Ohio accounting job market - do I need to relocate?

[Rain Man]

I am a accountant - CPA candidate and also have an MBA

I have 3 years of auditing experience and have worked in other forms of accounting (public and private) for 7 years, so I have roughly 10 years of accounting experience.

I have interviewed with every regional/Big 4 CPA firm in Columbus, Ohio and have came up empty: Many interviews, no offers. I have been told that the job market here in Columbus (and Ohio) is extremely competitive right now, and isn't going to get any better for a while now; I was told by a recruiter that I am overeducated and underexperienced.

I got a call from a recruiter in Florida saying that there were numerous openings for CPA firms in Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale. I am thinking about relocating, even though that means selling my home. Is it true that I should consider leaving Ohio for another state where my skills aren't in great competition with other candidates?

Let me know what you think.

[aephi alum]

Recruiters will tell you anything to get you in the door. Take anything they say with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

Think very carefully before you take the plunge and relocate. If you're coming up dry in Columbus, you may need to relocate, but Florida may not be your best bet. Keep networking. Definitely do not relocate unless you have a job offer in hand.

Good luck.

[Rudey]

Can't you get a temp hire from one of the bigger CPA firms just for tax season and then network to a more permanent position?

I would consider also other jobs that aren't straight accounting but CPAs are great bonuses to have.

-Rudey

Originally posted by Rain Man
I am a accountant - CPA candidate and also have an MBA

I have 3 years of auditing experience and have worked in other forms of accounting (public and private) for 7 years, so I have roughly 10 years of accounting experience.

I have interviewed with every regional/Big 4 CPA firm in Columbus, Ohio and have came up empty: Many interviews, no offers. I have been told that the job market here in Columbus (and Ohio) is extremely competitive right now, and isn't going to get any better for a while now; I was told by a recruiter that I am overeducated and underexperienced.

I got a call from a recruiter in Florida saying that there were numerous openings for CPA firms in Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale. I am thinking about relocating, even though that means selling my home. Is it true that I should consider leaving Ohio for another state where my skills aren't in great competition with other candidates?

Let me know what you think.

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by aephi alum
Recruiters will tell you anything to get you in the door. Take anything they say with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

I learned that a long, long time ago. As a matter of fact, after dealing with 6 recruiters in Columbus (and dropping all but 2), I got a call from a 7th recruiter and refused his services.

Think very carefully before you take the plunge and relocate. If you're coming up dry in Columbus, you may need to relocate, but Florida may not be your best bet. Keep networking. Definitely do not relocate unless you have a job offer in hand.

Good luck.

I am open to most metropolitan areas of the United States, but unless there is interest, there is no need to travel across the country to interview (of course) and unless there is an offer, there is no need to relocate

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by Rudey
Can't you get a temp hire from one of the bigger CPA firms just for tax season and then network to a more permanent position?

I would consider also other jobs that aren't straight accounting but CPAs are great bonuses to have.

-Rudey

Rudey, I have pretty much exhausted every option here in Columbus. The "non-accounting" jobs I am getting no responses on b/c I am either over-qualified or they are not interested.

Again, no jobs, temp, part-time, full-time, no-time have been forthcoming. Relocating is looking like a better and better option with each passing day.

ETA: I am also looking for jobs in the Mid-Atlantic/Eastern seaboard regions, in Atlanta, and in Dallas & Houston.