[madmax49]

Hi Guys,

I’m sort of bummed out and need to vent and ask questions. I accepted a Seasonal Audit position at PwC and we were told that if we work hard, there would be chances to get a permanent offer. I have a foreign degree and foreign experience and came to the US not too long ago and I was excited to be hired by PwC. There were a lot of guys in my interview sessions who did not get hired even for the Seasonal position so I was sure that I had a good chance. I worked with full dedication, staying as late as they wanted and my work was efficient, I did ask questions if I did not understand things but my work was good quality and I was given compliments more than a few times about being quick and efficient. A lot of guys who were hired for the Seasonal position are here on a student visa and they all got full time permanent offers, most of them are hard working folks except 1 guy who stays on the phone all day long, comes in late, takes extra breaks and he got offered a full time 3 weeks before the end of contract. I asked of feedback when I did not get offered and I was told that I was seen using the phone which I only use minimal for texting family and was told that I should advise the management when I want to use the phone and I was told that I ask too many questions even though my work is good quality. I stopped asking questions, did all good work on my own and was released from the contract today. I heard that most other guys who were in my training class got an extension even if they did not receive a full time offer, I feel sad that I’m being thrown out this way. I feel like someone in the team has something against me but I know my work is good and I was fully dedicated. I feel like they just made up reasons to do this to me. Why do you guys think this happened?

[madmax49]

I really appreciate your feedback. However, I don't think I was a poor performer because when I finally asked for feedback they really had nothing to tell me. I was working on some of the hardest projects and not anything basic, I made sure to ask for feedback in the beginning when I started to make sure I was doing the work correctly. I made very minor mistakes and 3-4 times was complimented by my manager who said I had zero error and awesome work, everyone started calling me zero error guy just playing around. Things took a turn when my resource manager started asking where I was from and all, no one would believe that I've been here few months under a year and everyone asked me who referred me and how I knew about PwC. I just told them I applied and got in, they asked me about sports. It is true that I'm not into soccer, american football, baseball and all because I've grown up around other sports but I have no problem watching these. Is that what makes me a bad fit for Big 4? How can I be a good fit for Big 4? I honestly feel that I got caught up in a bad political mess and someone truly does not like me. I also don't feel my manager has much say, I believe the other 2 managers are much senior than him. The fact is that they were going to only make an offer to 1 person from each training class per team, other people were fired in between their seasonal and I was made to look bad so they can offer it to their more liked person. I worked with that guy several times, I end up finishing 5 funds and he does 2 and my resource manager keeps telling him that he's making mistakes and calls out on him when he's on the phone but someone is always there to take his side saying “he has family problems” ” he has a lot of extra curricular activities so his mind may be scattered right now since he's always so busy”. Like seriously?

I'm just venting here, I never really say much at work at all and try to always keep a positive high energy work environment. Anyway, What can I do to be a good fit for Big 4? I know there are others who are on the team but not from my training class, they're from a similar background as me and have similar interested but I am a bit more outgoing. However, I also know these guys truly deserved it so I'm not concerned or complaining about these.

[Mehow]

The way I see it is sort of like this. If you getting a drinking ticket in high school that doesn't reflect well on your record. However, there's a ton of people that drank in high school that never got caught. You're the one that got the drinking ticket in this situation. There really isn't anything you can do except move on I suppose. I'm sorry that happened to you.

FAR = 86 4/22/16
BEC = 80 6/01/16
REG = 07/26/16
AUD = ?

[Son]

madmax49, being a foreigner myself I have certainly experienced some of the things you've mentioned. My advice would be to stay true to yourself despite this experience with PWC. Everyone needs to adjust to make it easier for their co-workers to get along with them at work, for us it is more true than for an average fresh graduate. But I've learned that if your team doesn't value you as a person and as a professional that's not the team you should be on. I've worked with multiple teams and offices due to the nature of my group, and now understand that there's no “one size fits all” attitude that would help you success with any office at a Big4. Some generic advice is stay positive, work hard, appreciate the help you get, have your senior's back and above all stay humble. Seems like you're doing all of these things based on your post. But the rest is very individual and will depend on your boss's personality and vision. My boss is a huge sports fan, baseball, football, hockey; I've told to his face I'm not getting his obsession and we just laugh about it now. So, don't go crazy about it – so far I don't think there's anything you did wrong, just learn from the feedback you've got and approach a new chance with an open mind.

Lastly, two ideas to think about. Go for a one-on-one good-bye lunch with the manager(s) you like and/or worked the most with and ask for some frank feedback. Tell him/her how much you appreciate their help and that you'd like to stay in touch. I can guarantee you that at some point you'll need their help or advice – might be 3 years down the road, but it will happen, so you need to part on good terms. Second, continue to stay in touch with people whom you've developed a good relationship with regardless of their position, as in send them a message on Linkedin in a couple months when you have good news to share about your new position etc. PWC might be looking to hire someone in a few months, so it's good to be on their mind when that happens; also, people might move into industry where they will be primary decision makes and can actually reach out with offers etc. Seen it many times.

Kudos to you for venting here and not letting it affect your work; don't let the frustration out at work and you'll thank yourself later for staying professional.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[taxsage]

I think your over thinking this. Since you are working more directly with the seniors it is the seniors feedback which often picks the candidate. The late guy had an affair with the senior? The senior obviously choose the guy who could lay it down over you. Case solved!

My personality statement still holds. The guy obviously has game to get his senior to risk her reputation with a temp. It takes personality to have that kind of game. Hes also an ass kisser? You yourself admitted to barely saying hi to the managers. The late guy at least tried to interact with them by kissing their ass. You probably came off as cold and uninterested in knowing your leadership Late guy warmed the room in more ways than one. I want to buy late guy a beer just hearing about him.

[Son]

Taxsage, buy him a beer?:) Are you serious? Call me old fashioned, but a kissass who sleeps his way to the top is not the kind of person I'd want to be close with, professionally or personally.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[madmax49]

Hi Guys,

Thanks @ Son: I really appreciate your advice and will look into it. I definitely want to stay in touch with the ones I build a good relationship, a few of them got together and invited me for a lunch so I'll definitely go. I really want to take my manager on lunch like you said but I'm worried that he might not want to go or might think I am desperate. I feel now that it may have just happened for the best, some of the guys I know on my team offered to give me info about recruiters and their contacts in other Big 4; pretty much willing to recommend me and this is something I have never had before so it's all good.

I was bummed and it felt bad especially because of all the games, they did not have to give me a reason because it was just a seasonal but they went out of their way to humiliate me only because I asked for feedback and about my contract. I love PwC, it was the first firm I was interested in so I wish I did not have this experience with them but there are good and bad people everywhere so let's see I'll try another PwC location. The seasonal guys who did not get offered a permanent have gotten offers from other PwC location. I'll try my best to get into a good firm to continue my journey. Thank you to everyone who replied here mla11692, Biff-1955-Tannen, Yaz88, taxsage, Mehow and Son!

I'll keep you guys posted for sure, I have a few interviews with some mid level firms that I mentioned and got a call from EY today.

[madmax49]

I do agree, I'm not a kiss ass at all and I don't believe in flirting and stuff either. I have an awesome wife and I love her, there's no way I'm going to do this kind of crap when I know I'm a hard worker. I did build a good rapport with a lot of the team members and my manager, I just did not interact with the other 2 managers who joined later because they never talked to me either. I would greet everyone so I greeted the other 2 managers as well but of course they will choose someone who they know over me, so I understand that. It's all good, probably happened for the best!

[HoosierDaddy]

I wouldn't worry too much about your experience with PwC. You have it on your resume and it will open doors for future accounting work. There are many other big international, regional, and local firms that will hire you.

I liked the professionalism of the big four environment, but there were a lot of egos and politics to be dealt with.

A smaller professional environment might suit you. If you can find a niche, like IT audit or an IT specialization, it doesn't matter if you have extended Big Four experience. Since graduation from college I've been told that working for “Big Four” is the pedigree that makes your career. I think that is BS honestly. You don't need the “Big Four” to be successful.

Good Luck in your job search!

-Passed all four sections of CPA exam in 2010 using Becker.
-Former Seasonal Audit Senior with Big Four accounting firm.
-Plan to sit for Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

[NotAnother74]

Meh. Blessing in disguise. If you aren't a political type you won't make it. Me? I totally am. I don't see it as kissing ass either. It's not just complimenting managers and crap like that. It's networking, saying good morning to everyone, making yourself engrained in the culture so that everyone associates you as the guy/girl in the office who is friendly says hello every morning smiles and drips in good attitude. Dressing is only part of it. You gotta put yourself out there. Don't be overly nice, but just enough. Let the culture dictate your behavior. If you can get in with the culture, you'll be fine.

Don't be a hardass because you are afraid to politic. If you can't get past that then PWC did you a favor.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[Author]

Replies