Are accountants now getting low balled? (license, 2013, interview, $50k)

[andywire]

Originally Posted by ETSUAccountingGuy

Does anyone think student debt will have a major impact on consumption in the future? We all know all this country survives on consumption.

It's going to cripple and choke people and their desire to spend for decades. A student loan bailout seems possible at some point however. This is what happens when the government shows up and says "I'm here to help you". JUST SAY NO!

[ETSUAccountingGuy]

There are so many articles saying accounting is one of the fast growing careers, most stable jobs, most projected openings, etc

I think having the CPA helps more than a masters.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by ETSUAccountingGuy

There are so many articles saying accounting is one of the fast growing careers, most stable jobs, most projected openings, etc

I think having the CPA helps more than a masters.

Well that is true relative to most other fields (keywords being relative to most other fields), with the exception of health care.

The Big 4 are still hiring in new college graduates in spite of the recession. They may not be hiring in as much as they were before the recession, but they're still hiring.

Companies and people even in down times will still need people to count their money.

That said, while it may be recession-proof relative to other fields, it's no longer outsourcing proof, especially since the US GAAP is transitioning over to the IASB.

[ETSUAccountingGuy]

How severe will the outsourcing be in your opinion?

IT has been outsourced but I still hear of computer science graduates earning quite well.

[JSnFla]

there will always be jobs for accounting majors with good grades coming out of decent schools when they are of normal age, say 22. for career changers or older people with obscure backgrounds its a different story. you dont have to even go into accounting, you can get an entry level job as an analyst at investment banks, hedge funds and other large financial companies. You will meet tons of people working in the broad financial industry with accounting degrees making 6 figure salaries that dont or never did work in accounting. there is a lot of over reaction and sky is falling mentality on these forums. smart, educated people with good attitudes and track records are still making an awful lot of money in this country and will for many years to come

[ETSUAccountingGuy]

I think the key point you made though is that those jobs go to graduates at good schools. Top recruiting schools. The majority of students arent going to those schools. What does that mean for them?

I guess I do get sucked into the "Sky is falling" talk. I am a pessimist in general. My boyfriend thinks I'll find a good job (35K or so) when I graduate with little to no problem. I, on the other hand, think that I'll have to settle for a low twenties salary and barely scrape by. Maybe I need to be more like him.

[manderly6]

It is not all doom and gloom. I see people without masters or CPAs who went to run of the mill schools getting decent jobs. It does happen. I also don't doubt some people are getting "low balled" or having a very hard time finding jobs. But blanket statements one way or the other are generally just not true.

[JSnFla]

Originally Posted by ETSUAccountingGuy

I think the key point you made though is that those jobs go to graduates at good schools. Top recruiting schools. The majority of students arent going to those schools. What does that mean for them?

I guess I do get sucked into the "Sky is falling" talk. I am a pessimist in general. My boyfriend thinks I'll find a good job (35K or so) when I graduate with little to no problem. I, on the other hand, think that I'll have to settle for a low twenties salary and barely scrap by. Maybe I need to be more like him.

if you graduate as a normal 22 or 23 yr old with an accounting degree from an accredited university and you are intelligent with a good attitude then you should be able to eventually find your way into corporate america and develop a career.

[ETSUAccountingGuy]

JSnFLA, I hope you're right.

[JSnFla]

Originally Posted by ETSUAccountingGuy

JSnFLA, I hope you're right.

a positive, winning attitude is more than half the battle. align yourself with these types of people and you will find success, no doubt.