[Josh1216]

Hey guys,

I was wondering how someone who went to a small college can get into the Big 4?

Just a little history: I went to a small (very very small, like 50 people) college, majored in accounting and spent a year afterwards passing the CPA Exam. I recently finished an internship at Marcum in their tax department. I was there about 3.5 months.

I’ve been trying for the last 3 or 4 months to get even a response from HR, let alone an interview from the Bid 4. My sister and brother-in-law both work at PWC and I still haven’t gotten any responses.

I was wondering, is it my small school history that immediately eliminates me? Is it that they don’t recruit over the summer months and only start when the colleges are in session? Do I have a shot?

Thanks for any advice in advance!!!!

FAR- 69, 81
REG- 78
BEC- 78
AUD- 82

[Andyred04]

Why can't you just have your sister and/or brother-in-law hand deliver a resume to the office managing partner or other senior mgmt? They're the ones that are going to have the final say on who gets hired anyway so that's your best bet.

FAR 80
REG 87
BEC 87
AUD 96

Primarily Gleim, supplemented with Ninja Notes & Ninja MCQs

Missouri CPA as of January, 2017

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[Mayo]

“I was wondering, is it my small school history that immediately eliminates me?”

Less about “eliminates” and more like your school isn't on their radar. The big 4 firms compete for talent among the top schools, so naturally target schools get the slots allocated. And there are a ton of non-target schools. The firms only have so many recruiting resources, so focusing on targets is what they tend to do.

Is it that they don’t recruit over the summer months and only start when the colleges are in session?

“Recruiting usually depends on the school. But yes, typically it takes place when school is in session.”

Do I have a shot?

Sure. It's just much much harder. You not only need a personal reference who works at the firm, but also you need to dot your i's and cross your t's when it comes to grades and extracurricular activities. Being in a leadership position of a campus organization is a big help.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[acamp]

I think it matters how your family went about submitting your resume. If it was into some internal portal, you likely disappeared in the system. They should reach out to a campus recruiter and tell them that they have an interested candidate who went to a small private college, got X.X GPA (I hope its good), completed all sections of the CPA and are hoping to get an interview with P-Dub. They could even mention a phone interview as thats how non-campus entry level new hires are usually interviewed.

How come you did not get an offer after your internship?

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

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Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Pete]

I'm going to go against the grain on this one. I would take my answer with a huge grain of salt as I have been underemployed for over a year.

Most books advise this, and, in the past, I've had a lot more success taking this piece of advice. DON'T ASK FOR A JOB OR SUBMIT A RESUME; this sounds incredibly counter-intuitive. Instead, you really want to talk to the managing partner directly. First, get your relatives on board with this tactic. You might even want to have them sit down with you to discuss your strategy. Basically, you should ask as many people as you can for an informational meeting or phone conversation at the firm. I personally have had significantly better luck asking people to speak to me, over the phone (people are much more likely to do this); however, it's going to work much better for you, if you can get the person to sit down with you.

The problem with asking for a job or tossing a resume at someone lies in the fact that it puts the person on the spot. The hiring manager likely sits down with some sort of hiring committee and votes on candidates, so he might not have the ability to directly hire you? In addition, if there aren't open positions at the firm, that interaction will end, after the manager takes your resume. You've now cut yourself off from other opportunities, possibly at other BIG 4 firms.

While speaking to the partner/manager, YOU WILL GIVE HIM A MARKETING plan (likely with other BIG 4 firms on it). If you don't know how to build one, look it up. If the partner is too busy to speak with you, try to get another one or even managers to speak with you and follow the same procedure. Your goal is to get as many friends at the firm as you can.

Again, I can't seem to find a job using this method, but it's the best method their is according to numerous sources as well as personal experience in the past.

Also, do you have the 150 credit hours? If not, as I've found out, it's nearly impossible to get a job at a large accounting firm. In my area, they'll sometimes (READ VERY RARELY) hire people without 150 hours, but they'll give them 6 months to get those hours or that person will be essentially terminated; this is stipulated in the contract for my area.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Josh1216]

@acamp I was in an office of 140 people and 120 of them were auditors. My internship started 5 months after they had just hired 4 new people, so I'm pretty sure they simply didn't need any more full time employees. I believe I did a good job and got a lot of positive feedback while I was working there. I'm also not hurt that I didn't get a job there. I don't know how long I want to be in public accounting anyway and it is harder to get a good private job if you're not working at the big 4 (I think).

@ratfus That's something my sister mentioned to me if HR wasn't gonna get back to me. From what has happened so far, it seems as though they don't start looking to fill positions until college recruiting starts. Everything they do is like a year in advance.

If I don't get a job there it isn't the end of the world. I just want to be working and am running out of patience. Studying for the CPA Exam was easier than this job wait/search. It's killing me.

FAR- 69, 81
REG- 78
BEC- 78
AUD- 82

[Mayo]

“I would take my answer with a huge grain of salt as I have been underemployed for over a year.”

Not only do you not know what you are talking about, but your advice is actually bad advice. I'd advise people not to take it. Also, what the hell does a MARKETING PLAN have to do with anything? Is that even a thing?

@josh1216, like acamp said, just get your contacts to speak to a recruiter that they know a good candidate. Big 4 firms take referrals very seriously.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Son]

Mayo, I think Ratfus definitely has a point when it comes to seeking informational meetings/asking people out for lunch or coffee. Big 4 is always hungry for great candidates. If you appeal to the person you're meeting with they would often ask for your resume and inviting you for an interview if it's a good match.

That being said, what is really a marketing plan? And how does it even come into play here? Genuinely interested.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Pete]

Mayo, I will say this, while my method hasn't worked for me, that's more a sign of the economy and my very weak experience. If I had done this, back when I could go for internships, I would be in very good shape. Actually, last year, this strategy GOT ME 2 JOBS (1 in public).

Son, A marketing plan is a document, which shows the companies/firms you are interested in working at; mine primarily contains accounting firms, since I want to go back into public accounting for a few more years (6 months isn't enough time haha). It also contains your skills and future objectives. Unlike a resume, this document is forward looking (showing, where you want to go in the future, not where you've been).

When you go into these “coffee meetings,” you bring the document with you. Towards the end of the meeting, which you prepared for with some solid questions about the firm, you ask the person “do you know anyone else at this company or these other companies, if so could I meet with this person for a similar meeting?” You also want to keep the person you just met in the loop and constantly updated. Unfortunately, this method hasn't worked very well for me, since people seem to be too busy; however, a few have been extremely helpful.

Theoretically, at least, people will notify you about a job, if they like you enough; you shouldn't even need to ask about a job. On the other hand, if you ask for a job and the person doesn't know of one, your relationship ends. Since you didn't establish a rapport with that person, they have no reason to tell you of future jobs or refer you to others. Why would they?

I'll also add this: despite not asking for a job, the person will usually ask for a resume anyways, but at least it's on their own terms. At this point you should stress that you don't expect a job. Some sources even suggest you refuse to provide a resume, but I think at that point providing a resume is acceptable.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Josh1216]

Well I have some good news.

I have a phone interview today with KPMG and hopefully all will go well.

I should soon be hearing back from some other firms. If I don't I'll be sure to let them know that I interviewed with KPMG and maybe that should get their attention.

Since I posted this thread I have been working diligently on getting referrals and making connections so hopefully this will lead somewhere!

Thanks for all the advice guys!

FAR- 69, 81
REG- 78
BEC- 78
AUD- 82

[Anonymous]

So I've got to ask, even though this is off-topic…in your first post, you said you went to a very very small college, like 50 people. Do you mean 50 students in the accounting program, or 50 students total? Or do you mean 50 staff? I've been to some small colleges, and work at a small one one, but this small college is about 1000 students (undergrad plus graduate), I can't picture a college of just 50 students or staff, but just 50 in a program maybe…

[Author]

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