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I figured what this forum needed was another thread talking about a career change, so I thought I would add this one to the mix...
My undergraduate education was in public policy and economics and grad school was for urban planning. I've been working in the public sector since 2005 first as a social worker and then in market research for the economic development agency of a lare municipality for the past four years. However, because of the economy and lowered property tax revenues, promotions and advancement in my current office are basically non-existant. Even cost-of-living and step raises have been axed and I now make less than I do when I started because of pay cuts over the past few years.
Not much development is occurring in the area so local planning, architecture, and engineering firms are not hiring and when they do post a position, they generally get a few hundred applicants (even for positions that are only being advertised by word of mouth).
For the past few months, I've been considering going back to school in the evenings for a third undergrad degree, this time in accounting, with a final goal of taking the CPA exam. I've already had a few accounting classes in undergrad, as well as stats and a few other courses. I've been accepted into a few programs locally that would have me starting in March or May (depending on where I decide to go). I would not be quitting my current job and since I have basically all of the core classes done, I would be finishing up in about three years when I am 35. And luckily, I can get about 85% of the degree paid for through a tuition reimbursement program at my current employer. I'm not looking to make a career of it at a Big 4 but am more interested in regional mid-tier firms or a few specialized industries.
I guess the question at the end of all this is..
Is 35 too old for the world of public accounting when just starting out? I know that the new hires each year are probably mostly between 23 and 28 or so. Once I go in for interviews, are they going to look at me and just say, "You're too old. Next."?
My undergraduate education was in public policy and economics and grad school was for urban planning. I've been working in the public sector since 2005 first as a social worker and then in market research for the economic development agency of a lare municipality for the past four years. However, because of the economy and lowered property tax revenues, promotions and advancement in my current office are basically non-existant. Even cost-of-living and step raises have been axed and I now make less than I do when I started because of pay cuts over the past few years.
Not much development is occurring in the area so local planning, architecture, and engineering firms are not hiring and when they do post a position, they generally get a few hundred applicants (even for positions that are only being advertised by word of mouth).
For the past few months, I've been considering going back to school in the evenings for a third undergrad degree, this time in accounting, with a final goal of taking the CPA exam. I've already had a few accounting classes in undergrad, as well as stats and a few other courses. I've been accepted into a few programs locally that would have me starting in March or May (depending on where I decide to go). I would not be quitting my current job and since I have basically all of the core classes done, I would be finishing up in about three years when I am 35. And luckily, I can get about 85% of the degree paid for through a tuition reimbursement program at my current employer. I'm not looking to make a career of it at a Big 4 but am more interested in regional mid-tier firms or a few specialized industries.
I guess the question at the end of all this is..
Is 35 too old for the world of public accounting when just starting out? I know that the new hires each year are probably mostly between 23 and 28 or so. Once I go in for interviews, are they going to look at me and just say, "You're too old. Next."?