[ParanoidAndroid]

I just need to vent…

I had an office interview with a Big 4 this week for an audit position. Since Big 4 and large firms don’t recruit from the university I graduated from, I got in contact with a recruiter back in February via LinkedIn. I went to the interview very excited after driving 3 hours, met with a partner and a manager. These were probably the best interviews I have given and I thought I had high chances of getting an offer, but then two days later I got a call from the office saying they chose someone else, but they wanted to talk to me about an opportunity in assurance. An hour later I got an e-mail saying the same thing as if telling me over the phone was not enough. I was ready to give it all, work like a slave, and stay with the firm for a long time. I had a great time during both interviews and the partner kept saying how amazing I was and even the HR director came in during the interview (I don’t think she did with the other two guys). I just cannot see where I fuck*ed up and I know I won’t have another one of these opportunities =/

CPA for life...

[ruggercpa2b]

Since they had such great things to say about you make sure you stay in touch. I interviewed with Big 4 and then right before they could offer me the job they had the hiring freeze. I stayed in touch and lo and behold a year later they could rehire and I was the first person they reached out to and I was still looking for a job. It doesnt hurt to stay in touch. Good luck!

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[mla1169]

Its now considered “snobby” to prefer one job over another?

Guess I can be added to the “snobby” club, too. Not willing to settle for “any” job just to have a job. Life's too short.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[neika822]

Did they happen to call your references? My friend had a reference from college, an old boss at one of her part-time jobs. A year ago she was applying EVERYWHERE. Thought she was doing great but never got a job offer. Turns out that reference was saying bad things about her when her potential employees called. I'm all for honesty and maybe my friend had some bad interactions with her boss that she doesn't remember, but this person AGREED to be a reference.

So anyway, make sure your references are top-notch.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[Anonymous]

@whopper I figured so much for big 4. I am waiting for my chance to get in. I know work is tedious and they work their people to death. But I'm willing to work my butt off if they would just give me an opportunity. Applied for several positions but heard back nothing.

[ParanoidAndroid]

@CPAorNOT..Have you tried contacting recruiters on LinkedIn? That's how I was able to get thae interview, but it took me about seven months….I usually contact both recruiters and partners =]

CPA for life...

[ParanoidAndroid]

@neika822…They never asked for any references…

I thought I was in because I got both the partner and manager to say things like shit and fuqing..lol..anyways…I had so much fun that day and really learned a lot, so I'll just keep pushing forward…GO BIG 4 OR GO HOME!

@cannotpassagain…get back to studying for FAR!

CPA for life...

[nbad311]

Do you have a cushy resume besides good scholastics/GPA? Sometimes I felt like if you didn't play college sports and/or was in a fraternity, you weren't as good a candidate to the Big 4 as the guy that interviewed right after you who was.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[importracr317]

I had a Big 4 Advisory interview with the same result – “we like you, we just have more qualified candidates”. It's annoying for sure, but the economy still sucks and most jobs in high finance (including accounting) have tons of applicants. Once we have some decent economic growth, companies won't be able to promote internally fast enough and some of the cherry picking will subside (you REALLY think that former Lehman i-banker CPA/MBA is going to stay in an entry level audit role once the economy improves Mr. HR rep?)…so there should be lots more opportunities (at least that's what I'm telling myself)…. keep your head up.

Awaiting license in IL.

[ParanoidAndroid]

@nbad311..I did not play any sports in college, but I play soccer and in the interview with the partner we talked a lot about soccer and baseball..I had that guy eating off my hand…same with the Manager…lol

I just think they went with a local candidate (I'm three hours away) from a school they recruit from…I know everyone I met really liked me, so everything's not lost… =]

CPA for life...

[Author]

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