Hello TJ,
I have 2 more years to complete my B.S. Degree in Accounting, I have 7 years experience in the Financial Industry dealing with customer service only, never on Accounting experience. Any suggestions where and what kind of job/position I should look for to meet the required 2 yrs job experience to qualify for CPA exam.

By the way, I'm a P/T student looking for P/T job - preferably a job that will give me experience in Accounting to qualify for CPA exam. Where did u work to meet that 2 yrs experience required for CPA exam? Thank you much!

Look for a CPA firm if that is your interest area. I got a job at a CPA firm once I graduated, got the 2 year experience and have been there ever since.

Do you get paid for working overtime?

Do you get paid hourly or salary?

I have an undergrad degree in Marketing and I worked a few years in Market Research. Now, I am finishing up my second undergrad degree in Accounting this May at SUNY New Paltz. My grades in Accounting are excellent (3.95 GPA), but I am curious with my prior work experience and my great grades in Accounting, could this help me get an interview at a Big 4? I'm worried that becuase I am at a state school, this may be a problem.
Thanks in advance!!

I was thinking about going into accounting, but I'm not sure yet. Was there a specific reason you went into accounting? Like did you like math or being analytical? And would it look good/okay if I got an A.S./A.A. in accounting instead of at a four year and get CPA certified?

Hi,

I'm about to graduate with a degree in English but I'm considering going to grad school to pursue an MBA and have a concentration and be certified CPA. Does it look bad that I'm switching gears after having my BA?

About your comment on "higher GPA in accounting rather than lower with a minor", personally, I think why not get a minor because usually you have to take a bunch of electives to graduate anyway and so getting a minor just means choosing electives that are all concentrated in towards one area. So rather than just taking a bunch of random electives, why not just take a bunch that make up a minor/specialization? The work load might be bit harder than just taking random easy classes because not all of the classes required for a minor are introduction classes, while there are quite a few but most of the time you can pick and choose, but you aren't really taking on any more credits than you already need to take.

Do you guys have annual vacation?

RE: Alex
I think minor is great if it doesn't require much extra course load. In fact, I have minor in economics just because it didn't require any more courses. However does it really help get you a job? I know when I am looking a resumes I would rather see someone with a higher GPA in Accounting then three unrelated minors with sub-par GPA for accounting.

RE: Rebecca

Yes most firms will offer vacation. You will probably have to take them in between busy seasons (IE tax season). I had 2 weeks vacation when I started (after 6 months) and have 3 weeks/year now for being there over 5 years.

Hello,

First, I want to say thanks for helping others figure out what the best course to take is to become an accountant.

Having said that, it seems you mention a high GPA is crucial in landing a job/intern. My question is, how how does your GPA have to be to be considered? I just recently switched from pre-med biology to accounting, and right now my GPA sits at 3.0, but that GPA is excluding any business/accounting classes and is strictly bio, chem, etc. Is this acceptable, and if not, is there anything you recommend to help improve my chances?

Thanks a lot, I appreciate the help.

Hi,
First of all let me thank you for sharing/donating your knowledge and experience.
I have few questions.
I just switched from computer science (junior-year) this spring to accounting. Because I really like accounting and it is something that I like to do as a profession. Since I have taken 3 years of CS major classes I have enough credits to add to accounting credits(once I am done) to have 150 credits for CPA exam.There are couple things that worry me and push me going back to computer science( even I don't like programming as before).
First, I am 32 years old and by the time I graduate I'll be almost 35. I heard it is hard to find a job as an accountant for someone at my age.( is it really impossible to find job at my age?) Second, I see lots of posts on different websites and blogs by accounting graduates(a few of them with CPA degree) who have been looking for job more than a year. ( is it really that bad to find a job an an accountant even you get your degree with high GPA from state university?).
Thanks, your response helps me to make a better decision.I appreciate your help.

Hi again,
I forgot to tell you that I live in Seattle and plan to look for job here
after graduation.

RE: Mohammad

Due to the current state of the economy I believe it is fair to say that finding a job in almost any career is going to be tough. However I also think accounting has fared better than most other careers. I don't think finding a job at age 35 in accounting is impossible. Yes. you may lose out with those firms looking to fill their junior position with a spunky young graduate but there could also be firms looking for a more mature person to fill the position. Your computer science background could help you as well as there is a lot of accounting systems that require MySQL and coding experience for writing custom reports and systems operation.

RE: Paul
I can not really give you an exact GPA that you would need to get a job in accounting. Obviously, as with any position the higher GPA you achieve the easier it would be land an interview. Would I personally throw out your resume on 3.0 GPA alone? No. Lower than 2.8 GPA? Probably. But also you need to look at this way ..If I received two resumes, both very similar except one has 3.2 GPA and one has a 3.0 GPA, I'm obviously going to call the person with the higher GPA first. Also my GPA standards may not be as stringent as you could encounter at a bigger accounting firm where the demand could be higher.

Hello,

I just completed an Associate of Arts in Business, and I really want to be an accountant. What I'm wondering what is the best option to take next? Is it a B.S. in accounting? Or there is also the option of taking a BA in Business, and then getting a masters in accounting? What do you think?

Is there a big difference between a B.A. and a B.S?

RE: Jessie
A masters will take longer so if you don't mind the extra courses then go for it. My school use to offer a 5 year accounting masters program. I think a masters in accounting with a BA in Business > BS in accounting but by how much it will help in your career is very hard to determine.

Always take the time = you can't make more of that , you can always make more $$

FYI most states require a large amount of accounting hours to become a licensed cpa. This can be difficult for any accounting or non accounting majors. That is why many who seek a cpa also end up with the masters in accountcy.

RE: Jeff Why yes your are correct that most states require 150 hours in accounting courses so if you can get a masters with little to none extra course work it would definitely be the more logical choice.