How on earth do you get a job with Big 4??????

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #184985
    yalwas
    Member

    Even though I have lower than 3.0 GPA on my undergrad and have a gap in employment due to visa issues, I passed ALL 4 sections of the CPA exam, so why am i not getting calls back?? I dont understand???

    I need help with CV.. I tried left and right, I tried going to my school career section and they say my CV is good, but then nothing happens.

    I tried to read multiple guides on how to get a job at Big 4, no luck

    I tried small firms, they are even worse, they take 2 or 3 people from 400-500 people????!!

    I ask them what I can do, and all they say is: “Please undestand it is extremely competitive…..” What does this mean to me, absolutely nothing

    These “competitive” people only managed to be lucky and get the right kind of help and referrals.. What if i have aspergers syndrome and I cant get “friends” to help me.

    The only career for me that is viable is accounting because of my autism, so why am I being discriminated here….

    S.O.S….

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 60 total)
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  • #545070
    Mayo
    Participant

    “Even though I have lower than 3.0 GPA on my undergrad and have a gap in employment due to visa issues, I passed ALL 4 sections of the CPA exam, so why am i not getting calls back?? I dont understand???”

    -GPA lower than 3.0 is more than likely the culprit. Also, most recruiters think it's nice that you passed the exam. Really. But it's not the only thing they consider.

    Factors to getting in to a big include:

    1. Rank/Prestige of school

    2. GPA

    3. Personality/Communication skils

    4. Leadership activities

    5. Volunteering

    6. On Campus involvement/Recruiting

    7. CPA eligibility

    Look, a lot of us WERE competitive, so I think it's not accurate to call us lucky. I worked extremely hard during school. Second, even if you DID know someone to recommend you…do you think that person would get very far with recruiters if you have a sub 3.0 GPA? And that's only one factor.

    In terms of your personality…look I empathize. I'm an extremely introverted person, and I hate networking in large groups. It's extremely awkward for me. But I had to learn to do it because the social aspect is really a large part of our jobs. We don't all have to be excellent salesmen, but we need to be able to build rapport with our team members and client contacts.

    If you are looking for a career that will decrease your interaction with people then Big 4 audit or tax is not what you're looking for.

    Mayo, BBA, Macc

    #545081
    Mayo
    Participant

    “Even though I have lower than 3.0 GPA on my undergrad and have a gap in employment due to visa issues, I passed ALL 4 sections of the CPA exam, so why am i not getting calls back?? I dont understand???”

    -GPA lower than 3.0 is more than likely the culprit. Also, most recruiters think it's nice that you passed the exam. Really. But it's not the only thing they consider.

    Factors to getting in to a big include:

    1. Rank/Prestige of school

    2. GPA

    3. Personality/Communication skils

    4. Leadership activities

    5. Volunteering

    6. On Campus involvement/Recruiting

    7. CPA eligibility

    Look, a lot of us WERE competitive, so I think it's not accurate to call us lucky. I worked extremely hard during school. Second, even if you DID know someone to recommend you…do you think that person would get very far with recruiters if you have a sub 3.0 GPA? And that's only one factor.

    In terms of your personality…look I empathize. I'm an extremely introverted person, and I hate networking in large groups. It's extremely awkward for me. But I had to learn to do it because the social aspect is really a large part of our jobs. We don't all have to be excellent salesmen, but we need to be able to build rapport with our team members and client contacts.

    If you are looking for a career that will decrease your interaction with people then Big 4 audit or tax is not what you're looking for.

    Mayo, BBA, Macc

    #545072
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Have you tried applying to accounting private sector jobs and trying work your way up through promotions then applying to accounting firms?

    #545083
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Have you tried applying to accounting private sector jobs and trying work your way up through promotions then applying to accounting firms?

    #545074
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    Its your gpa they see thousands of resumes they cut off under 3.2 …go to grad school maybe?

    NEW YORK- DONE

    #545085
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    Its your gpa they see thousands of resumes they cut off under 3.2 …go to grad school maybe?

    NEW YORK- DONE

    #545076
    John Tucker
    Member

    Well, the Big 4 is a political networking game, and they really only recruit from top ranked institutions the supposedly “brightest” students so an under 3.0 GPA isn't going to cut it. I assume you already completed your bachelor's seeing as though you passed all four parts of the CPA Exam?

    I hate to be a dream killer but I would just forgo the Big 4 aspirations and seek small-medium sized accounting firms to work for now and going forward. Also you need to work on your resume, cover letter and the rest of your professional presentation to present yourself in the best of light. This means you might want to spend the extra amount of money to get a professional resume completed.

    Do you have any prior work experience yet at all? Seeing as though you passed the CPA exam there should be “some” type of open positions you can take on an entry level basis but again, I would stick with the small-medium sized accounting firms and forgo the Big 4 strategy.

    * State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
    - BEC: Sunday, August 24th
    - FAR: Saturday, November 29th
    - AUD: TBA for February 2015
    - REG: TBA for May 2015

    #545087
    John Tucker
    Member

    Well, the Big 4 is a political networking game, and they really only recruit from top ranked institutions the supposedly “brightest” students so an under 3.0 GPA isn't going to cut it. I assume you already completed your bachelor's seeing as though you passed all four parts of the CPA Exam?

    I hate to be a dream killer but I would just forgo the Big 4 aspirations and seek small-medium sized accounting firms to work for now and going forward. Also you need to work on your resume, cover letter and the rest of your professional presentation to present yourself in the best of light. This means you might want to spend the extra amount of money to get a professional resume completed.

    Do you have any prior work experience yet at all? Seeing as though you passed the CPA exam there should be “some” type of open positions you can take on an entry level basis but again, I would stick with the small-medium sized accounting firms and forgo the Big 4 strategy.

    * State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
    - BEC: Sunday, August 24th
    - FAR: Saturday, November 29th
    - AUD: TBA for February 2015
    - REG: TBA for May 2015

    #545078
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I think you have to recruit with the Big 4 out of university and make great grades. But all you need to do to become a CPA at this point is work for one. Your name will still say CPA at the end and you will make more money and have more opportunities.

    #545089
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I think you have to recruit with the Big 4 out of university and make great grades. But all you need to do to become a CPA at this point is work for one. Your name will still say CPA at the end and you will make more money and have more opportunities.

    #545080
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Keep pushing through. Not all CPAs work in Big4. There are other avenues such as non-profit, governmental, private and academia. Expand your search and be confident in yourself and your abilities. Good luck with your search.

    #545091
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Keep pushing through. Not all CPAs work in Big4. There are other avenues such as non-profit, governmental, private and academia. Expand your search and be confident in yourself and your abilities. Good luck with your search.

    #545082
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I got into the Big 4 in a unconventional way – I actually started by doing accounting for the Big 4 – I was hired by the Regional Area's Controller Group, doing engagement management accounting for a local office. Once the partners and managers that I supported saw what I could do for them on a day to day basis, I was quickly transitioned to client serving (audit).

    Have you ever looked into that route? It's a great “in”.

    #545093
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I got into the Big 4 in a unconventional way – I actually started by doing accounting for the Big 4 – I was hired by the Regional Area's Controller Group, doing engagement management accounting for a local office. Once the partners and managers that I supported saw what I could do for them on a day to day basis, I was quickly transitioned to client serving (audit).

    Have you ever looked into that route? It's a great “in”.

    #545084
    kcosgrove1
    Participant

    It's most likely the GPA… if you don't have much experience, employers are looking at your education first. I would advise trying to get your foot in the door through any accounting position or going back to grad school to improve your GPA.

    BEC - 68, 75 (2/3/14)
    AUD - 75 (11/30/12)
    REG - 73, 75 (10/8/12)
    FAR - 78 (8/31/13)

    DONE!!! Waiting for License!!

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