engineering/accounting/actuary...really need advice

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I used to work for a new technology company that was run by accountants, it was organised, efficient, minimal politics and how everything was done made sense to me.

My respect for accountants went up immensely.

I really should get on here more often.

Everything DW_a_mom wrote matches my experience. I went into accounting thinking it would be a non-social job where I could deal with a minimum of people, and of course learned it is the exact opposite. I made the mistake of getting too much education [master's degree] and managed to hold on to my first job [big 4 firm] exactly long enough to get a CPA license that I have yet to use. I'm now overqualified for a lot of the jobs out there [and there are nowhere near as many as you would think] and have been unemployed for the past two years.

My Big 4 job was horrible--everything depended on networking and socializing, and my superiors quickly became frustrated with me when I continued to struggle to complete tax returns and working with the preparation software.

If I could go back I would have just gotten an associates and tried to find accounting clerk work.

I've learned the hard way that just because you're good at something in school doesn't necessarily mean you can be successful doing it on the job.

Taxman,

Your post gave me a lot to think about. I have a BSBA and would like to go into accounting. Everywhere I've applied wants a specific degree in accounting, though so I am considering what to do. I had a feeling that going right into a Master's program would be a bad idea for me. You hit the nail on the head when you explained why.

Have you considered taking some introductory courses at a community college? One thing about accounting is that you have enough education to work at accounting clerk/AP/AR type jobs after only a course or two.

I've concluded that is the best way into the field for a lot of people instead of trying to go the public accounting route, particular people on the spectrum or for career changers.

I have already taken 3 accounting courses as part of my Business Degree.

since it is related I would ask what you all think of being a Financial Analyst; if it would work with me, given I have AS.

I am good at research, digging deep and analyzing (or over analyzing) anything!
I have an interest in doing investments.
I can handle and enjoy some degree of people interaction, 75/25 split in terms of solo research v dealing with people.

My big thing is I need a job with predictable structure in terms of what will be done each day, what the hours are, and if they can be steady 9-5, some OT ok but better if it's more on occassion than regular and known in advance.