[runhomejack]

There is a mid-tier company that is hiring interns for busy season with the chance to stay on as full-time when the term is up. I am going in for the third and final interview next week. I really like this company but am wondering what my chances are of going from intern to full-time? I know at the Big 4 it is a pretty high percentage but maybe mid-tiers are different?

If I don’t get the full-time position, I am really screwed because I can’t afford being unemployed and not having any cash flow for more than a week. I am pretty sure I am safe if they are planning on keeping 50% after busy season.

Of course I will ask at the interview as well but am just nonsensically stressing about this right now and am wondering if anyone has any insight on this.

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[2012passtheCPA]

Smee! No, no, they've got it backwards! Tell them to turn it around!!

Great movie!

Sorry I have no insight regarding your question, just liked your name. I'm interested in hearing the insight from peeps on the forum though. Good luck next week!!

[testsz]

From what I know, if you do well as an intern there is a pretty high chance of getting hired.

I would definitely ask in the interview though just to make it straight.

Just make sure to do your best in the internship and you will get the job!

P.S If you don't mind me asking, how did you get the interview? I am a recent graduate trying to get my foot into the door (didn't get a job via on-campus recruiting).

Good luck!

[runhomejack]

@testsz- Well, I have 4 years of experience in industry and I have met a TON of resistance from firms. I went to all sorts of networking functions and recruiters/managers/partners absolutely loved me up until I told them that I graduated 4 years ago. They told me straight up they are only going after people graduating this Winter or next Spring but they would forward my resume to the “appropriate” people. Also, while I did work in accounting in industry, my lack of public accounting experience pretty much killed my chances of coming on as an experienced hire. This used to not be the case until recently, according to recruiters. I was also referred to 3 of the 4 big 4's and was straight up rejected within one day.

So with that said, the fact that I am nearly done with the CPA exams and I graduated from an elite school have been my only selling points. Just 100% relentless networking and a refusal to give up has gotten me this far. By networking this meant going to events, getting business cards, sending emails, cold calling offices for recruiter contacts, and searching through friends. Honestly, I am very discouraged and frustrated and have repeatedly lowered my standards and goals over the last few months.

Also sucks when I go to events and the audit staff representing their firms are all complaining about their jobs. I would love to switch roles with them.

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[acamp]

I encountered (but thankfully got other offers) a large local firm in the bay area that would stock up on “interns” aka temp staff to get through busy season–where only 50% would get offers; whereas the Big4 I work at gave offers to 100% of the interns.

On one hand you'll get some experience with hopes of an offer, but on the other hand (and the position I was in at the time), accepting an internship with no job guarantee wouldn't work.

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California CPA

[runhomejack]

Also, what sort of things are they looking for in an intern when deciding whether or not to keep them?

One more thing – Is it dumb to take an internship if you already have 4 years experience in private?

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[Anonymous]

I've interned with a mid-tier firm in the Midwest, and also with PWC. Both offered me full-time offers after the internship. For PWC, you're pretty much spot on, I think they offered 100% of us either full-time offers or 2nd internships for the younger first-time interns. For the mid-tier firm, I only heard of 1-2 people in my intern class (60-70 people) who did not get offers. You should be fine, just don't do anything major to mess it up.

Be on time, do what you're told, and ASK FOR HELP when you need it. They'd rather you ask 100 questions than sit there wasting 2 hours because you're too shy to ask. In my experiences and from people I've talked to, every intern will get an offer unless they do something to mess it up.

[runhomejack]

Sounds good. I'm pretty confident I will be great if I do go to this firm but also read some reviews on glassdoor where people lamented the fact that they received great performance evaluations and a lot of verbal praise from management through out their term and then were surprised to see that they were still let go as soon as busy season was done.

I am annoyed I didn't think of these things to ask about in my first round of interviews.

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[foreseeableCPA]

What you just said sounds like the reviews I read for the mid-tier firm I will be interning in Jan-April. Hmm wonder if its the same firm lol

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[runhomejack]

If I get an offer I'll let you know what it is and we can have each other's backs if that's the case

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[foreseeableCPA]

Sounds good. BTW, where are you located?

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[runhomejack]

SF Bay Area. Firm is in SF

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[acamp]

Starts with Novo? lol

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

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California CPA

[foreseeableCPA]

Gotcha.. Yes it is probably the same firm! Let me know if you get the offer.

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[runhomejack]

Yes, it's novo lol. You have any tips for the final interview and by chance were you able to get any information about their expectations in terms of retaining their interns after busy season?

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[Author]

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