<p>Are they the only companies hiring? I know they're prestigious firms but some people here make it sound like it's big 4 or nothing. Surely there are other opportunities for people with accounting degrees and fairly good GPAs right?</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, It would be awesome to work for a Big 4 firm, but I'm sure there are other routes to succeeding.</p>
<p>Because if you do a job search for better paying jobs with less hours in private accounting, most of them say “Big 4 experience required”, or something like that. And when headhunters start calling after a year or so, the job offers to big 4 workers are better than they would be at a smaller public firm. If you know anything about banking, I read something on WallStreetOasis.com, saying that the Big 4 is like Bulge Brackets for Accounting students. </p>
<p>You’re not ****ed if you dont start at Big 4. You could even transition from another regional public firm after a year or so if you wanted to. You can certainly make a good career for yourself starting at one of the other Top 8 or so firms (probably numbers 5 and 6 more so) , but Big 4 is just the top.</p>
<p>im not doubting their “top status” but a lot of accounting majors have sub par 3.5 gpas. what happens to those guys? unemployed and barred from the accounting profession? im just starting off in accounting and hope to get higher than a 3.5, but a lot of accounting majors seem a bit snobby with this big 4 talk.</p>
<p>also when i start out i could care less about the pay or the hours, i’ll be happy enough to just get my foot in the door some where in the industry. but then again i’m sure not everyone feels that way. i’ve worked a lot of hard jobs so my definition of what defines “hard work” is a little different than most accounting students.</p>
<p>"a lot of accounting majors have sub par 3.5 gpas. what happens to those guys? unemployed and barred from the accounting profession? im just starting off in accounting and hope to get higher than a 3.5, but a lot of accounting majors seem a bit snobby with this big 4 talk. " </p>
<p>I said what happens to those guys who dont get Big 4. They go to other public firms, like GrantThornton and McGladrey, or go into private accounting right off the bat. And the only snobby attitude I’m seeing is from your response of…</p>
<p>“also when i start out i could care less about the pay or the hours, i’ll be happy enough to just get my foot in the door some where in the industry. but then again i’m sure not everyone feels that way. i’ve worked a lot of hard jobs so my definition of what defines “hard work” is a little different than most accounting students.”</p>
<p>The ones who will be successful in their careers understand that you have to sacrifice a little to get the right end result. I’ve worked a lot of hard jobs too. I worked manual labor in the Florida heat 12 hours a day 5-6 days a week this past summer. Don’t act so snobby yourself there champ.</p>
<p>hey i’m sorry if i came off as disrespectful. my apologies</p>
<p>you seem to know what you’re talking about, let me ask you. since i’m starting off accounting at a community college, will this really effect my chances at landing a job somewhere? since community colleges may be considered “easy” by some standards. i’ve been doing well so far and getting A’s in all of my accounting courses. how do you think i can build my resume up, right now i have nothing. should i just focus on the academics and let everything fall into place?</p>
<p>I do not want to do public accounting. I do not want to work 80 hour weeks</p>
<p>Should I even bother continuing my accounting degree?</p>
<p>Your post stirs my curiosity. What do like so much about public accounting that you are willing to get an accounting degree for it, and what do you dislike so much about private accounting/finance that you will discard your major due to it?</p>
<p>Me? I dislike the idea of public accounting and I’d rather go to private accounting as soon as I graduate. But from what I understand to be successful in private accounting you need public accounting experience. </p>
<p>I’ve been working full time while going to school and am so burned out already of non-stop work, assuming you can count classes/homework/studying as work, it’s like I’m already doing 80 hour weeks. I’ve already given up my hobbies and don’t see my friends anymore to go to school. So the thought of working 80 hours a week when I’m receive my degree is a huge turn off, I’m trying to live a more balanced life by going to school but that wouldn’t be the case in public accounting.</p>
<p>Ah, no wonder your post sounded so strange to me. I misread it to be the opposite. To my knowledge, public accounting experience is not required to be successful in private accounting/finance. Public accounting experience is the path to <em>fastest</em> success in private accounting/finance, but I do not believe it is a requirement.</p>
<p>Big 4/Public accounting isnt constant 80 hour work weeks. Most of the year it is relatively normal 40-50hr work weeks, but the couple of months of busy season, yes, expect to work a lot. It depends on your group, team members, office location, whatever. Some offices work less than 80 during busy season, some do more.</p>
<p>would earning a 3.5+ gpa be enough to land me an interview for an internship or job? i’m 23 and i’ve only had 1-2 jobs unrelated to accounting. how can i present myself to potential recruiters?</p>
<p>A 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is good enough. I have a 3.67 and just interviewed with Deloitte and E&Y.</p>
<p>Most of the firms recruiting on my campus require either 3.5, 3.4 or 3.2 to be considered, but they also say that if you explain your situation to them as to why your gpa is even lower then required you can still be interviewed</p>