Companies nowadays are putting more emphasis on co-cu activities. So you may lose to those with candidates with lower cgpa but with more co-cu experience. Then again it also depends on how well you did in your interview if they did call you. And if they did call you, be prepared to answer questions like why didn't you join any co-cu activities. Good luck!

Don't worry just call them! I waited for one week after the phone interview and then start calling once every week. It took about two to three weeks for them to get back to me.

If you got into the interview, they will always tell you the results, even if you fail. Now is sort of the busy time for recruiters because peak period is coming so they'll need more time. Just keep calling every 2 weeks or so.

Currently exploring other job options besides audit. Been doing it for 6 months and I couldn't stand it. Can anyone tell me what is forensic accounting like in big 4?

Typical work responsibilities and job tasks? Typical
work life? Do they hire fresh grads with only 6 months of audit background? How hard is it to get in? Does the job criteria fulfill the requirements to be a chartered accountant?

Thank you!

Trust me, big 4 will fight over you. Why? 1) a foreign uni graduate 2) first class honours 3) icaew.

Apply for a fresh graduate position and they don't expect you to have lots of experience in leadership etc. I'm sure you have participated in co-curriculum activities. You can tell some of those experiences. Heck, you can also tell them your experience in group assignments, how you lead your team on a research etc. However, If you have not joined even one activity, then big 4 might be a little hesitant.

Also why it's good to apply b4 and not the mid-term firm route? Because b4 will discount 1 year of your experience. Example, if you worked for 3 years in mid tier and is already a senior there, then you apply for b4, don't expect a senior position. Because they won't give you. You'll only get at most a second year associate position.

Also, why are you doubting yourself? This is no longer a university life. You have to have that confidence everywhere, be it for b4 or mid tier firms.

And this is to clarify to everyone what he mentioned about icaew restricting job searching, he meant that we can only apply jobs in an approved firm. Or icaew will not recognise the working experience needed to be an ACA member.

And also if it makes you feel better, I graduated in a local uni with only second upper and I'm still able to get a job in big 4. So don't worry. Just impress them during interview. You'll be fine!

(ps: I'm also an icaew student)

Cheers!

This post has been edited by red_apples: Jul 26 2017, 04:24 PM

Wow.. I'm curious which big4 you're in. I am in one currently doing audit and it's really not that brutal hehe. Sure I've gotten scolding, cried about work before, cried about bosses, etc. But scolding were usually done discreetly and usually not in front of the team members. I've complained about my workload to my SM and he graciously reassign my tasks. It's better than keeping quiet and then not delivering and the blame will end up on you. One thing I noticed about the culture of audit is that they're always playing the blame game. So don't put yourself in that position of getting blamed. Look out for yourself.

Anyway, after 3+ years... I'm finally jumping ship now. Getting out of audit. But from my experience, best to stay until manager which usually takes 5 years. If you can't stay in audit anymore, at least leave as a 2nd year senior or AM. Because experience as a senior is very different from associate.

Excel bit 100% agree.. But never used Access before... So can't comment.