Assurance

My initial contact with the firm occurred through a number of events held at the University for accounting students. One of the events was a resume review session where members of different firms helped students with their resumes. Another was a speech given about working at the firm by a senior manager and a senior associate. Both of these events kept track of attendance through sign-in sheets.

The next main point of contact occurred during the career fair. Generally at career fairs the big 4 will stock them with about 30-40 past interns, and approximately 5-10 employees of the firm. I approached one of the students and made small talk with one of the students, and asked who I should give my resume to. I was then directed to a senior associate that works at the firm and made some more small talk after introducing myself. Some questions I asked included where they went to school, did they do a masters in accounting(and if they think it is important), how they settled on assurance. You generally want to give some preface to the questions you are asking E.G; before I asked if a masters in accounting I mentioned that the intern I just talked to said he was doing a double major instead(this way you questions don’t come out mechanical and socially awkward).

After the basic introduction chit-chat you want to ask a few softer questions that should indicate to the person that you aren’t like a majority of the students at the career fair(you’re someone that they wouldn’t mind getting to know more/getting a beer with, etc). So a good few questions involve asking them if they have traveled anywhere interesting for work, what kind of clients they enjoy working on, This should give you a couple of opportunities to turn the conversation into something more organic and free flowing. Make sure to remember a few key points, and ask for a business card(in my case the associate did not have any left so I asked him to write down his email on my padfolio). After you get home make sure to follow up with them relatively quickly with a simple email, my format followed something along the lines of; Dear X, thank you for taking the time to speak with me at the career fair. I enjoyed hearing about A,B,C. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Z.
I then applied for on-campus interviews, and was selected. Prior to the interview we had a social mixer which involved bowling, generally 5 students were paired up with one associate(the associate in my group happened to be the person I spoke with at the career fair.) They generally want to see how you interact in a social setting. The best advice on what to do here is to just relax, and ask a few questions here or there. The best advice for these types of things where you are stuck with one person is to just act like they are your co-worker. Ask a few questions here or there, but don’t try to monopolize there time like a few students will, just chillout and act interested but try and talk about other things if possible.

It should be noted that after all events such as the career fair, social mixer, the associate that works for the firm jot down key points about everyone they can remember. E.G when you give them your resume, they put a stickey note on the back of it and write a few things about you(good guy, pleasant to talk to, etc although I am sure they have there own lingo). So if you try to monopolize time, and don’t interact well with the other students they will also write that.

On campus interviews were the following day. The associate from bowling was one of the greeters when you initially arrive at the waiting area. You can make some smalltalk, and eventually you are called in for the interview, my interview was with a manager with questions including: Tell me about yourself, walk me through you resume, why assurance, why Ernst and Young, tell me a time where you worked in a group where one member was not being cooperative. A good answer for the why E&Y question is to mention that “culture” E.G: You met a lot of people from different firms, and feel that the people at E&Y are very friendly and personable and that when you want to develop yourself in a similar direction professionally and think it would be a good idea to work around such people(give a couple examples how firm representatives were “personable” or “friendly” at firm events but don’t make it cheesey.). They will ask you if you have any questions at the end, I generally asked questions that would let me get something personal out of them if I was unsuccessfull earlier. So questions like why they ended up in their current specialty, what kind of clients they enjoy working on, what they see as the biggest challenges new hire experience to rising in the firm, in retrospects knowing what they know now what questions do they think it would be important for you to ask in your current position(this always stumps them and they say it’s a good question). Take their business card, and follow up relatively quickly with the same format as earlier.
Office visits occurred a few weeks later(you generally had 3 interview days to choose from). They paid for the hotel and the night before you were invited to a dinner. Generally 5 interns and 5 associates to a table. Again they are seeing how you act in social situation, ask a few questions here and there but don’t monopolize on time. Ask them what kind of clients they like to work on, tell them about yourself and maybe some interesting stories. Do not ask for business cards here unless they give them to you.

The next day you were invited to the office, the recruiters give a presentation, and you are separated into different rooms. Three different people walk in to interview you. I was interviewed by a manager that was doing there secondment to the U.S, another senior manager, and a partner. Questions were standard for the manager and senior manager(all fit questions, why EY, why Assurance, resume questions, etc). The partner interview was the most difficult as they just walked in sat down, and asked me if I had any questions for them. I immediately realized that this was the guys interview style and basically ended up interviewing the partner for 40minutes to an hour. Start off asking them about there career, why assurance, what kind of clients they enjoy working on, etc. I made sure to also answer the questions I asked(E.G. after they tell you why they ended up in audit, you should tell them out of tax/audit you feel that audit would be a better fit because of X, Y, Z) After the first few questions the conversation should turn organic if you interject with your own answers and more questions. Make sure your answers highlight positive qualities about yourself. Get business cards after and follow up as I did earlier.
After the office interviews, we were taken out to lunch by some associates while everyone at the office decided who would receive internship offers. I was called the same day by the partner who interviewed me and was offered an internship.

In general the Big 4 are looking for people that have good personalities, are moderately intelligent and are social. No technical’s were asked, and all questions were fit based. You generally want to have a handful of stock answers, stories, and questions in your bag so that you can modify and elaborate further as needed.