I work for a small firm. I knew that is where I wanted to be, but was willing to work in larger ones to get experience to move to the smaller firms.
I selected my small firm from the job description. I am a little older, and this is a second career for me. When I went back to school, people would ask what kind of job I wanted, as accounting is different than what I was doing. I gave them my ideal job description, then one day I found my ideal job description for a position on Craigslist. Even though I did not have the needed experience I applied, got the interview and took classes to get the job. We did have to move to get the job.
When I was looking, I based things on the firm values, people who worked for the firm and some additional intangibles that I wanted. I asked questions to people in the firms about what would be helpful in getting the job, I also looked at what I wanted in a job and a career. I love my small firm!
Talking to recruiters was helpful in focusing me on what I really wanted in a job. They also provided good questions and pointed at things to look for in the firm I selected to work for.
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