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Cali85
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Joined: 06 Aug 2011
Location: United States
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Posts: 37
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| Posted: 10 Nov 2011 at 11:53 | IP Logged
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My goal is to land an entry level big 4 audit position for Fall 2013.
Me:
-Mid 20's
-Graduated from top 25 under grad school in 2010 with BA, Economics 3.1 GPA
-Currently taking accounting classes at a university extension program
Work Experience Upon Graduation from undergrad:
-Accounts Receivable Clerk for 8 months
-2 month gap
-Currently a Staff Accountant at a small technology company
I spent three years at community college and then three years of undergrad. Technically, this could have taken me a total of only four years. If someone scrutinizes my resume and transcripts, they will probably ask a lot of questions about this. The reason it took me so long was that I was very involved in an extreme sport and became pretty athletic. I have a few notable accomplishments related to this and I'm willing to bring them up during an interview.
In Fall 2012 I am planning to crash local career events at colleges to get face time with recruiters from public accounting firms. My goal is to land a big 4 job for Fall 2013.
Do you guys think my resume and academic record are a significant hiccup or can I play it off with charisma and good interviewing skills? I interview quite well. Back in college I got along very well with KPMG recruiters, first at an on-campus event, and then I was invited to a mixer off-campus. At the time I barely had any accounting units so I wasn't serious about it.
__________________
BA '10 from top 25 undergrad school.
Currently a staff accountant @ a small software company.
Currently in school PT getting CPA units.
Goal--FT audit position at Big 4 in Fall'13.
Mid 20's
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NathanB
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| Posted: 10 Nov 2011 at 12:28 | IP Logged
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Are you a highly sociable, outgoing, friendly person?
Do you volunteer in your community regularly?
Are you a team player and potential leader who has the experience to back it up?
Are you someone that other people can trust to do the right thing even when pressured not to?
Are you someone who can think quickly on his feet in any given situation?
When you attend social events, how active of a role do you play in conversing with others?
How good are your table manners?
How well do you handle criticism from others?
Would the company you work for now believe that you would paint a good image for the company if asked to go out and advertise the company's services to individuals, businesses, and other organizations?
These are the questions you need to ask yourself before considering public accounting as an option because they're the main things managers/partners in Big Four firms and even mid-market firms look for in candidates.
__________________
REG - 5/21/10 - 82
BEC - 7/2/10 - 77
FAR - 8/14/10 - 79
AUD - 8/31/10 - 77
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Cali85
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Joined: 06 Aug 2011
Location: United States
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Posts: 37
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| Posted: 10 Nov 2011 at 12:49 | IP Logged
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I plan to do VITA volunteer work this season, so that will give me more ammunition during interviews in terms of volunteer work.
I fit the profile fairly well. Realistically I don't see myself going to the partner level, but I would be a great asset to any of the big 4 during my time there.
Your questions are a bit corny and make the big 4 seem intimidating. I'm not intimidated. I know a guy who is doing very well in his 2nd/3rd year at the big 4 in tax and he's not some superstar prodigy, he's just some guy that was in my fraternity back in college.
I appreciate your post, as I ask myself those questions its really helping me analyze myself from another angle.
__________________
BA '10 from top 25 undergrad school.
Currently a staff accountant @ a small software company.
Currently in school PT getting CPA units.
Goal--FT audit position at Big 4 in Fall'13.
Mid 20's
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NathanB
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| Posted: 10 Nov 2011 at 13:18 | IP Logged
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I don't mean to be intimidating, but that's just how it is. These are the firms who have staff (or butterbars as I like to call them) that interact with the CEOs and CFOs of multi-billion dollar corporations. If you're an auditor especially, your image is everything. Naturally, the auditor/client relationship is one with tension. The public accounting firm's responsibility, on top of ensuring that the client's financial statements are in compliance with GAAP and that all internal controls are in place, is to create such a positive experience for the representatives of the client that they look forward to YOU specifically visiting them during the next audit period, to being a primary point of contact, and to be someone that they would love to go out to dinner with or spend a day playing golf with.
__________________
REG - 5/21/10 - 82
BEC - 7/2/10 - 77
FAR - 8/14/10 - 79
AUD - 8/31/10 - 77
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cyberwolf
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Posts: 43
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| Posted: 10 Nov 2011 at 15:52 | IP Logged
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3.1 gpa is pretty low. did you work at all during school?
that's how i explain my gpa. I have a 3.7 in the accounting
major and a 3.5 overall but they seem to be a bit more
understanding of the low gpa when i explain that i had to
work 40 hours a week plus i did vita in the spring for 2
years as well.
why are you waiting so long after graduation to try to get
a big 4 job?
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Topic: My Shot...Entry Level Big 4 Audit?
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