[jlondon]

I’ve applied to big 4 a total of 13 times in the past 3 years. I even had a few referrals.. and one from a director, and another through the help of another director. But it’s hopeless.

I think it all drills down to it is my college gpa of 3.0 ; which is not that low, but of course compared to big 4, it’s a piece of shit grade. I don’t get why they are so strict on this. I can honestly say, I am well rounded and know how to think outside the box to resolve problems, but my accounting courses in college really did some damage to my future. Had 2 C’s in intermediate accounting, which caused my gpa to be extremely undesirable, and rejected left and right by the big 4. So, just a piece of advice to you college students (future CPAs’)… make sure you get an A, if you get a C, you might as well fail the class and get a petition to retake it, because C’s are permanent on your record. What can I say, I was young and didn’t take school that serious back then, but now I know.

So maybe it’s time for me to start looking at regional firms. I’ll have to take at least a 10 grand pay cut which would really suck. But, hopefully taking this step back, and lunge me forward 3 steps….

Just wanted to give you ninjas who are still in college some advice since I’ve went through it and realize how hard it is when they judge you on your gpa.

Anyway, any advice for me? I’m 28, and it will be very painful to go back to an entry level job at 50k. What’s the average duration for someone to be “experienced” in public accounting. Fyi, I’ve never done public accounting, but I understand to some extend how things work since I’m working a public company.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[mla1169]

Well don't give up if your DREAM job is big 4. you could always apply to regional firms in the meantime but continue trying to get a foot in the door at B4.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Well don't give up if your DREAM job is big 4. you could always apply to regional firms in the meantime but continue trying to get a foot in the door at B4.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Trust me. You do NOT want in at the audit senior level without prior audit experience. The recruiter may laugh in your face. On the off chance you get it, you'll be chewed up and spit out in less than a year. There is just no way you'll be prepared – you'd be at the very bottom of your class and your second years would be fixing your mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Trust me. You do NOT want in at the audit senior level without prior audit experience. The recruiter may laugh in your face. On the off chance you get it, you'll be chewed up and spit out in less than a year. There is just no way you'll be prepared – you'd be at the very bottom of your class and your second years would be fixing your mistakes.

[mw798]

@Anonny I couldn't agree more with what you just wrote. Being hired directly at the Senior Associate level with no prior audit experience would only draw resentment from your peers. Depending on how competitive that particular office is, you could find yourself the victim of office politics very quickly.

Really if I were in your position, I would go for an Associate job either at a regional if you can't find one at the Big 4 and work your way up to Senior Associate or Manager. Get your CPA and get the experience, then find a private position. There are a lot of Controller positions in my area and Financial Reporting Manager positions as well. That is unless you really love public accounting and want to stay.

[mw798]

@Anonny I couldn't agree more with what you just wrote. Being hired directly at the Senior Associate level with no prior audit experience would only draw resentment from your peers. Depending on how competitive that particular office is, you could find yourself the victim of office politics very quickly.

Really if I were in your position, I would go for an Associate job either at a regional if you can't find one at the Big 4 and work your way up to Senior Associate or Manager. Get your CPA and get the experience, then find a private position. There are a lot of Controller positions in my area and Financial Reporting Manager positions as well. That is unless you really love public accounting and want to stay.

[ruggercpa2b]

I agree with what Annony and mw798 with not wanting to start out at senior without experience. At senior you are expected to direct the staff and most of the time help run the audit. If you don't have any experience then you are setting yourself up for failure and will have a bad end of year rating. Which most of the time they will let you go. You will either start out at first year or if you already have some audit experience then maybe 2nd year staff. I would say start out a regional and if big 4 is really what you want then transfer as an experienced hire.

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.

[ruggercpa2b]

I agree with what Annony and mw798 with not wanting to start out at senior without experience. At senior you are expected to direct the staff and most of the time help run the audit. If you don't have any experience then you are setting yourself up for failure and will have a bad end of year rating. Which most of the time they will let you go. You will either start out at first year or if you already have some audit experience then maybe 2nd year staff. I would say start out a regional and if big 4 is really what you want then transfer as an experienced hire.

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.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure if going to a regional firm necessarily means a pay cut. In my experience, my friends who went with regional firms are making more than I'll be making at a big 4. Its at least a 4K-10K difference in their starting salaries and mine. It sucks but big4 comes with this prestige and name brand that looks great on your resume. So I completely understand why you want to work for a big4!! I felt the same way. It took me almost 2 years to get there. I spent my last 2 years in school gearing towards the big recruiting season. (I am just praying its all worth it in the end)

That being said….regional firms should also provide you with great public accounting experience and I know ppl who never took the big 4 route and are doing extremely well. I think what you need to look for in a firm is the clients that they cater to and how will that help you reach your desired job in the next 4-5 yrs. Public accounting is mostly a stepping stone. I would say keep your options open..look at regional firms with the same passion as you did for big 4.

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

I am not sure if going to a regional firm necessarily means a pay cut. In my experience, my friends who went with regional firms are making more than I'll be making at a big 4. Its at least a 4K-10K difference in their starting salaries and mine. It sucks but big4 comes with this prestige and name brand that looks great on your resume. So I completely understand why you want to work for a big4!! I felt the same way. It took me almost 2 years to get there. I spent my last 2 years in school gearing towards the big recruiting season. (I am just praying its all worth it in the end)

That being said….regional firms should also provide you with great public accounting experience and I know ppl who never took the big 4 route and are doing extremely well. I think what you need to look for in a firm is the clients that they cater to and how will that help you reach your desired job in the next 4-5 yrs. Public accounting is mostly a stepping stone. I would say keep your options open..look at regional firms with the same passion as you did for big 4.

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Occasionally I've seen experienced hires (with non audit backgrounds) get hired. But it is always at the staff and not senior level. If at the 2nd year level they usually struggle and aren't really set up for success the way first years are. Regardless, IF you get into public Accounting you will be working a lot more hours for a lot less pay. In every interview you'll have to fight the interviewers worry that you'll realize how badly (hours, perks, pay, expectations) public accounting really treats you and quit during busy season. New grads don't really know any better and drink up the koolaide – you'll know better.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Occasionally I've seen experienced hires (with non audit backgrounds) get hired. But it is always at the staff and not senior level. If at the 2nd year level they usually struggle and aren't really set up for success the way first years are. Regardless, IF you get into public Accounting you will be working a lot more hours for a lot less pay. In every interview you'll have to fight the interviewers worry that you'll realize how badly (hours, perks, pay, expectations) public accounting really treats you and quit during busy season. New grads don't really know any better and drink up the koolaide – you'll know better.

[kmaahs]

OP,

Is English your second language? I ask this because your writing is a little jumbled. Don't take this as me being a grammar nazi as I mean no offense, but grammatical errors on a resume can be highly detrimental to a job hunt, especially if paired with a lower GPA. You will want to be sure your resume is perfect. My suspicion is that the reason for your poor luck lies either in or on your resume.

Also, you seem to hold the Big 4 on a pedestal. There is no question that a Big 4 resume stamp is helpful later on in a career, but it by no means is a guarantor of a job or even an interview for that matter. The regional firms are a great and lofty goal in and of themselves with great career implications. This said, I think, unfortunately, you will not find getting into a regional firm much easier than Big 4. Public accounting is pretty tough as far as entry level admission goes. Getting the CPA done will help, however.

C.P.A.

[kmaahs]

OP,

Is English your second language? I ask this because your writing is a little jumbled. Don't take this as me being a grammar nazi as I mean no offense, but grammatical errors on a resume can be highly detrimental to a job hunt, especially if paired with a lower GPA. You will want to be sure your resume is perfect. My suspicion is that the reason for your poor luck lies either in or on your resume.

Also, you seem to hold the Big 4 on a pedestal. There is no question that a Big 4 resume stamp is helpful later on in a career, but it by no means is a guarantor of a job or even an interview for that matter. The regional firms are a great and lofty goal in and of themselves with great career implications. This said, I think, unfortunately, you will not find getting into a regional firm much easier than Big 4. Public accounting is pretty tough as far as entry level admission goes. Getting the CPA done will help, however.

C.P.A.

[Author]

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