How to Apply to Big 4 for Articleship?

This kind of question is often asked by visitors of this blog. After completing IPCC students thinking for Big 4's for articleship. Due to Brand image that Big 4's have created students rush to join them. Usually they prefer rank holder of IPCC or lastly students who have cleared both group with good marks and obviously in 1st attempt. The way to apply to Big 4's is as under.

1. ICAI Board of studies portal

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India have started new web portal for students searching for articleship. Students may visit http://bosapp.icai.org/ for aritcleship in Big 4's

2. Notice board of ICAI

So many times Big 4's puts their advertisement for requirement of articleship on the notice board of local ICAI office. so one can apply my mode mentioned in such advertisement.

3. Direct Contact with Big 4's

What happening is that after IPCC results students who have cleared both groups or either group rush to Big 4's with their resume and they people just collect resume and tell that they will call you for interview if shortlisted. In some firms you can meet HR people and but in some cases they may not be allow you to go inside their office.

4. Application through e-mail

Their are least chances that Big 4's reply to you by email even though if they prefer you can apply for articleship by email.

5. Reference

Last and Important mode to apply for Big 4's is that if you have any good contact who is working with such firm than that may be good route to apply.

Some thing about Big 4's. . . . .

In India, Big 4's are a tag for big firm on a worldwide basis. these firms may have different name or may under same name, e.g., one of the firm related to Deloitt is AF Furguson & Co, similarly one of the CA firm attached to E&Y is SR Batliboi & Co, for KPMG is BSR & Co, PwC is as Love lock & Lewis. so we can conclude that PriceWaterHouse is not one firm but 5 to 6 different firms in India that go by such name. like PWC in Gujarat have a different name than a PWC in Delhi.

Such firm in India is such big form attched with a firm may be proprietorship or partnership firm having 10 to 15 partners, but there may be 50 to 60 Chartered Accountants working under them so as a article assistant you may not even able to meet your principle.