[sgustin]

I just got a rejection from PwC today. I interviewed yesterday with 2 managers and 2 managing directors. I thought the interviews went really well but I guess I was wrong. The recruiter told me that they really liked me but the other candidate was stronger and that they would keep my resume on file. My question is, has anyone had a recruiter call later on with a new position to interview for?

A - (64) (73) (75)
R - (82)
F - (67)
B -

[Crunchtime]

Keep your head up!! I hate when they say they really liked you but other candidates was stronger!!! I don't even know what that means unless it has to do with your experience.

But to answer your question, I have never the same company and get a different position with them after I already interviewed with them. Take it as a learning experience.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Mamabear]

I am not in public accounting, but one of our managers had to make a hard choice between two qualified candidates and both wound up being hired because three weeks afterwards another employee quit and the originally rejected candidate was still available, fortunately. I am sure that doesn't happen often, but it has happened here. The reason for choosing one over the other was experience.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[ktyx]

Hi

I would suggest to keep applying. I can only tell that one of my college friend got rejected twice for auditing for intern position and later for full time. However, she was lucky enough that the recruiter called her in when there was an opening. It was with pwc as well. I guess there is hope but apply elsewhere too!! There are many other companies as good as pwc!

good luck

"A journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step" - LT
" Your dream doesn't have a expiration date, take a deep breath and try again"

B ☺✔
A ☺✔
F ☺✔
R ☺✔
Doneeee Dec 2015

[sgustin]

It might have been experience. I currently work at a smaller firm so I am not necessarily “hurting” for a job. I was just really excited to try and get into the big 4. Maybe after I pass all my exams I can try again.

A - (64) (73) (75)
R - (82)
F - (67)
B -

[Anonymous]

Just wait until you're older and you put in a hundred resumes, get 10 interviews and end up with zero offers. You learn to roll with it and just keep plugging away and you'll eventually land a job.

[Anonymous]

It could happen but I would not count on the chance. My company picked me over a guy for my current job because I have more experience on reporting side. A month later, another similar position opened, the company called him back. Now he is my lunch partner lol.

[Mayo]

“My question is, has anyone had a recruiter call later on with a new position to interview for? “

My only experience with this is with campus recruiting, so it might not be 100% applicable. But yes, a few classmates did get offers after a handful of their targets declined offers to go to other firms.

But yeah, it's not something you should really count on, but it does happen. You might very well be a strong candidate, but just got edged out by something you can't control.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[MaLoTu]

Even if they do not call you back that shouldn't prevent you from reapplying to other roles. There are many recruiters and I do not think there is really a way for them to keep track of a file of previously interviewed candidates.

My advice, keep the recruiters information and email them when you reapply for another role.

Almost always from my phone... please excuse my typos!

All 4 passed - 2016

CA CPA

[sgustin]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am hoping maybe something better will come along, I might hold off applying until this tax deadline is over. I really want to find something that will give me a bump in pay and that has inexpensive health insurance, so that's why I was excited for this position. Maybe some new opportunities will come up before the new year.

A - (64) (73) (75)
R - (82)
F - (67)
B -

[Anonymous]

It does happen, but is definitely rare. We hired someone in Jan who didn't work out, left in April, and in May we hired the person who had been our second-runner-up from the January interviews (didn't post the job opening or interview again; just called this one back for another interview, then offered her the job). Our May hire is, so far, working out GREAT. But, had the January hire worked out, we wouldn't have been hiring for that position again for years and never would've contacted the May hire after the initial rejection.

So, yes, it can and does happen…but it's rare. The benefit with something like PWC is that they have like positions opening frequently, so their potential to go back to a previously-interviewed candidate is more frequent. The position we were hiring for at my workplace was the only position within the company that was this position, so, had the January hire stuck around for 10 years, the position would've been filled for 10 years. But, at PWC with many similar or identical positions, they could actually have an opening for what you interviewed for without having the person they hired instead of you quit or be termianted.

[PublicGuy]

I was rejected by a big 4 firm and then they called back a couple months later after they decided they wanted another staff. it was lucky on my side for sure, so don't count on it happening.

Rejection is rough, it really is. I got my fair share of it. But when a company has one opening and 5 candidates, all of whom can do the job, they are forced to nit pick. It's hard not to hold it against them, but it's the name of the game. Regroup and retry. You will get another shot.

[TK6]

If you're straight out of college, there is still a chance. The big 4 hire in such high numbers every year that occasionally they'll get close to the end of the recruiting cycle and will need a couple of more people in certain departments. I would email your contacts at PwC in a month or two and check back in.

FAR: 90
AUD: 94
REG: 84
BEC: November 25th

[Anonymous]

Rare but don't get discouraged. I would apply to the other 3 firms, if you got that far with PWC I'm sure another firm will pick you up. At the end of the day Big 4 is Big 4

[sgustin]

I graduated in 2013, so im not sure if that qualifies as fresh out of college or not. I will definitely keep applying to the other big 4 though, and will check back with my PwC contact in a few months.

A - (64) (73) (75)
R - (82)
F - (67)
B -

[fuzyfro89]

As a staff who listened in on some post-interview consensus meetings… the interviewers are just shooting darts in the dark when it comes to making hiring decisions.

At some schools, the pool of candidates who make it to even the first round is so strong that it's really hard to tell people apart. Some interviewers would rank people (1 to 5, 5 being best) that they interviewed all day, and almost everyone was a 4, few 5's, and a few 3's out of maybe 10 people. That's damn close!

My point? Don't be discouraged. Recruiting is a numbers game.

[Author]

Replies