Tips

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Tips Traps for Completing Your CACEE Form
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What is the purpose of the CACEE form?

• The CACEE form is a standardized job application
  form that is required by employers as a
  replacement for your resume.
• It is a convenient tool for employers because it
  standardizes the layout of the information that
  you provide, thereby reducing the noise of
  several formats.
• It is extremely comprehensive and often covers
  more than is represented in your resume.
• The challenge is to demonstrate your
  qualifications within this structured format.
• IMPORTANT It helps employers decide if you are
  someone they would like to interview.
• The CACEE form provides important information
  about you upon which representatives from the
  Firm base their interview questions.

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Who is looking at your CACEE form and what are
they looking at?

• The first set of eyes on your CACEE form is
  usually that of a recruiter from the Firm. Our
  first look is at your entire CACEE form along
  with your unofficial transcript. Each Firm will
  have a different benchmark when looking at your
  GPA.
• The back page is extremely important and is your
  opportunity to tell the Firm who you are and can
  indicate whether or not you are going to be a
  good fit for the Firm. This is your chance to
  sell yourself, tell us the story of how you
  became interested in the CA profession, and why
  you are interested in the Firm.
• On the front page you should include the
  following critical administrative details e-mail
  address, the position for which you are applying
  (full-time, summer or co-op), and your legal
  availability to work in Canada.

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Consider the following points before you fill in
your CACEE form

• Customize your CACEE form for each firm - dont
  submit one generic form.
• Adapt your CACEE form to put emphasis on areas
  that are important to the firm to which you are
  applying.
• Creativity when completing your form is key. Keep
  your form fresh. It has to stand out but dont
  feel you have to make it cute.
• Explore the internet for information on the
  different firms (e.g. core values, areas of
  specialization, professional development).
• Eliminate any irrelevant information that may bog
  down your application, and be careful to avoid
  duplicating information on your form.

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Top 5 Things to DO on your CACEE form

• Include all relevant courses and exciting
  projects you have worked on in the appropriate
  sections. What did you learn as a result of your
  participation?
• Dont just list awards, scholarships, and
  affiliations brag a bit about why youve earned
  them.
• When listing your jobs, highlight the skills that
  you have acquired, and try to think about your
  past work or volunteer experience in a new way
  (for instance, your job as a waiter demonstrates
  your capabilities in client service, teamwork,
  working in stressful conditions and under time
  pressure, and likely, your negotiation skills).
  Were looking for well-rounded people, so dont
  worry if you dont have any accounting
  experience.
• Detail extra-curricular activities dont repeat
  what is on your transcript or in your work
  experience section. Similarly, dont use a
  laundry list of activities tell us what you
  enjoy about each one and the skills you have
  developed.
• Detail any other languages that you speak.
• Proofread!

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Top 6 Things to NOT do on your CACEE Form

• Dont modify your GPA.
• Dont list your courses you have already
  submitted your transcript.
• Dont bold every second sentence create
  emphasis with bullets and paragraph breaks
  instead. Dont use a font size smaller than 10.
• Do not detail personal information such as
  marital or family status, religion, or age.
• Dont be arrogant tell us about your
  accomplishments but be realistic.
• Dont send your application to the wrong firm.

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The one piece of advice you should take away from
this presentation should be

• Take your time when completing the back page of
  the CACEE form.
• Let your personality come through while keeping
  it professional.
• Write about what matters to you, and what draws
  you to the firms.
• Detail the reasons you fit with the firm to
  which you are applying, and why the firm fits
  with you. In what ways do you share the firms
  culture and vision?
• If you have a good story about why you are
  interested in becoming a CA and how you came to
  this decision, tell it here.
• IMPORTANT Research the firm, plan what you are
  going to write, and take time editing your work.
• You are demonstrating your writing ability to us,
  so make sure you proofread and then have someone
  else proofread it for you again.