The Cooking Accountant

I Am Not a CPA

2010-06-22T00:04:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately, I did not pass BEC. Not only does this mean that I have to re-take it, but it also means I am not a CPA (I would have been had I passed BEC) and even worse, I lost my FAR credit.

It has taken me a couple of days to write about this. I was really upset when I found out Thursday night. I didn't want to look at anything regarding the CPA exam – no blogs, no forums, no review books.

It hurts twice as much to learn you have to re-take two parts because you failed one. This is reminiscent of when a little girl riding her bicycle hits a raised chunk of sidewalk and goes flying off her bike, landing on the hard cement. But this time, not only does she scrape and bruise her knee and elbow so bad she can barely get up, but the doll she had in the bike basket is now sitting in the gutter. There is no saving the doll from the dirty water and anti-freeze mixture. So now this child has to limp home with a scratched up bicycle and no doll. The scars have faded, although I still see a trace of the one on my elbow.

It hurts but I have to move on and not dwell on this setback. I have to pick myself up after failing BEC and losing FAR. I signed up to re-take BEC at the end of August and I studied for an hour tonight. Slowly, I will get there. I just have to watch out for those raised sidewalks.

Which Will I have to Buy – a CPA Review Book or a Picture Frame for my CPA License?

2010-06-14T21:17:00.001-04:00

This is where I am now - waiting for my BEC grade.

This grade is a pivotal factor - if I pass BEC, I will have finally passed the CPA exam after taking it 10 years on and off (yes, it took that long!). If I fail BEC, I lose my FAR credit (noooo!) and will have to re-take both BEC and FAR. It took me multiple tries to pass FAR so it would be devastating to lose it. I can't imagine having to go through that again, especially at this point in my career.

My words of advice – try to pass the CPA Exam as soon as you get out of school. Become one of those "slackers" who sit in the office unassigned studying instead of asking to help on clients. I used to think they were goofing off - you're being paid to work, not to study. But that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Those of my colleagues who studied passed in a year or two (with some exceptions, of course), while I increased my billable hours. They may or may not be doing as well as me now, but at least they are done with the CPA Exam.

I haven't posted anything in a while because my energy has been zapped between work, studying, work, life, work and work. I like my job and am happy to have it, but the hours have been long the past few months. Instead of writing for my blog, I end up going to sleep early or napping during my commute (I am actually typing this draft into my phone while fighting sleep during my morning commute). Must get ideas out before eyes close.

A few really cool things have happened that I would like to tell you about:

- My blog was mentioned in CGA Magazine in a piece called Blogging by Numbers by Mindy Abramowitz! I am under the category “Accountants-to-be Who Blog” (although I am more of a CPA-to-be since I am an accountant) I am so honored! CGA Magazine is published by the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada. I want to say hi to all my Canadian readers!

- My blog is one year old :) Yay! It all started when I was looking for an outlet while unemployed and trying to pass the CPA Exam. Here are my first few posts.

- My garden is thriving. There were a few casualties though (peppers and eggplant plants) due to too much water collecting in one of the containers. I planted my vegetable plants in pots since the soil in my yard was too hard to dig. The lesson here: Make sure all your pots have drainage holes! I will write more about my garden in other posts.

- I passed REG! I was surprised because I had a really bad experience at the test center even before the test started. I had written a draft about it and will post it soon.

How are you doing? Let me know in the comments! Let me know if you are waiting for your grade in Wave 2 of this April-May testing window as well. Hopefully, we will all receive some good news this week!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for a Cold Day

2010-02-13T17:26:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, I thought I would make chicken soup for dinner. I know it’s not the traditional Super Bowl food, but it was cold where I live and the Mid-Atlantic states were still digging out from that huge snowstorm. I could go for some of this soup tonight!

Instead of watching the pre-game coverage, I was preparing a whole chicken to make chicken soup. I won’t go into details unless you ask, but I will say that cleaning the inside was gross.

For this recipe, I used a chicken just under 4 lbs to feed the 2 of us and have soup and chicken leftovers for dinner the next day. I also used baby carrots so I didn’t have to peel and cut carrots.

Niki’s Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for a Cold Day

Ingredients

- 1 approx 4 lb whole chicken
- Approx 1 gallon of water
- 4-5 stalks celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 1 medium onion, remove the skin (cut in half if you wish)
- Salt
- Pepper or peppercorns
- 3 bay leaves
- Egg noodles

Preparation

Clean your chicken by removing the fat at the neck and bottom openings of the chicken, just underneath its skin. Remove the insides (sometimes they are in a bag that you can just toss or use in another recipe). If it makes you feel better, wear vinyl gloves to do it. Run cool water into the chicken’s bottom opening and let it come out the neck opening. After a few passes, turn it the other way and run water through the neck to the bottom. Do this until the chicken looks clean inside.

Now place it in a pot. I used an 8 quart pot. Fill the pot with cool water up to about 2 to 2.5 inches from the top of the pot (you don’t want to go any higher because the water will flow out once it starts boiling. Bring to a boil and then lower to a medium simmer for 5-6 minutes. You may not agree with me, but I drain off the first boil to get rid of all that fat and gross stuff. My dad is a chef and recommends this method, so my mom and I have been using it and it makes good tasty soup.

Refill the pot with cool water and let it to boil again. Once it reaches a boil, turn down to a medium simmer for 30 minutes. During that time, occasionally skim off and discard the foam that floats at the top.

After 30 minutes, add the celery, carrots, onion, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Let it continue to simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. Occasionally skim the foam off and discard.

When done, remove the chicken and place in a casserole dish. Use a straining spoon to remove all the vegetables and whole spices. Strain the broth into another pot using a large strainer. I emptied half the broth into the other pot and the other half into a large Tupperware bowl for the next day. Leave the Tupperware out for a few minutes to cool off and then place it in the refrigerator partially covered – the heat needs to escape.

Bring the broth you are using to a boil. Once it starts boiling, add your egg noodles. I added half a 12 oz bag of egg noodles and followed the package directions. I also added some pieces of the chicken and vegetables.

There’s nothing like homemade chicken soup for a cold day! What’s your favorite cold day food or recipe?

A Cold Saturday Night

2010-02-06T23:22:00.000-05:00

On this cold Saturday night in February, I am coming back to my blog.

New York was spared from major snowfall today. We just received a light dusting where I live. But it is still frigid outside, so I figure I will take this opportunity to get back to my favorite but recently neglected hobby.

I had taken some time off from posting for personal reasons. It is so sad that the thing that brings me the most joy was the easiest to drop when I needed to find more time for other things important at the time. I feel like my creativity has suffered and I lost touch with the blogging community as I haven’t kept up with my favorite blogs. (I will try to catch up ASAP!)

I am taking REG at the end of the month and have been trying to study. Unfortunately, as I am sure some of you have found, this is not an easy time to study. Calendar year-end close, reporting deadlines, auditors, January month-end close… there were so many things going on at work. Hopefully, next week I can start leaving work at a normal hour so I can have enough time to study in the evening.

I am using my Wiley book and plan to start with Business Law tomorrow. I want to get through a decent amount of material and leave the multiple choice questions to answer during my commute to and from work.

Is anyone else sitting (or have you sat) for a CPA Exam part in Jan-Feb? Have you found it difficult to find the time to study?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T11:35:00.001-05:00

Today is Thanksgiving in the US, so I wanted to wish my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I am making butternut squash as a side dish and will post the recipe tonight or tomorrow. I snuck a taste and it’s pretty good so far!

On another note, someone anonymously posted a comment to my blog which I decided to reject. The commenter incorrectly assumed that the people who commented on my post did not put in the necessary hours to pass. Maybe I didn’t THIS TIME, but how does he/she know how many hours we all studied? Give me a break. This commenter was very negative and I want this blog to be a place where we are comfortable venting about our experiences with the CPA Exam and sharing recipes and cooking techniques.

Negative comments do not help people pass the Exam; all they do is discourage people. I don’t think comments such as this person’s add value to my blog and as such will not approve them.

So to my readers: I don’t care how many hours you study, what counts is the quality of your studying! If you want it, you can do it! We will pass!

Why Can’t I Pass BEC?

2009-11-15T11:26:00.004-05:00

Last night, it was windy and rainy here in NY, so we had a nice dinner at home. I made salmon steaks with rice pilaf. We paired the meal with a delicious Greek dry white wine – Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko-Athiri Santorini 2007.

After a very satisfying dinner and plenty of wine, I wasn't quite ready to jump back in to studying for REG. I checked my e-mails instead and was excited to see an e-mail from Another 71's site announcing that BEC grades were released! I sat for BEC in October and have been anxiously waiting for my grade. I know with BEC it can go either way (that is one deceptive test).

After entering the required info on the NASBA score page, I saw what I thought was a joke - a 68.

Wasn’t that my grade the last time I took it? I re-checked my NTS and I had entered the correct Section ID. Hmm... I checked my grades spreadsheet and saw I had scored a 67 the last time I took BEC. OK so this is definitely my score. Not just a failing grade, but only a 1 point increase.

Was I disappointed? Of course. I was hoping to print out a screen shot of a passing score to hang on my fridge door under the FAR and AUD score screen shots. Was I upset or crying (like the last time I failed a part)? Surprisingly, no. I was confused and wondered what sections I bombed. Nevertheless, the analysis will have to wait until the Candidate Performance Report arrives in the mail next week. What was my reaction then? I calmly logged onto Prometric's site and moved my REG exam from next Sunday to the end of January.

Want to know the reason why I didn't pass BEC?

I don't give myself enough time to study. I always start out strong and end up either procrastinating or something happens to me that moves studying to the back burner (working crazy hours, sustaining an injury). I want to do it right with REG; extra time but no procrastination. I will resume my studying today.

Interestingly enough, this clarity came after several glasses of wine, something that should impair this type of thinking.

Every time I fail, I wonder if this is for me. It’s perfectly logical to question yourself. If you keep trying and failing, you wonder if it's something you should stop pursuing.

I think like this for a few minutes and then I became angry. I am good at what I do. I may not be able to pass this stupid test but I'm not giving up. Why shouldn't I be a CPA? What makes someone who passed the exam any better than me at my job? Nothing! I don't care what anyone says. I will be a CPA in 2010!

Anyone else receive a failing CPA Exam score from this Oct-Nov score release? Feel free to vent in the comments. You are not alone! We can do it next time!

Smoothies

2009-10-06T23:37:00.001-04:00

Last week at the supermarket, we picked up a bag of frozen peaches to make the smoothie recipe on the back of the package. It was funny because my husband expected something more like a Wendy’s Frosty (like a dessert); while I anticipated a healthy blended fruit and yogurt drink (not as thick).

The smoothie was thick (I read online that the frozen fruit is what produces a thicker smoothie than fresh fruit) and tasted strange but healthy at first (so we were both technically right). But as I kept drinking it, I started to actually like it. It was made with the frozen peaches, yogurt, honey and a splash of orange juice.

I haven’t had that many smoothies, but now I find myself craving them. On Sunday, I became desperate and created one using yogurt, milk, honey and applesauce. It was interesting, but I don’t think I would want it any time soon.

Do you like smoothies? What ingredients are in your favorite?

Hang in There!

2009-10-01T00:07:00.003-04:00

I just got home from work and I know a few of you (maybe more than a few?) are also working late and will continue to work late this week due to a quarter close. Some of you (like me) are at the same time studying for the CPA Exam. Hang in there!

I am currently studying for BEC. This will be the 2nd time I am taking it. I was able to do Business Structure questions on my commute to and from work on Monday and Tuesday, but today I napped on the way in and couldn't study on the way home. Tomorrow morning, I plan to start doing IT questions. I already know I will be working late tomorrow night, so I doubt I will have time to study. I tried to plan my studying in advance, so I am not disappointed – any studying that I can squeeze in will be great.

I have found the following to be good ways to study during work (I should say work breaks):

- Bring your book and lunch to work so you can easily study and eat lunch at your desk or work cafeteria, outdoors bench, etc.

- Bring note cards or notes written on regular paper (a legal pad is even better) that you can leave on your desk to glance at and it will look like you are working (sneaky but effective)

- E-mail yourself notes in Word that you can open on your computer, read, and think about (good for memorizing definitions)

- Try to structure what you are studying with what you are doing at work. For example, if you have to create a capital lease schedule, read that chapter in your FAR book and use a GAAP guide for more details. I have found this effective since you learn by doing.

The most important thing is to only show your book when it is clear you are on a break (lunch or otherwise). You don’t want people to think you are studying when you should be working. Your superiors want you to pass, but won’t be thrilled if you study on company time.

I also wanted to let you know that I have written a handful of posts but haven’t had time to post them. It’s amazing how I can write these things fairly easily, but I can’t get to my computer. I have posts written in my phone (in Word mobile), on scraps of paper in my purse, and in a journal notebook. I have to get them posted! I also have a delicious soup recipe that I made last week.

How are you dealing with a crazy work/school and study schedule? Feel free to vent!

Love Bites and Bars

2009-09-21T23:05:00.005-04:00

I had a Love Bite with my lunch today.

No, it’s not what you think. A Love Bite is this tiny snack bar (half of a Love Bar) Pret sells that in their words is “packed with dark chocolate, coconut, almonds, walnuts, chopped dates and raisins.” From what I see, the bottom consists of a crumbly soft graham cracker base with a condensed milk layer over it. On top are nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, raisins and the other goodies.

Even though the list of ingredients sounds like way too much sweetness for one snack, you can’t help but be drawn in by the clever name. I remember it tasted a little too rich the first time I had one, but now I look forward to having one after lunch as a mid-afternoon snack. I have thought about trying to replicate the recipe, but it looks like too much trouble for a snack.

Please excuse the pic; I took it with my cell phone (after I took a bite out of it!).

What is one of the most cleverly-named snacks you've tried?

I’m Back!

2009-09-19T23:02:00.004-04:00

I want to apologize to my readers because I haven’t posted in a while.

For a little more than a month, I put in long hours at work due to a special project, severely limiting the amount of free time I had. I dedicated any extra time to studying for REG, but it was really difficult. Those hours weren't quality study hours since they were first thing in the morning while I was half asleep or late at night when I should be sleeping.

Two weeks before the CPA Exam, I was so frustrated that I began to debate whether I should even bother taking REG and wrote:

As I am sitting on an evening train home from work on Friday night, I am having a difficult time focusing on REG. I am so frustrated that I’m using the loose leaf scratch paper I was solving REG questions on to write this post to vent.

I never got a chance to post it, but it was good to let the frustration out through writing. I decided to commit to studying so I could pass REG. I started doing more questions and made a lot of progress.

I was on a roll, so of course something had to happen to derail my efforts. I sustained an eye injury at the worst possible time for studying but the best for work. It prevented me from making that final push to study at the end and from sitting for the Exam. The timing was fine at work because I was helping lead training sessions so I had a nice break from the computer.

I am fine now and since that project at work has wound down (at least for the time being), my work hours are more normal. Hopefully, my brain will resume thinking creatively so I can write more often.

Non-Recipes: The Result of Studying and Working Late

2009-07-26T23:13:00.003-04:00

The lack of recipes I have posted in recent weeks is a direct result of working late hours and trying to squeeze in studying for the CPA Exam. I don't have time to make anything that takes more than a half hour – total. So that rules out most recipes.

We don't really like eating takeout or fast food, so I have been making “non-recipe” dinners. These meals are basically ideas I want to share in case there are any other CPA EXAM candidates, students or anyone who doesn't have the time to cook but craves something better than a frozen entree (although, I have to admit, some frozen entrees are OK).

I had a craving for seafood one night last week and decided to make something with the frozen shrimp I had on hand. I sautéed the shrimp in sesame oil with garlic salt and frozen sugar snap peas. Served over Uncle Ben's Fried Rice, it was delicious.

Last night, I made my version of the sausage and peppers that they sell at Mets games. I grilled Premio Sweet Italian Sausages on my George Foreman Grill. When they were almost done, I started sautéing half an onion and some frozen sliced bell peppers with salt and pepper. I served the sausages in hot dog buns (hoagie rolls would be better) and topped them with the peppers. They tasted similar to the ones at the game.

What is your favorite “non-recipe” dinner?

My Guest Post on Roger CPA Review Blog!

2009-07-20T21:55:00.004-04:00

I have some very cool news:

Today, the awesome people at Roger CPA Review posted an article I wrote about breakfast ideas for the morning of the CPA Exam.

I am so excited about doing this guest post and urge you to check out their blog for information to help you with your CPA Exam studying. I am currently using their CRAM for REG and am very impressed. Hopefully, it will help me pass :-)

CPA Exam Study Music

2009-07-06T23:18:00.000-04:00

It's not my thing to write music reviews, but I had to share this with you.

I'm not really into rock music but my friend told me about this underground NY band S.T.E.M. I downloaded their album on iTunes and listened to it on the train to work. Amazon also has their album.

The music is really energetic and complex. The lyrics are seriously well thought out and cerebral. The lead singer's voice is so full of emotion. I thought Wow! I definitely recommend hearing the snippets on iTunes.

I thought their description on their site was cool:

S.T.E.M. (Space, Time, Energy and Mass) is a Progressive/Hard Rock band hailing from Long Island, NY. Paying homage to the influential greats whom defined Progressive Rock, S.T.E.M. manages to incorporate unconventional time signatures with heart pounding rhythms and mind accelerating lyrics yielding prolific thought by composition. By fluidly mixing elements of Mediterranean Soul, Funk and purist American metal, S.T.E.M. convincingly redefines the rock experience with the unique flavor of their arrangements and colorful harmonic progressions.

I can tell you from experience that it's a great album to listen to while working REG multiple choice problems on the train to work ;)

What do you listen to when you study?

I’m Lovin’ it!

2009-06-30T21:20:00.006-04:00

I was so excited to find out last week that Melita @ Gussying Up the Tuttle gave me the "Love Ya" blog award. I actually wrote a post about it last week but it somehow got overwritten while transferring it from my PDA to my computer!

About the award: "Apparently this award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I would like to pass on this award to the following 8 bloggers:

- Alecia @ Through Her Eyes - You always leave a kind comment on my posts and I enjoy reading your blog.

- Jennifer @ Pink Heels - Your comments are so encouraging and your blog is inspiring to women like me.

- Jr Deputy Accountant - Although I don't always agree with you politically, I love reading your blog since your posts are insightful and amusing. You have seriously been like a mentor to me.

- Accounting Elf – I am following your CPA Exam journey and am rooting for you to pass!

- Smart Cookie, CPA (to be) - I assume you have been busy studying for the Exam, so I wish you well and hope you pass!

I have just recently discovered these 3 ladies' gorgeous blogs and look forward to reading more:

- Boubou Teatime
- Plush Palate
- Simply Seductive

I have great news!

2009-06-23T00:30:00.002-04:00

I passed AUD with a 79!

I also received the "love ya" blog award from Melita at Gussying Up the Tuttle! Thanks Melita!

I will write more about both tomorrow (I need sleep!).

Finally on Twitter!

2009-06-14T17:37:00.002-04:00

I was aware that fellow bloggers were using Twitter, but I was always hesitant to get in on the action myself. I didn't think I would have anything relevant to Tweet about. I strongly doubted that people would want to hear Tweets about studying or cooking.

This all changed yesterday after running into a friend who had attended the Twitter 140 Conference recently. He raved about it and insisted that Twitter was the best way to network with people who have similar interests. I told him about my blog and he urged me to start Tweeting. I thought about it all evening and when I got home I signed up. I am hooked!

It seems like an easy way to let people know what you are up to without writing a long post. You can also keep up with the lives and interests of fellow bloggers. After all, isn't that the main reason for reading, writing and commenting on blogs?

Now I have to figure out who to follow and if there is a cool Twitter app to use on my smartphone. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

What Happened to Studying for REG?

2009-06-09T23:20:00.002-04:00

You may recall that at the end of April, after taking Audit, I was ready to start studying to re-take Regulation. I had planned to sit for REG near the end of May, giving me approximately 4 weeks to study. Of course, nothing goes as intended (especially within such a tight timetable). I got sick (severe sinus issues) and had interviews, and as a result, I didn't get much studying done.

I rescheduled the exam for mid-July, which seems so far away. That’s why I have been procrastinating! It also doesn't help that I didn't receive my Audit grade yet – it has been 1.5 months already!

Since I will be starting my new job soon (some good news!), I have to get as much studying done as I can in the next couple of weeks. I have access to the Roger Online Cram (I watched 2 classes and they were really engaging!). I hope it will be give me those extra points I need to pass (I failed by 9 points last time). I also have the Yaeger Home Study course from when I last took REG in January. I will use it as an in depth review for areas I am not as confident with. I have the 2009 Wiley book as well.

I have to stop delaying and start studying!

I always seem to have problems getting and staying motivated to study. How is everyone else doing with their studying (CPA Exam, GMATs, anything)? Let me know!

Creative Wedding Food

2009-06-07T12:05:00.004-04:00

We attended a family member’s wedding the other night and had a fantastic time.

Everything was amazing, but the most impressive aspect was the food. I couldn't wait to try it since I knew the event would be catered by a well-known caterer who specializes in creative cuisine.

In addition to the cocktail hour stations (which were not the usual sliced roast beef and ziti in tomato sauce), waiters passed around trays of food which were ingeniously presented (for example, blanketed frank lollipops stuck into a bed of grass - yes, grass). We had a delicious lobster soufflé to start. I had truffled sea bass on wilted spinach as an entrée, while my husband had peppercorn crusted beef.

I wanted to share a picture of the dessert. It was a banana semifreddo encased in a chocolate curl along with a tower of vanilla and chocolate ice cream topped with crunchy banana. When I cut my fork into the ice cream tower, chocolate sauce oozed out. Mmmmm so good!

Shrimp for a Quick Dinner

2009-05-31T15:51:00.006-04:00

Friday evening, I came home later than expected (long day of running errands, no job yet) but still wanted to make shrimp for dinner. I had a bag of frozen, cleaned and deveined shrimp in my freezer; so all I had to do was defrost them in cold water for 2 minutes.

I found a recipe online at Epicurious called Greek-Style Shrimp. Being Greek-American, I thought I would try this recipe since the ingredients and preparation were similar to something my mom would make with fish (she would bake it though). I adjusted the ingredients and the preparation for my purposes, but you can check the link above for the original recipe (they use white wine, which I plan to add next time).

Shrimp with Tomato Sauce (2 servings) (Adapted from Epicurious' Greek-Style Shrimp recipe)

Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ small onion, chopped
- 1 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes (including the water in the can)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 3/4 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled, deveined

Preparation
In a skillet large enough to hold everything, heat the oil.
Add the chopped up onion and sauté for 5-6 minutes until it becomes translucent.
Add the tomatoes and sprinkle in the oregano, salt and pepper.
Simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
Add shrimp and stir until opaque and pink, 3 minutes. Try not to overcook the shrimp, or they will be rubbery.
Serve with rice (we served with white rice).

We enjoyed this dish and would make it again. Let me know if you liked it!

CPA Exam Score Release (aka How to Torture a CPA Exam Candidate)

2009-05-23T11:21:00.040-04:00

Yesterday I found out through my NASBA State Coordinator that they did not receive my grade from the AICPA yet. This means I have to wait until June, even though I sat for the Exam during the 1st wave score release date range of April 1 through May 8.

For anyone going crazy wondering when they will receive their score, here is a chart I received from my NASBA state coordinator:

The following chart provides approximate score release information.

Testing Month	AICPA Releases Scores to NASBA	Scores Reported to Candidates
January	3rd week of Feb & 2nd week of March	February or March or April
February	2nd week of March	March or April
April	3rd week of May & 2nd week of June	May or June or July
May	2nd week of June	June or July
July	3rd week of Aug. & 2nd week of Sept.	August or September or October
August	2nd week of September	September or October
October	3rd week of Nov. & 2nd week of Dec.	November or December or January
November	2nd week of December	December or January

Please note that candidates who test on the same day may receive scores at different times due to differences in necessary quality control procedures.

Error: Score not found

2009-05-22T09:51:00.005-04:00

I really hate that phrase.

For the past 3 days, I had been compulsively checking for my Audit grade. I tried to stay away from the computer (read a library book, looked through cookbooks, washed pots and pans, found something to organize). These things kept me busy for 15-20 minutes (organizing the closet took a little longer) and then I was back on NASBA’s website. I have stayed up past 1AM for 3 nights straight checking for that elusive grade. Then I wake up early the next morning to check again!

I needed to put an end to the seemingly endless waiting, so I called NASBA this morning to see if they have my grade. The NASBA rep gave me a canned response that grades are posted as soon as they are received. I asked her if she could check if I would receive my grade in the 1st wave of score releases or in the 2nd wave. She said she couldn't do that and that my score would be released some time from now into June. Not much help.

I decided not to check NASBA’s website anymore (easier said than done) because my grade might not come out this wave. I would be wasting my time. Sometimes I feel like waiting for my grade is harder than taking the CPA Exam! Does anyone else share these frustrations?

Even MBAs Can’t Find Jobs

2009-05-20T16:59:00.004-04:00

After sadly putting aside countless job postings that require the applicant to be either a CPA or MBA (or sometimes both) and complaining on this blog about how unfair it was (I felt my work experience should out-weigh the fact that I don’t have either yet), I found something interesting.

I stumbled upon a collection of blogs on the Wall Street Journal‘s website called Laid off and Looking where 8 unemployed MBAs write about their difficulties in finding a job.

From a quick scan of their bios, I saw that one of the job-seekers was a former CFO. The CFO wrote that companies were turned off by the fact that he had worked at too many places in his 28-year career. How ridiculous that they thought 5 companies were too many! Companies go through so many transitions (being acquired, CEO changes) that sometimes create turnover in top executive spots. The hiring company shouldn't have dismissed this person because of something like that.

I think the rest of us that are unemployed may run into the same problem in the future. Right now, people understand the situation because of the economy and the job market. But I don’t think employers will be as understanding in a few years.

If someone was laid-off after working at a company for 1 or 2 years, will it look like the person was job-hopping? What if the same person found a job at another company and that company had layoffs after 6-8 months? – sadly, I have seen this happen to quite a few people. Will this situation cause a potential employer to question our loyalty?

It’s fine if you can get in the door and explain your situation during an interview. The problem is, if your resume is rejected, you won’t even have that chance. What do you think?

Still Waiting...

2009-05-20T10:56:00.002-04:00

Just in case you were wondering, I'm still waiting to hear back about that job and my Audit grade. Hopefully, my grade will be posted this week.

Veal Scaloppine with Lemon

2009-05-19T21:03:00.002-04:00

I don’t cook veal cutlets as regularly as chicken cutlets, but when I do, I like to use Marcella Hazan’s recipe for Veal Scaloppine with Lemon from the book Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. The tender veal scallops taste so delicate covered in the lemon and butter sauce.

I actually found veal scaloppine on sale for $10/lb (usually I buy veal cutlets and tenderize them) so I made this dish for dinner this evening. Unfortunately, we were so hungry that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the dish before the food was devoured!

I would like to share the recipe with you (I assume I have to get permission to post the recipe), so here’s a link for Veal Scaloppine with Lemon. The instructions are paraphrased, so they're not as detailed as Marcella Hazan’s, but the ingredients are the same (except they omitted the flour on a plate).

Some tips I've learned from the book and from my experiences making this recipe:

To tenderize the veal (if you didn't purchase it tenderized by the butcher), I place the veal between a folded sheet of plastic wrap and hit it with the meat tenderizer. Instead of just pounding the veal, I hit it and draw the tenderizer towards me. This stretches out the veal. You don’t want to rip it apart, just get it thin and flat
I follow Marcella’s advice to dredge the veal scallops in flour right before putting them in the pan; any earlier and the flour will become soggy
After taking out the veal, I like to put my drained spaghetti into the saucepan to mop up the remaining sauce before adding it to the plate

I will post a picture and link to this post next time I make Veal Scaloppine with Lemon. What’s your favorite veal recipe?

Waiting in Agony

2009-05-12T13:14:00.002-04:00

I am waiting for 2 things – my Audit grade and a potential job offer. One is driving me insane and the other has become an afterthought.

Surprisingly, the wait for the job offer is what’s killing me (I actually had to make a note in my planner to remember to check my Audit grade). Usually, I desperately want to know if I passed or failed on a part of the CPA Exam. I can’t focus on studying for the next part I’m taking because I check my grade a hundred times a day. This time I gave the test my best shot and whatever happens, happens.

Generally, the interview process goes by quickly – I like your company, one of the recruiters I’m working with (or I) sends you my resume, you like my resume and ask me to come in for an interview, we meet, then we decide if we are right for each other. The first interview is like a blind date where both sides want to put their best face forward and at the end of the first meeting conclude if this connection should go any further. Even though we both look good on paper, you might not like me or I might not like you. Yes, it is possible for a job candidate to reject a job (instead of the other way around). I understand it’s not a job candidate’s job market, but I still believe you should be happy with the company and the people you would have to work with.

This job is a different story because I feel like I invested so much into interviewing, in terms of effort, time and money. I wanted to guarantee I would get this particular job. I had to endure 3 interviews (with long waits between each) and bring my “A game” each time. I had to purchase a 3rd business suit and travel into the city (both pricey when you are unemployed). But the most work was on practicing how I could convey to them that my skills and experience are what they are looking for. No more being humble and letting my resume speak for itself; I had to sell. I was determined to be THE candidate.

When you go on an interview, you have to show the interviewer, who may be your potential employer, that you really want to work there (without sounding desperate) and that hiring you would be the best decision they ever made. In order to project this, you have to convince yourself first. On the train ride to the city, I would read my notes on the company and have conversations with myself (in my head, not out loud). I would ask myself what my strengths and weaknesses are. I would then come up with a “30 second pitch” summarizing what I bring to the table and how I can help them with the challenges they are facing now and in the future.

As I stood outside the building before each of the 3 interviews at this company, I told myself “I have to work here. I NEED to work here.”

Hopefully, they will feel the same way.