[Anonymous]

Hi friends,

For the purpose of getting an internship, just wondering how difficult it is to get into a Big4 office in places like Chicago? I really wanna go into tax services with a Big4 firm in Chicago. I know it is competitive, but no idea how competitive it gets when you have your MAcc (from a less-known public school) and CPA exam all passed. Thanks much for answering!

[Monkey Wrench]

I would probably try to and in for a full time staff if I were you. If your gpa is good enough for an internship it's good enough for full time.

[fuzyfro89]

Usually they do not want interns unless you still have another year before you are CPA eligible. Interns are a big loss leader for the firms. It's basically an expensive way to recruit talent for full time.

If you're done with school and have the exams behind you… they'll wonder why you're not applying for full time.

To answer your question, it shouldn't be too difficult. You don't have your school's career center at your disposal, so that means you'll have to network and apply on your own. However, having your exams done is a huge accomplishment and should help you a lot.

[GSU-CPA]

I will probably be trying to do the same thing here once i complete my CPA exam.

My question is … if i get hired on full time with my CPA exam will i still get the $5000 for passing the CPA. I am guessing not so i am thinking i should start applying when i have 2 maybe 3 exams already passed so that way i could possibly get that $5000 bonus.

Also do they start you off with alot more money if you have your already got your CPA license rather then if you start working there without having your CPA license.

REG-77
BEC -Waiting on score May 5th
AUD - May 30
FAR - Q3 depending on if i pass above two in Q2

[Anonymous]

@Monkey Wrench:

Thanks for answering! I would be happy to apply for a full-time, but I heard that most of the full-time positions are hired directly from the intern pool at big4. That's why I thought maybe I should start from an internship (easier to get my foot in the door, maybe?).

I am not done with my master's yet (not until at earliest this December), my GPA is 4.0 so far. The only thing I am worried about is the school I am graduating from. It is not famous/private/internationally-famed, it's just a regional public university. I am not sure how big of a role the school's reputation would play in terms of hiring, especially when it comes to places like Chicago.

[Anonymous]

@fuzyfro89:

Thank you for answering! I thought big4 hire most of their full-times directly from the interns? I am not done with my master's yet, but I will in either this December or next spring.

I certainly wish it won't be too difficult. Some big4 firms do come to my school in the fall, but they are all from the offices in Michigan. I do not know if there is any chance I can get them to hook me up with the Chicago office, because I have heard big4 offices in places like Chicago only hire from those big10 or ivy league colleges. And I am not sure if passing all CPA exams would make things a little easier.

[Anonymous]

@ GSU-CPA:

Thanks for replying! I know for a fact that you will get the bonus for passing all sections of the exam either before being hired or within one year after getting hired. As a matter of fact, accounting firms prefer you passing the exam before starting as a full-time.

I do not know anything about compensation in this matter.

[Anonymous]

What school do you go to? I know that KPMG (Chicago) is hiring right now I believe for Tax. But for the most part, the Big 4 hires a year in advance and usually start with campus interviews so it helps if you are still in school in the Fall.

[Anonymous]

@angelica:

Thanks for the information! I am going to Western Michigan University, doing my MAcc. I will still be in school this fall. I do not know if there is any chance for me. KPMG never comes to my school to recruit.

[Anonymous]

@ClimbMt.CPA My advice to you is directly email the Chicago Recruiters for all the Big4s and explain your situation. That's what I did and for the most part I received responses saying they'd keep my resume on file since they aren't hiring right now. But KPMG did email me back saying they had some unexpected openings, but by then, I had accepted an offer from another (smaller) firm. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

@angelica:

Thanks for the advice! Just sent out some emails n resume. Now the waiting game starts. lol

[CPA_Runner]

Good luck. From my experiences, it is a very long and frustrating process. Hope you have patience.

AUD - 80 (05/23/2012)
FAR - 75 (08/09/2012)
BEC - 81 (12/05/2012)
REG - 71 (10/16/2012); 70 (02/12/2013); 78 (04/08/2013)
Ethics - 98

[Anonymous]

@ CPA_Runner:

Thanks for replying! You said it was a long and frustrating process, did you eventually do not get it, if I may ask? I am still in school, not graduating anytime soon anyway, just kinda wanna find out what people would say/think about getting jobs with them in larger cities like Chicago. I hope they do not recruit only from the top 10 or Ivy League colleges…

[Anonymous]

I cannot speak for EY or KPMG, but I decided to apply for summer or winter internships in Chicago for audit and managed to get past the first round with PwC and Deloitte. I applied to the Chicago office because I am from the midwest, the city is awesome, and the office is huge so I thought I would have a better chance. I found out after I did not get an offer that the Chicago office is one of the most competitive offices in the country for both PwC and Deloitte. Most are Notre Dame alums with a good mix of Illinois and Indiana alums. Obviously they like to hire their own, so that also made it difficult.

chicago is a very desirable locations and they probably see thousands of resumes. good luck though!

[Anonymous]

@AGV13:

Thanks for the heads up! I cannot imagine how many real talents they have missed out if they only hire from the 3 schools. It's very sad for the firm as a whole. Anyway, from all responses and information I got so far, it seems like not even worth trying to apply to Chicago. Oh well, get the exam done, hopefully there will be somewhere I can go for.

[kmaahs]

I am familiar with your region, ClimbMt.

I got into a big 4 in Detroit with an MSA from Eastern Michigan, a comparable school to yours. I had a high GPA and all my exams passed. I think the key was that I did my non accounting undergrad at MSU and used their recruiting fair to get in front of some bigger firms that do not recruit at Eastern.

It's all about standing out and using whatever you can to get in front I of people. It is competitive, no doubt. I was actually initially turned down, but they called back a month later and decided they wanted me after all. In total, I got 4 offers. Not bad for a guy from a non target school.

Choosing not to apply means you have zero chance at getting hired. I would take a stab at it. Worst case you don't get hired. Best case you do. Don't get down on yourself because you didn't goto a name brand school. Accouting is accounting, you're as good as anyone else.

C.P.A.

[Author]

Replies