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