Applying for graduate jobs is tough, and attempting to secure a spot at the Big Four is no exception. With so many students applying each year, it feels impossible to pin down what it is you could do to stand out.
Luckily, it’s a lot easier than you think, and we know this for a fact because we spoke to people working at EY who told us so. They gave us their top tips and advice to help you nail your application and interview.
Applying for graduate jobs is tough, and attempting to secure a spot at the Big Four is no exception. With so many students applying each year, it feels impossible to pin down what it is you could do to stand out.
Luckily, it’s a lot easier than you think, and we know this for a fact because we spoke to people working at EY who told us so. They gave us their top tips and advice to help you nail your application and interview.
Have you always wanted to work at a company like EY?
Yeah definitely. While I was studying Economics with a Master’s in Banking and Finance, I did the stereotypical thing and applied to a lot of banks, but I really wanted to get a charted accountant qualification. EY seemed like the perfect fit as they’re very focused on the people – from the initial application right the way through to the interview, everyone was really friendly and helpful. It just made me feel like I’d made the right decision when I came to accept it.
Do you think having a master’s degree makes a difference?
The master’s helped me personally in many ways, but I don’t think it was a driving factor towards me getting the job at EY. The person interviewing me at the final stage of the process didn’t know I’d done one until I mentioned it. You shouldn’t just do a master’s because you think it’s going to help your application. It’s a big financial cost and it won’t be the defining factor of getting a job at somewhere like EY.
Was there much emphasis on your grades?
EY take them into account of course, but that’s not what they solely measure you on. You don’t specifically need a 2:1 to get the job or anything. They’re really looking at what differentiates you from everyone else. You can have someone amazing on paper but with no personable skills, which are a lot harder to learn.
What advice do you have about the interview process?
It’s a lot less daunting than you’d assume. My final interview was with an associate partner, which was quite nerve-wracking at first, but the interview involved hardly anything about EY. From what I’ve heard, some people spent it talking about football or other stuff that they’ve got going on.
They’re mainly concerned with whether you’re someone they can work with and someone they can put in front of their clients. 90 per cent of the time I’m out at client sites, and then the other part is spent in a meeting room with my team for what could be weeks. It all comes down to your personality, rather than what’s on paper.
What’s the best way to find out more about a career at EY while at uni?
Careers fairs are a good way to go out there and actually speak to people. I do a lot of these with EY now, and I wish I had gone to more during uni. Students get to speak to someone in that job and find out an honest account of what it’s like, which you won’t get from a website or your network as a uni student.
Jujhar’s top tips:
Have you always wanted to work at a company like EY?
Yeah definitely. While I was studying Economics with a Master’s in Banking and Finance, I did the stereotypical thing and applied to a lot of banks, but I really wanted to get a charted accountant qualification. EY seemed like the perfect fit as they’re very focused on the people – from the initial application right the way through to the interview, everyone was really friendly and helpful. It just made me feel like I’d made the right decision when I came to accept it.
Do you think having a master’s degree makes a difference?
The master’s helped me personally in many ways, but I don’t think it was a driving factor towards me getting the job at EY. The person interviewing me at the final stage of the process didn’t know I’d done one until I mentioned it. You shouldn’t just do a master’s because you think it’s going to help your application. It’s a big financial cost and it won’t be the defining factor of getting a job at somewhere like EY.
Was there much emphasis on your grades?
EY take them into account of course, but that’s not what they solely measure you on. You don’t specifically need a 2:1 to get the job or anything. They’re really looking at what differentiates you from everyone else. You can have someone amazing on paper but with no personable skills, which are a lot harder to learn.
What advice do you have about the interview process?
It’s a lot less daunting than you’d assume. My final interview was with an associate partner, which was quite nerve-wracking at first, but the interview involved hardly anything about EY. From what I’ve heard, some people spent it talking about football or other stuff that they’ve got going on.
They’re mainly concerned with whether you’re someone they can work with and someone they can put in front of their clients. 90 per cent of the time I’m out at client sites, and then the other part is spent in a meeting room with my team for what could be weeks. It all comes down to your personality, rather than what’s on paper.
What’s the best way to find out more about a career at EY while at uni?
Careers fairs are a good way to go out there and actually speak to people. I do a lot of these with EY now, and I wish I had gone to more during uni. Students get to speak to someone in that job and find out an honest account of what it’s like, which you won’t get from a website or your network as a uni student.
Jujhar’s top tips:
How did you come to work at EY?
I first entered EY on a placement year in Audit during my third year studying Accounting and Management. I was part of a scheme called SEO London, which helps people of a minority ethnicity get into banks and professionals services companies. They had an event with EY and I spoke to someone from the company there, who recommended me to fast-track through the process.
After my placement year, I received a graduate offer based on my performance. They give you the option to transfer service line and office location, so I transferred to the London office to work in Transaction Advisory Services.
Where can students get advice and support before applying?
I would advise any student to get involved in initiatives like SEO London or find someone through LinkedIn who works in the industry to reach out to. They really helped me with preparation, as they had mock interviews and mentors you could speak to at any point.
Recently, someone reached out to me for advice and they eventually got the offer, so I like to think I played a part in their success. Having an informal mentor relationship can be hugely beneficial.
Do you think that doing a placement year helped you get a place on the scheme?
Yeah for sure – I always recommend that people take placement years for their own personal development. I also did two of the exams for a chartered accountancy qualification during my placement, so when I joined after as a graduate, I got exemptions from these and I was ahead of the game.
What should students be prepared for in the application process?
I think the fact that there are quite a lot of stages. Some people I spoke to only went through one or two application stages in their jobs, but I had around five. This is solely to ensure that EY are hiring people that would be capable of doing the job. It’s also not as time-consuming as you think – the process is quite quick and they help you along every step.
What preparation can students do before they apply to EY?
The tests are where a lot of people fall down. It’s not because they’re difficult, but you need to practice working under pressure so you can complete them quickly. I found a lot of practice tests online which helped me get comfortable with the format. Although there’s no specific revision material, if you can find a way to not go into it blindly, it’ll help you stay calm and ultimately set you up well for the next stages.
Tishina’s top tips:
How did you come to work at EY?
I first entered EY on a placement year in Audit during my third year studying Accounting and Management. I was part of a scheme called SEO London, which helps people of a minority ethnicity get into banks and professionals services companies. They had an event with EY and I spoke to someone from the company there, who recommended me to fast-track through the process.
After my placement year, I received a graduate offer based on my performance. They give you the option to transfer service line and office location, so I transferred to the London office to work in Transaction Advisory Services.
Where can students get advice and support before applying?
I would advise any student to get involved in initiatives like SEO London or find someone through LinkedIn who works in the industry to reach out to. They really helped me with preparation, as they had mock interviews and mentors you could speak to at any point.
Recently, someone reached out to me for advice and they eventually got the offer, so I like to think I played a part in their success. Having an informal mentor relationship can be hugely beneficial.
Do you think that doing a placement year helped you get a place on the scheme?
Yeah for sure – I always recommend that people take placement years for their own personal development. I also did two of the exams for a chartered accountancy qualification during my placement, so when I joined after as a graduate, I got exemptions from these and I was ahead of the game.
What should students be prepared for in the application process?
I think the fact that there are quite a lot of stages. Some people I spoke to only went through one or two application stages in their jobs, but I had around five. This is solely to ensure that EY are hiring people that would be capable of doing the job. It’s also not as time-consuming as you think – the process is quite quick and they help you along every step.
What preparation can students do before they apply to EY?
The tests are where a lot of people fall down. It’s not because they’re difficult, but you need to practice working under pressure so you can complete them quickly. I found a lot of practice tests online which helped me get comfortable with the format. Although there’s no specific revision material, if you can find a way to not go into it blindly, it’ll help you stay calm and ultimately set you up well for the next stages.
Tishina’s top tips:
What made you want to go into this career with EY?
I chose Accounting at A Level along with a BTEC in Law, and although I received a distinction in Law, accountancy felt like a more fitting career route for me. I followed that on through to university, where I studied Accounting and Finance. The Big Four was talked about a lot so I knew about EY as soon as I started doing my course, and when I went through the application process it seemed like the most suited to me.
How easy was it for you to find the right role?
EY have this tool that’s essentially a questionnaire which points you in the right direction of which service line you’re most suited to. It’s really helpful if you’ve not done accountancy before. The industry can be quite overwhelming when you first look, as there are so many different service lines. Other firms that I applied for didn’t have that. I got Assurance and Tax, and Assurance was what I was aiming for.
How important is your degree subject?
A lot of people think that if you want to work in this industry, you have to either study Maths or Accounting, which is wrong. My degree definitely didn’t secure my place on this grad scheme. There are people here from all sorts of degrees including English and Art, and they’re not all maths geniuses.
Do you think doing an internship will improve your chances?
Not necessarily. I did my full three years of uni without any formal placements. In my cohort, I think more people had not done an internship than had. I’d only ever worked at the NHS part-time and for the 111 (the non-emergency line for 999) during my year off after uni. These both really helped with my application just from the experience I gained and the skills I could bring up in the interview.
What tips do you have to help prospective applicants stand out?
Diversity and inclusion are definitely in EY’s core values – they have loads of different organisations for the grads including religious networks, BAME groups, mental health support groups and the Women’s Network. If you’ve done any charity work, voluntary work, or been involved in this kind of stuff – definitely put it up on your application. EY are looking for people to contribute beyond just working in the office, so anything that’ll show you’re involved in the welfare of your community will benefit you.
Aqsa’s top tips:
What made you want to go into this career with EY?
I chose Accounting at A Level along with a BTEC in Law, and although I received a distinction in Law, accountancy felt like a more fitting career route for me. I followed that on through to university, where I studied Accounting and Finance. The Big Four was talked about a lot so I knew about EY as soon as I started doing my course, and when I went through the application process it seemed like the most suited to me.
How easy was it for you to find the right role?
EY have this tool that’s essentially a questionnaire which points you in the right direction of which service line you’re most suited to. It’s really helpful if you’ve not done accountancy before. The industry can be quite overwhelming when you first look, as there are so many different service lines. Other firms that I applied for didn’t have that. I got Assurance and Tax, and Assurance was what I was aiming for.
How important is your degree subject?
A lot of people think that if you want to work in this industry, you have to either study Maths or Accounting, which is wrong. My degree definitely didn’t secure my place on this grad scheme. There are people here from all sorts of degrees including English and Art, and they’re not all maths geniuses.
Do you think doing an internship will improve your chances?
Not necessarily. I did my full three years of uni without any formal placements. In my cohort, I think more people had not done an internship than had. I’d only ever worked at the NHS part-time and for the 111 (the non-emergency line for 999) during my year off after uni. These both really helped with my application just from the experience I gained and the skills I could bring up in the interview.
What tips do you have to help prospective applicants stand out?
Diversity and inclusion are definitely in EY’s core values – they have loads of different organisations for the grads including religious networks, BAME groups, mental health support groups and the Women’s Network. If you’ve done any charity work, voluntary work, or been involved in this kind of stuff – definitely put it up on your application. EY are looking for people to contribute beyond just working in the office, so anything that’ll show you’re involved in the welfare of your community will benefit you.
Aqsa’s top tips:
How did you come into EY?
I tried to get onto EY’s apprenticeship scheme during sixth form but unfortunately didn’t get through. I went to Essex University after my A Levels to study Maths, and during the summer of my second year I saw that there was a role at EY starting that September.
I decided to apply and just go back to uni if I didn’t get the role. My application was accepted and I was literally due to start term the next week. The apprenticeship meant that I could get a degree alongside having a full-time job at EY, so I took the plunge. I’ve been here since September 2017 on an apprenticeship scheme in Technology.
Do you have to have specific experience to go into Technology at EY?
When I applied, we were the first year that they offered the apprenticeship scheme in Technology. Anybody can get into this field if they show a level of competency. There are people here with degrees in Economics, who have never worked with tech in their life.
I’d also never done any work experience in this field – I had a few part-time jobs like teaching kayaking and working in an estate agent, but no formal internships or placements in the business. It shouldn’t deter anyone from considering this career – they teach you all you need to know when you start.
Do you think leaving uni affected your application?
Personally, it sometimes feels like a negative that I left uni, but it didn’t make much of a difference when I applied. I was able to talk confidently about my experience there and the skills I’d gained. Also, I didn’t leave because I was bored, I wanted to try something different and be in this particular business. So if anything, it worked in my favour.
This is my second year on the scheme, and of people in my cohort, four out of five went to uni or did something else before the apprenticeship. It’s definitely a scheme more people should consider.
What would be your main advice for students wanting to apply for EY?
Try to make yourself stand out – do some volunteer work, start something up yourself, because you’ll be asked lots of questions about how you’ve shown leadership in the past. Even if you’re at school, going to an after-school club or playing football is a perfect example of teamwork and commitment.
Also, it’s true that you don’t need to include a cover letter but add it anyway. It won’t damage your application or anything. You don’t need specific grades to work here, so you know that they’re primarily measuring you on what you can offer them as a person. Anything else you can do to prove you care will go a long way.
Hassan’s top tips:
How did you come into EY?
I tried to get onto EY’s apprenticeship scheme during sixth form but unfortunately didn’t get through. I went to Essex University after my A Levels to study Maths, and during the summer of my second year I saw that there was a role at EY starting that September.
I decided to apply and just go back to uni if I didn’t get the role. My application was accepted and I was literally due to start term the next week. The apprenticeship meant that I could get a degree alongside having a full-time job at EY, so I took the plunge. I’ve been here since September 2017 on an apprenticeship scheme in Technology.
Do you have to have specific experience to go into Technology at EY?
When I applied, we were the first year that they offered the apprenticeship scheme in Technology. Anybody can get into this field if they show a level of competency. There are people here with degrees in Economics, who have never worked with tech in their life.
I’d also never done any work experience in this field – I had a few part-time jobs like teaching kayaking and working in an estate agent, but no formal internships or placements in the business. It shouldn’t deter anyone from considering this career – they teach you all you need to know when you start.
Do you think leaving uni affected your application?
Personally, it sometimes feels like a negative that I left uni, but it didn’t make much of a difference when I applied. I was able to talk confidently about my experience there and the skills I’d gained. Also, I didn’t leave because I was bored, I wanted to try something different and be in this particular business. So if anything, it worked in my favour.
This is my second year on the scheme, and of people in my cohort, four out of five went to uni or did something else before the apprenticeship. It’s definitely a scheme more people should consider.
What would be your main advice for students wanting to apply for EY?
Try to make yourself stand out – do some volunteer work, start something up yourself, because you’ll be asked lots of questions about how you’ve shown leadership in the past. Even if you’re at school, going to an after-school club or playing football is a perfect example of teamwork and commitment.
Also, it’s true that you don’t need to include a cover letter but add it anyway. It won’t damage your application or anything. You don’t need specific grades to work here, so you know that they’re primarily measuring you on what you can offer them as a person. Anything else you can do to prove you care will go a long way.
Hassan’s top tips: