How to Get into Accounting after Graduation

How to get into accounting after graduation — that is, without the help of career office and on-campus interviews. Is it possible? Certainly, and let’s see how you can do it.

1. Online Job Search

Monster.com , indeed.com and linkedin.com are good places to start. Be sure you call up local recruiters as well.

2. Cold Calling

Given the main pipeline for entry-level accounting jobs is university campuses, you have to take extra steps and start cold calling recruiters.

If you graduated recently or if you do not attending the target schools (i.e. firms don’t hold interviews at your campus), call up HR and explore the possibility of a phone interview, or attending an interview at a neighboring school. You need to be persistent and follow up diligently to get the time slots.

3. Networking

Outside of cold calling and applying for jobs, there isn’t much you can do beyond good ol’ networking.

4. Getting into Campus interviews

I heard from a reader who enrolled in a 1-year master’s program with the main goal to attend the school’s recruiting fair. This strategy can get quite costly, but it is one of best ways to put yourself in front of many firms.

Please drop a note below if you have other ideas!

About the Author Stephanie

I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley), and I also passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam on my first try. Additionally, I have led webinars, such as for the Institute of Management Accountants, authored featured articles on websites like Going Concern and AccountingWeb, and I'm also the CFO for the charity New Sight. Finally, I have created other accounting certification websites to help mentor non-CPA candidates. I have already mentored thousands of CPA, CMA, CIA, EA, and CFA candidates, and I can help you too!

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