Preparing for SEO Interviews Traits that a successful professional services candidate should demonstrate:
- Attention to detail A professional services firm's clients are very demanding and have a great deal at stake - the public also depends on them to attend to every detail and carry out error-free work. No errors on your CV and cover letter permitted!
- Career commitment Relevant work experience, commercial experience, society involvement (economics and business societies are great.
- Well-roundedness Activities and interests outside of study and your career goals. Can you multi-task? Have you also excelled outside of academics? Can you manage more than one thing at a time and are you able to work well under pressure?
- Commercial awareness/experience Work experience in corporations; courses on finance, management; interest in financial news.
- Preparation & Reliability This includes: 1. Evidence that you have been prepared and accountable in past experiences; 2. That you have done your preparation prior to submitting your application. A high level of preparation will give your interviewers confidence that you will be able to work professionally with clients in the very near future.
- Leadership and commitment to community service Demonstrate that you have been accountable for moving a project or a group forward. Provide examples of how you have added value, demonstrated passion, charted a course of action and followed it through. Convince us that if you get into SEO that you will give back by providing evidence of past give-back.
- Creative and logical thinking Provide evidence that you are able to innovate and are willing to think creatively. Give evidence of a time when you have had to overcome an obstacle that has led to a positive outcome.
- Interpersonal sensitivity Can you judge when to be competitive and when to be diplomatic? Can you lead as well as be part of a group? Will you gain client trust and keep it throughout pressurised times? Have you worked with customers or clients before? Give us evidence of your people skills at times when it has really mattered.
- Strong and clear writing skills
Everything you write (CV, cover letter, etc.) should demonstrate this.
1. Resources to prepare for Audit & Tax interviews
- How to prepare for your phone interviews
We will contact you in advance to arrange a suitable time for the interview. Your performance in this interview in conjunction with your test scores and application will determine if you are called for an assessment centre. You should be able to talk in detail about any experience you have listed in your CV and application. Be ready to explain your motivation for joining this industry and the division you have chosen in particular and why you are suitable for this division. It will be an added benefit if you are able to demonstrate all of the listed competencies with examples from your past experience. - How to prepare for your assessment centre
If you are successful in your phone interview we will put you forward for an assessment centre at one of our partner firms. Please find assessment centre process for each of our partner firms below:
Deloitte
E&Y
KPMG (Please look at 3rd and 4th stage processes)
PWC (Please look at step 4)
We would strongly advise you to thoroughly research the partner firm you are to due to be assessed at. You can do this by exploring their websites above to research about the firm, to look for all available resources for preparing for interviews, what competencies they are looking for in candidates, their culture, your chosen division at their firm, etc.
Please note, you will only be required to go through the final assessment centre stage at one of our partner firms (we will advise you of the firm if you are successful with us). You will need to clear this final assessment centre stage in order to be a part of the SEO class and will be placed at this firm for your vacation placement if successful.
2. Resources to prepare for Consulting interviews.
- How to prepare for your phone interviews
We will contact you in advance to arrange a suitable time for the interview. Your performance in this interview in conjunction with your test scores and application will determine if you are called for an assessment centre. You should be able to talk in detail about any experience you have listed in your CV and application. Be ready to explain your motivation for joining this industry and the division you have chosen in particular and why you are suitable for this division. It will be an added benefit if you are able to demonstrate all of the listed competencies with examples from your past experience. - How to prepare for your assessment centre
If you are successful in your phone interview we will put you forward for an assessment centre at one of our partner firms. Please find assessment centre process for each of our partner firms below: We would strongly advise you to thoroughly research the partner firm you are to due to assessed at. You can do this by exploring their websites above to research about the firm, to look for all available resources for preparing for interviews, what competencies they are looking for in candidates, their culture, your chosen division at their firm, etc.
Please note, you will only be required to go through the final assessment centre stage at one of our partner firms (we will advise you of the firm if you are successful with us). You will need to clear this final assessment centre stage in order to be a part of the SEO class and will be placed at this firm for your vacation placement if successful.
3. Guides to doing practice interviews with your peers/ mock interviews (highly recommended)
- Guidance for the case study section of the interview
- Feedback form to use for peer-to-peer Mock interviews (let this guide your interview preparation & practice)
4. Online assessment practices (numeracy, verbal reasoning, case studies) that are similar to the ones that SEO and investment banks frequently require as part of the candidate screening process
- E-financial Careers - three practice numeracy tests
- Practice Numeracy Tests
- More on Numeracy Tests
- McKinsey's Online Practice Case Study
5. A resource on etiquette for calling professional (HR and SEO) offices and/or leaving messages
6. A resource on making the most of mentors and networks
7. Websites It is imperative that you keep yourself updated with the latest news in the business world. We would strongly recommend that you start reading the below websites on a regular basis
6. A resource on making the most of mentors and networks
7. Websites It is imperative that you keep yourself updated with the latest news in the business world. We would strongly recommend that you start reading the below websites on a regular basis
- www.accountancyage.com This website is great for being on top of news relating to all our partner firms and the latest news relating to the industry
- http://www.economist.com/ It is a really good idea for students to read the Economist regularly to have a good understanding of what is happening all over the world
- http://www.ft.com/home/uk Read this every day for weeks/months leading up to their assessments.
- The Guardian: www.guardian.co.uk
- The Independent: www.independent.co.uk
- The Times: www.timesonline.co.uk
- The Daily Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk
