[Anonymous]

I am a MAcc student and also taking my last section of the exam. I am trying to get a job with one of the big 4. I have been invited by one of the big 4 for an office visit and a dinner. If you work for one of the big 4, please let me know what kind of things you look for from applicants during an office visit and dinner. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

i work at a big 4 and all the biggest piece of advice anyone gave me was, theyre looking for someone who theyre going to want to work with for 50-60 hours a week. when i look back at it, i interviewed with managers who I work with right now, and this advice makes a ton of sense. they're not professional recruiters who are going to analyze your credentials. just be someone they like to be around and talk to. don't go in and act like a suck-up or stiff, because odds are that's not your real self. just be friendly, smile, look clean and organized (no fumbling around with papers or pens).

good luck.

[glutenator]

I have to agree with Dwadecpa. Besides the obvious of a good background and able to hold a conversation, we always say we want someone that we could stand being crammed into a small conference room with for months on end. That's often more important than what school you went to or what you scored on your CPA.

I'll Pass Eventually
REG (67, 66), BEC (79), FAR (5/26/10), AUD (August 2010)

[Toddie00]

I agree with both statements. Working at the Big 4, they are not looking at your resume or what your CPA scores are during the Office visit (that is what on campus interviews do). On campus interviews are usually with partners and HR making sure you are smart etc… Office interviews are about interviewing with people you are going to see everyday. They just want to make sure you are personable and can spend 6 days a week in a small room together. It is really about personality…..

I AM A CPA 🙂

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the tips. I think that answers my question. My main concern was whether they are looking at how I am going to act around a client or how I am going to act around co-workers. From what I hear, I should act how I would around co-workers. If anyone else has any input, it would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

As said before they are looking for someone that they can stand. Everyone they are interviewing has the credentials since they are spending the money to bring them and think about hiring them so just be yourself. But If you don't get hired don't worry about it because it's probably for the best for both parties since you'll probably be happier somewhere else and wouldn't have fit into their culture.

[Anonymous]

Just getting the interview means you're a great candidate.

[gatorj]

I am also a MAcc student with one exam left. I have been in pub acct – tax for 4 years now at a small firm (very small). I was considering moving into a big 4 next year after I finish school, but I was under the impression that they were not hiring and some were even laying folks off. Are the firms still actively recruiting tax, audit, and consulting then?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

it's definitely a little bit of both of what your “concerns” are. i'm not suggesting you act informal and unprofessional, and “casual.” I currently work with 2 of the 3 managers who interviewed me, and they definitely looked at both how I will interact with them, as well as interact with client personnel. Just be comfortable, be yourself, smile. At the interview, they'll be asking you about you and lines on your resume, and who doesn't love to talk about themselves?? Sound enthusiastic and glad that they asked you things about yourself – because you should be. Talking about yourself needs to be the easiest and most comfortable thing about your interview.

Something I often hear about candidates who didn't get an offer is that they seemed “intense.” That's pretty much all I was suggesting: be comfortable and not intense – there's nothing to be intense about.

The dinner should be easy too, anyone you run into, just ask them about themselves (just like they do to you at the interview!). Like I said, everyone loves talking about themselves, so you shouldn't run into any awkward conversations. Talk to the other candidates, especially the ones sitting next to you, and ask them where they went to school, where they grew up, etc. Don't ask them things like, what other firms did you interview with, or anything that is too personal or might require whispering. For the employees there, just ask them where they went to school, how long they've been at the firm, what they like the most about the firm, what area of town they live in, how they get to work, etc. I generally do not ask questions about sports, or tv shows, movies, etc, because the person may not watch sports, or a tv show, or a particular movie. Just ask questions that everyone has an answer to.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Ignoring this horrible recession, normally what are the chances of being hired into a Big 4 as staff/senior staff after passing the CPA Exam and working at a smaller firm for 2 years?

[glutenator]

@coreinke, it's a numbers game for the Big 4 question. I can't tell you you're chances, but they are hiring (I know mine is). It's a bit of a dichotomy, as they are laying off and hiring at the same time. Some of the layoffs, in my opinion, are just a mask to get rid of people they don't want but don't have enough to fire them on, and some of it is simply skillsets, so they lay off one skill set and hire another. If you go to a Big 4, again in my opinion, you will work long hard hours, and you will probably be on one type of work all the time. If you go to a small firm, you may not make as much, and you may work almost as many hours, but you will probably work on multiple projects, multiple clients, and multiple tasks.

I'll Pass Eventually
REG (67, 66), BEC (79), FAR (5/26/10), AUD (August 2010)

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any tips for negotiatong the salary up with one of the big 4 once the offer is received?

[Anonymous]

acural12:

you don't! take it or leave it.

[Anonymous]

+1

take it or leave it, unless you have an offer for a similar job at another big4. then you could try to bring it up to your recruiter and they can get you in contact with who you need to speak with.

everyone i know who received offers who were close from other big 4s, they did not negotiate.

[Anonymous]

I agree I don't think there is really any room for negotiation. Also take into account the amount of hours you will be working, and what your hourly rate ends up as. The types of projects you will be exposed to is definitely a wider range working with a smaller – mid sized firm rather than a big 4. The big 4 create some great opporunities, it just completely depends what your looking for.

I had an offer with both, and took the mid sized firm offer, for a few reasons: I get paid hourly, which means I get time and a half for every over time hour I work, this brings my pay to about the same amount as the big 4 offer, it allows me to work in a more desireable location and do things outside of work. I went to school in the south and had many friends taking jobs with the big 4 out there, there was only a $5K difference in salary offers from the south to the bay area CA….being from CA I am WELL aware that that $5k won't even make up a difference in living expenses! For me it just didn't add up, although that CPA exam bonus would have been nice haha

[jeff]

Interesting discussion…I like reading everyone's input. I worked in public accounting for two years, but for a small firm, so it's interesting to hear from Big people or those who considered going Big 4.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Author]

Replies