BusinessWeek rankings still big news, accounting firms still a great option for new college grads
Nearly two months after BusinessWeek released its second annual ranking of the best places for new college graduates to launch their careers, the results from the report are still making headlines.
Just yesterday, the San Francisco Examiner published the article “College Grads Can Count on Accounting.” The piece focused on the fact that three of the nation’s Big Four accounting firms managed to nab the top three spots on this year’s list. Deloitte & Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Ernst & Young were the big winners, and the last of the Big Four, KPMG, missed out on making the top ten by just one spot. Overall, the report profiled the top 95 companies in the country to work for as a recent college graduate.
BusinessWeek’s report, which you can find here, discussed the recruiting methods of various companies and how these tactics have evolved to cater to the needs and wants of Generation Y. Accounting firms have been especially effective when it comes to understanding what younger workers are seeking, such as meaningful work, constructive feedback, and positions of influence within the organizations they work for. These companies also actively transition their interns into full-time employees.
BusinessWeek credits accounting firms for being some of the first companies to rethink the recruiting process. The newest generation of workers maintains a relatively high turnover rate, with some young professionals averaging as many as ten jobs before they even reach the age of 35. The Big Four have spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to keep college grads happy on the job, and more importantly, how to keep them employed within their firms.
In addition to forward-thinking recruiting strategies that center around Facebook and rap videos, accounting agencies offer a lot of perks, like flexible work schedules. KPMG starts its summer weekends at 3 p.m. every Friday, Ernst & Young offers four-day weekends several times throughout the summer months, and PwC has introduced an extra 11-day vacation for all of its employees. Now those sound like policies that would make any job candidate more likely to accept a position.
The article on Examiner.com also talks about how these powerhouse companies expose young workers to all of the employment opportunities within the expansive accounting field. The size of these national firms and their numerous locations allow for a lot of advancement within the same organization. And since recent college graduates are notorious for not knowing what direction to take after they’re out of school, it’s great to find a first job that affords a lot of options for the future.
If launching your career at one of these companies sounds appealing to you, learn more about the accounting profession itself and what these types of jobs actually entail by clicking here.