How F*cked Am I?
How fucked am I if I'm trying to get into Big 4 accounting, they recruit at my school, I have almost a perfect GPA, majoring in accounting, but I spent my past 2 summers working at a restaurant waiting tables?
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You'll be fine Big 4 will recruit anyone with an accounting degree. Just scan the position descriptions and come up with relative skills learned from your summer jobs (adapting to a dynamic environment in the restaurant industry) and how they apply to the role. Also, attend every networking opportunity, happy hour, career fair, info session they have on campus. I know ppl who have gotten the position they wanted with little to no experience AND a less than stellar GPA.
So how easy is it to get a job at a Big 4? These are supposed to be the best accounting firms out there, but people make it seem like getting a job there is really doable, and your school doesn't really matter at all
The Big 4 are so large that they constantly need a large influx of fresh faces each year so consequently they hand out a large number of offers each year. I wouldn't say it's "easy" as you will certainly have to beat out some of your peers, but If you have a solid GPA, can interview well to prove you have done thorough research on the position/firm, AND can show you are someone they wouldn't mind sitting in a conference room with all day (very important box to check in accounting recruiting) then you will be able to secure an offer from at least one of them.
Even if you don't want to make a career out of public accounting there are different groups within each firm you can lateral to after a couple years (Many of my friends have moved into S&O, TAS, etc.) and having the brand name experience in your pocket will open doors for you to exit into many different industries.
Yeah Big Four is a recruitment machine and they actually care about GPA and the accounting courses you've taken. Just do the normal things -- apply to all of them, try to network with people, and crush your interviews. I imagine they'll give you an interview if you can at least get in contact with 1-2 of them
Not my area of focus, but I see others in this forum have given some good insight.
Agree with above. You're in a fine position, just hustle to get that interview.
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In Big 4 interviews? I don't have direct experience doing them, but in general, if you're going for a more technical role at the Big 4, I imagine they'll ask more technical questions. The less technical, the more behavioral. Perhaps a user on here with background going through this process could provide firsthand insight
If you have the GPA and can show an interest in the service line you are applying for, you'll be fine. Good friend of mine had a 3.06 accounting GPA (Cutoff was a 3.0) and only had worked at his family's chain of stores. He got offers from each of the Big 4. It really comes down to being personable at the end of the day.
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My experience with B4 interviews is that they are all behavioral at the junior levels.
Wow - I'd think at least SOME accounting technicals would be needed... so next question, do they assume any prior knowledge? Like, if you can get a job on a 100% behavioral interview, do they teach you everything at training? Seems like a risk
I went through the big 4 process and did not receive a single technical question. They assume you know that debits=credits and will teach you a bit at training (note: my experience was for the internship). I worked in the Financial Services practice during my internship and almost nothing I learned in school was applicable to the projects I did. You learn on the job, which isn't exactly rocket surgery.
What behaviorals did you get?
Mainly talked about my internships and interests, asked why I wanted to be in the service line I was interviewing for, why xxx firm, tell me about a time you worked in a team, etc.
You're the reason I couldn't have spaces in my name.
This is really surprising... wonder if people ever just put "accounting" on the resume despite being English majors and ace the behavioral interviews lol
you are 10000000% fine don't worry at all network with the people who will come to your school the big4 are all gpa whores
you could've worked as a prostitute for the last 3 years but if you have a 3.85 in accounting and can answer 4 behavioral questions they'll hire you as quick as they can
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