Comments on: How To Get Hired By The Big 4: Successful Networking (Part 2) http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/ Your ultimate guide to getting hired by the Big 4 and thriving in it! Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:44:41 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: How To Get Hired By The Big 4: Meet The Firms (Part 6) | Narrowing the GAAP http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-50 How To Get Hired By The Big 4: Meet The Firms (Part 6) | Narrowing the GAAP Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:24:50 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-50 [...] to make sure you get a job with the Big 4. If you have been following my advice, and have been networking with the Big 4 recruiters and employees on a regular basis, you will probably be ahead of the curve. If you [...] [...] to make sure you get a job with the Big 4. If you have been following my advice, and have been networking with the Big 4 recruiters and employees on a regular basis, you will probably be ahead of the curve. If you [...]

]]> By: Accounting Genius http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Accounting Genius Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:42:12 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-18 Looking2Future: First of all, I am surprised that the recruiters are doing such a terrible job at your school. Good recruiters are generally energetic and easy to approach. That's what they get paid for! That being said, your job is not entertain them, but to make yourself look like a worthy candidate. Given the way you write, I can tell that you are not a native English speaker. Many non-native speakers are too timid when it comes to conversation, especially in semi-formal settings like recruiting events. Do not be timid. A few grammatical mistakes here and there can be overlooked, if you speak with confidence. Secondly, read up on these three things: business (bloomberg), sports (espn), and celebrities (you can pick one). The combination of these three topics can keep the conversation going for quite some time in the Big 4 circles. Ask them about their college experiences and their course of study. A lot of these guys can talk forever about themselves, so keep them talking! The scope of your question is a little too broad to be covered fully by a comment, so I will try to write up something addressing it further. In the mean time, pickup Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," it has some good advice. Looking2Future: First of all, I am surprised that the recruiters are doing such a terrible job at your school. Good recruiters are generally energetic and easy to approach. That’s what they get paid for!

That being said, your job is not entertain them, but to make yourself look like a worthy candidate. Given the way you write, I can tell that you are not a native English speaker. Many non-native speakers are too timid when it comes to conversation, especially in semi-formal settings like recruiting events. Do not be timid. A few grammatical mistakes here and there can be overlooked, if you speak with confidence.

Secondly, read up on these three things: business (bloomberg), sports (espn), and celebrities (you can pick one). The combination of these three topics can keep the conversation going for quite some time in the Big 4 circles. Ask them about their college experiences and their course of study. A lot of these guys can talk forever about themselves, so keep them talking!

The scope of your question is a little too broad to be covered fully by a comment, so I will try to write up something addressing it further. In the mean time, pickup Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” it has some good advice.

]]> By: lookin2future http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-17 lookin2future Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:41:22 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-17 Some great info...i have been to countless recruitment nights in my 2 yrs in university and i see the same HR, reps from departments from the big 4 all the time, they all seem really bored to be there, its probably because i hear people asking them the same questions ALL the time, it's really hard to interact with them. If you could give me some tips for getting their attention without boring them to tears i would greatly appreciate it. Some great info…i have been to countless recruitment nights in my 2 yrs in university and i see the same HR, reps from departments from the big 4 all the time, they all seem really bored to be there, its probably because i hear people asking them the same questions ALL the time, it’s really hard to interact with them. If you could give me some tips for getting their attention without boring them to tears i would greatly appreciate it.

]]> By: Slave4Big4 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Slave4Big4 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:39:34 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-11 This is such good no BS advice - follow it kids. This is such good no BS advice – follow it kids.

]]> By: big4bound http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-10 big4bound Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:41:17 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-10 Haha, IFRS questions - gotta love them. You said it well though, its often not just the subject, but rather what you ask about it, and more importantly - how. Haha, IFRS questions – gotta love them. You said it well though, its often not just the subject, but rather what you ask about it, and more importantly – how.

]]> By: Accounting Genius http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Accounting Genius Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:28:40 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-9 You know I haven't been able to figure that out myself. I hope for a day when accounting students are able to make small talk with professionals without seeming like complete tools. You know I haven’t been able to figure that out myself.

I hope for a day when accounting students are able to make small talk with professionals without seeming like complete tools.

]]> By: Adrienne http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/recruiting/how-to-get-hired-by-the-big-4-successful-networking-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Adrienne Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:09:20 +0000 http://www.narrowingthegaap.com/?p=86#comment-8 You really *are* an accounting genius, aren't you? :) <blockquote> "“How do you feel about IFRS?” Yes, we get it; you know what IFRS is. Every accounting student should know that. But I also know that you don’t give two shits about how I feel about IFRS. Jackass. However, there are legitimate questions that a candidate may be concerned about and deserve an appropriate response. Ask THOSE questions. For example, I would be quite impressed with a candidate if he or she were to ask me a question that goes something like this: “A lot of companies will be switching over to IFRS soon. What sort of training does your firm provide in this area? How often do such trainings take place?”"</blockquote> This is absolutely wonderful advice and I sincerely hope the potential new hires listen to you... you know accountants are great at following directions but when it comes to creative solutions, sometimes they come up a tad bit short. But this is too clear cut not to understand. Maybe there's a misconception that accounting is dry and therefore one should act as such at these events? I still haven't figured that out but I'll be sure to let you know when I do. You really *are* an accounting genius, aren’t you? :)

““How do you feel about IFRS?”

Yes, we get it; you know what IFRS is. Every accounting student should know that. But I also know that you don’t give two shits about how I feel about IFRS. Jackass.

However, there are legitimate questions that a candidate may be concerned about and deserve an appropriate response. Ask THOSE questions. For example, I would be quite impressed with a candidate if he or she were to ask me a question that goes something like this:

“A lot of companies will be switching over to IFRS soon. What sort of training does your firm provide in this area? How often do such trainings take place?””

This is absolutely wonderful advice and I sincerely hope the potential new hires listen to you… you know accountants are great at following directions but when it comes to creative solutions, sometimes they come up a tad bit short. But this is too clear cut not to understand.

Maybe there’s a misconception that accounting is dry and therefore one should act as such at these events?

I still haven’t figured that out but I’ll be sure to let you know when I do.

]]>