BE PREPARED
The public accounting recruiting guide
If you have no idea where to start, read this.
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It’s never too early to get a handle on your personal finance. If you’ve ever wondered “How do I start saving for retirement?” or “How can I save to buy a house?” – follow this flowchart and you’ll be on your way to the life of your dreams.
MEETING SLIDES
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forms
Community Service Verification Form
- Please send community service verification forms to bapbetaeta.reporting@gmail.com
Resume help
This Accounting Recruitment Guide from SDSU has both Undergraduate and Graduate resume templates. Use this as a starting point for making your resume. Prioritize your CONTENT first! (Don’t spend hours deciding your font).
- Start with an Action Verb
- Ideally, you should have minimum 1-2 bullets that SHOW rather than tell your interpersonal skills (collaborating, coordinating with teams, assisting clients, etc.)
- Try to keep a bullet note to 1 line IF you can. Short and sweet is better!
- Get your resume looked over by multiple people. Ask a Board Member, schedule an appt with Career Services, or ask a friend
- Read your resume aloud to catch mistakes or grammatical mishaps
- Do NOT include home address information. Aside from being a privacy issue, it reflects poorly on candidates by making them appear careless with sensitive data. Mobile phone Number and general location (“San Diego, CA”) is fine for recruiting purposes.
- Most importantly: START EARLY! Do not edit your resume the night before a big deadline
Cover Letters
Career Builder Accounting Intern Sample
As with the resume, prioritize content over formatting.
Other notes
- I have had success simply starting with “Dear Hiring Manager,” and leaving out any of the address/phone number/fluff at the top. The address at the top is largely antiquated because we no longer send cover letters by mail. Don’t waste the time or space.
- Good endings: “Sincerely, Your Name” or “Best regards, Your Name”.
- A handwritten signature can be a good touch, but is not necessary.
- Always use PDF. Trust me, .doc files will only mess up your formatting.
- Get it checked over by multiple people
The VP of Communications is currently available to perform resume and cover letter reviews at bapbetaeta.communications@gmail.com. Please note that reviews take time so plan accordingly.
iNTERVIEWS
General advice
- Wear business professional attire. If you have doubts, leave it out or ask a knowledgeable friend or Board Member for advice
- Arrive 10-15 min early
- Know the location of your interview ahead of time – drive there a few days before so the route is fresh in your memory
- Know the basic firm facts. There’s a balance between researching the firm and being a history bot. For example, saying “I know Firm A was founded in 1989 by Mr. and Mrs. A.” versus “I understand Firm A serves primarily tech clients, which piqued my interest because…”
- Interviews are conversations!
- Your interviewer is just a person.
- Have a firm handshake
- Make eye contact
- Prepare questions. It is acceptable to write them down on a notepad ahead of time. Depending on time, you may only get through 1-2 questions.
- You are interviewing the firm, as much as they are interviewing you.
- Have confidence. The fact that you were invited for an interview shows that they want to hire you.
- Remember to smile! 🙂
- Brush your teeth. Please.
SDSU Interviews – On Campus
- Interviews will be held on campus at Career Services in Student Services East 1200, unless otherwise stated
- Arrive 10-15 min early
- There will be representatives of your interviewing firm in the waiting room. Typically, these are first-year associates and SDSU alum. Be sure to chat with them as you wait!
- Engage in conversation with others who are waiting. (1) it helps you be less nervous and (2) it is very awkward for the interviewer to walk into a room with everyone on their phones. Trust me, they will appreciate you being proactive.
- Remember to smile! 🙂
VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
- SDSU has partnered with Big Interview! This is an online virtual interview simulator that is completely FREE.
- Download the program (Skype, HireVue, etc.) ahead of time and TEST to make sure it works
- Let your roommates know when you are interviewing to ensure a quiet environment
- Use a white/neutral color background
- Check your lighting. You want the light source to be BEHIND your laptop to avoid shadows on your face. Daylight works best; fluorescent lamps will cast you in a yellow glow.
- Borrow a high quality microphone from a friend if you can (most gamers will have decent microphones).
- Look at your webcam when you interview, NOT the screen.
- Remember to smile! 🙂
If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the VP of Communications or another Board member for advice or a mock interview session. Keep in mind we do have busy schedules, but we are here to help you!