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Whether you’re about to graduate or can call yourself an experienced CPA, follow these tips to avoid common mistakes during the Big Four interview process.

Do:

• Say only positive things about accounting.
• Know the differences between Big Four companies, and be ready to explain to each why it is the perfect employer for you.
• Think before you speak, and never curse.
• Talk about 80 percent of the time in an on-campus interview.
• If you're a foreign student, consider Ernst & Young. It hires candidates that need sponsorship.
• Send a written thank-you letter to everyone who interviews you.

Don't:

• Show up in sneakers.
• Treat communications with the firm casually. Your emails and voice mails will be scrutinized.
• Let your guard down during the lunch or dinner portion of the interview. Order something you can eat without spilling.
• Talk more than 50 percent of the time during an in-office interview.