[SerendipitousCPA]

Hi guys.

I am currently doing my MBA and through it might be able to do campus recruiting for Big 4.

I am currently working in the financial services industry and have 3+ years of experience in accounting and reporting in fortune 100 companies.

Would it be prudent and beneficial to leave for big 4 to put that to my resume and then come back to financial services industry? Or at this point am I better off just sticking to where I am?

Right now I am in my late 20s and salary is shy of 60K. I work in NJ/NYC area.

[lude4life13]

Do you need that experience to get where you want to be? If so, then yes, if not, then no. I definitely would say it's not something you would want to do just for the sake of it. Only do it if that's what's necessary for your career path, otherwise, it would be a waste of time.

[SerendipitousCPA]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm unsure if it is necessary. Seems like most of the top management (above director level) have public experience, but then again, most people don't make it to that level period and seem to reach manager or director level and that is it.

It does come up in interviews some with people asking why i didn't do big 4 or public experience.

On one occasion the hiring manager made it highly visible that she didn't like the fact that my resume didn't have public experience and I floundered until getting into industry position. Then when the next individual was interviewing me on her team I could see her shaking her head and talking about me from the conference room to one of the other interviewers. The funny thing is that they reached out to me on linkedin unsolicited and then they are interrogating me as to why did I apply to the position.

[fuzyfro89]

Sorry about your negative interview experience.

She may have just been a grumpy lady. People want to get under your skin a little to understand your past decisions and to glean what motivates you.

If someone asks why you never did public, you should have a good answer (even if it's a little “fluff”) as to why you thought your path and your particular situation turned out the way it did. It's a little silly, but a lot of interviewers ask questions that are really pointless.

Considering your salary is around what Big 4 entry level hires start at in NYC, it may be worth pursuing to get some more valuable experience on your resume. Would you be willing to put in 2-3 years? If yes, then go for it. It will serve you well if you plan to work in the accounting field going forward.

However, I don't know if you passed the CPA, but that is what's most important to move up in accounting. I've seen people in industry make it to the executive ranks without public experience, but they are not the norm.

[Author]

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