Full Time Offer: How Far Can I Delay It?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>Alright, I need some advice here, so help is really appreciated. Here’s the situation:</p>

<p>I’m a senior accounting major who interned at a Big Four firm this summer. I enjoyed my time and accepted a full time offer. However, I really don’t want to start working even next fall (which is presumably the latest you can start). </p>

<p>There are two main reasons I don’t wanna in September:</p>

<li><p>It’s my last summer to really have some time to go out and adventure. Something I NEED to do. Period. I’m craving it so much and while I get it here and there, not nearly enough. I’m planning some big trips and want to get them done.</p></li>
<li><p>The above things also coincide with my younger brother leaving for the Marines come August. While he can’t spend too much time doing things with just me (has his own friends and so on), I wanna do something with him before he goes off. </p></li>
<li><p>Studying for CPA exam is hectic. I’ve seen first hand the toll it takes on people who work and study. I don’t want that. I won’t be a happy person or employee if I was forced into it. It’s likely that any intense review course will take a good 8 weeks of devoted time. </p></li>
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<p>Clearly, with some of my own plans in mind and time I need to spend with my brother, if I graduate in Mid-May and start a course into June, I’ll spend basically all of June/July and into August studying and taking the exam. I’d love to spend time with my brother and with my own friends and go on some excursions (Roadtrip/Backpacking the US and Backpacking Europe being two things I will do, maybe even go climb Kilimanjaro, some plans I am trying to set). Say I could get all this done through the summer, probably into August. Now what? I’ve yet to study for the CPA exam and work is around the corner.</p>

<p>I’m stuck being forced having to study for my CPA while working if I wanna do some of what I want. I’m sure I’ll be unhappy. </p>

<p>If I go practical and just study, I won’t be satisfied personally at all and will forever regret it.</p>

<p>It’s lose-lose.</p>

<p>UNLESS! I start work later than September. Well, a good 3 months later at least. </p>

<p>Find a review course that is 8-12 weeks starting September, hope to pass the 4 parts in November. Then start work after that. I’ll likely be “adventured out” for the time being and be satisfied. Also, will be nice to have the CPA weight off my shoulders.</p>

<p>Those are my hopes. </p>

<p>However, is it likely?</p>

<p>On the one hand, this isn’t exactly a job-seekers market and that’s a problem for me. So, I should be happy to have the full time position, and for a company I really like, so don’t want to leave them anyhow. On the other hand, I feel like I have a good amount going for me and that I’m valuable enough to them that they’d consider my requests. I could be naive though.</p>

<p>I do know this much:</p>

<li><p>I have a 4.0 as of now and can hopefully keep it up senior year. </p></li>
<li><p>The Big Four internship and my past experience as an assistant teacher and tutor is valuable.</p></li>
<li><p>While the job market isn’t great, accounting is still one of the places with a good amount of opportunity. </p></li>
<li><p>If there is any time to delay getting into a firm, now would be the time (for NY anyway). They are just changing the law from 120 to 150 credit hours for a CPA. So, I graduate, like others and am good to go next year. However, what about the year after that (the year I could possibly delay to)? Those in the class below me WOULD be graduating normally and getting hired. However, now they are all staying a 5th year for 150 hours because it’s necessary to sit for the CPA. There will definitely be a significant dip in fulltime applicants, meaning if there is any time for me to want to enter the accounting workforce, that year would be it. This works well for those in my class who are opting to do a 5th year, an option I also think about.</p></li>
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<p>So, I’m sorry for the long post, but just had to get it all out. If anyone could help me with my situation and knows what would be best for me to do, that’d be great. I know that the firms often delay things if you are going to school for another year, but I know another year of accounting is not for me (I’m assuming they really don’t want you going to school another year for something unrelated to accounting/finance/etc? Could be wrong though). I’ve had enough with learning stuff that hardly even applies to what you actually do in the real world. Another year of that would be overkill IMO, especially when I qualify for the CPA at 120 credits. </p>

<p>Alright, I’m done now. Any other questions you might have, feel free to ask me, but I think you’ve got enough information to understand the situation and evaluate/give advice.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I have a similar situation, but for me it's delaying the offer for an entire year. What are everyone thought's regarding this?</p>

3

<p>With this economy, you are lucky to have a job. With no prior work experience, it is going to be increasingly difficult to get a job in the next year or two unless you have an unique skill set.</p>

4

<p>Ask the firm if they can give you a 2-3 month extension because of extenuating circumstances with your family. Don't bring up the "I want to travel" argument but the spending time with your brother before he goes overseas sounds legitimate to me.</p>

5

<p>To the person saying that with this economy, I am lucky, I do realize that. I also mentioned it in my post, so no need to repeat that. It's something I do understand. </p>

<p>To the person above, the main, if not only reason I'd want the extension is because of my brother. </p>

<p>I originally planned on just spending the time after graduation studying and passing the CPA by August. However, seeing as that is when he leaves, it is important to me that that time is spent with him, not being in isolation, studying (which, when I study, I plan on doing to be sure I pass).</p>

<p>So, while traveling could be part of that and is important, that can still be done in all of August for instance, if I were to have studied/passed CPA by that time. </p>

<p>So, really, that's just a side thing. The main issue is my brother and the fact that spending time with him coincides directly with CPA studying.</p>

<p>Now, I could of course study when I start working, which is the option posed if I spend time with my brother and then head to work basically right after that.</p>

<p>However, whether it's selfish or not, I just don't want to take a night course for months and study on my own as well, all while trying to handle my first steps into the real world. I want that weight off my shoulders before working. And, sure, it's not a job-seekers market, but I feel it's legitimate to want to start a few months later and have the CPA, rather than start, struggle passing the CPA and hating every moment of it.</p>

<p>I guess being upfront about family issues, and my brother going to the Marines would be best. But I'm just scared they'll tell me "suck it up" you can pass the CPA while working. And, to be honest, it's an option I really don't want to consider. I'd rather just spend money going to school another year and having an extra summer... and I know that's often done. </p>

<p>So, I mean, how likely is it that they'd give me a 2-3 month delay for CPA studying? Again, this would be for the reasons mentioned regarding my brother. </p>

<p>If it's unlikely, I might avoid mentioning it all together and say I want to spend another year in school. I'd rather not, but I don't want to ask, get rejected, then come around saying, okay, fine, I'll spend a year in school instead. Only for them to realize it's my way of delaying it anyway... and maybe they wouldn't even allow it.</p>

<p>Sorry for all the typing and thanks for the responses.</p>

6

<p>Are you serious? Accting firms run extensive inhouse training for new hires and they don't want to repeat them because some clown wants to go have fun. Fun days are over buddy, and you better learn that quick.</p>

7

<p>^Thanks for being mature about this situation. </p>

<p>But since that is clearly an opinion of this, I'm likely to just stay in school another year. Or think about CPA and work at the same time. But we'll see. </p>

<p>And, by the way, sorry you don't have a brother you care about more than you could care about any job/career. </p>

<p>Other opinions welcome. Hopefully more mature ones.</p>

8

<p>It's time to grow up and face the real world. Your employer has a job that needs to be done or they wouldn't have offered you a position. They want that job done now; not at a time in the future when you feel comfortable doing it. You might be able to get a 6 week extension but that would be about the max that I can imagine.
Your employer really doesn't care about your personal issues they are trying to make money. It is cold; but that is the working world.
I would love to be able to work when I feel like it and take off for a few months to travel but if I tried to do that I know that I would be looking for a job when I got back. Your personal comfort and workload while your are studying to pass the exam is not your employers primary focus, they need to get "X" number of qualified employees at "Y" time and you need to realize that.<br>
The real world revolves around the firm and completing the work, not you. I would not expect tham to make much of an effort to hold a spot for very long; esp. in the climate right now...be happy to have an offer.</p>

9

<p>i am a 50 year old energy professional, so no bleeding heart.</p>

<p>Some of you guys need to chill out. This is a transition time for Ck .. I dont know the issues in your profession, but continue to gather facts and eventually go to employer with go option .. I woldnt try to over finessee (otherwie known as 'lying' ) about what you want ot do ... but go in with a rpoactive plan. Some issues might e timing of training cycle, timing of any CPA reviews etc ...</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the replies. The brutally honest and somewhat offensive ones and others. </p>

<p>To be honest (this goes out to those trying to get me to "grow up"), I feel as if I have my entire life to grow up and start a career. And with these time restrictions, I'd be jumping into it too fast, without my heart completely in it, and it's not fair to myself nor to the employer who is going to get an unsatisfied worker.</p>

<p>So, lately, I've been thinking staying in school another year. Or doing anything to get an entire year before beginning work. The problem here is two fold though. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>I need an undergraduate degree by May 2009 to get CPA with 120 credits. And will be qualified to graduate by then most likely. However, I don't want to get a masters in accounting. Hell, I'm burned out from school overall and really want to just take some other courses. I'm a big math/physics fan... always have been... so would it be possible to take a bunch of those courses? Just want to ease out of school. Immature, maybe. But it'd make me happy. </p></li>
<li><p>How would the employer handle this? I know they might be okay with it if I were to get more accounting stuff, but would they care if I stayed in school and didn't specifically do accounting? In the end, I'd have the 150 credits, and all the courses needed, so could still take the CPA exam and would have my undergrad degree. Is that all that matters?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I mean, hell, while I told them I'd graduate by May 2009, I'm JUST doing it by taking a winter course and an extra course next semester to get the 130 credits needed at my school. If I were to do it without the excess, I'd really need an extra semester. </p>

<p>Would it be unheard of to take an extra year and graduate later and postpone the offer that year? I know they could have a problem if say I wanted another internship summer. But I don't. I really just want time to spend to myself, my brother, other friends and family, and so on.</p>

<p>I could force myself to buckle down, and be completely "practical," but I think something I've come to realize recently is practical only gets you so far in life. I've always been about practical before complete happiness. But here I am, finally discovering something that I think will make me happier. </p>

<p>I think I'm going to make this my decision.</p>

<p>Is it a bad one? I just don't know. </p>

<p>The tough thing is, I feel burned out from school... but also don't want to start my career yet, since to me, that just seems like it'll burn me out even more. I just need a break really. Time to myself to experience some different things. It's time I haven't given myself really. </p>

<p>And since I can't just take an entire year off to do "whatever" (nor would I want that entire year really), I think staying in school and studying some things other than accounting/business would be a nice change. And there are always programs like Teach For America as well, which could be a good idea.</p>

<p>Either way, I'm burned out from school as it is now. It'll only be worse come May. And I just need to escape this constricting feeling I've been getting. It's too soon for it all really.</p>

<p>I've always been, compared to those around me, very practical, studious, and determined. Yet, now, I'm losing that, mainly because I'm burned out, bored, and so on... I just need some change. SOMETHING. Without it I know I'll just grow to hate things and the track I'm on. And it'll be unfortunate, because I feel like it can be avoided if I do the right things to changes things up so I can come back and be excited again.</p>

<p>Sorry for the length of this reply.</p>

<p>Feel free to respond. </p>

<p>I'm mainly curious as to how to word that to my employer/recruiter...</p>

11

<p>Sorry but some practical questions: Can you afford to take a year off? How will you support yourself? If you graduate, won't your student loans come due?</p>

12

<p>^I would live at home. </p>

<p>And I don't want a year off. As in a year to bum around or something (though if I had someone else or a few people would consider intense traveling/backpacking, working as I went for more money for food and stuff).</p>

<p>Another year in school wouldn't do anything with loans, just add on to them. Which, though would send me to the negatives (though state school is cheap, as is off campus housing here) instead of making money through first year auditing, whatever... life isn't always about practical financial decisions. </p>

<p>The only other choice for delaying things would be something like Teach For America (or similar programs) which often work well with employers. I'd hope staying in school would be just as welcome.</p>

<p>It's doubtful I just take a year off. I don't need THAT much time.</p>

<p>I just don't have enough time to do what I feel I need to do to satisfy what I feel I need in this next summer. It's pretty restricting. </p>

<p>So, if I stay in school, most likely decision, I'll be able to give myself this summer and next summer.</p>

13

<p>Search for this thread: The Millenial Generation Goes to Work (sorry, I don't know how to put a direct link into a post)</p>

<p>You might want to read this first. You don't want your future employer to think this is you.</p>

14

<p>Ha, I love that article (had already read it in the WSJ). It's very true about a lot of people though. I'd hope my employer doesn't think that of me. However, I feel there is a difference from having a sense of entitlement and wanting to be happy. As long as I convey that at least.</p>

<p>My first post might have came across wrong. I mean, hell, I do understand simply delaying it a few months is a big deal (though would be assuming they'd have training set up for winter graduates) if it didn't coincide with training.</p>

<p>But I think the main thing is, and I don't think ANYONE could disagree here. I am not going to live to work. I don't want to and never will. It's just not me. </p>

<p>So, while I've lived my life recently setting myself to be in a good position for work, I think having some of my own time to satisfy needs of mine is justified. I'm not saying the company with my offer needs to go with it. If they really don't, it's understandable and maybe them not being flexible enough with that means they aren't right for me.</p>

<p>That's how important some of this is to me. It's why, I think, it's offensive when some people above make accusations that I'm being immature or need to grow up and know what the real world is like. I know that I'm not entitled to anything in particular. But I'm sure it's not uncommon for students, especially ones like me (who haven't gotten the chance to spend their summers just hanging out or traveling or only have one last full summer to spend with their brother before he goes to the Marines), to want to experience more than straight to work.</p>

<p>I just don't live for work. I have family, friends, and other goals.</p>

<p>Work will be my whole life. And while the economy is bad, I'm sure I can find something. Accounting is a fairly stable field and if worse came to worse, I don't think it's being entitled when I'm thinking a graduate with my GPA and experience to at least get a chance at another job. </p>

<p>And since you only live once, I know I want to not have regrets. And hell, I am entitled to this. It's my life, lol. </p>

<p>I think the problem with many is they think they can get everything. I only can get what I work for and deserve. So if I worked for a job and got an offer, I deserved it. Do I deserve a delay of a year for more school and what not? Maybe not. It is up to the company. Not my choice. </p>

<p>But I am entitled to enjoying this last bit of my life before being in the work force. And I refuse to live in regret. </p>

<p>So, that's kind of my final thing I suppose. Or my final answer.</p>

<p>Now the next question I have for anyone who is still lsitening...</p>

<p>What is best way to put this to employer/recruiter?</p>

15

<p>I wasn't surprised when I got to the part where you would be living at home because I felt like I was talking to my oldest the whole time I was reading. I think you will have to agree that there is some similarity between your thinking and that of those in the journal story. Two things pop out, wanting the extra year to study whatever and the lack of stress when studying for the accounting exams. It all sounds very cozy and would need a willing parent to make happen. </p>

<p>The reality for most is that their aid isn't going to cover a 5th year and that they need to work will studying to live and do other similarly stressful things continuously throughout a career.</p>

<p>Are you sure you want to be a CPA? It really won't matter what makes you happy at tax time when you'll need to work 16 hour days at times.</p>

<p>Like with my son, it may take your graduating and going to work with no help from parents to get realistic about what life is about to be like unless you have a large trust fund.</p>

16

<p>I'm a CPA in public accounting and the new kids start at various times throughout the year. While I haven't read all of the posts in this thread thoroughly, I think it is okay to ask if you can start in January instead of in August/September. With a Big 4 likely having centralized training, there are probably new-hire (tax or audit) in house training sessions taking place more than once during the year (summer and winter).</p>

<p>Don't wait until a month before you are supposed to start and tell them you are delaying it. Sooner is better.</p>

<p>Most kids study for the CPA exam while working full time. Multi-tasking -- . It's not like the old days where you had to take all 4 parts over 3 days; you can spread it out.</p>

17

<p>I don't know if you have any interest in this, but I know several interns who decide to spend a year in grad school (for accounting or tax). In that scenario, the firms are usually willing to delay their full time offer for a year.</p>

18

<p>But that doesn't solve his problem as he'd be in school when he wants to be adventuring.</p>

<p>It's a tough decision. I'm in a slightly similar position right now and I can't decide about going straight into work. My gut is that you do everything save for the CPA exam. It may be intense, but you'll want that good job later on when you can't seem to get the same opportunities. Traveling and your brother leaving, you can't do these any other time, but you could spread out your studying for the exam over a much longer period to decrease the burden. It's not ideal, but there are definitely worse situations you could be in.</p>

19

<p>Better take that offer now...ALL the Big 4 firms are laying off. Who knows what will happen in a year?</p>

20

<p>My only concern is that you made the decision when you accepted this offer. Now you want to go back on what you told the company for another year of school? </p>

<p>My career office tells a story about a girl who accepted an offer from company X, then got a better offer from company Y and then cancelled the offer she had accepted from X to take Ys. Somehow company Y found out and rescinded her offer, leaving her with neither. Anyway it's just a (TRUE) story told to us to make sure we don't accept offers lightly- its a commitment.</p>

<p>I agree work doesn't have to be you only goal or concern.. but you did choose this commitment when you accepted the offer.</p>