Online Application
This stage of the application is very basic. The information they require is merely to understand who you are, your educational position, and which programme or service line you are applying to. In my application, seeing as I was a university student applying for a 1-year placement, they requested my GCSE Maths and English grades, A-level grades, first-year university grade, and predicted grade for my 2nd year of university. This stage took me roughly 30 minutes.
How to Respond for Success
EY did not ask for a CV or cover letter; however, as mentioned previously, they did ask for my grades attained so far and predicted university grades. I would say that my application stood out as I met all of the academic requirements and was on course for a first-class grade in my second year of university.
Expect a two-day wait before advancing to the next stage.
Numerical Reasoning
The online assessments included numerical reasoning tests and verbal reasoning tests. There was one test, which contained 20 questions, and these were done under timed conditions. During the tests, EY is analysing the speed with which you answer questions and whether you are answering them correctly. I prepared for these by doing mock tests, which can be found online. I did these mock tests under timed conditions, which gave me an idea of how it would feel during the real test.
Example
- Basic calculations as part of a case study: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Comparing graphs and stating differences in values
- Percentages and fractions questions
- True and false questions
- Basic comprehension questions
How to Respond for Success
For online assessments, it’s important to be prepared. By this, I mean that you should have a pen, paper, calculator, and other materials needed at hand. It should be done in a quiet area to avoid distraction (not on the train home or on your lunch break!).
Furthermore, as mentioned previously, using online resources to practise the tests is important. The website I used was AssessmentDay. This had numerical and verbal reasoning tests.
Expect a 4-day wait before advancing to the next stage.
Job Simulation
The job simulation stage is where EY tests you in different ways. They test skills that may not have been tested previously in the application process. Skills like problem solving, business acumen, communication skills, etc. This stage consists of four different types of questions: situational judgement, video interview, personality profiling, and free text questions. This stage takes approximately an hour to complete. I prepared by doing some background research on the history of EY and the types of activities they conduct. This is because the questions would not involve activities that are not associated with EY. For the video interview questions, I wore smart clothing to present myself in a professional manner (just a shirt will do).
How to Respond for Success
Think rationally! Answer questions from the perspective of the business, not for your personal gain. Allow time for this stage. Ensure you are in a quiet area and are comfortable. Have some paper at hand to make brief notes that can be used during the video question (but don’t rely on this!). Be confident! Remember, they are not analysing whether you are a highly knowledgeable person; rather, they just want to see that you have what it takes to learn and adapt to business situations whilst remaining professional.
Expect a one-week wait before advancing to the next stage.
The online assessments included numerical reasoning tests and verbal reasoning tests. There was one test, which contained 20 questions, and these were done under timed conditions. During the tests, EY is analysing the speed with which you answer questions and whether you are answering them correctly. I prepared for these by doing mock tests, which can be found online. I did these mock tests under timed conditions, which gave me an idea of how it would feel during the real test.
Example
- Basic calculations as part of a case study: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Comparing graphs and stating differences in values
- Percentages and fractions questions
- True and false questions
- Basic comprehension questions
How to Respond for Success
For online assessments, it’s important to be prepared. By this, I mean that you should have a pen, paper, calculator, and other materials needed at hand. It should be done in a quiet area to avoid distraction (not on the train home or on your lunch break!).
Furthermore, as mentioned previously, using online resources to practise the tests is important. The website I used was AssessmentDay. This had numerical and verbal reasoning tests.
Expect a 4-day wait before advancing to the next stage.
Job Simulation
The job simulation stage is where EY tests you in different ways. They test skills that may not have been tested previously in the application process. Skills like problem solving, business acumen, communication skills, etc. This stage consists of four different types of questions: situational judgement, video interview, personality profiling, and free text questions. This stage takes approximately an hour to complete. I prepared by doing some background research on the history of EY and the types of activities they conduct. This is because the questions would not involve activities that are not associated with EY. For the video interview questions, I wore smart clothing to present myself in a professional manner (just a shirt will do).
How to Respond for Success
Think rationally! Answer questions from the perspective of the business, not for your personal gain. Allow time for this stage. Ensure you are in a quiet area and are comfortable. Have some paper at hand to make brief notes that can be used during the video question (but don’t rely on this!). Be confident! Remember, they are not analysing whether you are a highly knowledgeable person; rather, they just want to see that you have what it takes to learn and adapt to business situations whilst remaining professional.
Expect a one-week wait before advancing to the next stage.
Assessment Centre
The EY Experience Day consisted of two segments - one which covered the morning and the other covering the afternoon. There was an hour in the middle for networking with fellow candidates. The day started at 9am and concluded at approx 3pm. I prepared by researching insights from previous interns on their experience during the day and gained an idea of what to expect and how to stand out.
Example
The first segment of the day was the group task which involved the group deciding on a sustainability project for EY to embark on - considering the most efficient project with the lowest cost. We had several opportunities to discuss different aspects of the task as a group and then had multiple occasions to present our ideas back to the observers (EY Employees). The second segment of the day was the individual aptitude tests. These were very similar to the tests undertaken at stage 2: online assessments but were done under timed condition (1 hour) and also whilst on a team call with observers.
How to respond for success
Throughout this day, you must look smart. Wear a suit ideally. When participating in the group tasks, first introduce yourself as soon as you are given time to speak to the fellow candidates. Establish roles: time keeper, note taker and presenter. Call people by their names as this shows good rapport building skills. Do not dominate discussions, rather contribute constructively, give everyone a chance and encourage quieter group members to give their ideas without being condescending. With regards to the individual assessments, similar to previously, make sure you practise online beforehand - come to the session prepared with pen/paper/calculator etc.
Expect a 5 day wait before receiving an email inviting you to the final interview.
Final Interview
The Final interview was conducted with a partner at EY. It lasted for an hour. For the first 45 minutes, I was required to lead a discussion on one of three topics which were provided 1 week before the interview. The remaining 15 minutes consisted of typical interview questions from the partner. The discussion included 15 minutes of presentation by myself followed by 30 minutes regarding my presentation - for the partner to gain a deeper understanding of my viewpoints.
Example
The discussion I chose to speak about was how technology affects the workplace and the specific service line I am applying to. I had to conduct in depth research of EY and specifically Audit at EY to understand the the current processes in place and how technology can affect them.
How to respond for success
I would advise that once you receive the topics you can choose to talk about, pick the one which you perhaps have previous knowledge of and are most comfortable with talking about. Do research on your service line and be confident in your understanding. Be professional in your communication and show no hesitancy to say “that is not something I know but will research in more detail” when posed with a question you don’t know the answer to.
With regards to the interview questions segment, ensure you have practised these questions and rehearsed some situational examples you can use to support your points. Particularly think of times when you have solved problems, worked in a team and met new people as these are often asked during these interviews.
Finally, don’t stress! The partner is a human like you and is also subject to feelings of anxiety and apprehension. Show the partner you are confident and this will give him/her confidence in your ability to take the post.
