Joining Deloitte 2014 intake - happy to answer questions

Hi guys, I just thought I would make this thread for anyone to ask any questions about applying/joining the Big Four. I used this forum extensively when deciding which career to choose and researching the Big Four firms, so I thought it would be nice to talk to people thinking of applying. :smile:

A little about me ....
Joining the 2014 Corporate Tax intake in a regional office.
Achieved a 2.1 in a non-related humanities subject from an ex-poly.
Achieved BBBcc at A Levels.

Reply 1

Mav455

17

Original post by Hyrule Wayfarer

Hi guys, I just thought I would make this thread for anyone to ask any questions about applying/joining the Big Four. I used this forum extensively when deciding which career to choose and researching the Big Four firms, so I thought it would be nice to talk to people thinking of applying. :smile:

A little about me ....
Joining the 2014 Corporate Tax intake in a regional office.
Achieved a 2.1 in a non-related humanities subject from an ex-poly.
Achieved BBBcc at A Levels.

Great idea, thank you so much!
What did you do e.g. work experience, academic wise to make you stand out to get the job?
What questions did they ask you?

Thanks :smile:

Reply 2

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by Mav455

What did you do e.g. work experience, academic wise to make you stand out to get the job?
What questions did they ask you?

Work experience wise I have worked several retail/sales/call centre/warehouse part-time jobs throughout college and university. I also volunteered for 1.5 years for a charity shop. At university I joined the volunteering committee, arranged volunteering projects and supervised students who volunteered during these projects (involved alot of admin/paperwork). I was unable to secure an internship so I gained work experience as a Finance & Business Developer Intern for a local SME (2 months long). Although this isn't strictly work experience I attended a networking event at J.P. Morgan which I added to my C.V. , interviewers usually find this an interesting talking point. :smile:

Academic wise having studied a humanities subject I thought that would hinder me so I did other things whilst at university. In my first year I enrolled in the university's employability programme, I believe most careers services do something similar. The course had modules on: project management, commercial awareness, assertiveness, team leading etc. Then in my second year I participated in an evening course which was taught at the university, ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. The ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) course was a great talking point and a way for me to show that I haven't just chosen accountancy on a whim, and that I am actually interested in a business career. :smile:

I had my interviews back in November and December so I can't remember all of the specific questions. Deloitte do ask you two questions on each of their competency areas which can be found on their website. They do ask questions like why accountancy? why corporate tax over the other service lines? Can you tell me about the other areas of the business? Why us over the other big firms?

Hope that was able to help you out :tongue:

Reply 3

Deshi

19

Waiting for an Audit interview date atm. They're training the staff with new interview techniques so now I'm just waiting for it too hurry up. Get any other offers? Did you just have two interviews after the online stuff? (Because they don't do assessment centres anymore right?)

Really need to prepare but I've been waiting for so long

Reply 4

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by Deshi

Waiting for an Audit interview date atm. They're training the staff with new interview techniques so now I'm just waiting for it too hurry up. Get any other offers? Did you just have two interviews after the online stuff? (Because they don't do assessment centres anymore right?)

Really need to prepare but I've been waiting for so long

I was through to the final stage with Grant Thornton, National Audit Office, and Boots (they sponsor ACA surprisingly). I was waiting for my first interview with PWC and a smaller Top 20 firm. But out of those options Deloitte was my first choice so after i'd signed my contract I withdrew my application from the other companies. :biggrin:

They all wanted 2.1's so it wasn't as if I could have accepted a company who wanted a 2.2 as back up. Tbh I didnt want to waste time with more interview preparation, as I had my first choice, and I was struggling to balance it all with uni, dissertation, and working part-time as well. :redface:

The last thing I wanted was multiple offers and leaving uni with a 2.2!! :eek:

Yeah it was two interviews. The first was with a senior manager in my service line it was just questions. The second was with a partner and that involved questions, a presentation (they email you the topic but it changes frequently), and questions about the themes you've discussed in your presentation. Then the end of the interview consisted of a 'conversation', you do need to know your stuff. We discussed transfer pricing, the government, he asked me about other countries corporation tax and was pleased that i could name the percentages. Just look at what other countries policies are regarding your service line. :cool:

Goodluck.

Reply 5

woodchuck

12

before the selection process how much research did you do on things that could crop up in the interview, like the profession, and the company itself?

Reply 6

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by woodchuck

before the selection process how much research did you do on things that could crop up in the interview, like the profession, and the company itself?

What do you mean by selection process? If you mean before I applied, I just researched the different job roles and professional qualifications on offer to decide which service line I wanted to apply for. It would have wasted time to do in depth research on them (and every other firm/company I applied to before the interview stage).

It was only once I was told that I had an interview that started doing serious research. Probably about a weeks solid research and memorising for each interview. I read a lot of reports on their website, economist, FT and Accountancy Age. :smile:

I can say I didnt attend university or do any work for it while I was doing all of this research, I reckon if I had attended uni it would have taken 2-3 weeks of research or I would have gone to the interview with a limited commercial awareness.

Reply 7

abkd858

Hey Guys I've got a final interview with Deloitte this Wednesday, I'm soo worried!! My presentation is about the impact on professional services firms from current uk interest rates. I've got some ideas but they're soo basic. I have a few questions;

Are they seeing how u actually present and how u react to questions or is it the actual content?

With regards to the interview itself, can it be about anything or is it all related to your service line? My commercial awareness is ok but I couldn't state every fact and figure but I could use what I know to draw an opinion. Is this enough?

Any help/advice would be amazing. Thank you!

Reply 8

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by abkd858

Are they seeing how u actually present and how u react to questions or is it the actual content?

With regards to the interview itself, can it be about anything or is it all related to your service line? My commercial awareness is ok but I couldn't state every fact and figure but I could use what I know to draw an opinion. Is this enough?

Any help/advice would be amazing. Thank you!

Good luck for your interview, which service line have you applied to?

I would say they are probably looking for all three things you listed in the presentation. :smile:

You wouldn't want an employee who can present well, but is inadequate when asked questions about the material they presented to clients. Likewise you might answer questions well and the content could be good, but if you present it in a boring way or are just bad at presenting it, thats not good either. :s-smilie:

My interview was mainly about my service line but I had questions about all of them. I'm not really sure on the commercial awareness query. I think it might be luck of the draw on the questions you are asked. I knew facts and figures and got offered a job, I cant guess if id have got it if I didn't know the stuff I did. I didn't want to risk being underprepared and regretting blowing my chance so I researched alot. There are a few guys on this forum area who are already working for the big four so they might know a little more about the hiring requirements.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 9

LeBron96

11

Original post by Hyrule Wayfarer

Joining the 2014 Corporate Tax intake in a regional office.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose Regional over London?

Reply 10

abkd858

Thank you! I applied for Consulting - Finance. Aside from commercial awareness, I heard that they do go back on the examples you gave in the previous interview? Is that correct? What do they ask? Also anything else would really help

Reply 11

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by LeBron96

If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose Regional over London?

Higher standard of living: In the city I am in accommodation costs are way cheaper than London. I have got a penthouse flat, which I am not sharing for £465 a month. :wink:

This flat is in a modern apartment block, and the kitchen, bathroom and flooring is all brand new for me. :biggrin:

It is worth adding that all white goods are included too. There is no way i'd be able to get that in London, believe me i've looked. Its also in the city centre and 5> min walk from the office so I will not have a commute at all and I won't have regular transport costs.

Convenience: My family and friends are from this city so I will still see them regularly. I was willing to relocate to London or any other city to get my foot on the career ladder, but everything worked out well so I don't have to relocate. :smile:

I can always transfer to London in a few years if I want to.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 12

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by abkd858

Thank you! I applied for Consulting - Finance. Aside from commercial awareness, I heard that they do go back on the examples you gave in the previous interview? Is that correct? What do they ask? Also anything else would really help

My interviewer didn't go over the previous competencies I'd been asked about. Have you looked on the forum on wikijobs before? When you read on that everyones experiences of the final interview is really different depending on the partner they have. I've read that some peoples interviews were very challenging and question based, whereas other people's was more of a casual box ticking process. I can't remember anything else I was asked it was last year when I had my interviewers, but i've written down all I can remember question wise.

Reply 13

LeBron96

11

Original post by Hyrule Wayfarer

Higher standard of living: In the city I am in accommodation costs are way cheaper than London. I have got a penthouse flat, which I am not sharing for £465 a month. :wink:

This flat is in a modern apartment block, and the kitchen, bathroom and flooring is all brand new for me. :biggrin:

It is worth adding that all white goods are included too. There is no way i'd be able to get that in London, believe me i've looked. Its also in the city centre and 5> min walk from the office so I will not have a commute at all and I won't have regular transport costs.

Convenience: My family and friends are from this city so I will still see them regularly. I was willing to relocate to London or any other city to get my foot on the career ladder, but everything worked out well so I don't have to relocate. :smile:

I can always transfer to London in a few years if I want to.

Thank you. I've heard regional offices offer more varied work, could you explain the different sort of sectors you can specialise in, in Audit?

Reply 14

Hyrule Wayfarer

OP

Original post by LeBron96

Thank you. I've heard regional offices offer more varied work, could you explain the different sort of sectors you can specialise in, in Audit?

Well i'm not starting to work there until september so I don't have personal experience of the different sectors/industries. Although it does explain the different industries you can specialise in on their website. :redface:

http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GB/uk/industries/index.htm

Reply 15

LeBron96

11

Original post by Hyrule Wayfarer

Well i'm not starting to work there until september so I don't have personal experience of the different sectors/industries. Although it does explain the different industries you can specialise in on their website. :redface:

http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GB/uk/industries/index.htm

That was really helpful! I would definitely love to work in Oil, Gas and Energy though I've heard Financial Services is more rewarding financially and prospectively (exit oops etc). Is this true?

Also, have you heard of/know anyone who has transferred to an office abroad, and how long before you can do this? I'd love to work in the Big 4 at their headquarters in somewhere like Geneva or Paris.

Reply 16

ohdrama

11

Original post by LeBron96

That was really helpful! I would definitely love to work in Oil, Gas and Energy though I've heard Financial Services is more rewarding financially and prospectively (exit oops etc). Is this true?

Also, have you heard of/know anyone who has transferred to an office abroad, and how long before you can do this? I'd love to work in the Big 4 at their headquarters in somewhere like Geneva or Paris.

Not before you're qualified usually.

Reply 17

Anisax212

5

Original post by abkd858

Hey Guys I've got a final interview with Deloitte this Wednesday, I'm soo worried!! My presentation is about the impact on professional services firms from current uk interest rates. I've got some ideas but they're soo basic. I have a few questions;

Are they seeing how u actually present and how u react to questions or is it the actual content?

With regards to the interview itself, can it be about anything or is it all related to your service line? My commercial awareness is ok but I couldn't state every fact and figure but I could use what I know to draw an opinion. Is this enough?

Any help/advice would be amazing. Thank you!

Hi,

I have my final interview with deloitte tomorrow and my topic is the same as yours. I haven't been given much notice either (was told on Friday afternoon)! I was wondering if you could possibly share any hints or tips around how your approached the topic.

Any help would be most appreciated!

Joining Deloitte 2014 intake - happy to answer questions

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