About BDO
What is the culture like?
BDO Canada’s culture is built from our mission, vision, and values, and is one of the most important factors in what sets BDO apart. We focus on client centricity and the connection to our people.
What types of student positions does BDO hire for and where?
BDO Canada hires co-ops, interns, and new graduate students across all service lines and internal functions. With over 125 office locations from coast to coast, there are many opportunities to join the firm from large city centres to local communities.
Keep up to date with our openings by visiting our student career page: https://www.bdo.ca/en-ca/careers/students/
Position Guide
Co-op Student: You are enrolled in your school’s formal co-op program
Intern Student: You are not enrolled in your school’s formal co-op program but are seeking to gain paid practical work experience during your semesters off, or in the summer.
New Graduate Student: You are seeking full-time employment and are still completing your post-secondary education, or you have recently graduated within one year.
How does BDO engage in their communities?
BDO Canada plays an active role in our communities. From nationwide programs such as our annual Drive Away Hunger campaign to local office or individual initiatives, we provide employees opportunities to give back to causes that are important them.
Networking
Will BDO be hosting events at my school?
BDO Canada accepts student applications from post-secondary schools across Canada. Check out our Campus Calendar regularly to see upcoming events in your region. If we do not host an event at your school, you are still encouraged to apply to one of our open positions that interests you.
What type of events does BDO host?
BDO Canada regularly attends events that are organized by schools, student clubs, and provincial CPA bodies. Some of the common events we attend include career fairs, panels, case competitions, and networking events. We also host open houses, national information sessions, and networking events in-office or virtually. Ignite is our flagship and networking event and takes place annually in the spring. To find your next opportunity to connect with us, check out our Campus Calendar.
Do you have any tips on how to build relationships?
The best ways to #GetToKnowBDO is to engage with our staff either on campus or virtually. We attend and host events year-round. You can check out our upcoming events here. Your school’s co-op and career services offices are a great place to gather information about BDO and gain professional advice on networking and applying. Your school’s student clubs may also have insight into upcoming events that are suitable for students to attend and build their network.
LinkedIn is also a great place to build your network. You can connect with and follow one of our Campus Recruitment Specialists to learn about upcoming events, deadlines, and advice that is targeted towards students. We also recommend you connect with one of our current co-op, intern students, or Junior Accountants on LinkedIn. As new members to the BDO Canada team, they are often happy to share their experience going through the recruitment process and what it’s like to work at BDO Canada.
Other
What support do you have for CPA students?
At BDO, we are committed to the success of students pursuing their CPA Designation. We provide the following support to our CPA students:
- A variety of pre-approved programs across our offices to obtain your Practical Experience
- CPA Mentor & Program Leader support for Practical Experience requirements
- Reimbursement of exam fees for first time PEP, Capstone 1, Capstone 2 & CFE writers
- Enrollment in Canada’s leading CFE Prep Course
- Paid study and exam days for exams
- Paid time off to attend CFE Prep courses
- Flexible time off options for study leave through our personal time off program
- Firm-sponsored events and celebrations
- Awards, bonuses, and recognition for successful writers
- A trained CFE Coach from your office will provide guidance and support while you prepare for the CFE
Interview/Application
There are no job postings on my school job board, can I still apply to BDO?
Yes, all students are eligible to apply for postings on our campus careers page should you fit the experience and education requirements listed.
When does recruitment start for campus roles?
Our Campus Recruitment Team typically starts recruiting for co-op, internship, and new graduate opportunities in January, May, and September. All the opportunities available will be posted on our Campus Careers page. Usually, recruitment for opportunities will be roughly 3 – 12+ months in advance of the start date, so we recommend reviewing our jobs early in your post-secondary education process.
What is the interview process like at BDO?
Students selected for an interview with BDO will have at least one video or in person conversation with one or two BDO team members from the region you applied to. The exact details of the interview process will be tailored to the unique needs of each team and location, but candidates can expect to discuss their interests, speak about their experience, and answer behavioral and situational questions related to the job. Should you have any questions, your local Campus Recruitment Specialist can clarify further what to expect of the interview process once you are selected to connect with our team.
How many jobs can I apply for?
We strongly encourage candidates to apply to the role that most aligns with your interests, experience, and career goals, focusing your attention on one to three job postings at one time. This method provides our recruitment team clarity on your top choices. If you are open to relocation or working in a variety of offices, we recommend you apply to your top choices and reference the level of flexibility you offer within your application documents or screening questions.
Will GPA have an impact on my application, is there a cut off?
BDO Canada does not have a formal minimum GPA necessary to apply for our campus level roles. When screening applications, we focus on looking for transferable soft skills and a variety of work experience, volunteer engagement, and community involvement within your application.
If you are worried that your transcripts do not reflect your full abilities and potential, we recommend you emphasize experience on your resume where you tackled challenging learning curves and thrived completing detail oriented or technical work.
Will I be able to transfer to another BDO office or service line?
BDO Canada has a great variety of flexibility when it comes to growing your career. When you are performing well in your current role, and there are business opportunities in your area of interest, we welcome staff to consider service line or location changes to best suit their long-term career goals. BDO also offers global mobility opportunities for those looking for 3 – 24 month placements at BDO offices around the world. While transfers are considered, we do encourage you to apply to the role and location that you are most interested in when applying.
I’ve submitted my application for a role that I’m interested in, now what?
Thank you for applying to an opportunity at BDO Canada! Once you submit your application to a job posting on our careers page, you will receive a notification directly on that webpage, as well as an email that confirms your application has been received. You can also log in to your BDO profile and check your dashboard to see the status of your application. If you applied to a position with BDO through your school’s internal job board, we still require you to create a profile and submit your application directly to our careers page in order to be considered.
Only those selected for an interview will be contacted by a recruiter following the application deadline. Typically, students selected for an interview will be contacted within 3 weeks of the application deadline.
I wasn’t successful the first time I applied to BDO, should I apply again?
Yes, you are able to apply again. You may have a better chance of being selected next time if you strengthen your application documents and gain new work, volunteer, or school experience before applying again. We strongly encourage applicants to network with us prior to applying for an opportunity, so check out our campus events calendar for the next opportunity.
Who should I address my cover letter to?
You are welcome to address your cover letter to ‘Campus Recruitment Specialist’ and the office location of your application.
What do you look for in candidates?
Each position with BDO Canada will have specific experience & education requirements that can be found in our job postings. For all campus level hires, we look for a variety of competencies that our firm values. For more information on these skills, please see our Get to Know BDO page.
How can I connect with a Campus Recruiter at BDO?
Connect with us on LinkedIn, see below for our teams profiles