Big Four Interview
Discussion
If this is your first 'proper' interview, then some coaching would not be wasted. Having said that, if you're good, you're good (if you see what I mean). Interviews are not just about technical competencies (in fact interviews are not able to confirm these), so interviews are mainly about your personality, your values and your standards, and you should not really need to practice that.
Interviewers will be attempting to ascertain if you will be a 'fit' for their organisation. If you have a certain personality type or have certain views that go against their own then you will not get hired. So my advice would be to study the organisation, down to the department you will be joining. Get a feel for the culture and even sub-culture; do they support charities, do they do things out of work, sports, team building weekends etc. Then you should try to get across that you will be a good fit for the organisation, both in it's primary function, but also in any extracurricular activities. That is why you want to work for them and not the competition. And finally, don't forget that you are also interviewing them. If they don't come across well you'll be forming an opinion too! Good luck!
Interviewers will be attempting to ascertain if you will be a 'fit' for their organisation. If you have a certain personality type or have certain views that go against their own then you will not get hired. So my advice would be to study the organisation, down to the department you will be joining. Get a feel for the culture and even sub-culture; do they support charities, do they do things out of work, sports, team building weekends etc. Then you should try to get across that you will be a good fit for the organisation, both in it's primary function, but also in any extracurricular activities. That is why you want to work for them and not the competition. And finally, don't forget that you are also interviewing them. If they don't come across well you'll be forming an opinion too! Good luck!
In answer to the OP's specific issue, my advice is to write down the exact answer you want, then spend a few minutes learning it.
If this is for their consulting division, I'd suggest practicing a few 'business case' questions. If it's for their accounting division I'd spend some time learning your way round an annual report (or rather the annual accounts): what the various numbers mean, how they're calculated, how they relate to each other etc.
If this is for their consulting division, I'd suggest practicing a few 'business case' questions. If it's for their accounting division I'd spend some time learning your way round an annual report (or rather the annual accounts): what the various numbers mean, how they're calculated, how they relate to each other etc.
Think about what situations you have been in and what experience you have. They know that you are young though still expect you to have been in some positions of authority such as Student Union, mgt role working in a supermarket in holiday time etc. Do you take part in any debating societies? As for you wanting to work there, think about your original reason and test it on someone. Should it come across as weak or shallow then come up with another based on truth, if you go too far away from the truth then you may trip yourself up. I would ask someone in sales or business to give you an interview using competency questions since this is what you will get.
Treat it seriously since you will only get one chance in front of the organisation and competition will be high. Be articulate, whatever you say they will expect you to say in front of their clients.
Treat it seriously since you will only get one chance in front of the organisation and competition will be high. Be articulate, whatever you say they will expect you to say in front of their clients.
A few tips, things that frustrate me when interviewing:
- don't arrive very early, aim for no more than 10 minutes before (but make sure you allow time to get through security, receptions etc.)
- if they ask what do you see yourself doing in 5 or 10 years don't say you want to be a partner
- be yourself
- speak clearly, take your time answering questions
- don't just say what you think they want to hear (you cannot out-smart them)
- be smart / conservative (no silly hair styles, tie your tie properly, make sure your shirt and jacket fit properly, ironed shirt)
- clean black shoes
- clean shaven
- research current financial topical affairs (depending on what dept you are going for)
- understand the department (e.g. if it is for audit, understand what an audit is)
- try and be confident but not too much and not cocky, arrogant, full of yourself
Good luck!
- don't arrive very early, aim for no more than 10 minutes before (but make sure you allow time to get through security, receptions etc.)
- if they ask what do you see yourself doing in 5 or 10 years don't say you want to be a partner
- be yourself
- speak clearly, take your time answering questions
- don't just say what you think they want to hear (you cannot out-smart them)
- be smart / conservative (no silly hair styles, tie your tie properly, make sure your shirt and jacket fit properly, ironed shirt)
- clean black shoes
- clean shaven
- research current financial topical affairs (depending on what dept you are going for)
- understand the department (e.g. if it is for audit, understand what an audit is)
- try and be confident but not too much and not cocky, arrogant, full of yourself
Good luck!
I have to say I am surprised you are being interviewed by 2 partners as an intern. I don't mean that role/level is not important just these guys are super busy and would have charge out rates of several hundred £'s per hour. Take this as a compliment, sounds like they want to invest the time and effort in the process. Is this a second interview? Have you already been through an HR people interview? If this is a second interview don't be surprised if the partner interview stage is shorter.
To try and answer some of your questions (I am assuming this is a UK big 4 firm):
- yes, aim to arrive and be ready about 10 minutes before so I guess you need to arrive 15 mins or so depending on getting through security, lifts, reception etc.
- being late is not good but would not mean a reject, you have to have a really good excuse though. If I were you I would aim to find the office building way before (up to an hour?) and go and have a coffee or something beforehand. The last thing you want is to have trouble finding the office and being all flustered when you arrive. You need to arrive calm and collected.
- a jacket (matching suit) is a MUST in my view, and I am more relaxed than most. We have a no tie policy unless we are meeting clients who we know/think will be wearing ties but if someone came to an interview without a tie it would be a quick interview... First impressions do count (sadly?) and they will want to know that if they send you to a client you can look professional as you are representing their firm.
- about being a partner in 10 years time, your thoughts of being in a leadership position are great, at the end of the day audit firms hire dozens of graduates to train and do audit work. On qualifying most of the the audit staff will leave and go on to banking, industry, other firms or specialisms, departments. It is therefore normal and expected that most will not become partners. The professional finance world would be your oyster and most will not want to stay in audit so don't try and fool them by saying that is where you will end up. Nobody at your level knows what they will do in 5 years time. You may find you love tax, financial services, corporate finance, forensic accounting, different sectors in industry or what ever. You can say that you want to find out what area you will be best in and your strengths and weakness and decide where your skills will be of best benefit to your employer and yourself. If you find an area that you love you will be the most benefit and happiest there.
- behavioural questions - I have to wonder how much partners will get into these type of questions, that is more HR thinking. Partners may just get to the point and try and understand whether you are suited for the role, if you will fit into their firm's culture, are hard working, eager, willing to go the extra mile (or many miles...). They may however have a silly form to fill in that does require them to ask some behaviour questions so don't rule it out (you can tell I don't like the forms...).
When I have 6 monthly catch up meetings with our audit staff I always try and stress that if you have questions while auditing about how to carry out auditing procedures don't just ask what you need to do you must understand the objective of the audit tests in order to properly do it effectively e.g. when testing creditors your objective is to find out if the creditors are under-stated but for debtors it is whether they are over-stated therefore the many tests needed in each area are very different.
Ok, I'm off to watch F1...
To try and answer some of your questions (I am assuming this is a UK big 4 firm):
- yes, aim to arrive and be ready about 10 minutes before so I guess you need to arrive 15 mins or so depending on getting through security, lifts, reception etc.
- being late is not good but would not mean a reject, you have to have a really good excuse though. If I were you I would aim to find the office building way before (up to an hour?) and go and have a coffee or something beforehand. The last thing you want is to have trouble finding the office and being all flustered when you arrive. You need to arrive calm and collected.
- a jacket (matching suit) is a MUST in my view, and I am more relaxed than most. We have a no tie policy unless we are meeting clients who we know/think will be wearing ties but if someone came to an interview without a tie it would be a quick interview... First impressions do count (sadly?) and they will want to know that if they send you to a client you can look professional as you are representing their firm.
- about being a partner in 10 years time, your thoughts of being in a leadership position are great, at the end of the day audit firms hire dozens of graduates to train and do audit work. On qualifying most of the the audit staff will leave and go on to banking, industry, other firms or specialisms, departments. It is therefore normal and expected that most will not become partners. The professional finance world would be your oyster and most will not want to stay in audit so don't try and fool them by saying that is where you will end up. Nobody at your level knows what they will do in 5 years time. You may find you love tax, financial services, corporate finance, forensic accounting, different sectors in industry or what ever. You can say that you want to find out what area you will be best in and your strengths and weakness and decide where your skills will be of best benefit to your employer and yourself. If you find an area that you love you will be the most benefit and happiest there.
- behavioural questions - I have to wonder how much partners will get into these type of questions, that is more HR thinking. Partners may just get to the point and try and understand whether you are suited for the role, if you will fit into their firm's culture, are hard working, eager, willing to go the extra mile (or many miles...). They may however have a silly form to fill in that does require them to ask some behaviour questions so don't rule it out (you can tell I don't like the forms...).
When I have 6 monthly catch up meetings with our audit staff I always try and stress that if you have questions while auditing about how to carry out auditing procedures don't just ask what you need to do you must understand the objective of the audit tests in order to properly do it effectively e.g. when testing creditors your objective is to find out if the creditors are under-stated but for debtors it is whether they are over-stated therefore the many tests needed in each area are very different.
Ok, I'm off to watch F1...
I have done my interviews/assessment days with the big 4 for a UK strat grad place, didn't get one but then again I don't have a top ten uni degree and i don't have 3A's at Alevel, so was surprised I got that far.
My tip is to just be the boring sod they want you to be, answer the questions like a drone and don't try and show any flare or business sense.
bitter, never.
The overseas companies process is very different, In the middle east you can just turn up and have one interview, the UK i went through 6 for Deloitte's alone.
My tip is to just be the boring sod they want you to be, answer the questions like a drone and don't try and show any flare or business sense.
bitter, never.
The overseas companies process is very different, In the middle east you can just turn up and have one interview, the UK i went through 6 for Deloitte's alone.
okgo said:
Why are there so many interview stages for the grad jobs?
Deloitte offered a chap I know a job, after only 2 interviews...
No idea fella, I had:Deloitte offered a chap I know a job, after only 2 interviews...
Online application
Numerical online test
Literacy online test
Psychometric online test
Pre-screening telephone interview
Interview
Assessment day - 45 min etray, 50 min written exercise, lunch, 40 min group exercise, 90 min partner interview
I failed on my assessment day, there was only one strat place on offer. I had a very strong recommendation from the head of one of the member firms, and the sly offer to them of pretty much as much work as they wanted in the Middle East, but didn't get it.
Was really weird because after my partner interview he asked me if I was free next week, so i have come to the conclusion he was either chatting me up, or seeing if i had something to take my mind of the coming rejection.
Edited by koolchris99 on Monday 28th March 16:12
okgo said:
Why are there so many interview stages for the grad jobs?
Deloitte offered a chap I know a job, after only 2 interviews...
In what field?Deloitte offered a chap I know a job, after only 2 interviews...
When I joined PwC Consulting the split was clear:
IT - lots of jobs, only a couple of rounds of interviews.
Business - some jobs, more rounds of interviews.
Strategy - few jobs, very long selection process.
Much of the advice above is good.
Having interviewed for these summer intern positions when I was based in London, I can tell you that they are some of the hardest roles to obtain - often much harder than graduate entry - competition very high for a much more limited number of positions. Pass the interview and do well at the internship and you'll more than likely walk away with a job offer for when you graduate.
ETA: Missed that this was not in the UK. Disregard the above as it may not apply.
Having interviewed for these summer intern positions when I was based in London, I can tell you that they are some of the hardest roles to obtain - often much harder than graduate entry - competition very high for a much more limited number of positions. Pass the interview and do well at the internship and you'll more than likely walk away with a job offer for when you graduate.
ETA: Missed that this was not in the UK. Disregard the above as it may not apply.
Edited by tokyo_mb on Monday 28th March 20:34
right, so i am the OP who has stupidly forgotten his original login details. time for a very (very!) delayed update. I got a grad role at the same firm, but in tax not audit (which I am absolutely rapt about, I used to think audit sounded great but then when I learned what they actually did it sounded a lot less like me).
It is funny looking back at my old posts. i was a lot more worried about everything than I was this time and a hell of lot more uptight. I wasnt the person I always was until someone told me how hard you needed to work to get into the big 4. They were wrong, its much more about personality and common sense.
I learned that being relaxed is what will get you through. I didnt prepare for the interview other than meet a mate who works as a manager at the firm for a beer the night before. Just walked in at 5 to 10, had a chat with the receptionist, and then did the interview. we talked for 1.5 hours about all sorts of stuff and in the end I left feeling like we had got on very very well. I had the confidence to joke a bit and steer the conversation towards the partner/managers' interests etc.
Just want to say a very very big thank you to everyone who gave advice on here. it stuck with me for a long time. you reminded me what it means to have confidence and how important it is.
cailean do you mind if i send you a pm?
In a strange twist im actually very glad that I did not get the original internship. I ended up doing a summer of doing tax consulting and some very interesting work at the ca firm I am at, and part time working for one of the big rental companies doing vehicle deliveries. I had time to enjoy my summer and to think about what i really want to do. life is awesome sometimes when it just works out.
btw those who were talking about the process. I cant speak for the Uk but here it was
phone interview--interview--networking evening--offer
(in my case i had a 2nd interview but that was because of the specific team I was going into and they wanted me to meet that partner who wasnt invovled with grads this year)
It is funny looking back at my old posts. i was a lot more worried about everything than I was this time and a hell of lot more uptight. I wasnt the person I always was until someone told me how hard you needed to work to get into the big 4. They were wrong, its much more about personality and common sense.
I learned that being relaxed is what will get you through. I didnt prepare for the interview other than meet a mate who works as a manager at the firm for a beer the night before. Just walked in at 5 to 10, had a chat with the receptionist, and then did the interview. we talked for 1.5 hours about all sorts of stuff and in the end I left feeling like we had got on very very well. I had the confidence to joke a bit and steer the conversation towards the partner/managers' interests etc.
Just want to say a very very big thank you to everyone who gave advice on here. it stuck with me for a long time. you reminded me what it means to have confidence and how important it is.
cailean do you mind if i send you a pm?
In a strange twist im actually very glad that I did not get the original internship. I ended up doing a summer of doing tax consulting and some very interesting work at the ca firm I am at, and part time working for one of the big rental companies doing vehicle deliveries. I had time to enjoy my summer and to think about what i really want to do. life is awesome sometimes when it just works out.
btw those who were talking about the process. I cant speak for the Uk but here it was
phone interview--interview--networking evening--offer
(in my case i had a 2nd interview but that was because of the specific team I was going into and they wanted me to meet that partner who wasnt invovled with grads this year)
J T said:
Arriving too early (around 20-30 minutes) is not good because it is a little weird to have you sitting around in reception for so long, I take it? As an interview candidate I think it is important to cause as little trouble (for want of a better word) as possible. I will aim to arrive at 8:50 for the 9:00 interview, but will most likely hang around in a newsagent nearby so as to ensure I cannot be late. I presume lateness is more or less fatal to your chances?
Good idea. The last interview I had I parked round the corner and read a book/went over notes for 15 minutes. The one before that, I lost my car, paniced, arrived just on time, sweaty, then had the loudest s
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