Having a career at one of the Big 4 Accounting firms is not an easy task to accomplish. You need to have the basic requirements out of the way, undergraduate degree, eligibility to sit for the CPA exam, etc. However, beyond the minimum requirements, what are the most important things you can do when looking for a job with one of these firms? I am going to tell you.
I've been assisting students in their quest to get hired at these accounting firms for more than five years (since 2008). I tell my coachees the same things need to be accomplished each time we start out in our coaching. If you want to work for the big 4, you must have a stellar resume, prepared intensely for the interview, and have a built a compelling personal story.
The most important piece of this journey is the story. What is the reason that you have chosen this career and are applying to this firm? While this may sound abstract, it is not. What you tell the recruiter, they will repeat to every partner and manager in the firm. You need to have a compelling reason for why you chose this career. If it is because your father owns a CPA firm, or your aunt is a partner at one of the Big 4, that will work. If you are a first generation accountant, why are you choosing this profession? Do you love the classes? Excited about learning about companies? Are you interested in auditing because you want to work with public companies? Whatever it is, make sure it sounds good and can be repeated by the recruiters over and over.
The second is your resume. Many people believe the resume is the most important piece of the puzzle however, if your resume does not have a story it is doomed. Without a story, your resume will be an empty and meaningless piece of paper. The resume should not only include your educations, it should include you certification aspirations, community service commitment, work experience, and leadership experience. While each component of your resume is important, the best resumes are the ones that "look right". It is unfortunate however, most recruiters are looking for the right formatting more than anything. If you do not know what your resume is supposed to look like, you are already in trouble.
Finally, interview prep is the third piece when obtaining the job with these large accounting firms. The resume and the compelling story you will generate should be enough to get you in the door. However, without lots and lots of preparation for the interview, you won't be ready to close the deal. The questions that big 4 interviewers ask are the same every year, and at Big 4 Guru, we know all of them. Even more important than they questions they ask you, are the questions you ask them.
I've been assisting students in their quest to get hired at these accounting firms for more than five years (since 2008). I tell my coachees the same things need to be accomplished each time we start out in our coaching. If you want to work for the big 4, you must have a stellar resume, prepared intensely for the interview, and have a built a compelling personal story.
The most important piece of this journey is the story. What is the reason that you have chosen this career and are applying to this firm? While this may sound abstract, it is not. What you tell the recruiter, they will repeat to every partner and manager in the firm. You need to have a compelling reason for why you chose this career. If it is because your father owns a CPA firm, or your aunt is a partner at one of the Big 4, that will work. If you are a first generation accountant, why are you choosing this profession? Do you love the classes? Excited about learning about companies? Are you interested in auditing because you want to work with public companies? Whatever it is, make sure it sounds good and can be repeated by the recruiters over and over.
The second is your resume. Many people believe the resume is the most important piece of the puzzle however, if your resume does not have a story it is doomed. Without a story, your resume will be an empty and meaningless piece of paper. The resume should not only include your educations, it should include you certification aspirations, community service commitment, work experience, and leadership experience. While each component of your resume is important, the best resumes are the ones that "look right". It is unfortunate however, most recruiters are looking for the right formatting more than anything. If you do not know what your resume is supposed to look like, you are already in trouble.
Finally, interview prep is the third piece when obtaining the job with these large accounting firms. The resume and the compelling story you will generate should be enough to get you in the door. However, without lots and lots of preparation for the interview, you won't be ready to close the deal. The questions that big 4 interviewers ask are the same every year, and at Big 4 Guru, we know all of them. Even more important than they questions they ask you, are the questions you ask them.
About the Author:
For more information on Big 4 Guru's Tip on obtaining a job with Big 4 Accounting Firms, go to his website with eBooks, Resume samples, mock interviews, & more. Big 4 Guru has worked with thousands of students get hired by the Big 4 by selling his eBooks, and performing personal coaching services.
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