I am currently going through the recruiting for accounting, whether it be CA recruit, or just a summer intern. I didn’t realize how much you have to sell yourself to the accounting firms, its really a give and take relationship between you and the firms.
Selling your image:
Through resumes, business cards, CASEEs (resumes specifically for accounting firms), and meeting future employers. You have to sell the kind of person you are, and learn what the firms are looking for. I have had to do research on each firm, most research from info sessions, but also from the internet, and having one on one conversations with the employees of each firms. You then have to show how you fit into their company culture, and be a great asset to their team. I’m not saying change who you are, or pretend to be someone else, just be yourself, but make sure you highlight your best skills.
The recruiting sessions are very overwhelming, you are fighting for the attention of recruiters, and have to make yourself stand out, all the while the firms are also trying to sell themselves to you.
Firms Selling to you:
The firms marketing to the students is a big asset. If the firm is able to attract more student , they will also get more applications and therefore, the best of the best.
However, because there are so little firms, and so many students it is more important to sell your image, because its a competition, one student against the other.
So, recruiting ties in with marketing and many ways, research, promotion, and consumer decision processes.
(KPMG – part of my evoked set)