Hey guys, before I jump into today's topic I am going introduce myself. I am a staff one auditor at Ernst & Young in the Bay Area. I started with EY in January 2013 and I went through all the recruiting events that you guys will encounter. I chose the name Third Time's D Charm because of my good buddy who got me into accounting and showed me the ropes. Unfortunately for him, he interviewed with PwC three different times before landing an offer so shoutout to you Kevin. For now, the blog will be able networking, getting your foot in the door, and how not to mess up when you start as an intern or full time. All this is fresh in my mind so what better way to give back than to blog about it. If there's anything you guys want me to talk about or any questions you might have, just leave a comment below.
Networking. There's the typical mumbo jumbo about how you should be prepared and know a lot about the company you are interested in. They say to ask certain questions like:
1) Why did you choose accounting?
2) Why did you choose your firm?
3) What do you like best about accounting?
The list goes on and on. Now these questions aren't bad questions to ask, but if you are repeatedly asking these type of questions then I will probably not remember you at the end of the night. Throw something personal in there. Show you are a real person and that you have actual interests. My co-worker said it best, during these networking events and even during interviews, the way we see who is right for the job is to picture ourselves working with you. If I am going to want to kill myself being in the same room with you, then you are probably not going to get hired. So it is okay to bust out a joke or talk about how outrageous Harlem Shake is. Sometimes I feel like I am being interrogated at recruiting events. So talk to me like a friend. Imagine the recruiting event as if its a party. You wouldn't ask me what I think about IFRS at a party would you? Now there's a fine line as you do have to keep it professional. So unfortunately, I can't tell you my Vegas stories.
Another thing is never appear bored or disinterested. If I see you playing Candy Crush Saga during a recruiting event, I will tell you the game sucks and then tell all the recruiters to blacklist you. So always find someone to talk to. It can be anyone even the janitor. Just don't be the person that is standing in the middle of the room staring off into space because that shows you aren't interested. I always notice this type of behavior so don't be shy and go out there and enjoy your time here. Go and ask any strange questions you have. If you are wondering about the perks of working at EY, I will be glad to tell you all the free hotel rooms I can accumulate or all the different sized binder clips actually exists.
Cliffnotes for those who thinks it was too long: Don't ask too many boring questions, pretend it is a party, and most importantly have fun.
