here). Yes! You CAN still get a job in accounting, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come without its challenges. Technically employers and recruiters aren’t allowed to ask your name, but based on your overall story, physical features, dress, and…
How Important is Relevant Accounting Community Service on Your Resume?
I have reviewed hundreds of resume since I started The Bean Counter. I get this question over an over. The short answer it depends. You really have to look at the resume as a whole. Any one thing missing can be made up with a myriad of other awesome experiences you bring to the table.…
What To Do With A Bad Performance Review
Working for a public accounting firm can be one of the most rewarding yet difficult career choices to make as you come out of college. Beginning from the first day you step into the office, you will be thrown into a whirlwind of tasks, clients, engagements, software, and sometimes even thrown on an airplane during…
Which Industry Should I Choose When Working In Public Accounting?
From the mailbag: Hi Andrew, I love your website and have referred to it many times during the past year so thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I will be starting my public accounting career in Audit this coming January and have been asked if I want to specialize in any industry right…
How to be a CPA, and not be a CPA at all (Alternative Accounting Careers)
Most people think accountants keep their heads down, work in cubes, are boring people, and have a hard time getting a date. They’re not aware there are so many alternative accounting careers where you’re using your experience, but doing something TOTALLY different. You never hear someone say, “Oh yes, accountants are giants, captains of industry.”…
My Interview with a CPA Comedian! [PODCAST] with Greg Kyte, Blogger, Podcaster, Controller
UPDATE: Greg recently launched Accounting Comedy CPE, check it out here. Note: We went off the rocker on this one and covered a lot of great topics. Here are the questions I planned on asking, but as you’ll see the podcast is longer than its typical length and there is much more information packed inside. I really…
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