Ask A Recruiter - Accounting

A recruiting firm posted a video on LinkedIn where they asked their employees "what year were you born". If someone was born in 1999 or earlier, they had superimposed their head onto someone… more

I just finished a phone screen, and the recruiter’s vibe felt really off. When she asked for my questions, I asked about the team size and she got defensive. She said she wasn't sure where I was g… more

Is it necessary to put your GPA on your resume after a few years of experience? I'm looking to move from tax into a corporate role and wondering if firms still care about my grades from four years… more

When to disclose to the hiring partner at a mid-tier accounting firm you are likely not taking their offer? Here’s the situation:
I’ve had 5 interviews with two companies. We’ll say company 1 is accoun… more

I was let go from a job in late December after being there for only three weeks. They didn't even give me a reason, just told me it was my last day and that was it. I’ve been applying for new jobs… more

I’ve been at my first job since graduating from college five years ago, and finally decided it's time to move on. I’ve been applying for about six weeks now, and it has been nothing but rejections… more

I didn't get the job I interviewed for, and I’m disappointed because the team seemed great. I’d still be open to other roles at the same company, though. Is it weird to ask the recruiter to save m… more

I’m scheduled for a second interview this week and want to ask about doing a hybrid schedule with one remote day. Is it better to bring this up during the interview or hold off until the negotiation p… more

I’ve been out of school for almost a year and have several months of experience at a small firm. I'm almost 4/4 on the CPA and plan to stay until I’m officially licensed, but I’m lost on the next … more

What's a good way to answer the biggest weakness question without it sounding fake? I don't want to do the humble brag thing, but I also don't want to say something that makes them not hir… more

How do you ask to see your future workspace before saying yes to a job? I previously worked in a windowless room with bad lighting, and it was miserable. Now that I'm looking for new roles, worksp… more

I am just now starting the job hunt to get into the accounting field. I have a recent MBA and haven't actually looked for a job in over 25 years. How do you find accounting recruiters? Any help is… more

How do you handle it when a recruiter asks what other companies you're talking to? It always catches me off guard and I'm not sure what the best approach is. Do you give specifics or keep it g… more

I’ve completed a couple rounds of interviews and I received an email from the company’s recruiter saying they want to schedule time to connect on interviews. I feel like this can go positive or negati… more

A role I’m about to start interviewing for was permanent when I applied, but is now listed as a contract position. Before going through with it, I'd like to find out if the job's expectations … more

What should I wear? I have a first-round Zoom interview with a mid-sized accounting firm and am trying to nail down my outfit. Do recruiters expect a full suit for video calls, or is business casual o… more

Would a Big 4 firm even consider hiring me for an experienced position if I've only passed 2 out of 4 CPA exams? I keep hearing different things about whether they only want people who already hav… more

Is it a mistake to tell recruiters I’m quitting because I can’t do the 80-hour weeks anymore? I've hit my limit after two years and need my life back. I want to be upfront so I find a role with ac… more

I’m considering a move into a Senior Internal Auditor role at Vanguard AU (Internal Audit & SOX / BCAS). I have around 6 years of experience in public accounting (including Big 4 and a mid-tier firm) and am c… more

Was passed over after my final interview. It’s a wake-up call that you can’t just be average in this market... and I am average. I was really surprised by what they expected me to know off the top of … more

My spouse thinks I’m over-rehearsing for interviews and sounding too stiff. In my mind, it's a problem if I don't plan out exactly how to mention their mission or my software skills, for examp… more

In the last two months, I've applied for maybe 50 opportunities and received maybe three responses. I'm starting to question if something is wrong with my resume or if this is how things are r… more

If an outside recruiter is trying to fill a bookkeeper position at an accounting firm, and claims that he has placed many applicants at this firm, shouldn't he know what software they use, or what… more

I'm interviewing and asked the recruiter about retention rates. She seemed uncomfortable and changed the subject really fast. I'm not 100% sure, but it seems like she was dodging the question.… more

I had a great intro call with a recruiter last Monday and was told I’d hear back soon. Of course, it's over a week later, and I'm still waiting. I’m debating if I should nudge the recruiter or… more

I'm balancing multiple job interviews right now and made the final round for one of them. Would asking the recruiter about the number of final-round candidates be rude? I'm only trying to get … more

I heard recruiters have seen a big volume of resumes from BDO, is that true? I do know people who got job offers but chose to stay for the time being.

Do Big 4 recruiters usually avoid talking about the actual work during the interview? Mine was all about culture fit, and I left not really knowing what the job entails. How typical is this?

I verbally accepted a job offer on Friday at a small company, and we confirmed the salary and start date. They said the offer letter and drug test information will be coming mid-week due to the holida… more

Should I bother applying to jobs that say they strongly prefer a CPA if I'm still working on mine? I've passed one section so far, and halfway through studying for the rest, but I don't ha… more

I’ve always been told to get to interviews about 15 minutes early. I did that today, but the hiring manager seemed annoyed because he was stuck in a meeting until the last second. It made the whole st… more

Experienced in tax at PwC and getting recruiter interest for a role at Thomson Reuters. Has anyone made the leap from B4 to TR and can comment on the move?

I had my first interview with a recruiting manager last Monday, and it felt like we really clicked. It's been over a week, and I haven't received any updates. Is it common for recruiters to wa… more

I’ve been at the same firm for 10 years, and I’m worried it’s actually working against me now that I'm looking for a new job. I wonder if they’ll think I’m unable to learn new tech or a different … more

I’m in the final stages for a job, and they asked for my references last week. My references confirmed they were contacted and gave great feedback, but I haven't heard anything from the recruiter … more

After two rough years in public, I’ve hit my limit and need a change. I want to be honest with recruiters about why I'm leaving, but I’m worried that mentioning burnout makes me look like a quitte… more

I botched an interview badly yesterday. I didn't even like their work culture, but I still feel like I've lost my skills. I've been stuck in a horrible job for far too long, and my confide… more

A role I was rejected from a few months back is back on their website. I had a great connection with the manager during the first round, but they chose another candidate. I want to email them directly… more