[MrHopeful215]

Can you guys tell me if this is a good plan and if there is anything else that I should plan on doing to ensure that I am in the best position possible to land a position this upcoming fall (which is when i assume firms are hiring the most). I currently work as a fund accountant (unrelated to accounting and CPA experience) and I have my exams passed as of February 2016.

1. Finish earning 18 credits by August.

2. Attend a college recrutiing event in September with having graduated in 2012, 150 Credits, and CPA exams passed.

3. Practice interview skills over summer.

4. Review Resume/Cover Letters/Linkedin.

5. Learn about companies.

6. Learn intermediate excel skills (Pivot tables, Vloopup/index match)

Is there anything else I can do to improve myself?

Also, what do people expect you to do at a college recruiting event, This will basically be my 1st time. Am I supposed to approach them and give them my 30 sec speech and then ask questions about the company? How do you guys approach recruiters at these events? What do you start off by saying and doing. What kind of impression are you trying to give and questions are you asking?

Thank you in advance for any advice

AUD - 82
REG - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 76

[hasy]

I'll post an email I received from an EY mgr later today about your questions, but honestly, they want to know about you. Don't be shy or nervous. They're people too and they just want to get to know you to see if you're a right fit for the firm.

ONE important thing, if you're going for entry-level, know what practice you want to be in. You can try to talk to more people in the practice that you want to be in, however, everyone has a say. If you're going for tax, don't be shy or shun auditors out. Talk to everyone, the point is to literally get to know everyone. At least that's how I remembered it at previous firm. They actually got into a meeting to talk about the students that my prior coworkers met while at Meet the Firms.

I wouldn't try to just attend ONE event. I know my alma mater has various events from now to fall recruitment. Most of the time, they're workshops or conferences that always have the B4 or mid-tier firm professionals. Go to ALL of those, and take it as practice. I've went to a few conferences and workshops to meet with B4 and got invited to Deloitte's Casino Night (those are the events you want to be invited to, HOWEVER, it's not make or break if you don't get into them). The more exposure you have with the professionals, the better impression they'll have of you.

That's about it so far. I'll post the other thing later today.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[MaLoTu]

hasy had some pretty solid advice and was pretty much along the lines of what I was going to advise. Be Likable! It would be great to start networking as soon as possible, not because you want a job, but you want to learn how professionals act/talk, what sorts of things you mention work and which don't …

Try your state's CPA society. In CA they always have a ton of networking events. It really helped me to form a narrative about myself based on the reactions I got from other professionals. I networked for a little less than a year and I was fairly polished, socially when I had the opportunity to interview. I ended up with 2 good offers after fall recruiting.

[Biff-1955-Tannen]

Don't take shit from anybody. Establish your alpha status immediately.

AUD 93 Jan 16
BEC 83 Feb 16
FAR 83 Apr 16
REG 84 May 16

99% Ninja MCQ only

[Nessie]

Mr,

Congrats on passing your exams!

I would not spend a lot of time studying companies, except for why you want to work in tax, audit, advisory, whichever you choose. You don’t need to know specifics about a company. I find people who cram for interviews seem really anxious about what might be asked only to find out that nothing specific was asked.

Put things on your resume that will set you apart from other candidates. Were you ever competitve in a sport? Participate in leadership training? Run a marathon? Participate in team building activities?? I would not bother with the excel training unless you really are doing this for yourself.

As MaLo pointed out, be likable. If you are not super friendly and out-going, practice interviewing as if you are. Practice in front of a mirror if you have to. Smile and make eye contact when you speak. It is important to be yourself, relaxed, and excited about the job.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Credit Revenue]

Nessie – What is your theory to not learning the Excel skills? The Excel skills he mentioned above can set you apart from the competition and make your day to day duties much easier…because you know how to mange the data.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Nessie]

CR,

Having gone through a few hiring seasons with big 4 and smaller firms, I have found that they all want someone who can get along with others, is enthusiastic, personable and, believe it or not, fit/healthy. I was told by the big 4 that they will train you for all you need to know. They even said blatantly, “we expect you to know nothing.”

A candidate can set themselves apart by saying they had a life long goal of completely a marathon and finally did so this year. Or, a life long goal of doing something similar and achieved that goal at some point in time. You are golden if the person interviewing you is also a runner. But again, it doesn’t have to be something athletic. You want to let them know you are goal-oriented.

I have decent excel skills, but have never mentioned them on my resumé and was never asked about them in an interview. They are looking for team oriented people. In their minds they will provide all the training you will need.

Ive also been told by a partner to have questions about the job and firm, and that having no questions at the end of an interview is a HUGE no no.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Credit Revenue]

I agree with all of your points not regarding Excel. They are very valid points and helpful. I do think Excel skills are important to an accountant and can set you apart. I would advise anyone with intermediate to advanced Excel skills to highlight them on his or resume.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Nessie]

CR, ok we agree to disagree 🙂 …Well I don’t disagree with you but,

I was recruited from MBA school, so it is assumed one would know Excel.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Credit Revenue]

A MBA ='s Excel skills? I mean I have a MBA, but I don't think that is an assumption one can make at all. To each their own as you said, but Excel skills can truly set you apart. I have been in accounting for over a decade… Assuming someone has Excel skills is not reality.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Nessie]

If you received your MBA a while back, perhaps knowing Excel was not mandatory. I am graduating this month and was required to know how to do model currency and interest rate fluctuations, make box plots in statistics, all senior account courses involving consolidations, FX transactions were done with excel. I even had to learn Mini Tabs which is a management tool used when Excel isn’t enough.

Excel is everywhere in MBA school now- in finance, management, accounting, statistics- you name it, much to my chagrin.

Anyway, back to what the poster was asking, standing out in a unique way is key. In every interview I had, technical skills were never mentioned.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[MaLoTu]

I pretty much assume that everyone under 60 has some exposure to excel, with those under 40 being able to navigate it rather easily. Knowing excel in accounting is equal to graduating high school, a basic prerequisite. IMO, of course.

I do however include it in my resume because it is usually on the job description.

[Credit Revenue]

I realize what you are saying I am very glad they are teaching these ideas in school. You are selling yourself short if you think people assume you know how to manage data with pivot-tables and v-lookups and you actually have the skill. Most hiring managers are not 22-25 years old. I work in private accounting. My main selling point when I interview is my ability to manipulate large amounts of data with v-lookups, index and match, and pivot-tables. You may be spot on in a Big 4 setting with your assumptions, but outside of Big 4 I think it would be much to ones advantage to sell his or her Excel skills. I sit beside people without the skills…I can complete a task or project in 15 minutes with a v-lookup that may take a person days without the skill. You would not believe how absent Excel skills can be in private. I wouldn't assume that anyone knows anything about you. You have to sell it.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Credit Revenue]

Some exposure/basic skills versus being able to manage and manipulate big data sets effectively is not the same thing.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[MaLoTu]

I don't want to speak for Nessie, but my impression of entry-level public jobs is that they are not concerned if you are a master at excel, they just want to know you are able to pick it up. And to your point, CR, I am sure that having mastery of excel cannot hurt. I doubt it will be a deciding factor in whether they choose to hire you. I already have a job for fall but would like to take an intermediate/advanced excel class just so I can focus on auditing rather than excel. So I think it is more useful for your personal development. It is only a couple days, not a huge expenditure of time.

[Nessie]

Well then CR, perhaps Mr Hopeful should give you his resumé once he completes his Excel course 🙂

I agree with MaLo, getting hired at one of the big 4 is all about being personable, not so much about already posessing the skills. Of course one is expected to have the basics: 150 credit hours, CPA passed within a year, etc. But, having any extra skills like the Excel proficiencies you mentioned have never come into the conversation at any interview, including mid tier firms for me.

CR, perhaps you are hiring for something specific? Or when you interviewed for your position specific skills were desirable. It seems now firms give you more of a psychological test, and ask leadership and problem solving questions in lieu of requiring technical skills.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Author]

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