In fact I've been ready for a while now. I think the 5-day trip starting on Dec 24 really pushed me over the edge though. (In the company's defense, I did get holiday pay.... not sure if it made up for missing both the holiday and the entire weekend afterward, though.)

Can't even get an interview in my degree field, which is accounting. So much for a "back-up plan!"

I didn't expect it to be easy to switch back. But I expected to have some degree of success by now....

Just venting. No reply required. Bash me all you want if you think I have delusions of entitlement. I won't feel a thing.

 

Go back to school and get a masters in accounting or an MBA.

Skyhigh

 

Jobs are tough to find all across the board right now. Accounting is less of a problem than many other fields, but is not totally immune to the ups and downs.

Do you have any actual experience in the accounting field? Most jobs are going to folks with some level of experience. Also, have you finished the CPA exam? That will be big when you do, if you haven't.

I've busted out 3 of the tests now /w only AUD left. I am taking it 4 weeks from tomorrow (thursday) and will finally be done with it. I won't be ready to enter the job market until April - not the best time I know. But I used to work at a local accounting firm before I quit to be an airline pilot. I've already contacted them and have been told that they do not have any slots available (surprise, surprise) - but I have a good feeling that if I made it clear that I wanted back in, I would be considered strongly for a position considering I worked there for 18 months in the past.

As for me, the local flight school is starting to rebound. In fact, they've asked me to take up some of the overflow, but I declined for now b/c I need to get this CPA off my plate once and for all. The value of sticking to my study timeline uninterrupted outweighs the money right now, in all honesty. But, between CPA job hunting and part time CFI'ing and my lovely working wife, something will give in time - as it will for you!

If all else fails, go back to school. Even though I just finished my 5th year work, if I completely fall flat in finding a job, I'll likely go back for my MBA - but that is a last resort.

 

I finally found a GREAT balanced working life after struggling for most of 2009. Add to that the stress of supporting a wife and a newborn. I went back to my old drafting career and am also employed as a part-time CFI. I get to make money and satisfy the flying urge once in a while. It's not quite what I used to dream of when I first started flying, but it's still great and satisfying nonetheless.

When I originally tried getting back into my old career, it was really tough. It took months of looking for work before finding something that paid decent. Other fields are also struggling. I had to work and get treated as a temp employee before transitioning to full-time employment and getting a raise.

Best of luck to you!

 

Just give it some time, you will find something if you really want to. It took me a couple of years to get in the right place. Although I will be going back to renew my CFI in the spring. You never really "quit". Good luck.

 

Would you (waflyboy or bryris) be interested in helping me while helping yourself? As you know, I am a lawyer, not an accountant. I also am a small business owner for the first time. Although I was able to figure out all the payroll taxes by myself, I would like some help with the very first tax return of my LLC. I am pretty confident of my ability to do our personal tax return, but a business one is daunting.

Basically, I would be your first "client" and hopefully you can build your client base that way. If you'd like to discuss this, please PM me.

 

Thanks to everyone for the encouraging replies. It's good to hear from those who have overcome similar obstacles.

I still only have two of the CPA exams completed. I'm planning to have the last two finished by the end of April. (AUD in Feb and REG in April.) I was originally planning to have them done by the end of 2009, but things got busy with work and the holiday home life... I know, excuses, excuses. I'm more motivated than ever to get it done now, and I have plan to that end.

As the job market has proven very difficult for entry-level people in accounting, I've given the "back to school" option more consideration. I think a masters in tax might offer the "best bang for the buck," and would put me on level ground with other recent grads. I've considered law school, but I have a feeling that might turn out much like flying.... I'd think I'd really enjoy the study of law, but perhaps not the practice of it.

I do fantasize about finding that "perfect balance"..... a nice 9-5, and teaching private pilot to bright-eyed students on perfect Seattle summer afternoons. Realistically, I don't know if I'll ever find that, but there's always hope.

Thanks again for the words of encouragement. Vagabond, I'll send you a PM shortly.

 

You might not find balance in a 9-5... You will likely be working 242 days (8 holidays and 10 vacation days if you are LUCKY) a year and I don't know how Seattle is, but your commute and expected overtime would likely make your day start at 7:30am and end at 6:30pm... I'd recommend getting a teaching certification and get paid a great salary for working 180 days out of the year. That's where it's at. They might complain about how bad they have it, but that is so they can maintain their lavish lifestyle w/ summers off and so no one tries to make them work a full year. Trust me, I have lots of friends who are teachers and they tell me ones who complain out loud are totally full of it. Stay out of the cubicle or office environment. Trust me - it's a prison cell. Plus our accounting department is the most boring place on the planet with the most boring people on the planet. Down in IT, we call it "the morgue." Just some thoughts from my perspective on the other side of the cockpit door.

 

I thought you worked for Dunder Mifflin?

Skyhigh

 

Waflyboy, the prize is in running your own firm. Then, when you work you are benefiting yourself primarily, rather than merely getting a small cut of your billable hours.

For me, I left accounting 8-5 to fly for a living. Ended up being booted out the door by impending furloughs - no jobs are available right now, etc, so the logcial choice was to go back to accounting. I've convinced myself that it is the better of the two roads ONLY IF I can start my own firm in 4-5 years. I'll likely focus primarily on taxation, start small and grow into something reasonable. My whole family are entrepreneurs, so I am no stranger to the lifestyle.

If this proves not to be an option, I have NO interest in accounting and would rather ride the ups and downs of the airline life, honestly. Accounting is a double edged sword and must be approached with thought b/c it'll suck you in and wring the fun out of your life if not careful.

Also, my wife is more or less fed up with me lately, so if we end up not making it, that'll put more eggs back into the airline basket b/c one of the big advantages to the CPA life is that it is more conducive to family life. If family life is minimal, might as well go back to the cockpit.