| The dream of many senior | | | | have many networking events for students to |
| accounting students is to graduate, pass the CPA | | | | meet HR personal and young managers and |
| exam, and be picked by a Big Four Accounting | | | | partners of the Big Four firms. These events give |
| Firm – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), | | | | students opportunities to establish a relationship |
| Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, | | | | with them, reducing the pressure during future |
| and KPMG. It is a dream they should have been | | | | interviews. Suggestion: When attending networking |
| preparing for since their first day on their college | | | | events, bring a resume and make it a point to |
| campuses. A common mistake by college | | | | introduce yourself to a partner of the firm you |
| students is to begin preparing for the next stage | | | | are gunning for and be sure to leave a resume in |
| of their lives immediately before that stage | | | | the hands of a HR staffer. |
| arrives, such as applying for colleges during their | | | | A high GPA and involvement in an accounting |
| senior year of high school or searching for a job | | | | society is still just the foundation. To distinguish |
| during their senior year of college. Accounting | | | | yourself from other competitive accounting |
| students who want to be picked by a Big Four | | | | students, you must get involved in other |
| firm must begin distinguishing themselves from | | | | organizations and hold leadership roles. Choose |
| day one of college through not only a high GPA | | | | organizations that have a great interest to you, |
| but also through involvement in accounting | | | | then get heavily involved in them and look for |
| societies and in leadership roles. | | | | opportunities to broaden your leadership |
| Every successful student | | | | experiences. Hint: When deciding whether a |
| prides him or herself on a high GPA. It is the | | | | position is worth the investiture of your time, do |
| easiest and quickest way employers can compare | | | | not question how it will look on your resume, |
| and rate students. The GPA comparison is an | | | | rather evaluate what leadership experiences it will |
| impartial, numerical way to limit a candidate pool | | | | give you to discuss in an interview. Resume bullets |
| and to begin to find the best of the best – | | | | are simply talking points in an interview. If you did |
| which is exactly what Big Four firms are vying | | | | little with a leadership role, there will be little to talk |
| for. Suggestion: Dedicate yourself to work for an | | | | about in an interview. |
| “A” in every class so that your | | | | Internships are essential to employment with the |
| cumulative GPA can handle those few classes | | | | Big Four firms. Over 90% of interns at Big Four |
| that are difficult for you. | | | | firms are given employment offers, leaving few |
| Although a high GPA will help you land an | | | | entry positions to be filled by those who did not |
| interview, it is far from the only factor that the | | | | intern at the firm. Because accounting students |
| Big Four accounting firms are looking for and will | | | | know that Big Four firms do not offer internships |
| not necessarily grant you an employment offer. | | | | until their junior year, most students do not make |
| When a student graduates with a degree in | | | | contact until then, missing a golden opportunity. |
| accounting, employers know that the student | | | | Recently, the Big Four firms have begun offering |
| understands accounting, but they want to see | | | | short visits to their offices during the summer |
| what else the student can do. One partner stated | | | | after a student’s sophomore year, referred |
| to a class that his firm would rather have an | | | | to as externships or leadership adventures |
| accounting student with a 3.3 GPA who was a | | | | depending on the firm. Each firm, in its own style, |
| leader on campus than a student with a 4.0 who | | | | offers two or three day externships that include |
| sat in a room all day and studied. This should | | | | tours of the local office, seminars about the firm, |
| stand to you as a large road sign stating, “Get | | | | and some firms even include a day in the field |
| Involved!” | | | | with an audit team. PwC takes the experience a |
| Today’s employers are looking for leaders | | | | step further, sending two hundred of its top |
| who are involved in a variety of activities on their | | | | internship potentials to one national office for a |
| campuses. An accounting society is a great place | | | | deluxe leadership adventure that includes a full day |
| to start. Most universities have several from | | | | of community service. The similarity among all the |
| which to choose, whether local or national | | | | firms is that the office visit includes an interview, |
| societies. A great starting point would be to join | | | | usually with a partner, for an internship during the |
| your state’s CPA society. Hint: Many | | | | student’s junior year and a chance to be a |
| universities will pay the student membership fee | | | | step ahead of the crowd. |
| for you. In addition, join or help establish on your | | | | Possibly the most difficult task |
| campus a chapter of a specialty accounting | | | | of landing an employment offer from a Big Four |
| society, such as Beta Alpha Psi (a superior | | | | firm and the one given the least consideration, is |
| service-oriented honorary society), the Institute | | | | determining with which firm you best fit. Each firm |
| of Management Accounts, or the National | | | | has its own personality and is looking for a specific |
| Association of Black Accounts, Inc. These | | | | type. To ensure the best chance of landing an |
| societies will help you earn a degree of | | | | offer with the right firm is to start working for |
| diversification and expand your education. In | | | | offer from the first day of college. |
| addition, the national or international organizations | | | | |