[2012passtheCPA]

Hi all,

Hope everyone’s studying is going well, for those that are studying.

I interviewed for a consulting position at a public accounting firm at the beginning of July. I heard from the recruiter a few days after the interview. I was told the team had good feedback for me regarding my interview. The recruiter said needed to have some discussions internally and he’d have more to tell me later. Also asked me my salary desires and when I could start.

He called me the next week asking me about my references. I didn’t give my current boss’ information because they don’t know I’m looking for a new job. So I told him about my references and he said he’d reach out to them by the end of the week and then would have “feedback” for me. This phone call occurred on a Thursday. I’ve spoken with both people who I put down as references and they haven’t heard a peep.

The next week I didn’t call. I did call and leave a message the Monday after I waited a week. Said I wanted to follow up about the status of the position, etc.

Can anyone shed some light on my situation? Have you ever waited almost 6 weeks of little to no communication of substance, and then all of the sudden received good news about the job? For any of you that have worked on the other side in public accounting (this is the consulting side) can you give me some insight on what has to happen for someone to interview and then get offered a job? I know sometimes HR can move at the speed of HR (Jeff said this in one post somewhere), but 6 weeks seems a bit ridiculous.

The only time I’ve ever waited this long between interview and the decision I didn’t receive good news. Here’s to hoping my Another71 family can give me a spot of hope!!

Thanks in advance for your input.

[memmy29]

For my current job in Higher Education Internal Audit, it took about 2.5 weeks for me to hear anything after my interview. They actually started calling my references first, then requested my transcripts, and then I received the offer. From interview to offer it was about 3 weeks. Good luck!

AUD - 84
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REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[spartanhockey]

I ended up getting 6 offers and always received notice in 0-3 days.

AUD - 5/2013 91
FAR - 7/2013 92
BEC - 8/2013 90
REG - 8/2013

[littlenumberrobot]

I always heard the good news a day or two after interviewing(small CPA firms).

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
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AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

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Ethics 90%

[2012passtheCPA]

Anyone in my scenario that dealt with a top 20 firm and you were out of the normal campus recruiting cycle? That would be my only amendment to my above scenario.

[Anonymous]

@2012passtheCPA I haven't worked in the top 20 or anything like that…but if they were contacting you every week, and have now made no contact for about a month, I would definitely say that's not a good sign. Could try a call/email to see if you can get an update or a definite “no”, but regardless of the company/industry/situation, when regular contact disappears, that's usually not a good sign! However, if they got sidetracked from the hiring process, then a follow-up call/email/etc could be a good reminder that you take initiative and could have very promising results.

[Anonymous]

In a previous life, I was a recruiter (although not at a public accounting firm) and it's not a good sign that they have not called your references. Sorry to burst your bubble, but focus on other opportunities. It can be frustrating when HR people get your hopes up and then stop giving you updates/feedback. They can be a flakey bunch.

In response to your question about why he has not called you back: I look at applying for jobs as playing the lottery. They receive hundreds of resumes from people with very similar qualifications. You just have to keep playing until you get the right job. Besides, you probably don't want to work for people who are that flakey. If they don't respect you as a candidate and return your phone calls, they won't respect you when you actually work there.

Good luck in your search. The right one will come along.

[2012passtheCPA]

@auslaf

What causes this “lack of communication”? From a recruiter's standpoint…can you give me some insight? I know I was referred internally for this position, so I was hoping to get a little bit better of a fair shake.

The thing that's terrible about this whole situation is the company is amazing! But I've dealt with three different recruiters with this company over the last 6 years or so and they all have been absolutely terrible!! I know no one likes to give bad news, but damn, don't get in the business if you don't like telling people bad news!

I also mentioned I've been through this before, was just hoping someone had an experience that was similar to mine but different results.

[Anonymous]

That is the exact reason I got out of HR. They are difficult to deal with and accounting is more straight forward.

Can you ask your internal reference if they know what's going on? Some times, they can swing by the recruiter's office and say, “hey, did you get a chance to talk to my friend about the job?” if they have a friendly relationship and get the most direct response.

[Anonymous]

I work for a fairly large financial institution (10k+ employees). It took me 6 weeks from the time I first interviewed before I received an offer. When I first interviewed, the recruiter told me 2 weeks and the interview panel told me 3-4 weeks. I followed up a couple times, once at the 4 week mark and again sometime between week 5-6. I got a generic response from the recruiter that they hadn't made a decision yet, but that they did like me. I finally received the offer after week 6. After I began employment, I found out that waiting a while for an offer from this organization was not uncommon. Some big companies just take a while to make a decision, get everything through HR, and finally make an offer. I know where I work, its not as simple as a hiring manager decided they like you and then making you an offer. After the manager decides they want to hire you, your credentials have to go to a compensation team to determine your starting salary, one area of HR to perform background/credit checks, the training area to determine when the next on boarding classes are, and then back to the hiring manager and recruiter to determine a start date.

Also, my company did not call my references…so don't let that scare you too much.

[2012passtheCPA]

Thanks benboy12.

I have a feeling that based on the amount of time that has passed that the writing is on the wall. Just never thought it would be this difficult to enter public accounting out of cycle even though I have my CPA exam passed and the 150 hours necessary for licensure!!!

Extremely frustrating. Who knows, maybe they'll call tomorrow, but I won't hold my breath.

[Never_Give_Up1]

Longest I have waited… was with McGladrey out of Vegas. I went down for office interviews and it was between me and another person. They took us both out to lunch with the partner and a staff, on the same lunch. Talk about a little awkward. Especially because I knew him. TWO months later I get a phone call from them saying they want to offer me a job… I just laughed at them and said if you would have gotten back with me in a week or two you would have had me. But with you taking that long I have accepted another position. I know the other guy didn't get the offer because I talked to him about it and he said he never got the call from them… TWO freaking months?!?! That is just unacceptable in my opinion. But all the others were within a week. G/L to you.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[2012passtheCPA]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Just as a followup I had to email recruiter about reimbursing me for my interview expenses. The recruiter responded in less than an hour telling me I'd get the form later. Once I got the form later that day I thanked him for sending the form. I then asked if they had filled the position I'd interviewed for. That was 2 days ago haven't heard a peep since.

HR/recruiters are so frustrating with their lack of communication!!!!

[Anonymous]

I saw you'd posted and was like “Maybe there's news!!” Guess there's news of one sort…but not really an answer. 😐 I'd say it's somewhat encouraging, though, that he didn't shoot you a quick “no” back!

[2012passtheCPA]

Thanks Lilla!

Unfortunately I believe this opportunity has been given to someone else. Just stinks that I perpetually have had problems with recruiters from this firm over the last 6 years. Same issues with different people from different offices.

[Anonymous]

For my current job i remember that it took two weeks. Actually after my initial interview a few days later they said they are not continuing to look at me for a second round of interviews. Then two-three weeks later i get a call saying they would like to check my references and after they contacted them they made me an offer.

[Author]

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