[FindaJob]

Hi ! 😀 > I was reading some tips for phone interviews with Big 4 Firms. I have one tomorrow – i think its for a graduate position in Audit.

The interview is for a city that is a 22 hour drive from where i am …

Any tips would be highly appreciated?

I got the following from a different thread and i am Quoting Peanut summarizing posts :

“These are all great tips, you guys are awesome! Okay, so I should stand-up, walk around, have a full length mirror, dress up, sound confident, awesome! Ha. I’m going to make sure I write out a ton of questions on a piece of paper, have my resume out, EY’s website up. Alright, this sounds do-able. Thanks guys :)”

What would happen next if they wanted to continue with the interview process ? how fast ?

Wish me luck 😀 . Congrats to those who passed this release 😀 .

two to go !

[wickedrentlover]

Good luck! This wasn't in Peanut's post, but I accepted a position with a Big 4 last year, and one thing that really impresses them is when you ask THEM questions. Find something about the company that interests you and go from there. For instance, my ultimate goal is to work for a non-profit that funds research for Parkinson's Disease. So in the time leading up to my interview, I researched the firm's charity work, and it gave us a lot to talk about! The firms like to see that you're interested in what they do, and that you see a place there for yourself. Because I took that initiative, I ended up getting an extra interview with the managing partner for the Not-for-Profit sector of my firm, and when I start full time in August, that's what I'll primarily be working on!

Most important though is be yourself and make sure they know by the end how awesome you are 🙂 Good luck to you!

REG (2/24/12) - 89
AUD (4/5/12) - 89
FAR (5/31/12) - 91
BEC (7/7/12) - 84

[FindaJob]

Hahaha :D. Thanks wickedrentlover – I love the self confidence you have given me 😀 >

I will defiantly make sure I have enough questions this time 🙂 . Dude ! congrats on that FAR score ! Thats Amazing :D. I can guess how much your score will be on BEC ! I will be taking bec on the 10th of July ! Reg on the 2nd 🙁 We'll be waiting for scores together 😀 > Hopefully that time i will change my nickname to FoundaJob! 😀 >

two to go !

[wickedrentlover]

HAHA, I definitely didn't think I was going to score that high–I was thinking closer to low 80s. I was at work when I got my score, and I *might* have screamed a little bit in the audit room…luckily the partner had just left 🙂 I'll look for your passing score in August!

REG (2/24/12) - 89
AUD (4/5/12) - 89
FAR (5/31/12) - 91
BEC (7/7/12) - 84

[Anonymous]

First of all all the best with your interview tomorrow. I hate to hijack your thread but I need to ask this question to anyone who has ever gotten a referral for an entry level position. I will just re-post it here from the other thread:

“Hey Peanut or anyone else who used a referral, a quick question (or two): Did you submit a cover letter along with your resume on their referral site? If you did, did you tailor it to a specific position (for e.g: “I'm applying for an audit/tax/adcisory associate position etc…) or did you say something general like “an entry level position?”

I'm curious because I've just gotten two referrals: one for Deloitte and the other for EY and I'm trying to put my best foot forward in order to get into the door.”

[futuremdcpa]

Well I had quiet a different experience with the Big 4 Partners when I interviewed a few months ago.

My suggestion to you is to not be stressed out, and be very friendly with everyone. After the interview concluded, my recruiter was telling me how she was waiting for a few more people to get back to her before they can make me an offer. They really do ask everyone about you. My two partner interviews consisted of one partner just asking how I feel about getting a masters in tax — which I replied if thats what will move me up the ladder, then I would do it. He seemed happy with that answer, and for the rest of the time he talked about how he has a new client who speaks the same language I do, and that it would be a good fit. (It was only 30 minutes long).

The next partner interview which was right next door, was even easier. I didn't take up the full 30 minutes, I only took up maybe 20-25 at most. He just asked why I want to go into tax, vs audit, and then he asked if I had any questions, I politely said I've been asking everyone questions and everyone has been very helpful in answering them! And he seemed to be fine with that. After we walked back to the main conference room to meet everyone else (this was in office interviews with other students who where either graduating with a BS in accounting or a JD. I made sure to talk to all the associates, and managers who were present. I would ask questions such as how long do you work usually, whats it like working at a big firm, and so forth. They were so helpful, as soon as I received my offer, I emailed another Big 4 firm where I had another scheduled partner interview, and told them I wish to respectfully decline my office interview. I was so dead set on the firm I received an offer from.

Honestly, the partners are not professional interviewers.. They just want to make sure you will be a great fit for the company! Also, do go in with resumes, note pads (with many questions on here).. and just be yourself!

Also.. My girlfriend went in for an interview with a partner, and she asked him normal questions such as the training they receive, and he was so happy, he told her “whew! I thought you where going to ask me something random about the company.. the questions people ask me…” Turns out the person before her was asking about something they read on the firms website… the partner had no idea what the person was talking about and seemed very turned off by him/her. Its all about the personality in this industry.. you need to be a people person. You could have a lower GPA but a great personality and I guarantee you they'd hire you over someone who has a 4.0 and no personality.

Good luck!

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[FindaJob]

Thanks all for the good luck charms ! 🙂 …

futuremdcpa – Wow, thanks a lot for sharing your experience .I appreciate the time you spent doing it !

you have a lot of exams coming up – Good luck Good Luck ..

I'll let you guys know what happens tomorrow :D>

two to go !

[Peanut]

@FindaJob, good luck!!!! My phone interview was actually pretty casual! The questions that they ask will not throw you off. She asked things like “why accounting,” “financial services vs. commercial,” “what location I wanted to work it.” We actually laughed a ton on the phone and I can't remember why. At the end of the phone interview I asked what the next step in the process would be. (By the way I paced around my home the whole time hahah) She had specifically told me she would not be able to contact me for close to a week and to not worry. When she did get back in contact with me, she set up my in office interview for 6 weeks away!!! I thought that interview was casual, but what was even more casual was the in office interview! I sat with a senior first, he kept trying to throw random questions at me, a little annoying but doable. I threw a ton of questions his way. Then I met with the partner—and that was the casual part. Hey, if you pass through the phone interview, you basically have the job, unless you have a terrible personality. In office interview are definitely about personality. The partner kept saying “ohhhhhh you're going to love it here, we have such a great time here, we're always laughing, and blah blah blah.” So I'm in my head thinking “mmmmm does this mean I already have the job, I mean he keeps saying things like this.” hahah. I never had to write a thank you letter or anything. Two hours after the interview, they called me for a position, and thanked me for meeting me and having a good interview, and immediately after I hung up the phone the people I interviewed with emailed me to congratulate/thank me. So just be yourself!!!!! If you've already been seen enough to get into the phone interview, you got this!!!! good luck today!!!

@bullandre, on their actual website where you fill out all of your information and upload things, is that what you're talking about?? I have a very generic cover letter, and I think I did upload it, then I took it down ahhaha. If you were referred. Don't worry about the cover letter, I would think. But do make sure every page is filled out in your “online profile.” Good luck!!!!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Anonymous]

Thanks Peanut!

[FindaJob]

Please read this till the end!!!!!!

Hey You Guys ! 😀 > Thank you so very much for your replies !!!

PEANUT ! You are giving me TOO MUCH HOPE!!! I don’t want to be broken hearted!!!

So here's how it went … I received an email today informing me that my interview will be tomorrow! I replied telling HR that I'm busy tomorrow and the day after and that they can call me anytime today !!! 😀 >

I was preparing for the interview all day yesterday and i thought that I was really prepared! I was excited and for the first time I felt really confident – I mean i always felt confident but i was never prepared!!!!

for an hour and a half i was really disappointed – I want the process to be as fast as it could be because i am flying for another interview tomorrow … and I don’t want to miss on this chance… and when they sent me that my interview will be tomorrow i was just crushed … I really was not happy at all … I just sat there and did nothing … after an hour and a half – I got a phone call from a weird number! So I figured it should be them … I tried to bring myself together … and i kinda messed up!!! 😀 . I think i was shivering all the time and i was really worried that they could feel it from my voice!

for some reason the interview included a part where the recruiter was saying that they give a 5k CPA bonus and she wanted me to forward my transcripts for her to send it all to the partners !

I said thank you and after less than 9 minutes on the phone … the Interview was over … My wife came out of the shower and i was crushed…

I went ahead and scanned my transcripts … sent them over and 20 minutes after that; I got an email telling me that they want to schedule 2 phone partner or director interviews!!! I was like seriously!!!

I replied and we set up the dates for two interviews!! I am so excited but then again I don’t want to dream too much! It’s still a phone interview!!!

Do they usually hire candidates without flying them? It’s a 2.5 hour flight from where I am… and I am REALLY excited!

Please feel free to give me any tips!!! 🙂 I need as many as I can Get !!!

two to go !

[Peanut]

@FindaJob, woooo that sounds promising! They would probably fly you in I would assume. They pay for everything, they'd pay flight, hotel, rental car, breakfast that morning, cabs, tolls, etc. They'll send you a whole list. I had to take the bus into Boston, cabs, and ate breakfast–they reimbursed me for everything. This is great, I'm glad to hear! Do you have your 150 credits? They told me on the phone that they wouldn't start me until I had my 150 credits. Luckily at the time of the phone interview I had 147 and just reached 150 a few weeks ago. That's probably why they wanted the transcripts right away (and to stalk your grades of course)

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[See Pee A]

@Findajob: No, Big 4 and most regionals will fly you to your chosen office for your final round. Accounting jobs, at the BIg 4 and regional level at least, are so much more about being a people person than your technical skills. That is why the interview process is much more behavioral and getting to know your personality, since so much of your performance is affected by how you present yourself and if you can strike up a conversation (at the very least, a professional one if not more intimate). Some interviewers may throw you a few behavioral questions so be prepared for those in general, but they are mostly meant to see how you handle pressure and if you can still manage a cohesive answer and keep your head cool.

Sort of like good cop/bad cop, sometimes one interviewer will switch their tone and other times the interviewers will coordinate and switch roles, the interviews may be more intense or more lax. Each is meant to gauge something different. Intense questions are just meant to see how you handle pressure, but easier/conversational chat is equally as much of an interview. Sometimes, we try to put people at ease to see if they forget they are in a professional environment.. it happens! So not matter what you get, stay relaxed but don't think it's a frat party conversation! It's easy to conduct yourself if you have ideas of what they ma throw at you. Here's a bit of the tricky stuff, so hopefully it helps. Good luck!

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

Exam prep - Becker self-study

[Anonymous]

how did it go ?

[FindaJob]

Thanks guys ! I really appreciate your help !

@peanut! ya I have the 150 hours… I actually have 174 ! :D>

Yes, probably that’s why they got my transcripts … I don’t think they would actually send it to the partners like they told me. (keep on reading).

@ See Pee A: Thanks for your reply. Yes, exactly like u said! It was really a good cop bad cop technique. Though I’m sure it would be different for every person.

The first interview I had was with an extremely nice person. He really gave me a great level of comfort and only after a while … he told me that I’m really pleasant to talk to and that they will probably fly me or something but then he remembered that I had to talk to some1 else before they do that. Awesome guy.

The next person was probably nice too but it seems like he was busy! And I kinda took some of his time. He was asking me so many questions and one after one and I felt that he was really trying to ask sensitive questions to see if I was fit… well they are good questions I would ask too I’m not saying he’s not nice … they were really normal questions I will share later today perhaps … I just didn’t think he would ask such questions.

The bad part is that he said after a little while that the next step would be for them to actually see if there were any openings! I was like WHAT ! lol ! It is pretty obvious that you probably didn’t think it was a great interview! But I mean you are interviewing me for the opening. Why would they interview you if there was no opening – but maybe he’s really unaware of it … anyways …

I hope to hear from them soon 🙂 … I guess he mentioned in the end that he would see me in person when I get there I guess so it wasn’t that bad at the end …

Btw ( I thought I did terrible on the second one while I thought I did super in the first one).

I really appreciate your help guys! sorry I didn’t answer earlier … I was really busy – and when I travelled I had to go to the emergency room – couldn’t breathe for a day ! was hell tired for another.. and was preparing for interviews as well. And also wanted to let u know what happened on the interviews too.

I guess I will let u guys know soon hopefully.

FindAJob

two to go !

[FindaJob]

Somebody will be scheduling an office visit – Hopefully soon ! 😀 >

two to go !

[Author]

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