Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Recruiting Season: Planning Your Last Summer, Handling Rejection, and Pesky Friends Wanting a Referral

Good night nurse, we get a lot of emails during recruiting season. In order to answer as many questions as possible, we'll do a lightning round of sorts each week so none of the little grasshoppers out there feel left out. Have a question about recruiting season? Email us at [email protected] and include "Recruiting Season Questions" in the subject line.

"Big 4 Intern":
I am a former Big 4 intern from the summer of 2012 and had a question regarding this upcoming summer. I recently signed an offer for a full-time advisory position starting in the fall of 2013 and was wondering what is typically done for employment during the summer? Since I am not an accounting major, I don't qualify to study for the CPA exam and have no real plans. Do I apply to other internships knowing that I can't accept an offer from them in the future? Should I notify potential employers during the interview process of my situation?
No CPA exam to study for? Book your ass on a three-month debaucherous journey across South America/Europe/Southeast Asia like you've never experienced. The opportunity to cut loose like that will likely not cross your path while your vigor is at this level. If you must spend your last summer expanding your horizons within the confines of a cube far, go back and read the offer you signed to be sure that you won't violate that offer in any way by accepting an internship with a competitor. That presupposes that you would get an offer for an internship in the first place. If you disclose the fact that you've already signed on full-time for fall 2013, any potential employers will likely set your résumé on fire. They aren't going to waste an internship slot on someone who's simply looking to kill some time and suck hourly wages out of them.
 
DR:
I’m currently a senior in the accounting program at Metropolitan State University Denver. I am interested in working for one of the Big 4 in Denver but really have no idea where to start. I currently have a 3.79 GPA and have worked as a Jr. Accountant at a private company for over a year. Do I have to be recruited in order to work at a Big 4? I don’t think any of the Big 4 recruit from my school either. I’ve been looking into an MBA program to start next fall – would this be more beneficial for getting in with a Big 4?
MBAs are worthless. Every dipshit walking around with a leather bound notebook has an MBA these days. Do not go down that road. It WILL NOT give you a better shot with any of the firms. You're better off getting more work experience at the private company and contacting the firms' experienced hire recruiters. All the offices in Denver are relatively small, so it'll be easy to find their recruiting staff on LinkedIn and contacting them directly.
 
"1/4 reject":
Speaking of recruiting season. I just got rejected by a Big 4 for a risk assurance position in a specific industry line. They didn't think my background matched the particular industry that I interviewed for. What are the chances that they would consider me for another risk assurance or assurance jobs available?  I have a 1+ yrs experience in general audit without any concentration in a specific industry.
Why not? It sounds like you went into the first interview completely oblivious to how your background (or lack thereof) matched up with their needs, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to try again. I like your persistence. Just like when you're pursuing a woman, you keep after them until they finally return your call/text to tell you to quit calling or they file a restraining order.
 
"The Pissed-off Intern":
I interned at a Big Four firm this past summer, and I received a full-time offer.  However, after returning to campus this fall I have been bothered for referrals from other students that I do not necessarily want to refer.  That part is simple, I just ignore them.
 
However, one student is persistent and has even sent me an e-mail asking for contact information for ANYBODY in the firm.  Do I give her contact information for a recruiter even though I do not feel comfortable referring this person, or do I tell her "Sorry, no can do"?
What's your reason for not wanting to give out the contact information? Do you not do favors for people? Or are these people smarter than you? Oh, right. How ON EARTH could they be smarter than you? Personally, I don't see what the big deal is. You pass along the contact information, the recruiter looks at their résumé and either contacts them or doesn't contact them. It doesn't affect you either way unless of course your firm offers a REFERRAL BONUS. Not only are you not interested in helping people, you're potentially not interested in money. You won't get far with that attitude.