[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a little job hunting/career advice. I recently passed all four parts of the CPA exam in the beginning of December and just started applying for Chicago-land entry level positions (mostly audit) in public accounting last week. I graduated last May with a BS in business and double major in Accounting and Finance.

I know it has only been a week, but I haven’t heard much back from the public accounting/CPA firms that I have applied to. I talked with a recruiter for PwC’s assurance group in Chicago and she told me they are looking to hire entry level accountants to start in the fall at the earliest. My hope was to start a job within the next few months at the latest. Are these expectations unreasonable? I have no problem working for a smaller/mid-size CPA firm, but I am not sure if all public accounting firms are done hiring until summer/fall 2014. My hope is that smaller firms will be hiring year-round. Can anyone in smaller/mid-size firms explain what their hiring situation is at this point in time.

Also, if starting at a public firm is not an option until summer/fall, would I be making a mistake to look elsewhere (ie private)? Starting a job in 6-7 months would not be ideal, but I’ve heard that starting in public is probably the way to go because of the future job opportunities it will open up down the road.

Sorry for the long-winded question. Any advice or responses would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[acamp]

You'll hear arguments on both sides of private v. public, without getting into the numerous whys (use the search haha), I feel that public is the best way to start your career and waiting six month will be well worth it.

That said, recruiting at public is pretty structured. Big4 bring in TONS of entry level people each year and therefore they generally bring these people in during specific times of year for both workload considerations and general logistics; ie: much easier to onboard a large group once or twice a year than every month.

Generally speaking Fall'2014 new hires have already been hired! I know right?! They do interviews each Fall for positions starting the following Fall. Now they do some hiring outside of this, but its much less, so if you found a PwC recruiter with the possibility of being able to interview for Fall'2014 positions, GET ON IT! Yeah its several months, but it will be worth it!

I have an acquaintance who does staff accounting at a local bank, CPA done, he is ready to start public yesterday, but interviewed in Fall'2013 and won't be starting until Fall'2014!

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

You'll hear arguments on both sides of private v. public, without getting into the numerous whys (use the search haha), I feel that public is the best way to start your career and waiting six month will be well worth it.

That said, recruiting at public is pretty structured. Big4 bring in TONS of entry level people each year and therefore they generally bring these people in during specific times of year for both workload considerations and general logistics; ie: much easier to onboard a large group once or twice a year than every month.

Generally speaking Fall'2014 new hires have already been hired! I know right?! They do interviews each Fall for positions starting the following Fall. Now they do some hiring outside of this, but its much less, so if you found a PwC recruiter with the possibility of being able to interview for Fall'2014 positions, GET ON IT! Yeah its several months, but it will be worth it!

I have an acquaintance who does staff accounting at a local bank, CPA done, he is ready to start public yesterday, but interviewed in Fall'2013 and won't be starting until Fall'2014!

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

Why weren't you applying for jobs during recruiting season in the fall?

[Anonymous]

Why weren't you applying for jobs during recruiting season in the fall?

[jw_83]

My firm is currently hiring, but its 3 hours south of Chicago.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[jw_83]

My firm is currently hiring, but its 3 hours south of Chicago.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[Isostasy]

Just get a job with whoever will hire you… obviously don't tell them about your plans to leave for another firm. Once you get the offer you want just give your two weeks. If you only stay for a couple of months at the job just leave it off your resume.

[Isostasy]

Just get a job with whoever will hire you… obviously don't tell them about your plans to leave for another firm. Once you get the offer you want just give your two weeks. If you only stay for a couple of months at the job just leave it off your resume.

[Anonymous]

I would say not to change your entire planned career path over the start date, but yes, big 4 is very structured in interviewing and hire dates. We only interview twice a year, generally at times that coincide with the local focus school career fairs but Fall and Spring (October and Februaryish here in Florida). I definitely wouldn't start in private, but there is no difference in my opinion between starting at a regional firm, vs. big 4, in fact, the regional firms can give you more experience and then you could transfer to a big 4 as an experienced hire if you really wanted big 4 on your resume for some reason. I will tell you, getting a job and then just quitting in less than a year is not great advice, accounting is an incredibly small world and the partners at all of the firms know each other and that sort of thing will follow you. The people you are in school with and work with over the next few years will be getting you jobs for the rest of your life you'll be surprised how often you keep running into the same people, so definitely do not burn any bridges as you make your way through this process no matter what firm you choose always act professionally and treat everyone with respect.

[Anonymous]

I would say not to change your entire planned career path over the start date, but yes, big 4 is very structured in interviewing and hire dates. We only interview twice a year, generally at times that coincide with the local focus school career fairs but Fall and Spring (October and Februaryish here in Florida). I definitely wouldn't start in private, but there is no difference in my opinion between starting at a regional firm, vs. big 4, in fact, the regional firms can give you more experience and then you could transfer to a big 4 as an experienced hire if you really wanted big 4 on your resume for some reason. I will tell you, getting a job and then just quitting in less than a year is not great advice, accounting is an incredibly small world and the partners at all of the firms know each other and that sort of thing will follow you. The people you are in school with and work with over the next few years will be getting you jobs for the rest of your life you'll be surprised how often you keep running into the same people, so definitely do not burn any bridges as you make your way through this process no matter what firm you choose always act professionally and treat everyone with respect.

[mystical guy]

I went to Big 4 firm website and found a job in Ohio and within 2 days the recruiter contacted me! Apparently some stranger I don't know had found my resume and asked him to consider me at the same time I applied for the job (talk about coincidences). He told me I'd go directly to meet the partners and managers to see if I'm a good fit. based on the good reference and a little bit of Fortune 500 work experience. My buddy at PWC told me that, yes, they have specific times they hire but sometimes they need to hire out of the ordinary times (people quit every week, I hear).

From what I've seen, it seems to me that they might interview someone out of their ordinary interviewing times, give them an offer, but the start date might be several months into the year!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

I went to Big 4 firm website and found a job in Ohio and within 2 days the recruiter contacted me! Apparently some stranger I don't know had found my resume and asked him to consider me at the same time I applied for the job (talk about coincidences). He told me I'd go directly to meet the partners and managers to see if I'm a good fit. based on the good reference and a little bit of Fortune 500 work experience. My buddy at PWC told me that, yes, they have specific times they hire but sometimes they need to hire out of the ordinary times (people quit every week, I hear).

From what I've seen, it seems to me that they might interview someone out of their ordinary interviewing times, give them an offer, but the start date might be several months into the year!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Gatorbates]

I think a few years in public is so valuable. I spent 4 years in public (tax) and have spent the last 10 in industry. I am so glad I did spend some time in public. The root of what you need to know in industry comes from public, in my opinion.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Gatorbates]

I think a few years in public is so valuable. I spent 4 years in public (tax) and have spent the last 10 in industry. I am so glad I did spend some time in public. The root of what you need to know in industry comes from public, in my opinion.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Anonymous]

@mysticalguy, my guess is you were hired as an experienced hire, which is totally different than someone trying to get hired from on campus…there are no set times for interviews etc. for experienced hires and we do that year round…but it would be much more difficult for someone to get hired off campus outside of the normal structured interview schedules without relevant work experience in the industry that would enable them to be brought in as at least a 2nd year (at least at my firm, I would think similar elsewhere unless a lot of interns turned down offers and they really needed a staff one that year).

[Author]

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