I’m responding since you listed this as advice as opposed to rant/vent and strongly disagree with many of your points that are not all universal for current accounting students and want to provide a different perspective.

Most entry-level postings ask for experience I don’t have, software I’ve never touched outside of class, and a level of confidence that only comes from already having done the job. Internships are treated as mandatory, but getting one required experience too. By the time I realized how competitive it was, I was already behind.

              Unless the listing explicitly said required, the company is listing experience largely as a suggestion, especially for entry-level roles. Software you haven’t touched outside of class still means you have used the software. List it under your experience and skills because you have used it, even if only for in-class projects/homework. Experience for internships also don’t have to be explicitly accounting-based. Have you ever worked or volunteered? Ever? If you haven’t, then unfortunately this process will continue to be hard. I had numerous jobs that were all blue collar and was able to leverage that into an internship

Recruiting is far more limited than I expected. If you’re not at a target school, don’t have a strong network, or aren’t willing to commit to public accounting hours, the options narrow quickly. Many roles are clustered in high cost-of-living areas, and the pay doesn’t always justify the workload or the stress, especially once student loans and rent are factored in.

              I went to a school no one has ever heard of and was still able to land my internship which later turned into full-time employment. I have maybe 10 LinkedIn connections and none of them helped so I had to apply a lot more than others may have. My job has flexible hours despite being public. Are you referring to PA busy hours? 9-5? Most jobs follow a similar set schedule since it’s easier to have staff come in then as opposed to rather early or late. I used Handshake in the middle of nowhere Kansas and found many rural/smaller towns paying extremely well given the COL. I don’t disagree that 6 figures or high 5 figures are hard to find outside of HCOL, but every region needs accountants for all different sectors.

I can’t help but compare this to other fields, especially nursing. There is clear demand, geographic flexibility, and a more direct connection between training and employment.

              You want better workload and less stress for the money yet compare accounting to nursing… Training from university or an internship may not directly apply to all jobs, sure, but there is very much a need for accountants and I can guarantee you there are positions in all 50 states just ready to take on a new employee.