When shall we apply?

Rules of ICAI  on articleship clearly states that a candidate must clear his or her IPCC group 1 examination along with 100 hours of ITT and 35 hours of Orientation. A student having completed all the three can pursue articleship. A student who has his result awaiting cannot start articleship.

As the rules state, a student can apply only if the above conditions are satisfied by the student. Student should prefer to start articleship after completion of both groups of articleship because maximum of the good firm do not want articles who have their exams pending. Reason is simple; a firm does not want to give leaves to its article. Moreover it has been the trend of Big4 firms that they do not entertain group-1 pass students (exception to this situation are there).

A very frequently said line of a student is "koi reference hai?" There are many cases where students have no reference or in simple words "jugaad." A student should start building up references as soon as he clears CA-CPT. Start building network of professional people and use social networking sites to your advantage. More the references you have more the chance of entering good firm.

Student should make a proper CV or resume. Your resume reflects you therefore you should ensure you have not copied it and have made it on your own. You should enter only those points which justify you and your personality. Keep it simple and do not overstate yourself as the interviewer would come to know once you start talking with them. Students can drop the resume in the firm's office or can simply submit it online on the firm's website.