CFAB: Firms Visit

In the previous post, I posted about Grooming Workshop which was organised by Sun-TES to prepare students for Work-Based Learning (WBL) in October. The next step, is the Firms Visit. To give an insight to what firms visit is about is the purpose of this blog.

On the 7th, 8th and 14th of July, we visited the Big 4+2 Audit Firms. (To the future CFAB-ers, the date is decided by Sun-TES, but it will be on the 5th semester, most probably after Grooming Workshop.). So, what are Big 4? Big 4 are basically the largest international professional service firms, offering audit, tax and advisory services. They are PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY. And why +2? Because the other 2 firms follow after Big 4 and they are BDO and SJGT (will be changing to GT Malaysia). 

What do you need to bring?

- Wear formal attire (MUST)

- Water

- Money (No lunch provided, but free transportation)

- Extra pair of comfortable shoes (for ladies who are wearing heels)

- Plaster

(Other information will be given by Sun-TES staff through email. So, you will know when, where to gather and which firm to visit.)

What do you expect during firms visit?

- Independence (You will need to ask around or the front desk which level you need to go, and the ability to take care of yourself during the visits as you will NOT be accompanied by any staff or lecturers)

- A talk about their companies 

- A Q&A session (This is your time to know more about the companies and to make a good impression to the staff there, so please ask questions. If you are too shy to ask openly, then you can ask during sharing session. Don't be afraid to ask questions, because they are afraid that you don't ask questions)

- A refreshment

- A sharing session (This is the time when you can chat with the auditors or people from tax or advisory or Human Resource. It is normally combined with the refreshment session)

- An office tour (Not all levels, but some levels. You will be visiting their working areas, meeting rooms, ... In the meantime, observe how do the workers dress and what bags do they use so that you have an idea of what clothes to buy)

- Goodies (Recycle bags, notebooks, and pens)

- Amazing elevators (This is a side track, but some of the firms' elevators are advance, or maybe just because I do not take much elevators? Can't blame me, elevators are scary, I rather use stairs. O_O|||)

(Since you will only be given 2 hours for every firm visit, it is best to read a little about the companies and prepare questions beforehand. 2 hours are definitely not enough.)

After the firms visit

- Decide which company you want (Depends on Sun-TES, you may have 1, 2 or 3 choices)
- Prepare a resume and cover letter
- Prepare for your interview
- Pass your remaining papers!!


Questions that you may ask
- What do you expect from us?
- Why do you join this company?
- What are the jobs that we will be doing?
- When is the peak period?
- Who will be interviewing us?
- Are there any assessments before the interview?
- Where will the interview be held?
- What is the duration of study break during the Advance level?