<form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="the-accounting-rookie-job-market-a-practitioner-s-guide?item=the-accounting-rookie-job-market-a-practitioner-s-guide" id="aspnetForm">
<input type="hidden" name="MSOWebPartPage_PostbackSource" id="MSOWebPartPage_PostbackSource" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_SelectedWpId" id="MSOTlPn_SelectedWpId" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_View" id="MSOTlPn_View" value="0" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_ShowSettings" id="MSOTlPn_ShowSettings" value="False" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOGallery_SelectedLibrary" id="MSOGallery_SelectedLibrary" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOGallery_FilterString" id="MSOGallery_FilterString" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_Button" id="MSOTlPn_Button" value="none" />
<input type="hidden" name="__REQUESTDIGEST" id="__REQUESTDIGEST" value="noDigest" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_DisplayModeName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_DisplayModeName" value="Browse" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_ExitingDesignMode" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_ExitingDesignMode" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOWebPartPage_Shared" id="MSOWebPartPage_Shared" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOLayout_LayoutChanges" id="MSOLayout_LayoutChanges" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOLayout_InDesignMode" id="MSOLayout_InDesignMode" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_OldDisplayModeName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_OldDisplayModeName" value="Browse" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_StartWebPartEditingName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_StartWebPartEditingName" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_EndWebPartEditing" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_EndWebPartEditing" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUBMA9kFgJmD2QWAgIBD2QWBgIBD2QWBAICD2QWAmYPFgIeBFRleHQFbVRoZSBBY2NvdW50aW5nIFJvb2tpZSBKb2IgTWFya2V0OiBBIFByYWN0aXRpb25lcuKAmXMgR3VpZGUgIC0gSEJTIFdvcmtpbmcgS25vd2xlZGdlIC0gSGFydmFyZCBCdXNpbmVzcyBTY2hvb2xkAgMPFgIfAAWdEDxtZXRhIG5hbWU9ImRlc2NyaXB0aW9uIiBjb250ZW50PSJBaW1lZCBhdCBhY2NvdW50aW5nIFBoRCBzdHVkZW50cyBidXQgcG90ZW50aWFsbHkgdXNlZnVsIHRvIG90aGVyIG5ldyBhY2FkZW1pY3MgYW5kIGpvYiBzZWVrZXJzLCBFdGhhbiBSb3VlbidzIGVzc2F5IG9mZmVycyBzdWdnZXN0aW9ucyBmb3IgdGhlIGRpc3NlcnRhdGlvbiBwcm9jZXNzIGFuZCBzdWJzZXF1ZW50IGpvYiBzZWFyY2guIFRoZSB3cml0ZXIgdHJpZXMgdG8gcmVsaWV2ZSBzb21lIG9mIHRoZSBzdHJlc3MgYW5kIGNvbmZ1c2lvbiB0aGF0IGluZXZpdGFibHkgY29tZXMgd2l0aCBjb21wbGV0aW5nIGEgUGhEIGFuZCBmaW5kaW5nIGEgZmlyc3QgYWNhZGVtaWMgam9iLiIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIG5hbWU9InR3aXR0ZXI6Y2FyZCIgY29udGVudD0ic3VtbWFyeV9sYXJnZV9pbWFnZSIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIG5hbWU9InR3aXR0ZXI6ZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iIGNvbnRlbnQ9IkFpbWVkIGF0IGFjY291bnRpbmcgUGhEIHN0dWRlbnRzIGJ1dCBwb3RlbnRpYWxseSB1c2VmdWwgdG8gb3RoZXIgbmV3IGFjYWRlbWljcyBhbmQgam9iIHNlZWtlcnMsIEV0aGFuIFJvdWVuJ3MgZXNzYXkgb2ZmZXJzIHN1Z2dlc3Rpb25zIGZvciB0aGUgZGlzc2VydGF0aW9uIHByb2Nlc3MgYW5kIHN1YnNlcXVlbnQgam9iIHNlYXJjaC4gVGhlIHdyaXRlciB0cmllcyB0byByZWxpZXZlIHNvbWUgb2YgdGhlIHN0cmVzcyBhbmQgY29uZnVzaW9uIHRoYXQgaW5ldml0YWJseSBjb21lcyB3aXRoIGNvbXBsZXRpbmcgYSBQaEQgYW5kIGZpbmRpbmcgYSBmaXJzdCBhY2FkZW1pYyBqb2IuIiAvPg0KPG1ldGEgbmFtZT0idHdpdHRlcjp0aXRsZSIgY29udGVudD0iVGhlIEFjY291bnRpbmcgUm9va2llIEpvYiBNYXJrZXQ6IEEgUHJhY3RpdGlvbmVy4oCZcyBHdWlkZSIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIG5hbWU9InR3aXR0ZXI6c2l0ZSIgY29udGVudD0iQEhCU1dLIiAvPg0KPG1ldGEgbmFtZT0idHdpdHRlcjppbWFnZSIgY29udGVudD0iaHR0cHM6Ly9oYnN3ay5oYnMuZWR1L1B1Ymxpc2hpbmdJbWFnZXMvc29jaWFsL2hic3drXzI2MC5qcGciIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBuYW1lPSJ0d2l0dGVyOmNyZWF0b3IiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IkBIQlNXSyIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzp1cmwiIGNvbnRlbnQ9Imh0dHA6Ly9oYnN3ay5oYnMuZWR1L2l0ZW0vdGhlLWFjY291bnRpbmctcm9va2llLWpvYi1tYXJrZXQtYS1wcmFjdGl0aW9uZXItcy1ndWlkZSIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzp0eXBlIiBjb250ZW50PSJBcnRpY2xlIiAvPg0KPG1ldGEgcHJvcGVydHk9Im9nOnRpdGxlIiBjb250ZW50PSJUaGUgQWNjb3VudGluZyBSb29raWUgSm9iIE1hcmtldDogQSBQcmFjdGl0aW9uZXLigJlzIEd1aWRlIiAvPg0KPG1ldGEgcHJvcGVydHk9Im9nOmRlc2NyaXB0aW9uIiBjb250ZW50PSJBaW1lZCBhdCBhY2NvdW50aW5nIFBoRCBzdHVkZW50cyBidXQgcG90ZW50aWFsbHkgdXNlZnVsIHRvIG90aGVyIG5ldyBhY2FkZW1pY3MgYW5kIGpvYiBzZWVrZXJzLCBFdGhhbiBSb3VlbidzIGVzc2F5IG9mZmVycyBzdWdnZXN0aW9ucyBmb3IgdGhlIGRpc3NlcnRhdGlvbiBwcm9jZXNzIGFuZCBzdWJzZXF1ZW50IGpvYiBzZWFyY2guIFRoZSB3cml0ZXIgdHJpZXMgdG8gcmVsaWV2ZSBzb21lIG9mIHRoZSBzdHJlc3MgYW5kIGNvbmZ1c2lvbiB0aGF0IGluZXZpdGFibHkgY29tZXMgd2l0aCBjb21wbGV0aW5nIGEgUGhEIGFuZCBmaW5kaW5nIGEgZmlyc3QgYWNhZGVtaWMgam9iLiIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzpzaXRlX25hbWUiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IkhCUyBXb3JraW5nIEtub3dsZWRnZSIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzppbWFnZSIgY29udGVudD0iaHR0cHM6Ly9oYnN3ay5oYnMuZWR1L1B1Ymxpc2hpbmdJbWFnZXMvc29jaWFsL2hic3drXzI2MC5qcGciIC8+DQo8bWV0YSBwcm9wZXJ0eT0ib2c6aW1hZ2U6d2lkdGgiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IjI2MCIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJvZzppbWFnZTpoZWlnaHQiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IjI2MCIgLz4NCjxtZXRhIHByb3BlcnR5PSJhcnRpY2xlOnB1Ymxpc2hlZF90aW1lIiBjb250ZW50PSIwMyBBdWcgMjAxNyIgLz5kAhMPDxYCHgdWaXNpYmxlaGRkAhcPZBYCAgEPZBYCZg9kFgICAw9kFgICBQ8PFgQeBkhlaWdodBsAAAAAAAB5QAEAAAAeBF8hU0ICgAFkFgICAQ88KwAJAQAPFgQeDVBhdGhTZXBhcmF0b3IECB4NTmV2ZXJFeHBhbmRlZGdkZGTY3bPzKoWKi/ESEJv/u2c5BR7kyQ==" />

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var MSOWebPartPageFormName = 'aspnetForm';
var g_presenceEnabled = true;var _fV4UI=true;var _spPageContextInfo = {webServerRelativeUrl: "\u002f", webLanguage: 1033, currentLanguage: 1033, webUIVersion:4,pageListId:"{229a3fa1-d23f-4194-af04-83f712f16168}",pageItemId:24, alertsEnabled:true, siteServerRelativeUrl: "\u002f", allowSilverlightPrompt:'True'};//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/_layouts/1033/init.js?rev=0OHTJmtljdkrRniX3Vao7A%3D%3D"></script>
<script src="/WebResource.axd?d=KzYTxvKcuTEp7j51joTea5GVr92AuJ4SL5aQ9QUnLuUrG7rTi8YCbgNYedMwdv6fDwv5Ou7X64HliGCav7hiwmuBylh2hjGhv6JU0lkokc63lAPUBD0MIaMGwGty9ueA82idlgs7ktVQj8-X5TCDW8nNPkA1&t=636767462854137053" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var dlc_fvsi = {"DefaultViews":[],"ViewUrls":[],"WebUrl":"\/"};//]]>
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
function _spNavigateHierarchy(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type) {
    CoreInvoke('ProcessDefaultNavigateHierarchy', nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type, document.forms.aspnetForm, "", "\u002fitem\u002fthe-accounting-rookie-job-market-a-practitioner-s-guide");

}
//]]>
</script>
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" id="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" value="7BAFC84E" />
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.core.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.core.js?rev=7ByNlH\u00252BvcgRJg\u00252BRCctdC0w\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.res.resx", "\u002f_layouts\u002fScriptResx.ashx?culture=en\u00252Dus\u0026name=SP\u00252ERes\u0026rev=b6\u00252FcRx1a6orhAQ\u00252FcF\u00252B0ytQ\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.ui.dialog.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.ui.dialog.js?rev=Tpcmo1\u00252FSu6R0yewHowDl5g\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.ui.dialog.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.ui.dialog.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("core.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fcore.js?rev=Emb5hNX1RZMNXk9oS82yvA\u00253D\u00253D");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _spFormDigestRefreshInterval = 1440000;window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded = new Date(); window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded.setDate(window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded.getDate() -5);function loadMDN2() { EnsureScript('MDN.js', typeof(loadFilterFn), null); }
function loadMDN1() { ExecuteOrDelayUntilScriptLoaded(loadMDN2, 'sp.ribbon.js'); }
_spBodyOnLoadFunctionNames.push('loadMDN1');//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.runtime.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.runtime.js?rev=IGffcZfunndj0247nOxKVg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.runtime.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.runtime.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.js?rev=\u00252B4ZEyA892P3T0504qi0paw\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.ui.dialog.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("cui.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fcui.js?rev=OOyJv78CADNBeet\u00252FvTvniQ\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("inplview", "\u002f_layouts\u002finplview.js?rev=WB6Gy8a027aeNCq7koVCUg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("inplview", "core.js");RegisterSodDep("inplview", "sp.js");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("ribbon", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.ribbon.js?rev=F\u00252BUEJ66rbXzSvpf7nN69wQ\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "core.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "cui.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.res.resx");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "inplview");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.ui.policy.resources.resx", "\u002f_layouts\u002fScriptResx.ashx?culture=en\u00252Dus\u0026name=SP\u00252EUI\u00252EPolicy\u00252EResources\u0026rev=YhBHGmUAGyJ3lAgSdE4V\u00252Fw\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("mdn.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fmdn.js?rev=gwmFFJ2\u00252FfFacqXWAqG\u00252FqKg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "cui.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "ribbon");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.ui.policy.resources.resx");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[

function _spNavigateHierarchyEx(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type, additionalQString) {
    SetAdditionalNavigateHierarchyQString(additionalQString);
    g_originalSPNavigateFunc(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type);
}

g_originalSPNavigateFunc = _spNavigateHierarchy;
_spNavigateHierarchy = _spNavigateHierarchyEx;
var _fV4UI = true;//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("msstring.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fmsstring.js?rev=QtiIcPH3HV7LgVSO7vONFg\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("browserScript", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fnon_ie.js?rev=EVTj1bu32\u00252FMla6SDN\u00252FsNTA\u00253D\u00253D");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var __wpmExportWarning='This Web Part Page has been personalized. As a result, one or more Web Part properties may contain confidential information. Make sure the properties contain information that is safe for others to read. After exporting this Web Part, view properties in the Web Part description file (.WebPart) by using a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad.';var __wpmCloseProviderWarning='You are about to close this Web Part.  It is currently providing data to other Web Parts, and these connections will be deleted if this Web Part is closed.  To close this Web Part, click OK.  To keep this Web Part, click Cancel.';var __wpmDeleteWarning='You are about to permanently delete this Web Part.  Are you sure you want to do this?  To delete this Web Part, click OK.  To keep this Web Part, click Cancel.';//]]>
</script>
</form>

Skip to Main Content

03 Aug 2017Working Paper Summaries

The Accounting Rookie Job Market: A Practitioner’s Guide

by Ethan Rouen

Aimed at accounting PhD students but potentially useful to other new academics and job seekers, this first-person essay offers suggestions for the dissertation process and subsequent job search. The writer tries to relieve some of the stress and confusion that inevitably comes with completing a PhD and finding a first academic job.

Author Abstract

This paper offers guidance and shares collective wisdom for accounting Ph.D. students who will be entering the academic job market. It is divided into two sections. The first offers subjective advice on the dissertation process—from choosing a topic to surviving the inevitable self-doubt—from my personal experience and the experiences of other former job candidates. The second section focuses mainly on factual components of the job market, providing details that will be useful to candidates before they begin the search. It concludes with subjective advice on how to make the job hunt more enjoyable. Both sections are organized chronologically and attempt to be comprehensive, beginning with choosing a dissertation topic and adviser, and concluding with the decision to accept an offer.

Paper Information

Full Working Paper Text
Working Paper Publication Date: July 2017
HBS Working Paper Number: HBS Working Paper, No. 18-008
Faculty Unit(s): Accounting and Management

Trending

- 17 Oct 2019
- Research & Ideas
‘Chick Beer’ for Women? Why Gender Marketing Repels More Than Sells
- 16 Jul 2018
- Research & Ideas
Kids of Working Moms Grow into Happy Adults
- 17 May 2017
- Research & Ideas
Minorities Who 'Whiten' Job Resumes Get More Interviews
- 15 Jul 2019
- Book
Many Executives Are Afraid of Finance. Here's How They Can Gain Confidence
- 04 Sep 2019
- Research & Ideas
'I Know Why You Voted for Trump' and Other Motivation Misperceptions

Ethan C. Rouen

Assistant Professor of Business Administration

Contact

→ More Articles

Find Related Articles

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Interested in improving your business? Learn about fresh research and ideas from Harvard Business School faculty.