Deloitte

With 10 applications received for each of its 14,000 vacancies, securing a spot as a graduate at Deloitte is no walk in the park. The company is so big and covers so much, that before applying you need to honestly ask yourself whether Deloitte is a good fit and whether the division you have in mind is right for you.

Whether it’s providing reliable financial information to clients, helping them pay the right amount of tax in the most efficient way, assisting them in raising, investing and spending capital, or identifying and solving business issues, the roles are varied; so have a good hard think and pick wisely according to your interest, skills and personality.

Another important step is making sure you fill Deloitte’s academic requirements before you begin your application. In GCSEs you need to have scored a B or higher in Maths and at least a C in English. Your A Level scores, which Deloitte looks at using the UCAS point requirement, need to score either 24-26 or 300-320, depending on which position you’re applying to. And finally you need to have a 2.1 honours degree from university.

The application process itself has many steps, but is fairly straightforward. First you must complete a basic online application form about your history and skills. You’ll be faced with standard questions such as, ‘Why does a position at Deloitte appeal over other career options?’, ‘Why are you particularly interested in joining the service line you have specified?’, ‘What do you think you will be doing on a day-to-day basis as a graduate in your first choice service line?’.

If that is successful you will be asked to complete two online psychometric tests designed to evaluate your reasoning, both with words and numbers. Each part is 20 minutes and only if you pass the first portion of the test will they ask you to complete the second. The verbal reasoning section will test your ability to understand verbal descriptions, explanations or arguments; you need to demonstrate you can interpret meaning, grasp key points and draw conclusions. The numerical reasoning will measure your capacity for quickly analysing numerical/financial data, with computations where appropriate, whether embedded in a narrative or presented in tables. So make sure you practise! You will have one week to complete the test and the questions for each test are different. Luckily Deloitte has a re-testing policy so even if you don’t do well the first time, you may be allowed to re-sit the test before your first in-person interview.

>> Practice Numerical and Verbal Tests used by employers

>> Practice In-tray / e-tray simulation tests

>> Improve your performance at Assessment Centres and Group Exercises

But before that you’ll need to take the telephone interview, which are designed to test your communication skills and your level of enthusiasm for the job. The call only lasts about 10-15 minutes but beforehand be sure that you have prepared why you want to work at Deloitte and have reviewed your academic and work history.

The competency interview is next and takes place in the office you’ve applied to. Your interview will last up to an hour and be taken by a manager from the line of service to which you applied. All interviewers at Deloitte have been trained to interview graduates by an in-house team, and all interviews are standardised; the interviewer will read out prepared questions and record your responses. During this one-to-one interview, you will be asked to draw on your personal, professional and educational experiences to highlight exactly how you have demonstrated the required competencies. This will include standard questions like: “What is the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make?” As well as company-specific questions such as: “If you were the head of Deloitte, what would be your priority for the company?” You will also be asked about business issues in the news, about any professional qualifications that may be relevant, as well as what you think the job would entail. It goes without saying: brush up on what’s in the news and review your personal history again. Once completed, the interviewer will grade you and return these details to the graduate recruitment team for processing. You should receive feedback on your interview within three days.

Finally comes the assessment day, which has been described as “gruelling but satisfying”. It lasts about five hours and includes a partner interview, an E tray exercise, an additional email-based exercise and a more relaxed meeting with a current graduate trainee.
The 60 minute ‘e-tray’ exercise is an inbox exercise which involves prioritising emails and choosing the most effective course of action – before writing an e-communication/business email based upon the scenario developed over the previous hour.

You will also be required to analyse a business case (for example: potential takeover targets) and, based on the information provided, make your recommendation to the client's board of directors. You'll be faced with a 20-minute meeting, during which you will have to present using only the notes you've prepared. There are no right or wrong answers here; keep in mind that they are simply testing your reasoning, so you must be able to substantiate your decision. Whatever you say is likely to come under scrutiny, so you should be prepared to defend your position.

Lastly, you will interview with a partner. There are no set questions; it's more of an informal chat about your career motivation and commercial awareness.

Sounds tough – well it is. Deloitte is after the crème of the crop. But will the right profile and skill set, a little confidence and the desire to work in a top notch work environment, you should ace the interview. Good luck.