For experienced candidates, an interview process will start when the candidate contacts the firm through the recruiters, alumni program, web page or a current employee.
Getting a Call
Once you manage to get the attention of the firm, a recruiter may interview you on the phone for reviewing your experience and the available opportunities. If you are quite young and are interested in going into private accounting and are eager for a Big Four opportunity, be open about why you took this decision. Candidates that pass the phone screen from a recruiter would then be vetted by an HR professional through a process which includes credit and criminal background checks.
The interview
The last step in the interview process for experienced hire is interview with the partners, senior managers and practice managers. During these interviews you can expect questions about your experience and specialty. You may get mixed queries about current accounting problems, technical questions and even behavioral questions about client-service, teamwork and leadership experience.
If the job involves writing or heavy analysis, you may also be asked to provide examples of your past projects. Some MBAs would be asked to participate in case studies. Don't get alarmed if the time or date of your interview changes since such last minute changes are fairly common since the employers tend to travel quite a lot.
Making a Good Impression
In order to make a good impression on recruiters you need to be thoroughly prepared and must have some level of information about the practice, profession and the firm you are interviewing for. Candidates can also show how doing certain things differently may benefit the organization or how they can contribute to the organization.
Things to Avoid During an Interview
There are various ways in which can completely blow the opportunity away such as saying that you don't really like accounting, being very casual and inappropriate conversations. Avoid denigrating your former employer and stay away from negative attitude since this will put off an employer. Bad-mouthing a past employer can be the worst thing to do during an interview. Dishonesty is another thing which will definitely eliminate your chances of getting selected for the position. Integrity is almost always the most important criteria for selection in most accounting firms.
Expect Quick Results
Although the interview process in a Big Four company can be intense and grueling, it would not be quite drawn out. Once you appear in the final interview, the company will make its decision very quickly. Depending on the number of candidates applying for the position, you can expect to hear back within a week at the most.
