[Anonymous]

I have been persistently pursuing a career at a big 4. i reached out to all the corners of my networks and finally have found an old friend to forward my resume to PWC. I got an email requesting to fill my online profile and to search and apply for the position i would like. I’ve checked the two closes offices and there is not any positions for experienced candidates unless i apply to assurance positions but, of course as luck would have it, I have experience in tax (about 1.5 – 2 years).

I have very very little audit/assurance experience, do I have a shot if i apply to that position? i just want to get my foot in the door at this point.

[Anonymous]

Most people including myself would love that opportunity to get our foot in the door at some point, hopefully sooner than later. I currently work at JP Morgan and have no experience in an accounting capacity. I have one exam left to go and i'm currently trying to land a position in any accounting firm. I sent a copy of my resume to a friend who works at E&Y and asked him for any help he can. Today he forward to me a chain of e-mails of the conversations he was having with someone at the firm. This is an exact quote from part of the e-mail, ‘We require all our external candidates to have at least 1 full year's worth of core audit experience to be considered'. Breaks my heart but I know I have to pick myself right back up and keep going. It's going to be tough and passing the exam is no guarantee. At least you have tax experience and tax season is right around the corner, so I would still apply, you never know what might happen.

[Anonymous]

I am super gratefull and happy i have an opportunity, i just dont want to blow the one chance i get by applying to a position that i am unqualified for. I wonder if there is a stature of limitations for employee referrals

[I Want My Life Back 10.12]

@Boarderguy4288 – Working for one of the Big 4 isn't all that it's cracked up to be… I worked in public accounting for 5 1/2 years, I recently left about 6 months ago. I worked for one of the top 100 public accounting firms in the nation, and we were acquired several years ago and became the 7th largest national accounting firm. I've spoke to a lot of people at my new job that worked for 1 of the big 4, and I wouldn't change my experience for the world… I received so much more of a well rounded experience, being exposed to numerous industries and countless clients. If you work for 1 of the Big 4, and in audit, you will likely only have 1 maybe 2 clients, and l work and live at the client, likely public corporation, you probably wont even have a desk at your actual office, and you won't be exposed to even the tip of the iceberg of whats out there…

I would highly recommend checking out firms in your area outside of the big 4 that are well established (not your mom and pop accounting firms) and see that they have to offer, you might be surprised…

REG - 72 (Oct 2011), 74 (May 2012), 80 (July 2012)
FAR - 77 (Feb 2012)
AUD - 70 (Aug 2012), 89! (Oct 2012)
BEC - 71 (Dec 2012), 75!(Feb 2013)

[Mayo]

@OP, while I think working at a Big 4 will give you great opportunities in the future, etc., I don't think it's necessary to start out there.

If nothing comes of he Big 4 referral, I would look at large regional or mid-sized firms. You can always transfer to a big 4 later if you really want to.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

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