[jt93011]

Hello,

Say I was to be hired in the Fall as a first year associate. What would mu potential start dates be? I’ve been hearing stories where Big 4’s don’t start their full time for a full year.

[Anonymous]

That's correct, most Big 4 positions are filled in the fall to begin work the following fall. I was hired in the Fall of 2012 and I am about to start work at a Big 4 next month. I'm not sure how you are applying, whether through a school career development center or elsewhere, but most likely the positions you are applying for now would not start until sometime in the fall of 2014

[NYC2009]

I interned in the summer of 2012, and I got my offer the last day of my internship in August to start October 2013. It also depends on when you graduate. My friends who are finishing their MACC this semester start in January 2014, and they did their internship this summer.

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FAR: 10/19

[jt93011]

What if I'll be graduating in Fall 2014 (NYC). I'll be going through recruiting on Fall 2014 for a full time position. I'm just confused why a firm would hire their staffs a year in advanced.

[Anonymous]

They hire a year in advance because the majority of the new hires are summer interns, and offers are extended the last week of the internship. Start dates vary anywhere between June and October typically. People graduating in the Fall is obviously much less common, but I had 2 friends who did this. They interviewed during the Fall of 2011, and received positions starting January 2013. They were both with the same firm, but I assume other firms do this as well.

Point being: If you're looking for a FT position starting after graduating in Fall 2014, I would recommend talking to a recruiter at the start of the semester this year, because you may be able to secure a FT position this Fall (starting in Jan 2015), rather than waiting to go through the recruiting process next year. Having an offer a year in advance takes a lot of the pressure/worry off during your final year!

[Anonymous]

Just curious, but does this mean the only way to work for the “Big 4” is to be a student before graduating college and having to go through the career center?

[acamp]

Without getting into the reasons behind why they recruit a year in advance, being a Fall'2014 graduate, you might be able to push for a January'2015 sink or swim busy season start date 🙂

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[Anonymous]

Just curious, but does this mean the only way to work for the “Big 4” is to be a student before graduating college and having to go through the career center?

To me, it feels like I won't be able to work for the “Big 4” because I already graduated last year, just finished my CPA exams and have no accounting experience.

I've always wanted to work for the IRS Criminal Investigation, but I don't see any positions open from them.

[jt93011]

Thanks for the responses guys!

My original plan was to go through recruiting on Fall 2014 and start FT on Jan 2015, if hired. Not sure if that is possible now. acamp, have you seen a situation like this happening? I'm pretty sure I can survive busy season since i took a semester off during busy season to work 80-90 hours a week at my current internship.

I guess I should go through recruiting this Fall. I was hoping to skip this years recruiting because I have an internship at firm I really like and I hoped to intern here until I graduate.

[LinkA8A0A]

I'm in a rare situation, I guess. I had my in person interview for my current Big 4 position on 8/12/12, got the offer at the end of the week and started on 10/1/2012. I am a bit older than the ‘normal' new hire for a big 4, I was 29 at the time. But I had just graduated college, so I was similar in that respect.

I do, however, think the ‘norm' is get the offer a year or so before you start.

[Author]

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