Off the Ledger
Your days as a college student are almost numbered. The working world is calling. As you get ready to embark on your career, you have to be thinking, “What am I going to do when I graduate?” “Is a job in public accounting right for me?”
Where do you want to go?
You have so many options. Big firm or small? How do you decide? Where can you go to get the real, honest look at a career in public accounting? What is it REALLY like to be an intern? What will my life be like as a staff accountant?
See your future...
At Porter Keadle Moore, LLP (PKM) we’re here to help. We’ve created this blog site just for you! To help you find answers to these and other questions about working in a public accounting firm. Real interns and brand new staff accountants chronicle their experiences with our firm. Read what they have to say. Ask questions, share your opinions and we’ll respond.
Passing the CPA Exam
Jenna Green-Systems Associate
We all know that passing the CPA exam is a huge milestone in the life of an accountant and that the commitment involved in passing the exam can be overwhelming at times. I know that before the exam, you need all the advice you can get so I thought I would share some of the tips I have learned along the way.
First, begin studying for the exam as soon as you can, especially while you are still in college. I know you hear this from everyone but it is absolutely true!! You may be busy studying in school but as you begin working full-time it only becomes harder to sacrifice social events with co-workers during the week and time with family and friends on the weekends. Getting a head start will take you a long way!
Second, make a commitment to go over the Becker reading material at least once and to complete all of the Becker study questions. If you successfully complete the Becker study questions and mark those questions that you did not get right the first time around to practice the second time around you are right on track to passing the exam. This seems like it is an easy feat, however, many times the reason people do not pass parts of the exam is because they do not complete all of the study questions at least once beforehand.
Third, do not get discouraged if you are unable to pass parts of the CPA exam on the first try. This can be a very difficult task and it is important to stay positive and focused on the end-result to ultimately accomplish your goal.
Fourth, reward yourself for your achievements! Each time you pass a portion of the exam give yourself at least a week off to enjoy yourself and have time with friends and family without the stress of the exam weighing on you! Just remember, the sooner you pass the exam the more relieved you will be and you will be on your way to a successful career as a CPA.
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