Big 4 jobs for first-year students during studies in the UK
Hey there, I wanted advice on big 4 recruitment.
A little bit of my background: I am from Bangladesh and will be starting my undergrad next year 2023, September at the University of West of England (UWE), Bristol. And my A-level grades are A* A* A*
Now, my main question is are there any roles in the Big 4 or other top accounting firms, where I can work during my studies (term times), from the very beginning of my uni days. Do Big 4 or other accounting firms hire such students in their first year and during their studies.
Please let me know their opinions and thoughts
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3 A*s and you’re going to that uni? Why?
To address your question, it’s very unlikely you’ll get a full time job in those places without a degree first. Even more so given your full time commitment to uni.
You should however apply for spring weeks on your first year.
Thanks, mate, for your response and sorry for the late reply.
I got your point but within your knowledge, do you know any other kinds of firms (such as lower-tiered accounting firms, equity research shops, etc.) within finance where I've got a good shot at it.
The reason I'm pushing for these kinds of roles is self-explanatory. I'm hailing from a highly non-target uni and have a good shot at GS IBD or any other BB/EB IBD; I need to uplift my work experience as early and as long as possible as those candidates are coming from LSE/Oxbridge.
I hope you've understood my analogy.
In all honesty, our juniors in the business waited tables, sold used cars online, or tutored other students. The UK is overrun with cheap labor in many places and it is really not that often that students work in professional jobs.
That doesn't mean it is not possible, look into the market and see what is out there.
My 2nd degree cousin recently moved to the UK from Philly to study in London and he works at Burger King.
Thanks, mate, for your response and sorry for the late reply.
As I've mentioned in the above comment, I belong to a highly non-target uni, and to ensure that I land a job in the IBD at GS/BB/EB, I need to put a strong work experience on my resume. So what would you recommend me to make my resume strong enough to get a full-time offer in the IBD of BB/EB
Depending on the industry you want to be in, I would look up their website and simply submit an individual application. And I would also include smaller firms that might be a bit more local.
Maybe they have a placement program for young professionals that might suit your needs where you can help out at the office.
clearly, you are very motivated young professional and you should show this enthusiasm when networking also, people will like that.
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Thank you so much buddy for the help. Do you know any firms ( like a boutique equity research shop / M&A shop/consulting ) that has a reputation of hiring first students during studies? I mean any small /boutique/no name firm
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You shouldn't underestimate the value that "normal" student jobs have. During the summer between my first and second year of university, I waited tables at a hotel.
I learnt plenty of applicable skills and in my interview for my SA, my interviewer was really interested to hear about my work (it was a well known hotel), and I was able to explain and develop how my skills and experiences would transfer to IB.
Interviewers like to see someone who as actually put in some solid graft before.
Wow! that's very inspiring to hear. Thanks a lot for your response, it means a lot.
On a slightly different note , I'd like to quote a statement from your response: "my interviewer was really interested to hear about my work (it was a well known hotel), and I was able to explain and develop how my skills and experiences would transfer to IB."
Am I wrong to say that crafting out an inspiring story about your work experience in uni days is also a very important factor when getting a full-time offer in IBD of BB/EB. I mean is story-telling in the interviews is also a massively important factor that goes overshadowed,especially for students like me who is hailing from non-target uni?
This has to be a troll, why are you going to UWE with A* A* A*?
Thank you so much for your response.
I'm an international student, so I need to pay the tuition fees in the "overseas" category. And top target unis charge well over 20,000 GBP per year, which is beyond my affordability. On the other hand, UWE charge 14500 per year, and I'm most likely to receive a 25% scholarship on that, which means I'd have to pay something like 10,500 GBP. So this is why I've chosen UWE.
Thank you so much for your response and guidance. It helps a lot, especially for students like me who don't have much practical knowledge of the industry.
Coming to the university point, I'm an international student, so I need to pay the tuition fees in the "overseas" category. And top target unis charge well over 20,000 GBP per year, which is beyond my affordability. On the other hand, UWE charge 14500 per year, and I'm most likely to receive a 25% scholarship on that, which means I'd have to pay something like 10,500 GBP. So this is why I've chosen UWE.
So apart from the university factor, what else can I do to ensure I get a full-time offer in the IBD of BB/EB? And how much do you think networking can offset the minus points of my resume (i.e. being a student from UWE)
You will be the smartest person by a fucking country mile at UWE with grades like yours. Everyone I know who went there is an absolute turnip. Take a loan, beg your parents, do whatever it takes to secure funding. With grades like yours you can get into any UK university, literally. Even Oxbridge isn’t a stretch. But you’re going to UWE? It’ll be the worst decision of your life I promise you.
Jesus man reapply to a different uni. With grades like yours you can definitely go somewhere like Warwick at the very least. Even if you need to take 100k in loans, it would be worth it over UWE from a careers perspective.
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