[wannabeCPA123]

it’s the end of the season, and I already got an offer from a tier 2, and I really like the people there. I really feels like home to me. They said I have until 2 days from now to accept or reject the offer.

However, I just finished up an second round interview with a Big 4, and it seemed to have went well. Basically the second round was today (Friday) and I have until Monday to accept the offer with the Tier 2. that was about 6 hours ago, and I know they give out offers really fast. I’m pretty sure they are giving out offers to other people as I am writing this. They said they will be contacting us within a week and a half!… But I know they are BSing, and that rejections will come out then, and offers will come out within 4 to 24 hours of the interview.

Should I just accept the offer, or risk waiting out for this Big 4? I don’t want to have to wait until the next hiring season.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[noneyabusiness]

Hey! congrats on your job prospects! I was in a similar situation as yours. I wanted to go for a medium size firm that was going to give me more money than the Big 4 and I felt comfy with the atmosphere. Also, not all the Big 4 get back to you in 4-24 hours. In fact, it took 3 weeks after the last interview to hear back from EY before I received an offer (I was in the 1st pool of interviews also)! Anyways, this is what I did – I told the medium size firm that I was seriously considering them (which was the truth) and it was an extremely important decision to make for my career and that I wanted to make sure I chose the firm with the best fit. I requested a couple more days, but to my surprise, they gave me an extra week to decide. 🙂 So hope this helps and good luck to you!

REG - 85
AUD - 83
FAR -76
BEC - 74, rematch 7/5/13

[Mr.NiceWatch]

I would:

a) Ask the medium size company to extend the offer period. I work at one of the big four and offers get extended more often than not.

b) Ask the big four firm to expedite the process because you have another offer. This isn't asking a lot if they really like you. I was given my offer 3 hours after the interview, while driving home!

Journey begins in July 2012.

FAR - 87 (8/7/2012)
REG - 89 (11/19/2012)
AUD - 95 (1/17/2013)
BEC - 81 (2/26/2013)

[tfsb89]

I agree with Mr.NiceWatch.

I interviewed with 3 Tier 2 firms on top of the Big 4 interviews and all of their offers came down before Big 4. Only one tried to put a deadline on acceptance. I was honest with them and told them that I was still in the process of interviewing and weighing my options, but I really enjoyed them and would hate to lose an opportunity with them just because I wasn't given time to sort everything out.

The tier 2 firms have to take these “hardball” strategies because they know if a candidate has a Big 4 offer, they'll usually accept it. IMO, it is a bit shady, but I don't fault them. If they had refused to give me a small extension, I would have known they weren't a place I wanted to work.

One more thing, I got 1 of my Big 4 offers 4 days after 2nd round interviews. Maybe that meant I was a last resort LOL, but don't think that just because offers didn't come down immediately that you didn't make it. The other 2 (including the one I accepted) did come within 24 hours.

FAR - 83
BEC - 85
AUD - 86
REG - 77

[wannabeCPA123]

I got the offer from the Big 4 firm. I guess i should have just relaxed.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[abacus]

Which did you end up taking?

BEC 81
AUD 76
FAR 70, 76
REG 58, 78! DONE!

"I am not my intentions. I am my actions."

[Author]

Replies