Virtual Career Fair Connects Accounting Students and Firms Across the Country

CollegeFrog will host National Meet the Firms Week to help connect accounting students and firms from around the country. The virtual recruiting event will run from September 9-September 13, 2013.

According to a recent report by the American Institute of CPAs, accounting graduates are in especially high demand. The report, released in July 2013, found that a record 40,350 accounting graduates were hired in 2012 and 89 percent of those firms are forecasting a steady or increased hiring rate of graduates this year. Yet, many students may not be aware of every career opportunity available to them because only the largest employers visit their campus.

“We have an outstanding accounting program – as good as any in the state – but it’s tough to convince recruiters and CPAs to make the trip to Tahlequah, [Oklahoma],” said Elizabeth Rabe, an accounting professor at Northeaster State University, 75 miles east of Tulsa. Rabe’s students will participate in National Meet the Firms Week to connect with over 350 firms across the country.

Many colleges will host their own “Meet the Firm” events or career fairs on campus, allowing students to interact with representatives from hiring firms. However, firms that are eager to find the best available talent may not always be able to afford to travel to multiple campuses. National Meet the Firms Week enables firms to have a presence on campuses nationwide.

“Accounting employers want to identify top accounting students in a cost-effective way,” said Jeff Phillips, CEO of CollegeFrog. “National Meet the Firms Week gives employers a way to find students from around the country who might be a good fit.”

Students and firms can register online at MeetTheFirmsWeek.com. Sponsors include CPAexcel and Deloitte. Students and firms will also receive special offers for registering and are entered into sweepstakes for other prizes. Once students and firms register, they can build a profile to make them more searchable. CollegeFrog will review the profiles of all firms. In addition, the company will also help students distribute their resume within their respective state.

The week-long career event will feature several webinars, covering topics such as taking the CPA exam, determining the right career path and more. Students will also have access to educational content and career resources, while firms will learn best practices for marketing and recruiting new talent.

“I believe there are opportunities in the profession for everyone. Students just have to determine what’s the right fit for them,” said Phillips.