Big 4 Ready Resume - Presentation Over Content

A good resume is a ticket into the early stages of the Big 4 hiring process. I receive a similar question quite frequently that goes a little something like this: “I am only a junior in college and I don’t have any accounting job experience, will this hurt my changes of working for the Big 4?” The simple answer is ‘No.’ However, this is only the case if you know how to present your non-accounting experience in the best way. Let’s explore…

There is more to working for the Big 4 than simply crunching numbers and solving accounting problems. In fact, this is not even the most important facet of the job. Because of this, you can take your non-accounting experience and apply the lessons learned to a career in Big 4 accounting. For example, a huge part of public accounting is client interaction. New hires, seniors, managers and partners all spend an exorbitant amount of time dealing directly with the audit/tax clients. As a new hire, you are representing a firm with 100+ years of history. While the reputation of Deloitte or PwC, for example, is well known, the client will base most of his/her impression of the firm on the interactions with YOU! Therefore, knowing how to present yourself and your firm in the best light is imperative. Here’s an example.

Joe Student is worried because he does not have any accounting experience. He is a college student and has worked during the summer as a waiter at a local restaurant. Joe could say “I was just a waiter” and not get noticed by the Big 4. Or, he could say this:

“I have been a waiter the past two summers and it has taught me a tremendous amount about client interaction. Each day I remember that I am representing the restaurant to the customers. Often times, the customers’ interaction with me will be the sole basis for how they view the restaurant. If I deliver an A+ job as their waiter, chances are they will come back again. Each customer could be a potential life-long repeat customer. This means that I play a significant role in the long-term profits of the restaurant.”

Why this works:

Just because Joe doesn’t have accounting work experience does not mean he has not already learned a key part of working for a Big 4. Big 4 accountants spend 99% of their time dealing directly with their clients. As was the case for Joe and Blue Crab Seafood Shack, when Joe works for one of the Big 4 he will be the face of the firm to many of the clients he interacts with. This is where knowing what the Big 4 are looking for in candidates is critical.

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