Esther
Besides a high GPA, what extracurricular or activities do the big 4 firms like to see?
As an accounting major, my target dream employer is of course the big 4 firms. I was told recently that grades are the first thing that they look at before even considering everything else, so I am shifting gear to focus on that. However, I am now wondering what sort of extracurricular or activities will help me become a more appealing candidate to these firms. #accounting #employment #college-recruiting #cpa #big-4
23 answers
Carla Harris
Carla’s Answer
When I am interviewing students, I consider their GPA in the context of the other activities they are involved in. In other words, I want to see that the student can balance multiple priorities while still maintaining a high GPA. If a student is actively involved on campus and/or works in addition to their coursework, I value this more than a 4.0 GPA without any other commitments. The specific extracurricular activities matter less to me as everyone's interests are different. Being able to communicate the benefits and skills achieved through those activities is important though. Did they help you learn to collaborate with others? Did you learn to interact with customers and deliver high quality service? Did you learn to balance several varying commitments, prioritize?
Some extracurriculars that I've found that are particularly helpful in achieving that objective are:
- internships
- other work experience, particularly during the semester
- study abroad programs
- student clubs
The other suggestion I would make it to not focus on the quantity of extracurriculars, but the quantity. Specifically, instead of joining 5 different groups, join 1 or 2 where you can have leadership positions and communicate the specific impact that you've had.
Colin Andrade
Colin’s Answer
It's great that you are thinking about extracurriculars and how they may affect your chances at employment. All of the answers so far have been spot on and are great advice. The one additional point I would like to make is that any extracurricular activity you do should be something you are passionate about. It isn't worth doing something just to put it on your resume if you don't truly care about that activity. If you truly care about the things you do outside of school, you will be much more effective in explaining those activities to hiring managers/recruiters and they will sense your enthusiasm and authenticity!
Marcus Gray
Marcus’s Answer
Best of luck!
Meg Hart, CPA
Meg’s Answer
For me personally, I found that student government ended up being a great activity for me. Not only did it help my resume look better, but it also helped me learned how to work together with other people to achieve common goals. It gave me exposure to presenting in front of professors and receiving feedback on how I present myself, and it helped me have a safe environment to make judgment calls in order to see the impact of decision making. The key is to find what helps you grow into a more well rounded candidate.
Christel Abou Jaoude
Christel’s Answer
Working for a Big 4 means that you are servicing some of the biggest corporate entities every day. This often means that client demands are bigger, and expectations are higher. The Exposure is amazing. While working with any Big 4 you would get a world class exposure Also, the people you would be working with are the best brains in the industry.
Getting a job at a big 4 is not that easy and maintaining and growing with you career path is not easy as well once you are in. The Job requires a lot of flexibility, lifestyle changes, working under pressure, Networking and social skills, etc.
The Big 4 employers would like to see some qualifications on your resume (CPA, CFA, IFRS diploma). They would like to see some good internships, other work experience.
In addition, they are interested in other activities that may show some skills required in the job like being a team player, problem solving skills, open minded, multi-tasking skills, etc. Volunteering work will be a plus, being part of a club or an association, sports, taking some wellbeing sessions. Shed the lights on your Extracurricular activities that shows that you are reliable, social, multitasker, well educated.
Best of luck
Katie Woodman
Katie’s Answer
I definitely agree with Ken's comments above about networking. Reach out to upperclassmen who had internships at the Big 4 to learn how they got there and how they are enjoying it. This will help you better understand each company and what they are looking for. In terms of extracurriculars, any leadership experience within a club or during a prior summer job can help set you apart. When interviews come around, be able to clearly and concisely articulate how you led others, how you worked with a team, etc. Being able to speak to your experiences is just as important (or more) than what's written on your resume. Good luck!
Mallory Harnish
Mallory’s Answer
Hi Esther - It is great that you are looking to get involved in extracurricular activities! I agree with those above that have talked about having stories of examples / situations from extracurriculars that you can discuss in an interview with a Big 4 firm. Any position or involvement that would help expand your technical skills, leadership, communication, professionalism, and teamwork will be helpful in the interview. However, my main piece of advice is to pick extracurriculars that you are passionate about - not only will this motivate you and excite you, but that will also come across in an interview when you are discussing your involvement. I would also suggest to get involved in something business / accounting related as well as things that are not business-related (I was heavily involved in an organization that was focused on helping global poverty -- it had nothing to do with accounting / business but it was something I was passionate about and enjoyed). Best of luck!
Sovita Thapa Magar
Sovita’s Answer
Alexandra Grashkina-Hristov
Alexandra’s Answer
Denise Sun
Denise’s Answer
Mikayla Kenney
Mikayla’s Answer
Hi Esther,
Outside of good grades, I would recommend involving yourself in activities that reflect the firm's values, such as volunteering, leadership opportunities, global/cultural activities, etc. My advice would be to look at the firm's website for their values and build off that.
Emilio Lazaro
Emilio’s Answer
Moeko Wilson
Moeko’s Answer
Camille Edwards Bennehoff
Camille’s Answer
One option is an accounting club, if your school has it. http://www.delval.edu/blog/extracurricular-activities-employers-love-to-see
Another idea is to volunteer for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). It is a program run by the IRS. They will train you to prepare basic income tax returns for people. So it's a great way to volunteer (good on a resume) and also learn about income taxes (also good on a resume). Tax accounting is one career path for Big 4 firms (the other is auditing).
VITA volunteering is done during part-time during tax season (January through April) so it's too late to sign up for this year, but you could look into it for next year. Look for the VITA site near you.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers
James Phillips
James’s Answer
They like to see that you're involved in things other than just classwork.
For example, joining clubs is a great place to start. Holding a board position such as treasurer or president provide additionally credibility .
Another great way to separate yourself would be volunteering. Volunteering shows that you're well rounded and not just good in the classroom.
Hope this helps!
Rylee Schwee
Rylee’s Answer
Moreover, hobbies play a vital role too. For instance, I am an ultra-runner who competes at a high level, and I can discuss how the skills I've gained from this can be applied to a professional setting. Employers often appreciate candidates who dedicate time to personal growth beyond their regular daily commitments.
Ekat Blokhina
Ekat’s Answer
1. Leadership: Show your ability to guide and inspire others.
2. Teamwork: Demonstrate your capacity to work well in a group setting.
3. Social Skills/Flexibility: Display your knack for interacting with others and adapting to new situations.
4. Ability to Work Under Time Pressure with Shifting Priorities: Prove that you can handle stress and adjust your focus as needed.
5. Time Management: Show that you can effectively plan and control how you spend your hours to accomplish more.
6. Commitment Towards Earning Your CPA: Demonstrate your dedication to achieving your Certified Public Accountant status.
Molly O'Keefe, CPA
Molly’s Answer
Ryan O'Connor
Ryan’s Answer
Esther,
While the Big 4 firms certainly look at grades - I can tell you from my personal experience interviewing with them that the like to see people that are involved in a lot of different things. This can be anything from clubs to sports - it doesn't necessarily have to be accounting related. I will also say that work experience carries a lot of weight too - even if it isn't accounting.
Jason Padley
Jason’s Answer
Marie Angle
Marie’s Answer
Minaz Mavany
Minaz’s Answer
