Master's student with a CPA cannot get a Big 4 entry-level position, need help! - Page 3

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #189466
    Lunchboxx
    Member

    Hello current and future CPAs!

    I never thought I would have to write this post, but I am freaking out about not having a full time offer lined up. During this semester I attended my large University’s career fair and applied at 5 companies(the big 4 and 1 mid-size firms) for a spring(January) 2015 start date audit position. Out of the 5, only one of the big 4 firms followed up and offered me an interview. After the first interview, I was declined the office visit.

    I just couldn’t understand why all my applications failed, I am about to graduate with a Master’s of Accountancy in December with a very high GPA(3.85) and high passing CPA scores(see below). I also completed a successful internship at a mid-sized firm (I did not enjoy the firm that I did my internship at). I was also in my school’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter for 2 years(a huge plus at our school).

    After my failed interview, I reached out to my interviewer and asked him what could have went wrong. He told me that during the interview I appeared nervous(this did not make sense to me). During the interview, I recalled myself being mostly confident and answering the interview questions very intelligently. To be honest, I feel as if the interviewers reason was complete BS and there was another underline reason for me not getting the job(such as the firm needing a diversity hire, the Partner’s son getting the job over me or a really attractive girl interviewed for the same job as me).

    This angers me because I feel as if I’m one of the most qualified candidates out there. Compared to my peers, I have one of the highest GPAs, I am the only one with passing CPA scores, and I have an outgoing personality. Yet, people with low GPAs with no hope of getting a CPA(that look up to me) have full-time offers and I don’t.

    Based on the experience that I described to you guys, can you guys shed some light as to why I cannot seem to get a job?

    Sorry if I seem critical, but I am extremely furious that all my hard work doesn’t seem to be paying off 🙁

    AUD - 93
    REG - 96
    BEC - 92
    FAR - 90

    Done!

Viewing 15 replies - 31 through 45 (of 52 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #614359

    Lunchbox,

    I can't even believe I'm about to get critical on you, since I've gotten defensive when some posters have gotten critical on me. But I have to be honest. You just said that “most of the audit work is fairly easy”. You have to erase that from your mind, man. I'm finding that it's humility, humility, humility, that will get you everywhere.

    Then again, some recruiters will actually take the less capable-seeming candidates, since taking the ones that are too good makes them feel threatened, but I think this is pretty rare. I swear I ran into it at a midsize firm though. And I know I'm just a regular guy, but I think they really didn't like things like my eye-to-eye contact, confident tone, and so on. Most of the time, things like that should be an asset, though, but I guess the lesson is that people can mistake confidence for arrogance VERY easily, especially if their questions aren't very in depth. So you really have to tow the line.

    Again, I haven't even been hired yet. I feel good about my advice to you though.

    #614360
    Lunchboxx
    Member

    @Peanut Butter is Good, I meant to said “Most” entry level audit procedures are easy. I've never heard someone say that confirming A/R or reconciling cash was difficult. Auditing is easy until you become a senior and you have to manage staff and teach them how to audit. Also once you reach manager you have to do complicated analysis of your client which seems extremely difficult.

    Maybe I phrased it wrong, but basically what I meant was that most of the first year audit stuff is fairly easy.

    AUD - 93
    REG - 96
    BEC - 92
    FAR - 90

    Done!

    #614361

    If I were you I would be pissed off too. As an accounting student you basically just have to do what your told and your almost guaranteed a job in public accounting. At my undergrad they preached: have a GPA > 3.5, join the internship program, masters program right away, meet the firms and boom you have your perfect internship, which blossoms into a full-time job offer afterwards.

    The only thing is there's no opportunity to think outside the box or make yourself more appealing then anyone else.. everyone has a good GPA, everyone is a part of BAP, everyone did an internship, everyone began CPA journey early because that is what you were told to do.

    A - 89 10/23/2014
    R - 90 2/27/2014
    F - 75 5/25/2014
    B - 83 8/28/2014

    #614362
    TNCPA16
    Participant

    I recently interviewed a girl in a similar situation as you – she had an all-star resume (4.0 GPA, Big 4 internship, lots of extracurriculars, etc.), but she was so full of herself that we did not invite her back for a second interview. She spent her interview telling us how great she was and all the great things she could do for our company. Not a single person who interviewed her wanted to bring her back.

    You need to remember that one internship does not make you an expert in auditing. Making statements like “auditing is easy” is not going to sit well with some people. Next interview you have, go in with an attitude of “I want to learn” instead of “this is easy; I'm so smart” and I think you will have better luck.

    This comment did make me laugh –> “Communicating with the client isn't nerve racking.” Just wait until you or someone on your team does something to piss off your client. My external auditors royally pissed me off last week and now even the senior manager is afraid to come talk to me (and I'm nice compared to most people!)

    One final comment – no one cares if you scored a 99 on your exams or a 75. All anyone cares about is if you pass. So don't ever bring up your scores unless someone specifically asks.

    #614363
    taxman89
    Participant

    ” As an accounting student you basically just have to do what your told and your almost guaranteed a job in public accounting. At my undergrad they preached: have a GPA > 3.5, join the internship program, masters program right away, meet the firms and boom you have your perfect internship, which blossoms into a full-time job offer afterwards.”

    if you believe that you are guaranteed a job from any undergrad program i have a toll bridge in the middle of a desert i want to sell you….

    Anyone will be turned off by a new (entry level) hire that thinks they know everything. you are going to an entry level position. you need to have the attitude that you are coming in to learn because you know NOTHING (and trust me…you know nothing) and cant wait to learn from all the super smart people that already work there. A dose of humility goes a long way in an interview (or life for that matter)

    Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
    Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
    Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
    Far-78 1x easiest section

    #614364

    Oo I get it because a toll booth wouldn't make any money in the desert….. Of course that is not what I believe, but that is what students who go that avenue believe (hence the OP's shock at not having a job offer).

    A - 89 10/23/2014
    R - 90 2/27/2014
    F - 75 5/25/2014
    B - 83 8/28/2014

    #614365
    mla1169
    Participant

    Its a shame that so many kids in school are lead to believe a degree guarantees them a job (thinking about that Occupy Wall Street nonsense a few years back and these kids with boatloads of student loans who can't find a job) I think a kid from BC even sued the school because he couldn't land a job after he had passed the bar.

    My son is 21 and wanted to go to Johnson and Wales for culinary arts. I told him I would pay if and ONLY IF he went and worked f/t in a restaurant for a year after high school and after seeing the insane hours chefs put in still thought it was a good deal. Needless to say he hasn't gone to college yet but makes fairly decent money for a kid with only a high school education. I know he will get a degree eventually and when he does, will have no pretenses about what it will translate to career-wise.

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #614366
    Kimboroni
    Member

    Lunchboxx, it looks like you're getting some really great insight on what went wrong with the last interview and what you can do to improve, so that's excellent. Hopefully you can knock the next one out of the park!

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #614367
    Lunchboxx
    Member

    @Kimboroni, That's the plan! After having over 30+ insightful replies, I learned more about interviewing than ever. Hopefully after taking into consideration all of the advice given to me via this thread, I will be able to land the job!

    AUD - 93
    REG - 96
    BEC - 92
    FAR - 90

    Done!

    #614368
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @mla.. you kept your son away from college so he could make minimum wage at a restaurant..? and now he's 21..?

    #614369
    mla1169
    Participant

    LOL Big four. You are funny. My son was more than welcome to go to school, but on his own dime. There was no way on this earth I was going to drop $100k on a college education for a career he was more likely than not to leave after a few years. (do some research on how long the average chef stays in restaurants, not long) High school was an enormous struggle for him, until he wants college more than anything in the world he's not likely to work hard for it.

    There is no good reason a kid should begin college at 18 years old. That's a societal norm, not a prescription for success.

    He worked for a week and a half at a restaurant and hated it, is now a lead hand in a manufacturing facility making double minimum wage which guess what? Is what most kids his age with a degree are making as well. Also the reason I said he's making good money for a kid with only a high school education.

    I have no doubt he will have a degree eventually, who cares if its when he is 21 or 41?

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #614370
    TNCPA16
    Participant

    Lunchboxx – one final thing. Even if you don't get a Big 4 or any public accounting job, it doesn't mean that you won't have a successful career. When I was in school, it was beat into our heads that Big 4/public accounting is the way to go. I did everything that they said I needed to do – good GPA, several internships, lots of extracurricular/honors societies, etc…and guess what? No offers. It was very disheartening. I ended up interviewing for, and accepting, an internal audit position two weeks before graduation. It ended up being the perfect fit for me, and while my friends were stressing out in their public accounting jobs, I was loving my 9 to 5 job (and making as much, if not more, money than them). I could very easily get a Big 4 job now if I wanted, but I’m used to the good life that industry offers!

    #614371
    taxman89
    Participant

    “Oo I get it because a toll booth wouldn't make any money in the desert”

    well it was more there are no lakes/water therefore no need for a bridge 😀 kinda pointless either way lol

    “Of course that is not what I believe, but that is what students who go that avenue believe”

    my point was more along the path of, you should have a little more common sense than to believe this.

    Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
    Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
    Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
    Far-78 1x easiest section

    #614372
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Sorry, guess I read it a different way. Still, sucks he's wasting his youth working instead of enjoying it with his peers. That's the difference between 21 and 41.

    #614373
    mla1169
    Participant

    Trust me if he was “enjoying” too much more he'd be in jail or dead.

    Fortunately his tight group of friends all ended up working at the same place. A few of them are taking community college courses at night and two are taking classes at a trade school at night (my personal first choice for him). It is a common path for young men in my town to start working at this place and stay there until they are 70 years old. He's just more a “townie” than me!

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

Viewing 15 replies - 31 through 45 (of 52 total)
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