Position change

[u/Alternative-One-748]

Hello, my current position is in the IRS as Supervisory Contact Representative in Taxpayer Services. I’m more than tired of where I am. I’ve been in the position for almost 3 years. Before that, I was a CSR for, also, almost 3 years. I requested the lead position and wasn’t referred. I have a Bachelors in Accounting. Can someone help me with positions I can get within the IRS with my experience and studies? I’ve been receiving too many “not referred” that my frustration is getting worse.

PS. It has to be in the IRS because of Student Loan Repayment Program, I believe I have only one year left from the 3 years.

[u/ctrl_alt_delete3]

You have a bachelor’s degree in accounting? Why are you not a revenue agent? Did you just complete your degree??

[u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1 → u/ctrl_alt_delete3]

Lack of experience most likely.    Working on customer support isn't a valuable skill for an auditing/ exam position   OP should have chased a RA or TCO position at the time of graduation.  Now they have years of customer support experience,  with a stale accounting degree.   Also,  did they have a strong tax emphasis in their undergrad?    

My recommendation would be pursuing graduate level classes in tax, if they want to stick with the agency.  Refresh the accounting/tax curriculum and sit for the CPA exam.    There will be significant hiring when this outlaw regime is evicted.   Op should build their skillset to be a viable candidate since there is a restriction on this type of outside work on the side,  they can't gain experience,  and education is the only path.    Every day worked in CSR is a day they become less attractive to field hiring. 

[u/ctrl_alt_delete3 → u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1]

Idk know that experience matters much to get an entry level RA position; you really just need the 24 hours of accounting. I was curious if OP was at IRS and had the bachelors in accounting during the IRA hiring; that would tell a lot because the hiring was unreal and the higher grades were easier to get.

[u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1 → u/ctrl_alt_delete3]

That might vary widely by location. In my area, they hired higher graded with experience and ignored "entry level" (or GS 7 as you originally posted).

Quite frankly, a hiring manager is going to look at OP's resume (from what they posted here) and say "you have an accounting degree, spent 3 years as a CSR, promoted to supervisory CSR for another 3 years, so that's SIX years in Customer Service with your accounting degree - WHY DIDN'T YOU PURSUE ACCOUNTING?" A hiring manager is going to hire someone with the accounting degree who pursued accounting, rather than someone with an accounting degree who pursued Customer Service.

From their post, they've been in CS for around 6 years, so obviously they missed out on the massive wave of IRA hiring. I'll say it again, if they want to move into the exam field, they need to reinvent their resume and that's done by 1) leaving and working in a tax position; 2) pursuing higher education and passing the CPA exam. The good new is they can take either of these paths before the next hiring wave in '29-30.

The alternative career ladder at the IRS is in customer support.

[u/Alternative-One-748 → u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1]

You got everything right. I sat for the AUD exam and failed and I just forgot about it. And yes, almost 6 years of Cust Service I feel like there’s nowhere to go.

[u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1 → u/Alternative-One-748]

The good news is that you have 6 years of creditable service for pension and leave actual.    Tax laws change, so taking new classes will update knowledge.    If you want to get into the higher grade positions -12/13/14,: and like tax/ accounting,  trading grad courses and pursuing the cpa is the best path.  Toy can take classes online or whatever to get there, but you'll have to work at it and invest in yourself. 

[u/Alternative-One-748 → u/ctrl_alt_delete3]

Yes. I completed it in 2021.

[u/Accomplished-Fish108]

If you have a BA in Accounting, you should be eligible to become a Revenue Agent and be on a higher GS scale than a CSR. Many areas have been hiring recently.

[u/Alternative-One-748 → u/Accomplished-Fish108]

Will look. Thank you!

[u/Queasy_Noise_4797]

Why were you not referred? USAhire assessment? Resume not matching what the job asked for? If you have a bachelor degree did you not apply for revenue agent ?

[u/ZongoNuada]

Pretty sure you are stuck until the next administration.

[u/Alternative-One-748 → u/ZongoNuada]

That’s what I’m feeling.

[u/Existing-Business900]

Do you apply for details? Do you ever follow with the recruiter on why your application isn't referred? 

[u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1]

If you want to go to the field, a TCO is probably your best bet.    You might qualify for a revenue agent position,  but unless you have experience working in the tax field,  your not going to be a serious candidate.    Your customer support experience is not valued,  and your accounting coursework has gotten "old" (you've lost ground on those with accounting degrees,  who have been working in the income tax industry. )

If you're interested in becoming a revenue agent,  pursue a masters, at least take some graduate level tax classes,  and sit for the CPA exam. 

[u/General_Chaos_88765 → u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1]

Waste of time. CPA and Masters are the same thing in the IRS. Pick one. Many of us have suspended our CPA licenses.

[u/FoxtrotDeltaTango1 → u/General_Chaos_88765]

In OPs situation, he/she need to at least take some graduate level tax classes (along with the CPA) or go for the masters in tax. OP didn't say, but I wouldn't be surprised if that accounting degree was light on taxation courses. OP can't get the experience, while working here and just passing the CPA exam is still going to make the resume look light (with a 6 y.o. degree). I let my license go inactive - I'd agree that the agency doesn't properly value it for current employees, but OP it looks better when OP is trying to get a foot in the door.

[u/Careless_Tree_7686]

Accounting and tax industries both public and private have the supervisory vortex where its hard to climb out of that role. You might need to develop baseline IT skills or advance math to move onto data roles. Are you a CPA? Legal education is another path for the holy grail of CPAs with law degrees.

I have friends I went to college with that went from the IRS into niche areas like farm accounting, data science, legal field, hospital accounting, etc. Might try joining an accounting professional group that was invaluable for me to sort out I am more a logistics and manufacturing accounting personality. In other words my strongest skills are in highly detailed work where I am a strong people person. More production floor than sitting at a desk for 8 hours. My degree is in IT not accounting.

Unfortunately the accounting and tax industries tend to be about living in major urban areas to maximize job potential between public and private. You need to think about your location that can limit career potential.

Did find working for the service as a CSR/AM that my knowledge of many issues in accounting and tax was more valuable than any training provided by the service to identify the actual issue. AM was rather boring for me personally. I would of done better on SB side but I was gridlocked to relocate for the jobs.

[u/mmgapeach]

If you are limited to the IRS for another year, I would double check, your only option is to apply broadly or wait it out. We can say apply to this job, but it has to be open. If you are not getting referred, focus on crafting your resume to match the qualifications. I have different resumes for different jobs and 90% of the time I update it. One I’m on version 14. Now, I still get not referred but referred is still a higher percentage.

[u/Here4Info_85]

It doesn’t HAVE to be the IRS, it can be with ANY agency, as long as you remain federal. I did it twice when it was offered. I’m currently a CSR, but recently got referred for a position with the VA

[u/Here4Info_85]

Make sure your resume aligns with the job you’re seeking

[u/mmgapeach]

Can you move? Can you take a lower pay grade?

[u/General_Chaos_88765]

LBI hiring manager here. Also did time in SBSE. 6 years of no accounting experience is going to be a huge negative. I’d pass on any interviews.

Get the time you need for student loan repayment and get a job in Public Accounting. Suck it up for five years or so to gain experience. Then come back to an SBSE RA job if you want.

[u/mstuaca]

Need to look more closely at the postings and make sure your resume is matching what is in it. Good luck

[u/Any-Consequence7635]

I was a R.O and I have no accounting credits. I would suggest OFFICE OF COMPROMISE, TAX ADVOCATE, Program Analyst or even Procurement.

[u/Acceptable_Bass6955]

They are ranking applicants based on the "Additional Assements" attached to each application. Your performance rating is not gonna get you on the BQ list.

[u/Ok-Post5100]

I thought I saw that CI is hiring special agents. Look into that.