Employment in accounting: A comparison of recruiter perceptions with student expectations

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey of recruiters from public accounting firms and from companies in industry and of senior accounting majors, concerning their perceptions of working conditions in the accounting profession. Aspects of employment are identified on which there is a significant difference between the perceptions of recruiters and those of students prior to the interview process. Further comparisons of perceptions of recruiters with those of students who have been through the interview process enables an assessment of the effectiveness of the employment interview as a means of overcoming expectational gaps between recruiters and students in regard to employment conditions in professional accounting. © 1986.