Quote:
Originally Posted by gYU
Can you expand on the volunteering part? Do firms actually care?
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firms care about different things.
anyone can volunteer, literally, the bar to go and volunteer is just above grass height, the bar to being a person that has worked hard (whether extracurricular, or actually working for money) and being interesting, and having interpersonal skills, etc. that's what firms care about.
if you just fit in with the crowd of asian kids that study hard, get As/Bs, but have nothing else interesting other than some BS volunteering, well, you're not standing out - for me, i worked during my undergrad to pay for it, got straight As, had interesting hobbies/interests, and can talk to anyone about anything without losing their interest (i.e. i'm a normal outgoing person, even though i hate people) - that guarantees you being 'remembered' - being remembered is your goal.
in recruiting, no joke, they sit around a table and look at your resume/cacee (if they still have the cacee), if they no one can remember talking to this person, even if the resume is an 8/10 or 9/10, chances are low you'll get any further.
mind you, recruiting for CA firms is also about fit (as BS as that sounds), for me, i only got 1 big 4 offer, in the second interviews with another, i was so done with it bc i wouldn't have wanted to work there (with no other offers i would have been forced but it didn't come to that thankfully), i basically stopped trying - we both knew the fit didn't work.
i got what i wanted, got what i wanted from them over 4 years, and then left. got what i wanted from vnacouver, then left that too...
i know that was long, but i hope that helps for those coming up to recruiting time - pm me if anyone wants any specific advice, i can't hook anyone up with ppl anymore as i'm old and removed from my ex big 4 and know none of you personally so wouldn't be willing to muddy my name if you're a fuck up, but i'll give advice where wanted - i know i'd have appreciated it back in the day