| As a sophomore in college, I constantly observe many | | | | schooling, you can qualify to take the four-part exam |
| of my fellow classmates worrying about getting a job | | | | and become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). |
| after graduating in May of 2012. Fear of life out in the | | | | Becoming an accountant is not easy, but it is worth |
| "real world" starts to set in as we see jobs disappear | | | | your time and energy if you are interested in the |
| and unemployment rates reach 9.8% due to the | | | | subject matter. One of the most important things is to |
| recession. Our professors are constantly urging us to | | | | find the area of accounting that best suites you. |
| build up our resumes and gain a competitive edge in | | | | The four major accounting fields are public, |
| hopes that it will make us more desirable to companies | | | | management, government accounting, and internal |
| during interviews. Many students worry how they will | | | | auditing. The wide-range of available careers allow |
| pay back college loans, save up to buy a house, and | | | | accountants the opportunity to pursue their particular |
| support themselves if they cannot land a job after | | | | interests. There are numerous specialized jobs in |
| graduation. And let's face it, no one wants to work for | | | | accounting ranging from budget analyst, to loan officer, |
| minimum wage in order to pay the bills after putting | | | | to forensic accountant. An important aspect of |
| themselves through four years of schooling for that | | | | accounting is that it allows individuals to work their way |
| hard-earned degree. Luckily, I am pursuing a degree in | | | | up the corporate ladder through hard work and |
| accounting, which is one of the few fields projected to | | | | experience. A staff accountant can one day become |
| grow in the coming years. | | | | a partner or a CEO as long as they are dedicated. |
| The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that accounting | | | | Salaries for positions vary from an average of |
| is one of the few careers projected to increase in | | | | $43,273 for staff accountants to $79,336 for finance |
| demand in the next five years. Between 2006 and | | | | managers. |
| 2016, the employment of accountants and auditors is | | | | When the average college tuition is $25,143 for private |
| projected to increase by 18 percent. This is faster than | | | | universities and $6,585 for public universities per year, |
| the national average for all occupations. The industry | | | | students start to question if earning that degree is |
| expects an additional 226,000 positions to be created | | | | really worth it. What does an accounting degree really |
| throughout this projection period. | | | | buy you these days? Consider this, the May 2008 |
| Why is this? A major reason for the anticipated | | | | national occupational wage estimates released by the |
| growth stems from the current shortfall in accountants | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average |
| caused by recent modifications in federal regulations | | | | annual income of an accountant or auditor was |
| that are expected to continue through 2014. Additional | | | | $65,840, compared to the average national wage for |
| explanations include the increase in the number of | | | | all occupations of $42,270 a year. |
| business start-ups, more consumers looking to manage | | | | An accounting degree will not only better your |
| their assets, the prevalence of various forms of | | | | chances of getting a job out of college and earning a |
| white-collar crimes and fraud, and new industries | | | | decent salary, but it has the potential to be a career |
| requiring investment guidance and bookkeeping | | | | that allows you to look forward to Monday mornings. |
| activities. It all comes back to the saying that you can | | | | Accounting isn't that stereotyped number crunching job |
| guarantee two things in life- taxes and death. As long | | | | it used to be. With the constantly changing corporate |
| as there are taxes to pay, there will always be | | | | culture, accounting has expanded into many exciting |
| accountants needed. | | | | branches that are in high demand. |
| The high demand and low supply for accountants | | | | My fellow students might be worried about getting a |
| creates a seller's market. This market enables possible | | | | job out of college, which is understandable. This |
| negotiation when it comes to the employee's starting | | | | economy does not make it easy to land your dream |
| salary and signing bonus. Currently, the median salary | | | | job right out of school. However, as an accounting |
| range for accountants and auditors with one to four | | | | major, I know that if I keep a high GPA, get a good |
| years of experience is between $36,329 and $52,007. | | | | internship, and impress those employers at the |
| This range results from differences in the location and | | | | interview, I have a good chance of landing that dream |
| size of the company and the nature of the work. | | | | job of being a forensic accountant before graduation |
| What does it take to ensure a successful accounting | | | | day. An accounting degree is really more than a dollar |
| career? Although you can get a para-professional | | | | amount, it is the ticket to a career in an exciting and |
| accounting position with only an associate's degree, | | | | growing industry where you can advance as an |
| you must earn your bachelor's degree in order to | | | | individual and take pride in the work you accomplish. |
| become an accountant. If you go for the fifth year of | | | | |