Navigating the Next Step: Seeking Advice After Graduation

Greetings, readers!

Today marks a significant milestone for me as I celebrate graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Accounting. At 22 years old, I’ve spent the last few years absorbing insights while lurking in various online communities, and I’ve finally decided to take the plunge and share my journey with you all. Now that I’ve completed my degree, I’m on the verge of launching my career, and I could really use some guidance as I embark on this new chapter.

My strategy is to begin applying for full-time Accounting positions around mid to late June. This timeline coincides with a family vacation planned for early June, where I’ll reconnect with relatives I haven’t seen in years. Post-vacation, I’m eager to initiate my job search, starting with local opportunities at my parish in Louisiana, knowing my sister has connections with the public school system here. I’m also considering an upward move within Walmart, where I currently work, aiming to transition from a sales role to an office position.

I invite your thoughts on this plan. Is my approach sound? Given that I have only participated in one interview for an internship last October, I’d love any advice to enhance my job search. Should I pursue all Accounting roles—be they internships, part-time, or full-time—as long as I meet the job criteria? Additionally, I’m concerned about my relatively modest GPA of 3.1. Without any honors or internships, and with my experience primarily at Walmart over the past five years, how much of a hurdle will this be?

What kind of entry-level salary should I realistically expect, and what should I be prepared to negotiate? On a related note, my resume currently highlights my educational background and work experience, but I’m unsure what additional information I should include to better market myself, particularly since I lack extracurricular activities or internships.

I’ve heard from professors and through insights in this subreddit that holding a bachelor’s degree in accounting can truly open doors. Many say that while the first job might not be ideal, it’s a stepping stone that can lead to greater opportunities. My completion of the required 150 credit hours for the CPA exam, combined with my bilingual ability in Spanish (thanks to a minor and several CLEP exams), should give me a leg up. Is this perspective accurate, or is there more to consider?

I apologize for the lengthy post and my myriad of questions, but this topic holds great significance for me. I’m open to any and all advice or insights