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Big4Wannabe Newbie
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
Online Status: Offline Posts: 7
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 15:24 | IP Logged
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I'm not involved in my campus, but I am involved in my
community through volunteering. I volunteer twice a month.
Will my involvement in my community be a good replacement
for my lack of campus activities? Or do Big 4 specifically
look for campus involvement?
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WSPcpa Contributor
Joined: 29 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline Posts: 73
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 18:13 | IP Logged
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I don't really think there is really a big difference... On
the other hand - why not just get involved on campus? If
you join 2-3 clubs and list them on your resume, they won't
ask when you joined and potentially would assume you've
been in them all along.
__________________ If it were easy, everyone would do it
It's the hard that makes it great
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db729 Major Contributor
Joined: 22 Apr 2010
Online Status: Offline Posts: 256
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 19:28 | IP Logged
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Unless you're in a function where you've substantially added value, just being in a club isn't going to affect your candidacy very much. Do something that you're passionate about and articulate that during your interviews. That'll command much more respect from interviewers than being a member of BAP or whatever other organization. Understand that your interviewers (managers and above) are very much old school in their thinking process. Most senior level employees in Big 4 feel that kids in our generation have a sense of entitlement that we really don't deserve and it's fairly accurate. Most of us assume that because if we join club X and do activity Y, we're basically a shoe in for at least an interview. Most students these days pursue certain activities to pad their resumes with little forethought about whether or not they really care. Which then leads to constant complaints about why things don't work out whenever the slightest setback comes along. Not to say everyone is like that, but the mentality is definitely becoming more prevalent and senior Big 4 guys are very much aware.
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alcohen Contributor
Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Location: United States
Online Status: Offline Posts: 91
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Posted: 12 Apr 2012 at 21:38 | IP Logged
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I have so much passion for accounting it hurts. I held
multiple officer positions in BAP both in undergrad
accounting and while obtaining my masters in accounting
degree with a 4.0 GPA. I was a graduate assistant for my
audit professor. I won an award for "Best Graduate Level
Accounting Student" and two separate accounting merit
scholarships. I placed nationally in a tax team
competition sponsored by a big 4 firm. I volunteered
many hours for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) 2
years in a row and taught a VITA training class on my
campus. Now less than one year after graduation, I have
passed the CPA, CMA, CIA, and CFE exams.
I did not receive even one offer from any accounting firm
where I applied....of any size.
The point of this post? Nothing is a given. Just
because you don't have specific campus involvement
doesn't mean anything. Just work on selling yourself and
networking. Be passionate about what you want to do, and
make that passion infectious.
Somehow, despite thousands upon thousands of hours of
unbelievably hard work, it didn't work out for me. To
say I was disgusted with the entire process is an
unbelievable understatement.
Sell yourself and you will be fine..
__________________ CMA: Passed
CIA: Passed Parts 1-3
CFE: Passed
CPA: Passed
BEC: 80 (1/14/11)
AUD: 97 (5/31/11)
FAR: 78 (7/29/11)
REG: 92 (8/31/11)
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Maguel Newbie
Joined: 29 Mar 2012
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3
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Posted: 12 Apr 2012 at 22:47 | IP Logged
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^ All those credentials and networking with no offers? Did you ever find out a reason?
That is insanity...it also has me crapping a brick right now
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