u/ImpressionFun8053

I graduated from an online school and missed traditional campus recruiting. I've applied to a lot of public accounting firms (big and small) and keep getting rejected.

I'm thinking about focusing on passing the CPA exams before applying again. Will passing all four actually make firms take me seriously? Will it get rid of the stench of an online degree and make up for missing traditional recruiting? Or is my time better spent another way, like starting in industry or networking harder?

I have an accounting degree from an online school, so I never had real networking or campus recruiting. I did one season at H&R Block, and I had a contract junior accountant role through Robert Half that paid about the same as my old hotel front desk job. The recruiter stopped responding after the contract ended.

I have free access to CPA prep, but between passing all the sections, getting the experience requirement, and finding someone to sign off, I'm looking at a long road. Meanwhile I can't even get an entry-level offer.

My thinking is that the EA is faster to get and might make my resume stand out, especially for tax roles. But I also know a lot of people see H&R Block and seasonal prep as low-end, so I'm not sure if leaning into tax helps or hurts.

Would an EA meaningfully improve my chances of getting hired, or would it be a distraction from the CPA? Any advice is appreciated.