[IL Davey]

Situation somewhat generalized:

While in school you intern at a Big 4 in a Big City who offers you a job for when you graduate. After the internship you go back to school in a medium sized city and while at school get a part-time job at a large Fortune 500 company in that city.  After you graduate but 8 months before your Big 4 job would start you get offered a full-time job at the Fortune 500 company.  The Big 4 job pays about 5% more to start but the cost of living in the Big City is at least 5% higher.  What would you do?

done!

[koliver]

I would say to choose the job that you think would make you happier.  Factor in both the work you'll be doing, the people you'll be working with, the opportunity for growth/promotion, and where you'll be living.  Only you can decide but I think I'd choose where I would be happier.  You also could consider where your significant other would be happier if you have a significant other.  Money doesn't always matter if you're not happy.  Sorry, that probably didn't answer your question.

FAR: 78 BEC: 79 REG: 86 AUD: 74, 83 DONE!!!

[koliver]

I'll also add that I chose a Bif 4 firm over another job I was offered a little later because it paid more, had more room for growth and learning/challenging, was closer to my family, I liked all the people I met through a summer program, AND it's in a location I want to be in the future.  The second job I was offered was also from doing and intership when I was in school and even though I enjoyed the people I was working with I felt like I wasn't being as challenged as I wanted to be.  Although, you were probably getting challenged by both Big 4 and Fortune 500.

FAR: 78 BEC: 79 REG: 86 AUD: 74, 83 DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

Though I work for a Big 4 and hate it at times, there are definite benefits to work here. You really do get a lot of exposure and and recognition/resume builder as well as some good responsibilities. After a few years you can become senior and really have good experience, while at a F500 company it may be a slower progression through the ranks and you may fall to the wayside.

On a more personal level, you should choose the place that makes you happy, in the end you should be happy in life. Many people in Big 4 do not last that long because it does suck at times especially during busy season. You can't buy happiness, which is saying and belief that should be accepted at a younger age.

[NY GT girl]

I would take the Big 4 job. The experience and connections are invaluable. Additionally, having Big 4 experience and making it to senior or to manager will make you incredibly marketable for when you choose to leave public accounting.

I understand your dilemma. I was choosing between Big 4 in NYC and a smaller firm in Houston that didn't pay as well (I'm in grad school in Texas and I'm from Atlanta). I went with the Big 4 in NYC for the opportunity, the name recognition on my resume, my experience for my CPA, the connections, and the chance to move back to Atlanta (where I want to be long term).

But its a personal decision and I think Big 4 is a great place to start your career.

How did you like the Big 4 when you interned there? I think that should tell you a lot about what you actually want to do…

NY Candidate using Becker: FAR (2/20) - 81, AUD (4/3) - 92, REG (5/3) - 95, BEC (5/29) - 89 DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

I'd go with Big 4 for the reasons dobat mentioned.  You can always go back to the Fortune 500 or something similar if you do Big 4 first… due to changing circumstances, the opportunity to go to Big 4 later on probably won't be there.  The salary differences at this point in your career are insignificant compared to the potential earnings path each job will put you on in the future and shouldn't be considered as long as you can “pay the rent” and get by.

[Author]

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