I can't find a job

[Ava]

I've been looking for almost a month for an entry level CPA job in Florida.
So far no bites. Not a single question or request for interview.
A couple of gov. Jobs with Florida cities turned me down within a day.
Other than that absolute silence.
I don't want to panic but I don't feel good about this.
Looks like being an out of state candidate is a huge drawback.
I decided against moving without a job lined up.
I think I'll wait a little longer and then switch my license application to CT.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

A month is not nearly long enough in the current job market Ava.   It took me six months of looking before I landed at Boys Town.  Another four before I got the heck out of there and landed here.

At first I kept a spreadsheet of all the jobs I was applying for so I would remember if they called.  I stopped after I hit 100 because all the spreadsheet made me want to do was kill myself. 

Job hunting is one of the most soul sucking activities on the planet.  I have no advice beyond keep putting one foot in front of the other.

[hoops902]

It's definitely harder being out of state. Are you including a cover letter stating your intent to move to FL (I know it's obvious you'd move for a job, but I'd make a clear statement that you're moving to Florida on XXXXX date, and are looking for a job in the area...even if you have no intention of moving on that date...it sets the expectation that you're moving, not that you're just shotgunning resumes out to anyone, anywhere).

[tskeeter]

Oct 10, 2017 10:20:29 GMT -5 Ava said:

I've been looking for almost a month for an entry level CPA job in Florida.
So far no bites. Not a single question or request for interview.
A couple of gov. Jobs with Florida cities turned me down within a day.
Other than that absolute silence.
I don't want to panic but I don't feel good about this.
Looks like being an out of state candidate is a huge drawback.
I decided against moving without a job lined up.
I think I'll wait a little longer and then switch my license application to CT.

One thing to consider is that many folks in Florida have been a little distracted by hurricane related issues for much of the last month.

[MJ2.0]

take your address off your resume if it's on there.  They don't need to know your address.  You applied to the position, and the position lists its location.

[swamp]

OR get a PO Box in FL with the mail forwarded to you. 

[Tennesseer]

Won't Ava's resume she is currently working in Connecticut?

[swamp]

Oct 10, 2017 10:59:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Won't Ava's resume she is currently working in Connecticut?

yes, but it shows ties to the area 

[Shooby]

Are there any professional type job headhunters you could use to expand your network?  Honestly it takes MONTHS to land a job now.  Used to be you apply and start shortly thereafter.  Now there are months and months of processing.  It's really ridiculous.

[justme]

Have you talked to any recruiters? They might give you some feedback. It does take a while to get a job and even more when you're long distance (to an extent), but I believe you hadn't gotten any responses the last time. Which sounds like there's a disconnect - whether it's your resume or the jobs applied to or what. A recruiter might be able to give you some direction. Or if your school has a career finder department.

[justme]

Oct 10, 2017 11:21:14 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Are there any professional type job headhunters you could use to expand your network?  Honestly it takes MONTHS to land a job now.  Used to be you apply and start shortly thereafter.  Now there are months and months of processing.  It's really ridiculous.

May take months to find one - but there's definitely companies that aren't taking much longer than a month to full a position.

[Shooby]

Oct 10, 2017 11:31:19 GMT -5 justme said:

Oct 10, 2017 11:21:14 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Are there any professional type job headhunters you could use to expand your network?  Honestly it takes MONTHS to land a job now.  Used to be you apply and start shortly thereafter.  Now there are months and months of processing.  It's really ridiculous.

May take months to find one - but there's definitely companies that aren't taking much longer than a month to full a position.

Depends on the position.

[justme]

Oct 10, 2017 11:32:51 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Oct 10, 2017 11:31:19 GMT -5 justme said:

May take months to find one - but there's definitely companies that aren't taking much longer than a month to full a position.

Depends on the position.

True. But two coworkers left recently and it wasn't a long drawn out interview time. And we're replacing them with the goal to have them in office in less than two months from first advertising the positions. And that's finance/accounting positions.

[Shooby]

That's nice but some jobs have a long process of interviewing, reference and background checks, drug testing, xrays, etc.  That isn't done in a month.

[justme]

Yes and no. My government contractor job didn't takes months to do. I had to drug tests and background checks but I still started my job in about two months from first interview. Current job was less than a month. And I'm in finance which is similar to what ava is looking for.

But the length of how long from interview to job start is not the issue for ava.

[Shooby]

Oct 10, 2017 11:47:04 GMT -5 justme said:

Yes and no. My government contractor job didn't takes months to do. I had to drug tests and background checks but I still started my job in about two months from first interview. Current job was less than a month. And I'm in finance which is similar to what ava is looking for.

But the length of how long from interview to job start is not the issue for ava.

No and yes.  Since you just wanna argue...... 

[justme]

Oct 10, 2017 11:54:53 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Oct 10, 2017 11:47:04 GMT -5 justme said:

Yes and no. My government contractor job didn't takes months to do. I had to drug tests and background checks but I still started my job in about two months from first interview. Current job was less than a month. And I'm in finance which is similar to what ava is looking for.

But the length of how long from interview to job start is not the issue for ava.

No and yes.  Since you just wanna argue...... 

I'm not arguing. Certainly not just to. You've certainly heard that phrase before, no need to roll your eyes. I'm telling of my experience in finance related jobs.

The no is that in maybe other industries it's vastly different. Has not been my experience and my colleagues over the last few years.

[Shooby]

Ok,  I am telling you my experience as well.  So, Ava , must be you.  That's what I am hearing.  You should have had a job within a month.

[busymom]

As others have mentioned, it literally takes MONTHS to get a job now.  Don't panic, just keep applying.  I like the idea of mentioning that you'll be living in such-and-such a community in Florida by a certain date.  It lets employers know you're serious about moving & working in Florida.  And, certainly the hurricane has been a major distraction to the folks living there.


If it makes you feel better,  DD began applying for jobs January of last year, and had 2 solid offers by about June.  It's ridiculous how long it takes to land a decent job now.  

[cktc]

What's the hiring cycle like for accounting positions? I know a lot of industries don't hire much in the last quarter of the year. Maybe it's just too much competition right now, especially with the recent hurricanes. Keep plugging, you still have a job and something is bound to come up eventually.

[Lizard Queen]

It seems like, if you don't follow the typical progression, it's really hard to break in. (Typical progression being, intern for a public accounting firm as soon as you have your degree and 150 hours, then they hire you as you're in the process of taking the tests. Or something like that.)

That said, it seems like a bad time of year for openings, unless you're in tax, I suppose. Everything has seemed to dry up in the last couple weeks in my area.

[giramomma]

Isn't there a business that provides accounting temps?

Have you applied to those? I was just on Robert Half, and they posted a contract-full time position for a controller yesterday in Miami. Pay was 40/hour, which seems decent enough. Staff accountants are being paid 50-60K. Something like 400 jobs listed in South Florida alone..

For not doing the traditional path...it doesn't seem too bad for getting your foot in...

[milee]

Florida has some unique conditions for hiring.  Most employers are used to being bombarded with applications from out of state job seekers; it's pretty common for people in cold climates to dream of escaping the snow and just start sending out mass applications to Florida companies.  Of course it depends on the position, but unless it's a fairly high level job where candidates are scarce, Florida employers are usually not too excited about out of state applicants.  

On the other hand, the job market overall is really hopping here.  Unemployment is below 4% (obviously that's across all job types, though, so not necessarily true in individual job categories), so it's getting tougher to find good people.  We just hired a new person and it took us twice as long to find him as it normally does.  Maybe the low unemployment will spur employers to be more receptive to out of state applicants.

I think giramomma's suggestion about working for one of the temp firms is a smart one, especially since you're looking at a large metro area like Miami, which will probably have a high need for temps.  Once you start, it's easier to find a job since you'd be local.

[alabamagal]

Oct 10, 2017 10:54:48 GMT -5 swamp said:

OR get a PO Box in FL with the mail forwarded to you. 

In my job hunt 3 years ago I never got one piece of snail mail.

And I'm pretty sure you need to have a physical address in the area to get a PO box with the post office.  Private mailbox places will rent to anyone.

And last time I moved I filled out an online mailforwarding with the post office and got 0 piece of mail forwarded.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Keep positive and keep applying.

Have you considered a career coach?

[tskeeter]

Another consideration is the normal hiring cycle for entry level CPA’s.   Most entry level hiring is done in the spring with start dates in the summer.  This is followed by training in the late summer and fall in order to prepare new hires for the upcoming year end audit season.

Ava, your job hunt is just a bit out of cycle with the hiring of most of the public accounting firms.  They have already done the hiring they need and made the staffing adjustments they require for the next busy season.

I’m with those who recommend you consider the temporary route for a few months, until the hiring cycle begins again early next spring.

[mmhmm]

Out of curiosity, is it possible to take a license in both FL and CT?

[whoisjohngalt]

I would make sure to put somewhere that you are not looking for relocation package. May be they do like you, just don't want to pay for you to move from CT to FL

[milee]

Oct 10, 2017 14:06:25 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Out of curiosity, is it possible to take a license in both FL and CT?

You can be licensed in more than one state.  Each state has different requirements for the license and you have to fulfill those requirements, but there's no reason getting a license in CT will prevent her from later getting one in FL.

[mmhmm]

Oct 10, 2017 14:54:28 GMT -5 milee said:

Oct 10, 2017 14:06:25 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Out of curiosity, is it possible to take a license in both FL and CT?

You can be licensed in more than one state.  Each state has different requirements for the license and you have to fulfill those requirements, but there's no reason getting a license in CT will prevent her from later getting one in FL.

Thanks, Milee. I know we nurses can carry licenses in more than one state but wasn't sure about CPAs. I presume it would then be possible to apply for both licenses at the same time or, at least, within a few weeks of one another?