Big 4

Aoife00

Anyone hear back on when the interviews are yet? I received no work yet, good or bad but the worry is starting to set in

Poor_old_gill

Have you got a personality?
Value your own opinion and input?
Hate monotonous boring work?
Value having a social life and not being a slave to your job?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, then you dont want to work for one of the Big 4- so I wouldnt worry about responses

Aoife00

I was hoping for a more helpful reply i.e a simple yes or no

AJ6000

Big 4???????

RichCRX

Big 4 refers to the 4 big accountancy firms in ireland, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC and Ernst and Young.

As far as I know replies are being made as 2 of my friends have interviews with Deloitte,KPMG and PwC next week.

leanne249

Hi everyone, I applied to KPMG, PWC and Deloitte and didn’t hear anything yet. Shall I presume that my applications were unsuccessful? Just referring to RichCRX post that replies being made already so no hope for me I guess ….thought at least I would get one but rejected from all of them…well that’s just awful :mad:

Aoife00

It's not looking good for us You'd think they'd at least send a rejection email. I just applied for Deloitte and PWC. Ah it's not the end of the world I suppose!

leanne249

I know it doesn’t look good but I am finding it a bit weird; is the recruitment team working on weekends? Beside that post from RichCRX Do you actually know somebody who got invited for an interview?

jack87

hi all.

i also applied to all the big 4, and i have a Masters degree in international finance. just wondering what did the person you know that got the interviews do in college and did he/she get exceptional results.

i have been asking around and this is the first time i have heard anyone getting offers from the big 4 at this stage.

leanne249

Hi jack87 , personally myself, I don’t know anybody who got replies from Big 4, I was only referring to the above post. It would be nice to hear from people who actually got invited for interviews.

kevin216

the Graduate Recruitment Fair is on Wednesday 28th October 2009 .
http://www.nuigalway.ie/careers/students/student_RF.html

Somebody from each of those companies will be able to help

RichCRX

Can I just say I have no idea how there recruitment works it could be a few interviews a time to stop a load at once I don't know so there could be more replies in future.

All I know is 2 of my friends got interviews .One of the lads has had very exceptional marks alright with a 1.1 last year and the other I think maybe got a 1.1 last year if not a high 2.1.Both have had part time experience doing auditing or what not I think aswell so it probably is just becasue they are exceptional with some experience that they got interviews this early...I really don't know,I'm not doing accounting so don't know what the craic is.

DanSolo

Aoife00 wrote: »

You'd think they'd at least send a rejection email.

I was going to say "who'd want to work for w4nkers who won't even bother to send out rejection letters", then I remembered the Uni usually doesn't bother either. (I've applied for 4 jobs here and never even had my application acknowledged)

Kevin Bacon

just got a rejection letter from deloitte . Also heard from a friend of mine that KPMG are definitely starting interviews next week as he asked down at the recruitment fair at thier stall, so thats not looking good either to be honest. Anyone got any news on PWC?

johnn

Kevin Bacon wrote: »

just got a rejection letter from deloitte . Also heard from a friend of mine that KPMG are definitely starting interviews next week as he asked down at the recruitment fair at thier stall, so thats not looking good either to be honest. Anyone got any news on PWC?

Still nothing from any of them. at least for some of us who havent heard anything this looks as though Deloitte are moving through their pile of applications and making rejections/offers as they go as another person received an interview today whilst you got the rejection, and i havent heard anything as of yet.

i recall having my interview with them around 7th november last year so theres still time yet fingers crossed.

johnn

Kevin Bacon wrote: »

just got a rejection letter from deloitte . Also heard from a friend of mine that KPMG are definitely starting interviews next week as he asked down at the recruitment fair at thier stall, so thats not looking good either to be honest. Anyone got any news on PWC?

I also just noticed you're from Galway, Am I right in saying that your deadline for application was the 16th of OCT rather than the 22nd here in Dublin? could also explain why alot of people here haven't heard anything

babbar sher

Hi folks,

Ah common lads & ladies, its still very early days, honestly if you have not heard anything its definitely good news, because they are & will be sending out emails to accept or reject every single application. I applied to all big 4's unfortunately KPMG rejected my application just an hour ago by email. Have not heard anything from Deloitte or PwC. But it does not end there...

A few minutes after completing my online application for Ernst & Young I got an email from them asking me to do an online exam. Which I did a couple of days after. I just got a call from them today & I have passed the exam & have been invited for an interview on monday. Delighted I am because Id been waiting to get an interview offer from one of the big 4 for the last 2 years! Someone earlier was asking about educational background for people who recieved an interview offer. So here goes... I have a 2.1 in Accountancy & Finance, full time work experience with a practice as a trainee accountant, and at the moment I am handling my own clients doing accountancy, bookkeeping & advising them on business.

I dont know how they go about accepting & rejecting applications but the way I look at it is, if I am able for it I will get it!

So all of you folks who havent heard from a firm, dont get worried, no news is good news at this stage!

By the way Id like to ask people of their opinion about the different big 4 firms in terms of job satisfaction, earnings, advancement etc! Just so that us prospective trainees can have something that we can go by when deciding which one to go for! If anyone can give any figures about market share etc about the big 4, it will be great, give us something to talk about at the interview! Dont land us in it by giving wrong information!!

Thanks.

greeno

Don't get disheartened I know a few people in big 4 firms. My gf is one and her company are still rootig through applications so don't panic.

Kevin Bacon

johnn wrote: »

I also just noticed you're from Galway, Am I right in saying that your deadline for application was the 16th of OCT rather than the 22nd here in Dublin? could also explain why alot of people here haven't heard anything

Yeah your right there dont think 6 days makes much of a difference though. As for KPMG got there rejection letter today as well. Banking on PwC now or ill have to go elsewhere besides the big 4....

johnn

I got the rejection from KPMG just there also, I'd love to know what the criteria is for offering people interviews. I have a 2.1 degree in communications, a professional diploma in accounting which gives me the CAP1 exemptions, and 6 months working in an accounts office.

Yet their offering jobs/interviews to people with no exemptions, how does it work?

leanne249

johnn wrote: »

I got the rejection from KPMG just there also, I'd love to know what the criteria is for offering people interviews. I have a 2.1 degree in communications, a professional diploma in accounting which gives me the CAP1 exemptions, and 6 months working in an accounts office.

Yet their offering jobs/interviews to people with no exemptions, how does it work?

Hi John, I know it’s not fair but nothing we can do about it. (also rejected by KPMG). The way I look is that they scan applications through their software and can easily reject candidates with experience and high academic records. Although I don’t have relevant work experience like you have in accounts but have high 2.1 degree in Commerce with major in Accounting.

johnn

leanne249 wrote: »

Hi John, I know it’s not fair but nothing we can do about it. (also rejected by KPMG). The way I look is that they scan applications through their software and can easily reject candidates with experience and high academic records. Although I don’t have relevant work experience like you have in accounts but have high 2.1 degree in Commerce with major in Accounting.

yeah its disappointing alright, may try and contact them to see if i can get a reason of some sort!

Have you heard back from PWC or Deloitte yet? I've only heard from E&Y and now KPMG from the top 7 firms i applied to.

A friend of mine got a call from Grant Thorton and they asked him could he start immediately! good for some!

leanne249

I got a call yesterday from Deloitte , they invited me for an interview and career event. no news from PWC yet. Thats good news for your friend I did apply also to Grant Thornton but didn't get reply yet.I know that they are looking for 5 trainees to start immediately.

Poor_old_gill

johnn wrote: »

I got the rejection from KPMG just there also, I'd love to know what the criteria is for offering people interviews. I have a 2.1 degree in communications, a professional diploma in accounting which gives me the CAP1 exemptions, and 6 months working in an accounts office.

Yet their offering jobs/interviews to people with no exemptions, how does it work?

The less exemptions you have the better- the exams dont cost the company that much and the longer until your fully qualified the better for them as they won thave to pay you higher wages.
To do trainee work for a big 4 company you dont need a degree-its monkey work

johnn

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

The less exemptions you have the better- the exams dont cost the company that much and the longer until your fully qualified the better for them as they won thave to pay you higher wages.

...................You need to have completed the three sets of exams. When I say i have exemptions it means that I have completed one set of these exams so yes they don't have to pay for them, and this should make me more attractive to the companies. This is what i was saying i dont understand. I don't know whether you mis-understood my post or something & and thought I had all the exams still to do, obviously that would work against me in the milkround.


Just got an email from Grant Thornton saying they will be sending out interview offers shortly, surely this is a bit late to be only issuing these sort of emails! they say interviess will be from 3rd-10th of Nov.

As i said either here or in another thread my friend was offered an immediate position there last week, so maybe thats what their first round of interviews were for. The graduate interviews must be next week

leanne249

johnn wrote: »

Just got an email from Grant Thornton saying they will be sending out interview offers shortly, surely this is a bit late to be only issuing these sort of emails! they say interviess will be from 3rd-10th of Nov.

As i said either here or in another thread my friend was offered an immediate position there last week, so maybe thats what their first round of interviews were for. The graduate interviews must be next week

Hi John, I received an email from Grant Thornton this morning as well but got confused over their wording "Thank you for your recent application for our 2010 Graduate Training Programme. First round interviews will take place from 2nd - 13th November 2009. We will be contacting you over the next few days with the outcome of your application. Please ensure your availability during this period" is that mean that they will invite me for an interview or they still screening application forms? Sorry for that long text

Poor_old_gill

johnn wrote: »

...................You need to have completed the three sets of exams. When I say i have exemptions it means that I have completed one set of these exams so yes they don't have to pay for them, and this should make me more attractive to the companies. This is what i was saying i dont understand. I don't know whether you mis-understood my post or something & and thought I had all the exams still to do, obviously that would work against me in the milkround.


Just got an email from Grant Thornton saying they will be sending out interview offers shortly, surely this is a bit late to be only issuing these sort of emails! they say interviess will be from 3rd-10th of Nov.

As i said either here or in another thread my friend was offered an immediate position there last week, so maybe thats what their first round of interviews were for. The graduate interviews must be next week

Yes and I am saying if you have less exemptions- it suits the company.
As the work you will do doesnt take a whole lot of skill an the closer you are to be ing qualified- the closer they are to having to pay you a large wage

johnn

I'm pretty sure you still have to complete 3 1/2 years of working in the company regardless of your exemptions at the same graduate pay structure. Starting at junior associate etc. & then they just let you go at the end of the 3 years when you would be expecting the pay hike.

Surely that statement is false, the CAP1 exemption is what you get when you complete the ordinary "Accounting & Finance" course, i didnt do this so did a one year course to put some accounting onto my CV. I'd imagine the majority of people that get taken into the graduate recruitment programmes come from the A&F courses, its madness to suggest that having the CAP1 would be a DIS-advantage to getting a accounting job

Aoife00

leanne249 wrote: »

Hi John, I received an email from Grant Thornton this morning as well but got confused over their wording "Thank you for your recent application for our 2010 Graduate Training Programme. First round interviews will take place from 2nd - 13th November 2009. We will be contacting you over the next few days with the outcome of your application. Please ensure your availability during this period" is that mean that they will invite me for an interview or they still screening application forms? Sorry for that long text

Got the same email myself. I took it to mean that they're just stating when the interviews are and if they call me for an interview I should have an idea when I'd be available. Fingers crossed for us!

Kevin Bacon

Just got an email today from PwC today. Got myself an interview after being rejected from the rest thank f*ck.:) Anyone else here anything back and does anyone know what the lunch meeting thing is about or what the hell you do at it?
Ive got it next Monday.

johnn

Kevin Bacon wrote: »

Just got an email today from PwC today. Got myself an interview after being rejected from the rest thank f*ck.:) Anyone else here anything back and does anyone know what the lunch meeting thing is about or what the hell you do at it?
Ive got it next Monday.

Its no big deal really, you'll be put at a table with a managing partner and a couple of managers, and a couple of other candidates. Just chat to them for a while and they serve great food, it was steak when i was there! Then someone will make a presentation about how great PWC is etc. Then you'll be taken on a tour of the building, and thats it!

Kevin Bacon

johnn wrote: »

Its no big deal really, you'll be put at a table with a managing partner and a couple of managers, and a couple of other candidates. Just chat to them for a while and they serve great food, it was steak when i was there! Then someone will make a presentation about how great PWC is etc. Then you'll be taken on a tour of the building, and thats it!

Sounds handy enough and free lunch!
Any suggestions about the interview obviously read up on the job and the firm but any other suggestions? Booked in for Thursday week.