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Dockable
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 04 Apr 2011
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Posts: 5

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 18:51 \| IP Logged

Basically as the subject title says, what are the chances
of obtaining a full time offer without interning at a Big 4
firm?

A little bit about my background:
-Undergrad degree in accounting, high GPA, non-target
school
-Applied and currently attending a Masters program at a top
5 accounting school. So far, high GPA.
-Accounting internships at a large nonprofits
-Involved in VITA, other volunteer programs and extracurriculars

It feels like everyone in my Masters program has already
interned at the Big 4 and (probably) received an offer. I'm
just hoping that I have a decent shot as well.

db729
Major Contributor

Joined: 22 Apr 2010
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Posts: 256

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 19:39 \| IP Logged

Yep it's perfectly possible. I got a FT offer with a Big 4 without having interned before, and this was during the '08/'09 days when recruiting was at its worst. If you have high GPA and good extracurriculars, you should have a good chance of getting at least an interview. Related work experience is helpful too, even if it's not in public accounting specifically. With that said, there's always that chance you don't get an interview. But like I said, you it's definitely not impossible.

CanadianCPA
Major Contributor

Joined: 19 May 2010
Location: United States
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Posts: 554

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 20:52 \| IP Logged

Agreed. I didn't internship, just participated in a summer program and received an offer just before my senior year (09-10) started. I had a high GPA and extracirriculars which involved playing a college sport and an intership. I feel as though interns get the benefit of the doubt, and are given the first offers, then everyone else comes into the picture.

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Big4Guru
Contributor

Joined: 05 Feb 2009
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Posts: 82

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 10:08 \| IP Logged

You definitely do not need an internship to get a full time
position. Typically the ratio of full time positions to
interns is something like 3:1. In other words, for every
intern they hire, they will eventually hire 3 full time
hires.

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bird
Regular
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Joined: 22 Aug 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 208

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 at 12:13 \| IP Logged

if you are currently in a masters program, getting good grades, and have access to the recruiters through on-campus recruiting, then you stand a really good chance of landing a FT offer despite the lack of a big 4 internship.

I disagree with the post above regarding the ratio of full-time new hires without internships to full time new hires with internships. Perhaps my situation was unique, but based on my starting class, the ratio described above was actually reversed. The vast majority of my starting class had previously been interns. Basically, getting in through the internship program is your best bet, but there are spots for people with your background as well.

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