If you are an accounting professional or a student, you must have heard about the famous ‘Big Four’. The four largest accounting firms of the world are considered the Big Four. The group includes Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (E&Y) and Klynveld Main Goerdeler (KMG). Be it a long-term job or a short internship, working experience in these firms is unique and amazing.
If you are a student and want to score an Internship at these firms, it can be a tough and nerve-wracking process. However, with the right steps and a great skill set, getting an internship at one of these firms is possible and very fruitful.
Make a Good Impression from the Beginning.
You can start the efforts of getting a prestigious internship much before the application process. Always attend career fairs from the start of your college, which may feature these firms. Attending these fairs will help you introduce yourself to these firms casually and have informative talks with them. You can inquire about internship prospects and land a great first impression on them much before the application process.
The big four firms have a lot of internship applications every year. So when they see a friendly and familiar face among the candidates, they feel inclined to give more importance to them.
Develop Soft Skills
Applying to big four firms for internship mandates you to have impressive academic qualifications and achievements. Trust us when we say that almost every candidate applying in the big four firms comes loaded with a bright academic profile. In these conditions, what set a candidate apart from others are the soft skills he can deliver. Soft skills are abilities such as working with a team, managing time, communication skills and presentation skills.
The interviewers judge soft skills during group discussion and practical tests. So, you should start working on your soft skills by communicating professionally and taking part in college competitions and presentations.
Go Through the Whole Process with Determination.
The internship selection process at the big four firms takes time and is designed to filter out less determined candidates. The selection process starts much earlier than other firms. The applications are usually invited during March. The college semester also starts getting intense at that point. So, you will need to manage your college and internship application tasks simultaneously. This requires a strong will power and dedication.
Moreover, the application process involves tests like video interviews, group interviews, one-on-one interviews, and psychometric tests. You have to perform consistently with perfection in all these tests to get selected for the internship.
Stay Confident.
Candidates often get nervous thinking about the dream internship they are applying for. The thought of interacting with professionals of Big Four firms can often make you anxious and unsure of your abilities. Always remember that you are applying for an internship because the firm wants interns.
It is understandable that you want to impress the firm. But keep in mind that the firm also works to impress the interns because they are looking for candidates they can hire for full time in the future. Confidence is the key to being selected and having an open mindset will help you.
