| On average approximately 2000 or more entry level | | | | will get you in the door. Keep your ego in check. You |
| positions become available at what is termed the "Big | | | | are competing with thousands of other qualified |
| Four" Accounting Firms (PricewaterhouseCoopers, | | | | applicants. You will miss out on other opportunities if |
| Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernest & Young, | | | | you "put your eggs in one basket". It takes on average |
| KPMG). With a candidate pool of several hundred | | | | between 6 -8 months to secure employment. Be open |
| thousand, it is quite difficult to get noticed by recruiters | | | | to other options. If you are unsuccessful in obtaining a |
| from these "Big Four Accounting Firms. | | | | position in one of the "Big 4" accept a position at |
| Campus recruiters from these "Big Four" accounting | | | | another accounting firm. Develop your skills, then try |
| firms only seek the most qualified candidates. | | | | again in a few years. |
| However, what we found out is many of these firms | | | | 2. Consider sitting for the CPA exam. Once you have |
| only recruit from certain schools. | | | | passed this exam you will be able to add these |
| My recruiter friend attended an accounting club | | | | credentials to your resume. This will add credibility. |
| meeting at a university in Chicago. The purpose of the | | | | 3. Join professional association relative to your major. |
| visit was to introduce the students to services her | | | | This will allow you to network with individuals who are |
| staffing firm provides to college graduates upon | | | | in your field of study. Associations are also a great |
| graduation. During her presentation she mentioned that | | | | place to find out about changes in the industry and job |
| the students were very disinterested and commented | | | | openings. |
| that they have no need of her services because the | | | | 4. Add internship experience to your resume. |
| name of their school would get them in the door of | | | | Employers want to see that you have progressively |
| one of the "Big Four" accounting firms. | | | | moved into your position. You are more likely to be |
| One year after graduation one of the young ladies | | | | considered for a position at a "Big 4" if you have |
| from that accounting club that told the recruiter she | | | | successfully completed an internship at a "Big 4". |
| would obtain a position in one of the "Big 4" accounting | | | | 5. Volunteer to work at not-for-profit organizations to |
| firms was now scrambling to obtain employment at | | | | gain experience. |
| any accounting firm. | | | | 6. Your resume simply can't look like you just threw it |
| Over the past few years the university were I work | | | | together. Take your time and develop a professional |
| has developed a relationship with one of the "Big 4" | | | | resume. Don't try to flatter the reader with big words. |
| accounting firms. One of the concerns that the | | | | Be honest in regards to your skills and experience. |
| campus recruiter from the "Big 4" shared with us is | | | | Don't give a laundry list of your duties and |
| that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find quality | | | | responsibilities. Let the employer know what you |
| candidates who don't feel a sense of entitlement. She | | | | accomplished or achieved at your last employer or |
| mentioned that the attitude they receive now from | | | | internship. |
| some recent graduates is "if you don't hire me I'll go to | | | | 7. If you are granted an interview highlight the projects |
| another Big 4". | | | | you have completed in college which are relevant to |
| I can tell you that we are not an Ivy League university | | | | the position. |
| but a private university. Our students are humbled at | | | | 8. Maintain a decent Grade Point Average of at least |
| the opportunity to intern with this "Big 4" accounting | | | | a 3.5 or higher. |
| firm and have received offers from other accounting | | | | 9. Offer to tutor other students who are having trouble |
| firms as result of having this major firm on their | | | | in accounting. This is a great way to show team work |
| resume as an internship. | | | | but more importantly is tells that you also have a firm |
| Here are a few suggestions to help you get a | | | | grasp of the subject. This information can be included |
| jump-start on your accounting career: | | | | on your resume. |
| 1. Don't simply assume that the name of your university | | | | |