I sent this email to someone who asked me about getting in with Big4, some of it might apply to you. I think the idea of peppering online adds is an approach that doesn't really work, see below:
I would suggest finding ways to network–does you school have a “meet the firms” type of event, where various accounting firms meet students and collects resumes? Another one might be to join CalCPA (should be free for you) and attend a few of their events.
The problem I found with the electronic age is the sheer volume of data recruiters receive. As its so easy to submit a resume online, recruiters end up with thousands of applicants. For that reason the key is finding a way to hurdle the online application wall. Its not so much as “who you know” as it is “who you've come in contact with”. For me I met someone through CalCPA that worked at a Big4 and she forwarded my resume onto recruiting; next thing I know I'm getting a call back. So don't think of it as needing to have a best friend on the inside, but rather, attend some events, meet some people, and ask them for Campus Recruiting contacts of if they could forward your info to Campus Recruiting. (I say Campus Recruiting, as you'll be starting as an entry level person, so Campus Recruiting is probably the best place to start).
Good job on starting on the exams, make sure highlight that on your resume, carries a lot of weight. One of the things I brought with me to networking events were business cards (bought business card paper, printed myself) and included my degrees and progress on the CPA exam–the response from people was well received and it sent them off with a mini snap-shop of my resume and a piece of paper to remember me.
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