Are all the Big 4 employees extremely social?

[kyrax12]

Something I have noticed when talking to a lot of the Big 4 employees (DT,PWC,EY,KPMG) is that they are very social. Their social skills put me to shame as they can just keep talking and talking. They are very animated and awkward silences from them are minimal. They are also great at making jokes.

Is it a fair assumption to say that every big 4 employee are very social people? It seems they only look for those kind of employees.

 

[Ns1]

Something I have noticed when talking to a lot of the Big 4 employees (DT,PWC,EY,KPMG) is that they are very social. Their social skills put me to shame as they can just keep talking and talking. They are very animated and awkward silences from them are minimal. They are also great at making jokes.

Is it a fair assumption to say that every big 4 employee are very social people? It seems they only look for those kind of employees.

I would argue that people @ Big 4 know how to fake it to make it, whether or not they're actually social behind the scenes.

I can tell you for sure when I was in school (a school where Big 4 does a lot of recruiting), they hammered this fact home and we were all taught how to play the game.

 

[KLin]

employers?

 

[TheSlamma]

People who keep talking and don't know when to stop isn't good social skills. Just extroverts who like to hear themselves talk.

 

[kyrax12]

People who keep talking and don't know when to stop isn't good social skills. Just extroverts who like to hear themselves talk.

What do you recommend then? I want to keep awkward silence at a minimal.

 

[TheSlamma]

Are you trying to get hired by these people?

 

[kyrax12]

Are you trying to get hired by these people?

Yeah I am heavily considering getting into one of these firms. It is not the end of the world if I don't get into them, but they are really prestigious and professional.

 

[andylawcc]

you don't have to be social, but if you want to move up you will.

i say don't worry, just work for them for a couple years and rack up the experience. most auditors i know started and left the big 4 to smaller firms. the pain won't be forever

 

[kyrax12]

you don't have to be social, but if you want to move up you will.

i say don't worry, just work for them for a couple years and rack up the experience. most auditors i know started and left the big 4 to smaller firms. the pain won't be forever

But in order to fit in, passed the interview, network, and etc. you would need to be social right?

Based on what I seen of them, shyness is a taboo for these firms.

 

[Ns1]

But in order to fit in, passed the interview, network, and etc. you would need to be social right?

Based on what I seen of them, shyness is a taboo for these firms.

See reply #1. I know lots of introverts at Big 4 firms. But they're confident and can network/be social if necessary.

 

[kyrax12]

See reply #1.

Well someone that isn't social to begin with is going to have a hard time "faking" it.

It would be seen as "trying too hard" if you are attempting to be social when you are socially awkward.

I think people sort of have to have some experience with socializing before they can start "faking" it.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

My cousin worked for one of them after college (either KPMG or EY) and she HATED it. I went with her to some happy hour thing with her co-workers, and they seemed like they were good at making small talk, but they also were having any modicum of enjoyment of life slowly drained out of them by a soulless corporate machine that demands conformity and strips away anything that might make someone unique or interesting. She got the hell out of there not long after. So, you know, keep your options open.

 

[Ns1]

Well someone that isn't social to begin with is going to have a hard time "faking" it.

It would be seen as "trying too hard" if you are attempting to be social when you are socially awkward.

I think people sort of have to have some experience with socializing before they can start "faking" it.

Well if you're socially awkward beyond redemption I agree that you probably won't cut it. You'll have to do things to force yourself to become social in the business context (ie learn to network, join professional groups, figure out how to play the game).

 

[andylawcc]

But in order to fit in, passed the interview, network, and etc. you would need to be social right?

Based on what I seen of them, shyness is a taboo for these firms.

then you have nothing to lose by getting an interviewing.
i've met some pretty quiet ones too, you don't have to do any talking really, just the higher ups do.

 

[andylawcc]

Well someone that isn't social to begin with is going to have a hard time "faking" it.

It would be seen as "trying too hard" if you are attempting to be social when you are socially awkward.

I think people sort of have to have some experience with socializing before they can start "faking" it.

Just be yourself.
It is big 4, it will look good on your resume. Put up with it for a year or two.

 

[drbrock]

If you want to work at the Big 4 you need a stellar GPA and a decent personality. They just don't want the weirdos that accounting is filled with.

You will practically be living with your peers for the first 5-7 years of employment there. You have to be fun to work with along with being smart.

I would not sweat the big 4 that much unless you have a VERY defined path that you want to go on(ie going to manager level or partner level). You will learn just as much at a large regional firm. For the first three years of your career will blow by with your head spinning lol.

Either way good luck. You can always read self improvement books. My best advice would be for you start conversations with random people. Get used to making conversation. Start with people in accounting groups then move onto total randoms.

You can PM for any advice. I wish someone would have helped me when I was going through it all.

 

[Printer Bandit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_(audit_firms)


what do they do? make sure other companies aren't cooking the books?

 

[disappoint]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_(audit_firms)


what do they do? make sure other companies aren't cooking the books?

Yes. In addition to that they do energy and water conservation audits as well.

 

[kyrax12]

If you want to work at the Big 4 you need a stellar GPA and a decent personality. They just don't want the weirdos that accounting is filled with.

You will practically be living with your peers for the first 5-7 years of employment there. You have to be fun to work with along with being smart.

I would not sweat the big 4 that much unless you have a VERY defined path that you want to go on(ie going to manager level or partner level). You will learn just as much at a large regional firm. For the first three years of your career will blow by with your head spinning lol.

Either way good luck. You can always read self improvement books. My best advice would be for you start conversations with random people. Get used to making conversation. Start with people in accounting groups then move onto total randoms.

You can PM for any advice. I wish someone would have helped me when I was going through it all.

What do you mean weirdo? Like I want to know so I don't be them.

 

[drbrock]

I don't know how to explain it. The typical accountant is introverted to begin with. Totally fine. I am an extroverted introvert. There are two very different sides of me.

The weirdos are usually the ones with the 4.0 GPA that has not seen daylight the last four years due to their over-studying. They can not bring those types around the clients, let alone work with them. You will know who I am talking about when you go to career fair.

Nothing wrong with them IMHO they are just different. If it were my firm I would hire extroverts with a decent accounting brain and the "weirdos" that I just described. Let the extroverts go to the meetings and then savants of accounting hang in the office.

There was an awesome audiobook that I listened to (99% sure it was the "fine art of small talk?) that helped me with some basic skill sets that I was missing. I had an extreme strength of being able to connect with people who had stuff in common with but when it came to randoms I had a hard time developing a conversation if I could not find common ground within the first few questions. It happened A LOT with older people.


I am assuming you are in college. The best way to get better with talking is just to do it. Play on a sports team or just go to random clubs. You WILL get better over time even if it slowly.

If you really want to get in-depth on the study of conversation. Get into pick up artist books. They are on the face extremely stupid but there is a reason those mechanics work with the opposite sex. If you take the basic knowledge and apply it in meaningful ways it can be powerful.

Stay away from the sales books. Once you read one or two they are basically the same.

 

[kyrax12]

I don't know how to explain it. The typical accountant is introverted to begin with. Totally fine. I am an extroverted introvert. There are two very different sides of me.

The weirdos are usually the ones with the 4.0 GPA that has not seen daylight the last four years due to their over-studying. They can not bring those types around the clients, let alone work with them. You will know who I am talking about when you go to career fair.

Nothing wrong with them IMHO they are just different. If it were my firm I would hire extroverts with a decent accounting brain and the "weirdos" that I just described. Let the extroverts go to the meetings and then savants of accounting hang in the office.

There was an awesome audiobook that I listened to (99% sure it was the "fine art of small talk?) that helped me with some basic skill sets that I was missing. I had an extreme strength of being able to connect with people who had stuff in common with but when it came to randoms I had a hard time developing a conversation if I could not find common ground within the first few questions. It happened A LOT with older people.


I am assuming you are in college. The best way to get better with talking is just to do it. Play on a sports team or just go to random clubs. You WILL get better over time even if it slowly.

If you really want to get in-depth on the study of conversation. Get into pick up artist books. They are on the face extremely stupid but there is a reason those mechanics work with the opposite sex. If you take the basic knowledge and apply it in meaningful ways it can be powerful.

Stay away from the sales books. Once you read one or two they are basically the same.

Thanks for the insight man! One of the major problem I have is talking to people with no common ground.

 

[OverVolt]

More social = less real work to do.

 

[rudeguy]

Thanks for the insight man! One of the major problem I have is talking to people with no common ground.

The art of small talking is finding that common ground. Maybe it's movies or music or animals or cars or toys or...whatever.

It's really not that hard. I was in sales for way too long. I can and will talk to anyone about anything. If it's something I know nothing about or don't care about, I ask questions to get the other person to do the bulk of the talking. On that point, you don't want to be the guy who tries to hijack the conversation or one up everyone.

What are your hobbies or things you are really interested in?

 

[andylawcc]

If you really want to get in-depth on the study of conversation. Get into pick up artist books. They are on the face extremely stupid but there is a reason those mechanics work with the opposite sex. If you take the basic knowledge and apply it in meaningful ways it can be powerful.

hey now, baby steps here, he just wanted a job, not a blowjob from some chick in a club.
but i do agree in principle that the Pickup Artist is a good guide as the way you described.

 

[Brainonska511]

I think it would depend on the division; they are rather large companies.