[runhomejack]

A recruiter told me that a lot of Big 4 employees move on to different companies in late Nov or early Dec and that the Big 4 will be aggressively hiring to fill these voided positions starting in Mid-December. Can anyone vouch for this? I expect that I will have offers from non-Big 4’s right at the start of December and am wondering if I should wait till mid December to see if I get any calls from a Big 4 firm? Will employers be willing to wait 2 weeks for me to decide on accepting an offer?

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[WantToBeDone]

That's definitely true. Everyone dreads the hours before busy season, reflects back on all the pain, and starts looking elsewhere. Did it myself. Should be an easier time to get in.

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[Whatdidyou]

You are confusing me. Why would you make a potential employer wait 2 weeks? Doesnt sound like a good idea to me.

Let me get this straight (PS: it helps when you give us all the info so we don't have to make assumptions). I don't even know if you are a student or experienced hire with public accounting experience (makes a big difference).

This is what I THINK I decrypted from your question:

You applied to a bunch of big 4 & non-big 4 firms. You got interviews for some non-big 4 firms and expect you'll hear a final decision by the end of the month. If you get offers from non-big 4, you are thinking of telling them to give you two weeks to see if a big 4 that you've already applied to finally gets back to you?

I'd say it's risky. I honestly don't think waiting two weeks will make a huge difference if any at all (it's not like a huge mad rush in the second half of December relative to the prior month, I'd actually think November would be a bigger hiring month but what do I know). I would not tell any firm to wait unless I actually had an actual (dreams don't count) big 4 interview scheduled.

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[Da Bears]

If your a new hire/senior/masters student, you would have had on campus interviews and subsequent office visits earlier this month for public Accy firms. If you haven't heard from big4, don't hold your breathe, pay is equal amongst big4 and mid tier firms. Go for company with the best fit for you!

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[runhomejack]

Sorry about that. Yes, I am an experienced hire – 4 years in industry. I went to a top school but it's not helping me much since they only want the new grads or at least that's the response I've been given thus far. In the last month, I've been given referrals to 3 of the big 4's. However, I have not received any call back and like some of you said, I have a near sure thing going on at some mid-tiers versus nothing from any of the big 4's.

I would just hate to accept an offer from a mid-tier and then 1 week later get a call from EY or something. I will probably just go the safe route and maybe take a few days to consider the options I DO have and try not to think about the big 4.

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[Anonymous]

So you are 4 years older than the average new hire at a Big 4? Big 4 likes younger kids, because they are dumber and are less likely to have a mind of their own.

Here is what you should do.

Wait for an offer.

Once you get the offer, tell them “thanks” and “I will get back with you”

Then ask your campus recruiter coordinator (Professor X) and say, “Professor X, do you know if the Big 4 have made offers yet?” Then Prof X will say something like, “Well I asked you kids to notify me if you get any offers and none of you did, so I don't know” or “Yes 3 of the big 4 have made offers, and if you haven't heard anything, then you can cross them out on your list”

Then, with a solid offer in your bear (because you might be a bear) hands, call up the recruiter at each of the various Big 4 firms and explain your situation. “I have an offer with a deadline and I do not know where I stand with your firm.”

“I just wanted to confirm with you.”

[Author]

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