[ssw3809]

Hello NINJAs

I am almost done with the CPA exams and currently trying to find a job with any of the Big 4 company. I only have 1 year of experience in tax at a local firm in Houston. I quit the job in December after finding out there is no “future” at the firm I worked at and moved back to CA to stay with my family. In the mean time I studied and passes 3 sections of the CPA exam. Now I want to switch from tax to audit, but all the entry level audit jobs are only open to campus interviews. should I contact the Big 4’s in house recruiter directly? I think I have a very strong background. (B.S in mathematics from CAL & Master in Profession Accountancy from UT Austin + fluent in Chinese Mandarin).

one of the biggest mistake i made in grad school was not taking full advantage of their recruiting service. I guess i was “scared” of working hours of the big 4 company…

Any help/advice is much appreciated

REG 08/27/2013 81
FAR 01/09/2014 88
BEC 02/27/2014 82
AUD 10/08/2014. 86
Just started the CFA Level 1 -let the journey continue!

[pikachu]

Get a Linkedin profile. Briefly describe your position and experience. Make your visibility so when you stalk people, it shows your name and title. Stalk recruiters. Reach out to “employment agencies” like Randstad. They do temp positions as well as full time placement.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[pikachu]

Get a Linkedin profile. Briefly describe your position and experience. Make your visibility so when you stalk people, it shows your name and title. Stalk recruiters. Reach out to “employment agencies” like Randstad. They do temp positions as well as full time placement.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[Topsya]

Very interesting Post. Im going to follow. Please keep us updated with how it's going

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Topsya]

Very interesting Post. Im going to follow. Please keep us updated with how it's going

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Anonymous]

ssw3809, I am in a very similar situation. My previous jobs have been tax related and I want to get into auditing since I haven't experienced it yet and I really enjoyed my undergraduate auditing class. If you know anybody that works for a Big 4 firm then I would suggest you ask them if they can give you a referral and that will go directly to the recruiters. I didn't take advantage of my college's recruiting center nearly enough but you live and you learn.

[Anonymous]

ssw3809, I am in a very similar situation. My previous jobs have been tax related and I want to get into auditing since I haven't experienced it yet and I really enjoyed my undergraduate auditing class. If you know anybody that works for a Big 4 firm then I would suggest you ask them if they can give you a referral and that will go directly to the recruiters. I didn't take advantage of my college's recruiting center nearly enough but you live and you learn.

[Topsya]

It's kind of ridiculous that most of the accounting jobs are only available to those, who has an access to the campus recruiting

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Topsya]

It's kind of ridiculous that most of the accounting jobs are only available to those, who has an access to the campus recruiting

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Double A]

Yes, accounting firms in general recruit heavily at colleges and universities. They don't find all of their candidates there though . When I was searching for a job last fall I went to different networking events and career fairs. I talked to all of the big 4 and was directed their website to apply as they pull from their database to fill positions.

The problem I saw was they wanted candidates to start with 150 credit hours so I would have only been eligible for summer internship then get 30 credits in a year and go back if hired. That schedule didn't work for me so I ended up at a mid-size regional firm where I could start full time right after graduation.

Good luck in your search. Big 4 is obviously preferable but don't overlook some of the larger regional/national firms just below them.

[Double A]

Yes, accounting firms in general recruit heavily at colleges and universities. They don't find all of their candidates there though . When I was searching for a job last fall I went to different networking events and career fairs. I talked to all of the big 4 and was directed their website to apply as they pull from their database to fill positions.

The problem I saw was they wanted candidates to start with 150 credit hours so I would have only been eligible for summer internship then get 30 credits in a year and go back if hired. That schedule didn't work for me so I ended up at a mid-size regional firm where I could start full time right after graduation.

Good luck in your search. Big 4 is obviously preferable but don't overlook some of the larger regional/national firms just below them.

[Kay]

School recruiting is the best place to find an entry level job. But there are some entry level opportunities on LinkedIn time to time.

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[Kay]

School recruiting is the best place to find an entry level job. But there are some entry level opportunities on LinkedIn time to time.

Currently:
CPA - Class of 2013
ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute)
CISA - Passed in 2011, Certified in 2014

In Progress:
ASA (Associate of Society of Actuaries) - EXAM P (O), EXAM FM (O), EXAM MFE (X), EXAM MLC (X), EXAM C (X)

[Topsya]

I graduated from a school in a different country and then took some classes in the community college. I had sooo much trouble with finding an entry level position, it was a real challenge.

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[Topsya]

I graduated from a school in a different country and then took some classes in the community college. I had sooo much trouble with finding an entry level position, it was a real challenge.

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[impska]

If you don't get anywhere contacting recruiters directly, you could call the campus career services of local universities and find out when they are visiting (or sometimes you can find that info on the Big 4's webpage) and then just turn up and meet them that way.

If not that, then it's at least pretty easy to find out when Career Fairs happen at schools and you can attend one of those – hit up all the recruiters at once.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Author]

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