2013 DAP Summer Fall Accounting Recruitment Program – Click to view schedule

There are two different recruitment cycles you will come across during your time in DAP. One very visible one is this very structured, very rigorous CPA Summer/Fall Public Practice Recruit… National & mid-sized CA firms are a large source of hiring for our students (among other accounting students) and this is one of the work experience paths students can take to complete their work experience requirement while pursuing the CPA PEP post DAP. These firms hire students one year in advance of starting with their firm. Application time is in September of each year, with the majority of students starting the following September (ie. Apply this September 2013 to start September 2014).

Most DAP students who are interested in pursuing this route to gain their work experience will be going through this cycle soon after they start DAP (since DAP only takes 10 – 24 months to complete). A very frequent question I get is: “I only have a couple courses on my transcript. Will this be a detriment to my application, or should I be waiting until I have completed most or all of the coursework?” The answer is: Absolutely not! Of course, if they are both very poor grades, they may not look favourably on this, but in most cases, firms understand that DAP students will only have a few courses on their DAP transcript and will not only look at your DAP transcript, but also your undergraduate degree and any other post-secondary education you have to date. Firms are the ones posting jobs a year in advance; they understand you will have a year of grades missing from your transcript. And, did you know that firms love the diversity of our students? Do not underestimate the power of your undergraduate degree! And, all of the other skills, attributes and transferable experience you will bring to their team!

Since I mentioned there are two different recruitment cycles, let’s quickly touch on the second. I’m sure most of you have been on job boards, applied for positions, gone through the typical application process of securing a position with a company. Companies post jobs when they need a position filled, whether it be a marketing position, operations, admin, or….accounting! Accounting related positions are posted year round, on demand. If there is a specific company or industry of interest to you, start building your networks now to see if there is a way in. Or, keep an eye out on various job boards, attend networking events and continue building your resume. Remember, you will want to consult with CPA on their work experience verification guidelines to ensure the position you find will meet their requirements!

If you are going through the 2013 DAP CPA Public Practice Recruit, please remember to join our LinkedIn Group where you will get up to date information on recruit & can ask questions as they arise. Email me at laura.chan@sauder.ubc.ca with your email associated with LinkedIn and your student number and request to be added today!