The CPA Recruit is an annual recruitment process where local and national firms hire accounting students for full-time, internship, and co-op positions. For accounting students, the recruit season meant attending workshops and networking events to establish their presence. Students also get to know the firms and through the process realize that in the next year or two, their time at Beedie will be coming to an end.
Looking back now, I thought I would never be ready when my time came for the recruit. I had never networked before, nor did I have any experience working in an accounting firm. With help from the Career Management Centre (CMC), I was able to prepare for networking and get started on my career. Through their services, I was able to attend several career workshops and meet with them in-person for one-on-one appointments regarding resumes, cover letters, and even mock interviews. They even helped fix my limp handshake!
If there is one thing I’ve learned from this recruit, it’s quality over quantity. You want to start as early as possible in the beginning of the year to network with people from the firms you are interested in. You don’t have to attend all the events, but make sure you create a positive and lasting impression in the events you do go to. The recruit in my opinion isn’t just about meeting potential employers, but also about making new friends who are all in the same boat as you. You also meet new peers who may very well be your colleagues one day.
September is a nerve-wracking time because all applications are due and interviews start. Soon after the application deadline, I seriously doubted myself. My peers were receiving phone calls and emails for interviews, but I hadn’t heard back. Then came the day I got THE call. While on the phone, my hands were shaking. My heart was beating a mile a minute and I was too nervous and excited to talk to the recruiter because I had secured my first interview of the season! With four days notice until my Skype interview I knew I had to focus all my attention on this one shot I had with this firm in Calgary. Over the next few days I prepared. I booked mock interviews with the CMC, went online to see sample questions, practiced on my own, and made sure I was ready. On the day of the interview, I didn’t think I would be able to hold it together because I put so much pressure on myself. The thing that helped me through the stress and anxiety was that believed I had what it takes to make it as an accountant. My hard work paid off. The next morning I got a call for a second interview.
My nervousness doubled from round one to round two. This time, I had to fly out to Calgary to meet my potential employers face-to-face. The night before, I couldn’t sleep. I was going through every kind of emotion you could possibly think of. I had to take a walk around downtown Calgary to calm myself down. It was during this walk that I felt a sense of belonging. I knew that come next September, this is where I wanted be and this is the firm I wanted to work for.
This year was the first time I had gone through the recruit, and I must say, it’s a very stressful time, knowing that your career might be decided in these few short months. I applied to six firms in total and received an interview from two of them: one in Vancouver, and one in Calgary. Calgary was my first choice. Ever since I got the call for my first round interview I did everything I could to be successful and this maintained my confidence after every step of the process. I was confident in myself and my capabilities and today I am excited to say that I have been offered a Full-Time Assurance Associate position at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at their Calgary Office starting September 2016.
As someone who went through the recruit, I advise everyone to apply to as many firms as possible. Talk to all the firms, and make sure you see yourself at the firm, rather than applying in the hopes of landing any job. Don’t limit yourself to the boundaries of Metro Vancouver; there’s a whole world out there you haven’t seen yet. BE BOLD AND TAKE A RISK.
Yasir Muhammad is a 4th year accounting student. In addition to his academics, he is also an active volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society. He has completed a co-op term with Citizenship and Immigration, and has been offered to continue there on a part time basis. He looks forward to sharing his experiences with new and current students of the Beedie School of Business. He has had an amazing time at Beedie, and looks forward to what the future has in store for him. Connect with Yasir on LinkedIn or by email at ymuhamma@sfu.ca