[kudawudashuda]

I attended a Meet the Firms event on Monday and got to meet a lot of people from the Big 4. I think I left a good impression because I was able to talk to the campus recruiter for Deloitte who directed me to the audit senior who eventually directed me the audit partner.

So I wrote out thank you emails for everyone I talked to at Deloitte and attempted to connect with the senior associate via Linkedin because I figured I had nothing to lose and I found out he’s also a fellow A71 Ninja. Today the senior accepted my invitation, so now I have a new connection. Upon sending the Thank You email to the partner, he replied back within 2 hours saying that he remembered me from the other night.

I am wondering is this a good sign for a potential first round interview for me? I also believe I made a good impression with the audit manager at KPMG and a good connection with a manager at EY, but so far I have no way to gauge my success. Anyone with Big 4 recruiting experience would be greatly appreciated!

PS: I also have another Meet the Firms on Thursday, but I am thinking if it is wise to withdraw from attending this event because not only is it it very small (Deloitte and McGladrey are the only good firms there), but my studying have been suffering immensely thinking about finding a job, writing emails, and worrying about another interview I have at a smaller firm?

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[Shan]

I always want to join big four actually but it seemed I never get a chance…:(

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[Shan]

I always want to join big four actually but it seemed I never get a chance…:(

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[kudawudashuda]

Update: The Campus recruiter just replied to my thank you email saying she is glad that I connected with the two folks listed above and that “hopes to see me at future recruiting events”

I get a negative vibe from this 🙁

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[kudawudashuda]

Update: The Campus recruiter just replied to my thank you email saying she is glad that I connected with the two folks listed above and that “hopes to see me at future recruiting events”

I get a negative vibe from this 🙁

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[fuzyfro89]

Recruiting is mentally exhausting because you spend all waking (and sleeping) hours thinking of what you will do/how you did after an interview/meeting/social gathering.

Firms typically try to line you up at the events to first speak with associates. If they like you, then they direct you to a manager. If the manager likes you, then they'll direct you to a partner. Seems like you made it past the initial contact. Unless you blew it up like a moron with the partner, you did just fine at the career fair.

It's always good to stay in touch. Linkedin, follow up email, etc. is a good way of showing you're interested. I wouldn't send more than one message before being invited for an interview, because it comes off a bit desperate. Feel free to send another if you get an invite to campus interviews, and maybe even a third if you make it to the office.

In general, focus on really talking to whoever is in front of you and the rest should be fine (assuming your resume is solid). From there, stay in touch and make sure they know you're interested (again, not an email every day). After that, hope you made a good impression and go from there. Good luck!

[fuzyfro89]

Recruiting is mentally exhausting because you spend all waking (and sleeping) hours thinking of what you will do/how you did after an interview/meeting/social gathering.

Firms typically try to line you up at the events to first speak with associates. If they like you, then they direct you to a manager. If the manager likes you, then they'll direct you to a partner. Seems like you made it past the initial contact. Unless you blew it up like a moron with the partner, you did just fine at the career fair.

It's always good to stay in touch. Linkedin, follow up email, etc. is a good way of showing you're interested. I wouldn't send more than one message before being invited for an interview, because it comes off a bit desperate. Feel free to send another if you get an invite to campus interviews, and maybe even a third if you make it to the office.

In general, focus on really talking to whoever is in front of you and the rest should be fine (assuming your resume is solid). From there, stay in touch and make sure they know you're interested (again, not an email every day). After that, hope you made a good impression and go from there. Good luck!

[barelystayingsane]

Maybe I'm just a Nervous Nelly, but I would also caution you on what you post on this thread from here on out. If the Deloitte senior is an active member on A71 and runs across this thread, he may be able to find out who you are by putting two and two together by figuring out which school he was at for Meet the Firms on Monday and whose LinkedIn request he accepted today. Then again, this could very well be a case of “ain't nobody got time for that.”

[barelystayingsane]

Maybe I'm just a Nervous Nelly, but I would also caution you on what you post on this thread from here on out. If the Deloitte senior is an active member on A71 and runs across this thread, he may be able to find out who you are by putting two and two together by figuring out which school he was at for Meet the Firms on Monday and whose LinkedIn request he accepted today. Then again, this could very well be a case of “ain't nobody got time for that.”

[tough_kitty]

Barely might be right but at the same time – there is nothing seriously wrong with this post… (???)

Getting replies is a good sign – I didn't get ANY replies from CPA firms to my thank you emails. But at the same time it may mean nothing else except for them being polite in general.

In any case, good luck!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Barely might be right but at the same time – there is nothing seriously wrong with this post… (???)

Getting replies is a good sign – I didn't get ANY replies from CPA firms to my thank you emails. But at the same time it may mean nothing else except for them being polite in general.

In any case, good luck!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[kudawudashuda]

@Barely As for Deloitte senior, he's a nice guy and he finished his CPA 3-4 years ago, so I doubt he will be lurking around here. I know I'll stop hovering over this forum once I have my CPA.

@ToughKitty Thank you!

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[kudawudashuda]

@Barely As for Deloitte senior, he's a nice guy and he finished his CPA 3-4 years ago, so I doubt he will be lurking around here. I know I'll stop hovering over this forum once I have my CPA.

@ToughKitty Thank you!

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[Anonymous]

Please don't read too much into those response emails.

I think it's awesome that you got connected to the audit partner, ESPECIALLY from an intro from a senior. If the convo was meaningful, (which I can assume it is, since the partner remembers you) then you're probably golden for a first round, assuming your resume is “good enough”.

As long as you made those connections you listed, and your resume is goood enough (GPA + experience/extracurriculars) you should be getting some first rounds.

And don't be discouraged if someone doesn't reply to your thank you emails. It is not uncommon!

[Anonymous]

Please don't read too much into those response emails.

I think it's awesome that you got connected to the audit partner, ESPECIALLY from an intro from a senior. If the convo was meaningful, (which I can assume it is, since the partner remembers you) then you're probably golden for a first round, assuming your resume is “good enough”.

As long as you made those connections you listed, and your resume is goood enough (GPA + experience/extracurriculars) you should be getting some first rounds.

And don't be discouraged if someone doesn't reply to your thank you emails. It is not uncommon!

[kudawudashuda]

@dksmoove

Thanks for some solid advice once again. It just so happens that I'm into the nitty gritty details and that's what got me worried.

I think the most important part about these recruiting event is making that connection or knowing someone who works there. After some thought, I decided to attend another Meet the Firms at my University yesterday, and boy it was the best decision ever. All of the alumni representing Deloitte graduated from my school and I personally knew 3 of the 4 auditors. Our conversation was fun and it was more like catching up.

I decided why not for McGladrey and decided to attack that table too. I knew personally 7 of the 8 folks (yeah that's a lot) who were there so it was again easy just to hand them my resume and have it forwarded to the recruiter.

In the end, I decided to tag along with the McGladrey and Deloitte folks for drinks at Yard House. I think we made a big scene since we had a mix of 25-30 students / professionals all dressed up in professional attire for our party. I am more than ever pumped-up to work for one of these firms and I hope something good will happen soon!

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[Author]

Replies