You should start preparing for Big 4 Recruitment immediately. Whether you’re entering college or you’re a Senior, there’s things you can be doing to set yourself up for a successful Big 4 recruiting season. The Big 4 recruitment seasons takes place from September to November for full-time offers, and January to March for internships. Sophomores can also apply for the Sophomore programs in the spring. The Sophomore program is usually 2 days, and leads to an internship the following summer if the Big 4 firm is impressed with you. The Big 4 will recruit heavily at particular schools, and completely ignore other schools. If you plan to master the Big 4 recruitment process, you need the Big 4 Insider Recruiting Secrets guide. Your future career is worth investing in.

Here’s a discussion from Accounting.com that may give you some insight into the process:

Topic: Best time for Big 4 Recruitment Posted By: zman372
Subject: Best time for Big 4 Recruitment
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 7:13am
I just graduated with my BS in Economics in May and am taking the required Accounting classes at my Community College. I should have the 150 hours in December. I plan on starting to take the CPA exam as soon as I am finished with the classes and hope to be done with it by the end of the next summer.

When is the best time for me to apply to the Big 4 for jobs ( I live in Chicago)?

When would I be able to start at Big 4?

Thanks

Replies: Posted By: SJFC07
Subject: Best time for Big 4 Recruitment
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 7:56am
You’re going to have to be very proactive to have any shot at big 4 if you are not associated with the on-campus recruiting period that takes place from September to November each year.

Assuming you do get a job, it depends on the firm. My big 4 firm only lets you start in September, regardless of when you graduated. Other firms let you start in January if you graduated in Dec. or June if you graduated in May.

There are a lot of spots open in the Chicago office, but just so you know, those offices go out to UIllinois, Notre Dame, and Indiana (among others) to recruit, so you definitely need to contact the offices now to have any shot of landing a job.

Posted By: zman372
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 8:25am
How should I go about applying?

Should I call the HR dept. or should I apply online or both?

What else can I do to have a better chance?

What firm do u work for SFJC07?

Posted By: SJFC07
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 8:30am
I am going to work for PwC in Sept. The firm I was referring to as “the other firm” is E&Y. I do not know the policies for the other two.

I would say call them, as opposed to e-mailing. Also, fill out their online profile, but they will get thousands of those, so make sure you call them directly. The websites should have numbers to call, or you can check your phone book if you are in the city.

Have you ever thought of getting up to 150 credits by getting a masters in accounting? I only say this becuase if you get your masters, you will haev the benefit of going through recruiting, which makes it a lot easier to get a full time job.

Posted By: zman372
Subject: Best time for Big 4 Recruitment
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 8:49am

The major reason that I am not going to get my masters in accounting is because of the cost. I dont have the kinda of money to pay for it, I already have student loans for my undergrad so I am trying to do this because it is very inexpensive.
Thank you very much for all the info SFJC07.

Does anyone else know about the hiring policies for KPMG and Deloitte?

Posted By: aswedc
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 9:24am
Hit up some career fairs this fall. Even ones for other schools, I know in my area none of them check ID or anything. It’ll be a good way to get some in person time with the recruiters.

Posted By: Big4 Employee
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 10:53am
Search through some of my earlier posts on this topic. Also, it depends on what region of the country you’re in. For instance, here in the midwest all the recruiting is done in the fall. However, I hear that in California they recruit during the spring.

Posted By: aswedc
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 11:16am
There is fall recruiting in CA.

Posted By: Big4 Employee
Subject: Best time for Big 4 Recruitment
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 7:26pm
Originally posted by aswedc

There is fall recruiting in CA.

Really?!? That’s interesting. A while ago I was posting regarding when people are recruited, and I mentioned how all the firms have their people picked by November, and I had all these people in California correcting me, saying they recruit during the spring. So, I assumed that it was a regional difference, and that things were done differently on the west coast.

So, do they recruit both during the fall and spring, or just during the fall? In the Midwest and Southeast it’s only during the fall–all the firms (especially Big4) have their new interns and staff 1s picked by Thanksgiving.

Posted By: aswedc
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2007 at 9:06pm
Yeah. I know a person that did interviews in the fall. I’m not there though, so I’m sure Auger could come in here and give you a more complete answer.

Posted By: Inko
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2007 at 4:40pm
Big4 they recruit in August/September for S.F. mostly. The Interns they recruit in early Spring.

Posted By: DrOrCr
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2007 at 7:47pm
Darn. Due to scheduling at my school, I can’t get my BA in accounting until Fall Quarter of this year. Will the Big 4 even consider me if I don’t have my degree on time?

Posted By: aswedc
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2007 at 8:09pm
Of course they will, most people get their offers before they graduate.

Posted By: lean
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2007 at 9:00pm
hi, I have a question regarding big 4 recruitment.
Do any of you know if big 4 hires co-op intern for busy season (starting January)? How should I apply for these positions if they’re not advertised on campus?
As some of you said, big 4 recruiting time is Sep-Nov, but that’s to start from Sep of next year, if someone wants to start right that January can they do that?
I’m doing an MS in Accounting program in Boston, but I want to work in NYC, any suggestions in applying process?
Thanks.

Posted By: Big4 Employee
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2007 at 10:27am
Originally posted by lean

hi, I have a question regarding big 4 recruitment.
Do any of you know if big 4 hires co-op intern for busy season (starting January)? How should I apply for these positions if they’re not advertised on campus?
As some of you said, big 4 recruiting time is Sep-Nov, but that’s to start from Sep of next year, if someone wants to start right that January can they do that?
I’m doing an MS in Accounting program in Boston, but I want to work in NYC, any suggestions in applying process?
Thanks.

1.) They call them internships (not co-ops), but yes, from January through April.

2.) Call the local offices of the Big 4 firms you want to work for (i.e. if you want to work in Houston, then call all of the Big 4 offices in Houston). You can get their numbers and addresses off the “locations” page on their website.

3.) Generally, fall recruiting covers those starting with internships or full-time jobs between the coming January and the coming September (i.e. this fall they will recruit for start dates between January 2008 and September 2008).

4.) Call the NYC office(s) then. Just be prepared to answer them when they ask you why you want to work in NYC.

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