[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the internship thing at all. I mean why do they put so much time in money into Junoirs who may not even get the 150 credits or even 120 credits for that matter than someone with a masters and CPA exam credits tries to talk to them and they just blow them off. It makes no sense when most their employees only last a couple years. If I go to one of their internships for 8 weeks over the summer as a junior I’m automatically hired but if I get 150 credits and pass the CPA exam with no internship there is no chance. This is true at least where I live. And who gets the internships is really political and obviously favors the richer kids who can afford it.

Also what is the chance of a non accounting MBA or business student getting into big 4? A lot of my friends who are finance, economics, and IT majors are trying to do this.

[tough_kitty]

@CPjAson – to answer your question – When I was getting my degree, I was also working full-time and I had no one else to support me financially, so quitting my job for a 3 months long internship HOPING that I'd get a job offer which wouldn't start until later was not an option for me….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@CPjAson – to answer your question – When I was getting my degree, I was also working full-time and I had no one else to support me financially, so quitting my job for a 3 months long internship HOPING that I'd get a job offer which wouldn't start until later was not an option for me….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of talent out there and that's the main problem. I interviewed with PwC, gave the best two interviews of my life (manager and partner), high GPA, CPA, work experience in accounting, and bam….I did not get the job… lol…I had to wait seven months (my school is a non-target university), drove six hours, was extremely frustrated when I learned I did not get it…Last week I went to a career fair at a different university and city and talked to people from Deloitte and PwC, so the hope is still there… =]…Keep the faith brotha/sista!

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of talent out there and that's the main problem. I interviewed with PwC, gave the best two interviews of my life (manager and partner), high GPA, CPA, work experience in accounting, and bam….I did not get the job… lol…I had to wait seven months (my school is a non-target university), drove six hours, was extremely frustrated when I learned I did not get it…Last week I went to a career fair at a different university and city and talked to people from Deloitte and PwC, so the hope is still there… =]…Keep the faith brotha/sista!

[txcpa13]

I think it's harder to get a Big 4 position without an internship but not impossible. I got turned down by one of the Big 4 for lack of accounting background while in the masters program (not an accounting undergrad and no work experience) – but received an offer from one of the others two months into the program.

AUD - 99 (5/2013)
BEC - 93 (5/2013)
FAR - 97 (7/2013)
REG - 94 (8/2013)

[txcpa13]

I think it's harder to get a Big 4 position without an internship but not impossible. I got turned down by one of the Big 4 for lack of accounting background while in the masters program (not an accounting undergrad and no work experience) – but received an offer from one of the others two months into the program.

AUD - 99 (5/2013)
BEC - 93 (5/2013)
FAR - 97 (7/2013)
REG - 94 (8/2013)

[onmywhey]

The Big 4 generally have a structured way of recruiting. Your success of getting can be highly dependent on what school you attend. Not sure if you indicated if you went to a school where the Big 4 recruit on or not.

To answer your question of why they only hire interns is because they already tested them out, whereas someone that just graduated they are not sure on. I think you would need to answer the following the questions in order to get into Big 4.

1. Why not accounting, and why an MBA vs a Masters in Accounting?

2. Why are you interested in accounting now?

I think they will be reluctant just based upon that accounting come off as your second choice. The hours and politics SUCK, so someone of your profile is more keen to jump ship versus someone that has a degree in accounting and planned to pursue a career in accounting. Just my two cents..

[onmywhey]

The Big 4 generally have a structured way of recruiting. Your success of getting can be highly dependent on what school you attend. Not sure if you indicated if you went to a school where the Big 4 recruit on or not.

To answer your question of why they only hire interns is because they already tested them out, whereas someone that just graduated they are not sure on. I think you would need to answer the following the questions in order to get into Big 4.

1. Why not accounting, and why an MBA vs a Masters in Accounting?

2. Why are you interested in accounting now?

I think they will be reluctant just based upon that accounting come off as your second choice. The hours and politics SUCK, so someone of your profile is more keen to jump ship versus someone that has a degree in accounting and planned to pursue a career in accounting. Just my two cents..

[Jennifer241]

Big 4's are picky, they HAVE to be! This is their business and they need to find the right people for the job. If they have 20 applicants who ALL have the same credentials what should they look for then? PERSONALITY!! DING DING DING!!!!

They are looking for someone who is willing to learn, mold-able, who has no other experience (this can sometimes get in the way of the way the BIG 4 does things, they want you to do everything the way they do it), and someone who will FIT IN WITH THEIR CURRENT TEAM!!!

Please do not take it personal if you don't get hired, they are doing you a favor because your personality would not match the personality of their current teams. You don't want the experience of getting hired just to find out that you hate working with everyone on your team and want to quit! Keep looking around.

I went through a couple of interviews, not at Big 4's but at some regional firms, and did not get hired. I then started to study techniques on EXACTLY what the people who did get hired at the regional firms did. What are they saying, doing, how did they interview. A lot of hiring is about your personality, so focus on that in your interviewing studies.

On a side note, I found that doing this also made me a lot happier person in my everyday life.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Jennifer241]

Big 4's are picky, they HAVE to be! This is their business and they need to find the right people for the job. If they have 20 applicants who ALL have the same credentials what should they look for then? PERSONALITY!! DING DING DING!!!!

They are looking for someone who is willing to learn, mold-able, who has no other experience (this can sometimes get in the way of the way the BIG 4 does things, they want you to do everything the way they do it), and someone who will FIT IN WITH THEIR CURRENT TEAM!!!

Please do not take it personal if you don't get hired, they are doing you a favor because your personality would not match the personality of their current teams. You don't want the experience of getting hired just to find out that you hate working with everyone on your team and want to quit! Keep looking around.

I went through a couple of interviews, not at Big 4's but at some regional firms, and did not get hired. I then started to study techniques on EXACTLY what the people who did get hired at the regional firms did. What are they saying, doing, how did they interview. A lot of hiring is about your personality, so focus on that in your interviewing studies.

On a side note, I found that doing this also made me a lot happier person in my everyday life.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[wannabeCPA123]

I know plenty of people that got into th Big 4 without an internship. I work at a big 4, and I didn't get an internship. I worked at a grocery store throughout college. However, the majority of people did get an intership.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[wannabeCPA123]

I know plenty of people that got into th Big 4 without an internship. I work at a big 4, and I didn't get an internship. I worked at a grocery store throughout college. However, the majority of people did get an intership.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[Anonymous]

do what i do and sneak into undergraduate career fairs as a masters graduate. and make sure to get recruiters business cards so you can spam your resume to them/send invites on linkedin.

[Anonymous]

do what i do and sneak into undergraduate career fairs as a masters graduate. and make sure to get recruiters business cards so you can spam your resume to them/send invites on linkedin.

[ti807910]

Just to chime in, I was a masters student with no Big 4 internship. Got a full time offer with Big 4. I had to work a little harder to get their attention but there is definitely a chance.

If you have a non accounting major, apply for advisory. There is a chance.

I help with recruiting it is comes down to 80% your personality, 20% your resume. If they don't like you, your resume goes in the trash. If they like you, they will just check to make sure you are on track with school with where they need you to be to be qualified.

FAR: 72, 68, 73, 78 (passed)
REG: 61, 70, 73, 63, 78 (passed)
AUD: 65, 84 (passed)
BEC: 89 (passed)

NASBA gave Doby a passing score, Doby is freeee!!

[Author]

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