<p>I am going to be a junior this coming semester at University of San Francisco.
I am an accounting and finance double major and currently I have overall GPA of 3.81 and 4.0 for all my business classes. I am also a brother of a business fraternity in my college in which I have a position.</p>
<p>As I am entering junior year, I am thinking of getting an internship at one of the Big Four or any top financial institutions.</p>
<p>My questions are:
When should I apply for these internships? Are there deadlines, requirements, etc. just like when you are applying for college? Or can I just send my resume whenever I feel like it?
Do I need to have any work experience to get these internships? I personally have not had any jobs since I started college except during the previous two summers where I worked as an office assistant.
Are these internships highly selective and what are my chances of getting these internships?</p>
<ol>
<li>They recruit interns around January & Feb (winter quarter).</li>
<li>You don’t need it, but its preferable to have some job experience in a professional setting. </li>
<li>I wouldn’t say its highly selective. It’s not investment banking or anything similar. It’s still not what I would consider easy. Is USF a heavily recruited school by the Big4? The answer to that will determine how difficult it will be.</li>
</ol>
<p>You shall get yourself very familiar with your school’s Career Center/Office. It is generally easier to get an internship through your school than on your own.</p>
<p>Yes, your first stop should be your business school’s career center. See whether the Big4 interview on your campus for summer internships. If yes, submit your application through the career center. Most likely your school has an online system where they post upcoming interviews, you submit your resume and online application to be considered, the employer selects candidates for an on-campus interview and if you’re one of those selected, you’ll be notified. The postings will probably go up on your school site right after winter break with an application cutoff date sometime in February. </p>
<p>If the Big4 don’t recruit on your campus, then go to the college recruiting section on each of their websites and fill out their online application.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your reply.
Now my other question is…</p>
<p>Let’s say I’ve found an internship at the big 4 for this coming Fall semester and at the same time an internship at a small CPA firm.
So I applied to all of those openings.
After I have done all my interviews with the hiring managers of those job openings, I waited for a few weeks and the small CPA firm contacted me and said I got accepted.
Since I thought the big 4 wouldn’t accept me, I decided to accept the offer of the small firm.</p>
<p>Then after a few days, big 4 informed me that they want me.</p>
<p>Since I am already an intern at the small CPA firm, can I just quit and join the big 4? Or am I not allowed to do that?</p>
<p>And what if we change the scenario: small CPA firm -> part time job on campus. Can I still quit the job only after a few days of working?</p>
<p>Altema that’s terrible advice, ha. What you are talking about doing is unprofessional. And when you are being unprofessional in the field you plan to have a career in you are asking for trouble.</p>
<p>Well, with the CPA firm I was merely saying you CAN do it. I wasn’t exactly saying go for it. For the most part you should be able to plan accordingly. </p>
<p>But if it came down to keeping a school job or working Big4, you pick Big4. But the thing about that scenario is when would you need to quit the school job after a few days of working? I would only see this happen if you happened to get the Big4 job, you got lazy and then you decided to quit because you are technically “set.” The big4 doesnt hire you until summer and you generally don’t need to work during summer or you can get time off easily.</p>
<p>hi guys thanks for the replies. yes i know that it would be unethical to do such a thing but my question was whether or not i am allowed to do it. lol. great info though. thanks!</p>
<p>unless there is contractual agreement, you can quit anytime you want from anywhere. You do not even have to give notice. Just leave or stop coming. Out of courtesy, most people let employers know ahead of time.</p>
<p>a lot of people in retail and telemarketing jobs just stop going to work without telling their supervisors and it happens very often. However in more professional environments, people leave gracefully to build contacts and keep a good relation</p>
<p>You don’t NEED working experience, but obviously it helps to have experiencing related to the field.</p>
<p>You’re qualifications seem fine to me, overall GPA good and involved in the Business Frat is definately a plus. </p>
<p>All you have to worry about is doing well on your interviews. From past experiences Big four interviews have been predominately behavioral for audit and tax. For some of the advisory positions I’m pretty sure they’ll throw some technical questions your way. </p>
<p>All in all you’ll be fine as long as you properly prepare. That means getting your resume/cover letter all finished before recruiting season even starts. Once it does go to any/all recruiting events held through your school and pray you get interviews for most of them. </p>
<p>One other tip. When you go to these events try to meet with partners/recruiters as they have the most say. But ultimately if a partner sign off on you, you’re golden.</p>
<p>Leave the small CPA firm job. Tell them the truth, that you got a big 4 internship. They will understand. Stay positive, leave on good terms, and tell the truth. </p>
<p>If you were to quit the small CPA firm to take a job flipping burgers at burger king, then yea, they would be offended. In this case, its the big 4! Take it! Don’t sabotage your career just so you don’t appear “unprofessional” or “rude.” Do what you gotta do!</p>