[ONMYWAYNY]

I am trying to fully prepare for hiring season. It’s my last year and I want to get hired by a big four firm. I have a 3.6 GPA and hopefully will have two parts of CPA exam completed by August. I am a non traditional student who went back to college. So I have work experience. How do I nail this interview? Has anybody heard about a Big 4 Hiring Guide, do you now if it is worth buying?

[Whyme]

I was in a similar position, worked two years, then went back and got my MACC. Your 3.6 GPA goes a long way, because most big 4 firms require a 3.5 and up before even agreeing to interview you. Also, the fact that you will have 2 parts of the CPA completed gives you a leg up, as most interns are just finishing up their junior year. The best advice I can give is to practice answering behavioral questions. Have a number of stories or situations that you have encountered in the past ready, and be able to adjust the stories to the questions asked. Emphasize your prior work experience, your love for accounting, and be passionate about the subjects you talk about. If you were a part of any organizations that did any type of community service talk about that. Finally I would say try to connect with the people you meet. Ask them questions about their career, how they got to where they are today, what advice they would give to someone in your position. The more questions you ask the less questions you have to answer! Think of it as more of a conversation than an interview, but make sure you know your facts about the company!

Hope this helps!

AUD- 71, 73, 87 Done!!!!!
BEC- 75
FAR- 72, 77
REG- 77

[zerohedge]

What do you all think are some good questions at ask in an interview? I have read about it online, but none of them are very accounting related.

Reg - 2/24/12 passed
BEC - 4/3/12 passed
FAR - round 2 7/1/12 passed
AUD - round 2 11/01/12

Using Becker, wiley, and NINJA.

[Whyme]

For internships they don't usually ask accounting related questions. Only accounting related questions I got was “So why are you interested in Tax?” They usually ask questions along the lines of “Explain to me a time when you had to meet multiple deadlines, how did you handle the situation? Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a co-worker or classmate, what did you do? “

They want to guage what type of personality you have, and whether you would be a good fit or not. Google behavioral interview questions and practice!

AUD- 71, 73, 87 Done!!!!!
BEC- 75
FAR- 72, 77
REG- 77

[kandisjoy]

This is kind of off topic for a Big 4 interview, but maybe it will help someone else.

During the second interview for my current position, which was with the Controller and CFO, I looked up the company's most recent financial statements and prepared a few questions about their financial ratios and such. Nothing super complicated (I didn't want to seem like a pompous asshole). I think that this gave me an edge over other applicants because it showed that I was interested in the company and willing to go the extra mile.

I also looked up who the CFO was and saw that it was a woman, so I dressed extra conservatively. Then I got to my interview and behold, the CFO was a man! The old CFO had moved to the position of COO… Oh well, I tried. 🙂

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Author]

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