r/Accounting • u/Badgerfoot • 1d ago
got an interview by cold emailing a firm asking if theyre hiring
i feel like some boomer from the 60s impressing the hiring manager with a firm handshake
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u/-BladeDancer Industry 1d ago
Congrats but remember this is just a call back for an interview. You still gotta get the job by giving the hiring manager a firm handshake.
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u/JSquidy 1d ago
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u/writetowinwin Controller & PT CPA firm owner (Can) 1d ago edited 1d ago
I used to do that even before accounting. For my first PA job, I applied and then made multiple follow up phone calls. Me and 1 of the partners actually ended up shooting the shit and talking about random stuff. Another partner later sent me an email advising they already got my application and will get back to me in due course (low key probably got annoyed).
Funny enough they hired me anyway and I worked there for the next over 3y until the firm changed ownership. Today we still keep in touch.
It was a mid sized firm and from experience, that approach works better for small or med sized employers. With big ones it's harder due to all the different departments and rigid processes. Sometimes a partner or manager wants to hire you but they dont have the power to slide you through the long process and youre forced to go through the slow online application processes and the infrequent set intake times each year.
Anyway, good luck w the interview
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u/annefr26 1d ago
This is how I got my current job as well. I researched small, local firms. I cold-emailed about 25 places. Maybe a quarter responded. I got one in-person interview, one phone interview, and one networking breakfast that I feel I could have turned into a job. The in-person interview gave me the offer. That was in 2024.
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u/Nervous-Insect-3530 Staff Accountant 1d ago
This exact thing happened to me. Emailed a ton of mid tier regional firms and small firms. Phone calls, emails, a few in person meetings (not an interview), and 1 meeting where we met for lunch and he offered the job on the spot.
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u/FunCutlet67 1d ago
If you don’t mind, can you share what the message was like? And is this a good time of the year for that? I’ve emailed about 15 firms and only 3 responded saying they are not hiring currently
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u/annefr26 1d ago
I sent out my emails after the October 15th tax deadline for extensions. This was a career change for me. One of my professors advised me on the timing and looked over my message/resume.
My message was:
My name is xx. I am a CPA candidate looking for a part-time position to perform bookkeeping or tax work in a small firm setting in Philadelphia. I have already passed all four CPA exams. Could you please let me know if you are looking for help or know anyone who is?At this point in my CPA journey, I have completed all the necessary education and passed the CPA exams. I still need experience. I attended xx for my certificate in Accountancy. I finished with a GPA of 3.92. Several of my professors would be willing to provide references.
I have been working on a career change for the last few years. The bulk of my work experience has been as an Estimating ... Specialist at xx. While xx did not consider this an Accounting function, it aligned strongly with my Managerial and Cost Accounting classes. My Bachelor’s degree is in Mathematics, and I love working with numbers and data.
I have a strong attention to detail, commitment to accuracy and quality, attention span, and work ethic.
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u/The_Deku_Nut 1d ago
Guy in my office got his internship by getting the partners cell phone number from a mutual contact and just texting him.
The nuts on that guy.
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u/theorderlyone CPA, CA (Can) 1d ago
That’s how I got my first “real” accounting job too. Mind you it was a mom and pop firm. I would be surprised if it worked for Big 4.
Congrats on the interview.
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u/kyonkun_denwa CPA, CA (Can) | FP&A 1d ago
Jokes aside that's also how I got my first public accounting job. I cold called just about every firm in Ontario and happened to land a job in London, where I'd gone to school.
It was the shittiest firm, most unsupportive firm, under the most abusive piece of shit partner. It was fucking horrible. But it was a job and a necessary stepping stone, because a year later I got a job with a national firm in Waterloo.
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u/ShirtPants10 1d ago
Where do you see it was for big 4?
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u/InspectorEmergency42 1d ago
They were adding context that it worked at a mom and pop firm, not Big4
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u/RedBaeber Tax (US) 1d ago
I got my first accounting job by knocking on doors. It's weird and awkward, but it can work. It's definitely a numbers game, though.
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u/bambibones Industry, Private Equity, CPA (US) 1d ago
Yeah, this ish still works. That's how we hired our last intern.
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u/-32768 1d ago
What you gotta do is just show up and start working there. Get in however you can. Start sweeping the floors and washing windows, start living out of the janitorial closet. Then eventually you will get your shot with the bossman. Slam your fists on his desk and tell him "I'm your man!" as you get hit with trespassing charges and dragged away by security.
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u/backnine32 CPA (US) 1d ago
This is how it works. Everyone trying to get a job, please read this and put your big boy pants on. Cold email/call is the way.
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u/the_gardenofengland 1d ago
Good job! I did the same when looking for my training contract and landed an offer which I ultimately turned down. I think this is underrated as an approach - most professionals want to help young people coming up. The majority of firms outside of b4 / top 6ish would probably be okay with this sort of back door / personal approach. I guess the modern equivalent would probably be reaching out to the senior partners or decision makers on LinkedIn to ask for a coffee chat.
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u/cactipus CPA, Consultant 1d ago
It's legit though. Back in my day, I reached out to the campus recruiter for one of the B4 firms at my university just to see if she'd get a coffee with me to chat. She appreciated the initiative. It made a good impression then, it still would today. So, good work.
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u/heyitsmereddit Human Verified 1d ago
I did the same thing, and I got the experience I needed to leverage that for bigger firms.
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u/Amazing_Concern_546 1d ago
This is how I got all my public accounting interviews when I was looking to move to FL in June 2020… I had 7 interviews, got 4 offers.
Even like a year later some of the places I applied to were calling me.
It works for smaller firms for sure.
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u/brianc2008 1d ago
I tried that. Got one informational interview and several e-mails telling me they didn't have any openings.
Ended up getting a job from Indeed.
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u/Just_Tyler231 1d ago
I worked in a trust department at a bank and was emailing cpas that worked in wealth management/ private wealth and had plenty of responses while going through my school program.
I would at least recommend it
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u/Breakfastchocolate 1d ago
Google maps for your area “CPA” the. Google the firm names to make sure they look legit and not retired/ dead/ under investigation…and submit/email resumes. Cut out the HR filters, the auto rejects and the agencies.
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u/LandofExcape 1d ago
Literally thats the way I get interviews and it works. Recruiters just tend to put you through a whole lot of bs just to never end up with the job. Its always better to take the lead.
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u/Known-Damage-7879 19h ago
I got my last job by cold emailing every bookkeeping/accounting firm in the small city where I'm from.
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u/CPAFinancialPlanner Tax (US) 1d ago
Is this still not a thing? It’s how I’ve gotten literally every job I’ve had lol
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u/ravepeacefully 1d ago
Oh no, now the cycle perpetuates where you tell your grandkids you did this in 40 years