Yeahhhhh, buddy. I’m gonna be working at the Big 4! You jealous, bro? Nice dinners. Open bars. Happy Hours. Travel. Nice hotels. Airline mileage. And a ton of Respect from those at second rate firms.
Oh please. B4 is the way to go. If you aren't good enough to get there, don't be mad at those of us who were. I'll gladly work my 15 hour days during busy season for a few years to earn the opportunities that come along with having B4 on a resume. If you think that doesn't carry weight, then you either don't actually work in this field, you're delusional/in denial, or maybe a little bit of both.
I'll gladly knock the work out for the next few years for the end game. Honestly, I kind of think we are a generation of babies collectively. Not everybody, of course. But some people need to face the fact that it's called work for a reason. It's not college 2.0. You gotta put the time in and earn the rewards. 15 hour days for 15 weeks for a few years is a small price to pay for the experience. I'm former military, so I'm not too big on excuses.
I 100% agree with our generation (millennial) is full of babies AND that Big 4 has huge weight on a resume. I'm just saying people that go to those firms with your attitude are what give Big 4 a bad name. You may have a name on your resume at the end of the day, but everyone in the industry know that is all it is, a name. Most people come out after a few years with a very narrow path that they've worked on. I'd rather have someone with real experience on multiple types of projects than a fish with a bad attitude that got lost in the sea at Big 4 and then left because they couldn't handle it. Make sure you get real experience and learn while you're there, a name won't help you once it gets you in the door somewhere else.
I see some people not only drink the Kool Aid but they help in making it too! I agree with Procrastinator work at a firm that Pays OT! Before I even received my degree I was offered a full time salaried position at a small CPA firm. Salary was 45k with paid OT as straight time (not time and 1/2). My average week from January- April was anywhere from a min of 70hrs to 100hrs. 45k at an hourly rate is $21.63*40hrs avg. OT for 12 weeks (about 10k) I was pulling in over $55k and I didn't even have a degree yet (8 months away from graduation) I was exposed to tax prep for multiple entites and well as providing attestation services and financial statement prep. So please don't give me that shit that Big 4 are the end all be all and just because someone's never worked for one means they're not a hard worker. They're a SMART worker.
You guys do know I was messing around with this post right? Of course, people has ridiculous attitudes and I was mocking it. I do think it will pay off for me because I will put the work in. But you're right about the attitudes. Whenever anyone actually acts like I was pretending to act here, it is very off-putting.
@quid_pro_quo you should know better that none of us accountants have a sense of humor! “Messing around”? How do you mean? Lmao. Congrats on the new job, regardless of all the crap we say on here. You got hired by Big 4, thats an epic accomplishment. The fact of the matter is, there probably are a lot of jealous people here which is why you're getting attacked. But keep your head on straight and be ready for the good and the bad. I wish you luck on the new venture, getting a new job is always exciting, especially with Big 4.
FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85
ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016
It is so true that not many accountants have a sense of humor, hence, why I love SKYNET!!! But back to the point, a lot of us can get a job at the B4 but may choose not to because of the work life there. So to those that are thinking, “I work at the B4, so I am smarter or better” etc. That is not true! The B4 has much more opening positions so chances are much higher than mid size or national firms. Anyways, if you end up getting a job in public accounting regardless of size and getting a CPA in generally is a HUGE accomplishment. Really no difference where you start, everyone will gain invaluable experience.
From what I have heard from an “older†partner at a big 4 is that “it is nothing like it used to be,†meaning the millennials have completely changed the work atmosphere. Apparently, they don’t want to work as hard and as long as the folks of yesteryear, which is a good thing IMO.
REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?
Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS
.