I last read it's 800 at KPMG.

Winner of a prize?
What prize for example?

I had the impression that RM2600-2700 is for degree grads after completing their acca.
Whereas fresh grads only with either acca or degree will be RM2400.
It doesn't make much sense to differentiate between a fresh acca grad and a fresh degree grad.

Hello, this might be a little off topic, but the crowd that patrons this thread are the people I would like to hear advice from.
So please do comment if you can!

I'm a first year student, and recently I've tried my luck applying for internships.
I've had three offers, and now I've cut it down to two options.
I've been offered a place at BDO Binder's audit department and a place at Grant Thornton Consulting as well, and I'm not too sure which to choose.

I would like to built some work experience to give me a better chance of getting an internship placement at an investment bank or a management consultancy firm.
Yes, some might say I'm overly ambitious, but I have to give it my best shot!

So here's the question, which internship experience would be of more value in the eyes of the recruiter in an investment bank/management consultancy firm, an intern experience at BDO Binder audit or Grant Thornton Consulting?

It might matter, it might not. If it matters, it matters very little.
But even if it gives me a slightly better chance (although it may still be unlikely anyway), I am all for it!

Right now I'm leaning towards Grant Thornton Consulting, based on these few points:
-Although BDO's reputation looks better on my resume, but I'm not too sure if it's much of a difference compared to Grant Thornton.
-I'm led to believe that Grant Thornton Consulting has a reasonable global reputation.
-I'm also led to believe that it is quite a bit harder to get an internship placement in advisory/consulting compared to a place in audit.
-I have no plans to have a career in audit at all. Although I've heard that audit experience is very beneficial for a career, but I'll only consider if I have no better option.
-And even if I were to have an urge to taste audit, I can apply for it in 2nd year or 3rd year and I would assume that it won't be too hard to get it. But that's if I want to try audit at all!

I would really appreciate a few pointers from the experienced! Thanks for reading!

I'm interning at one of the Big4 now.
Big4 normally only conduct phone interviews for interns.
Whereas for mid-sized firms, it varies a little.
BDO definitely believes in meeting with you, probably through a group interview.
Grant Thornton would just call to confirm, which means they depend entirely on your application itself.
Monteiro & Heng Chambers would have an interview as well, mine was one-to-one.

But in my opinion, there's no real difference between phone and actual interviews.
Either way, you'll have to impress them.

This is according to my experience anyway.

I think it would be fair to say that the amount of jobs would be less than when the economy is at its peak. However, in a bleak period like this, there are many other opportunities. For example, the Transaction Advisory Services dept. would have an increase in restructuring jobs. Whereas the Business Advisory Services dept. would see an increase in corporate restructuring, cost-reduction etc. type of jobs. I would say the hit on such professional service providers would not be severe during the current economic climate.

Typically, the Advisory service line favors applicants who possess at least a couple years experience in other service line. For example, 2 years or less in Assurance/Audit. However, I would not completely rule out the intake of freshgrads into the Advisory service line. I would presume the numbers are much smaller compared to the intake of freshgrads into the Assurance or Tax service line.

Yes, in terms if IPOs and M&As (Transaction Advisory Services' bread and butter), the activity in this dept. is lower. However, jobs of other nature starts to pick as well and compensate for the lack of IPOs and M&As ever so slightly.
I think it is also quite evident that an employee in Advisory is usually of better "quality".

Higher entry requirements, probably yes.
Higher starting pay, I doubt so. I can't be too sure but if I recall correctly, it's the same as any other service line. However, someone in a better position will need to come in and clarify on this.

This post has been edited by prancingHORSE: Jan 1 2009, 04:55 PM

Question is, are you getting any better offers elsewhere?
Unless you do have other offers, I advise you to embrace the fact that we all have to pay our dues one way or the other.

And no one here will have the ultimate answer regarding switching departments, give the HR rep a ring as soon as possible.

I've interned at one of the Big4 apart from PwC and face-to-face interview wasn't part of the process.
I really don't think your statement is valid.

Most of the Big4s conduct a really simple telephone interview.
They won't inform you when they will call up so there's really no time to prepare, then again the interview is really simple.

It's fair to say that CV screening in the main mechanism in VT recruiting, the telephone interview was just to make sure you are capable of handling yourself.

If I am not wrong, Big4 pays the same across all service lines.
But generally advisory tends to be more picky with their recruits.