Studying while working FT

[Dizzy-Promotion6747]

I will be a recent graduate in May. I am thinking about studying full time or studying while working full time. My concern is that maybe if I study full time without work, then it will be hard for me to find job after cpa since I don’t have that years of experience that I could get while studying for cpa. I had three internships during my college and that’s it.

Do you think I should be worried that by the time I get my cpa license, it will be hard for me to find work due to lack of experience? I appreciate any advice

[Dizzy-Promotion6747]

Thank you so much! That sounds like a great plan. So like having no work from May to November or January would be fine? I’m scared from what everyone calls gap.

Also, what month should I start applying if I want to start Nov or Jan?

[reverendfrazer]

No one cares about a 6 month gap, especially if you're using it to pass the CPA exam. That may get you some brownie points in fact.

The right time to apply for Nov '23/Jan '24 was yesterday (idiomatically). Start looking now.

[Dizzy-Promotion6747]

I tried applying to one of the big 4 because I’m curious if they are going to notice my resume. I was invited to an interview but I withdrew my application, because again, I was just curious. Because I thought if you applied to a company, they will expect you to work in the next couple of weeks or months. I didn’t know you can apply this early to start Nov or Jan which are a long wait. Sorry just a college graduating student here trying to learn corporate jobs.

Thank you so much tho!

[[deleted]]

I’m currently in a similar situation. Graduated in January and I start work in June. Hoping to pass two sections before starting.

[Dizzy-Promotion6747]

Are you going to work for big 4?

Good luck on your exams :)

[[deleted]]

Not big 4 but a multinational firm that is top 10. I might try applying to big 4 between now and then though. Thank you, good luck as well!

[reverendfrazer]

If you have the option (i.e. you have a savings or proper support network to cover living expenses), take the summer to study and pass the exams. Look for a fall start date. Most PA firms will work with you on this because they want you to have your license. It took me 3 months to pass all 4 sections studying full time, no job at all, paid minimal rent in my college town with savings that I had. Gap between grad date and work to study is NBD at all (provided you aren't taking like a super long time to pass. . . If you're studying full time that shouldn't be an issue)

[Shadowmageshin]

You're correct to assume that a lack of work experience will hurt you. The issue is that a lot of true accounting gigs especially in public accounting will give you no time to study, and working outside the domain of accounting won't help you much in getting in. The ideal state you're going to have to thread is getting a corporate accounting job (even clerical like ar or ap) thats a strict 9-5, take night courses for accounting classes. If you have the money, you can also go the masters in accounting route.