Hey CF. I am graduating in a couple weeks recently got a job with a company in Oklahoma City and I will be moving there in a few months. My significant other has decided that she wants to move to OKC with me so that we can begin our lives together. She is also graduating in a couple weeks with an accounting degree. If any of you could give some advice on what the best methods for job searching for entry-level accounting positions in OKC it would extremely appreciated. She has a solid resume with good internship experience with one of the Big 4 accounting firms. So far we have looked on careerbuilder for positions but I feel there are many other avenues that we are not taking advantage of right now. Thank you so much for anyone that can offer some advice.
Post a pic of her first. But seriously tho, does she have any prior experience? Internships and such?
network your way into the oil companies (like Devon) and the Big 4 firms throwing her resume onto websites is usually a waste of time
ConocoPhillips and Phillips66 have big presences in Oklahoma also. Unfortunately, they hire in the fall mainly. There should be big 4 firms she can look in too as well.
Staff accountants are in high demand specifically with big four experience. Heck EY probably has an OKC branch.
She is currently trying to get into grad school but also looking for career opportunities at the same time. The problem with trying for the Big 4 currently is that she is graduating with he Bachelor's right now so she is not CPA eligible yet.
She may get a few hits here and there. However, she will get a much better response, after she has moved to the area. It's also much easier to network with other people and meet alumni that have already made the move. She can check her university's alumni network for OKC transplants or local alumni networks.
I think MSA is a scam. The degree does nothing but add 40k in debt. I got my upper level accounting classes through HCC at 1/10 the cost. I am currently studying for my second section of the CPA exam. I think she is better off getting the classes she needs on the cheap and then cramming for the exam rather than grad school. Showing up at a job interview with all CPA portions passed is much more valuable IMO than a candidate who has an MSA and only elligble to sit for the exam.
Find the Oklahoma version of the Book of Lists published by their local Business Journal, get a decent resume and cover letter put together and start shotgunning. It's not so much a waste as it is numerically inefficient, but you don't get jobs by not applying for them. Alternate to acquiring the BoL you could also do a Google search for "largest employers" in the town or state, either a City government or Chamber of Commerce site should pop up. You could also search for Charity Fun Runs in the town and look at all the corporate sponsors.
Largest Employers: http://www.greateroklahomacity.com/index.php?src=directory&view=employers Largest Banks: http://bankbrief.com/city_results_by_assets.php?cbsa=36420 Largest Investment Firms? http://investment-advisors.findthebest.com/d/d/Oklahoma/Oklahoma-City Otherwise as bigtexx advised, oil and gas: OGE Energy, Chesapeake et al, are your girlfriend's best bets. Hospitals always need accountants, budget analysts and billing specialists; IT firms always need procurement people and business analysts. Department stores and manufacturers need buyers/procurement/supply chain people as well.
Also, go to the career services sites for any colleges in Oklahoma City and try to find out which companies recruit professional jobs and have offices there.
Agreed with oil and gas. Chesapeake, Devon, NOV, among others. Sonic is huge in OKC, also. OKC is a great city and is growing pretty quickly. Good luck.
Thanks everyone the help has been great and we will keep looking and hopefully something will materialize sooner rather than later.
