No one additional trait was consistently mentioned, indicating that we had included the most significant characteristics in our survey. Recruiters, faculty, and students all rated accounting GPA as the most important factor at this phase of the recruitment process. However, several significant differences among the perceptions of the three groups surfaced. Faculty and students ranked self-starter evidence fifth, while recruiters ranked it second. Today, CPA firms are seeking candidates who not only possess technical skills but also value the lifelong learning that enables continuous personal growth.
Firms desire individuals who take the initiative to enrich skills acquired while attending college.
Evidence of participation in noncredit workshops or campus seminars that enhance computer, leadership, or interpersonal skills might reveal this initiative. Candidates who are self-starters believe they can control their own destinies. They understand the value of being productive. They know what needs to be done at work and after hours to accomplish their personal and professional goals. Students and faculty need to, perhaps, rethink the importance of this criterion.