E & Y Partner interview

jdooley28

Just a got a call this evening to go for another interview with e & y this time with a partner. Has anyone done this already and what was it like? Also, how many peiople get called for this stage, if there still hunderds in the selection process or is there some chance i might get a job?

cheers

yuyang

hey, congratulations!!! when did u do your interview? this morning or afternoon?:cool:

jdooley28

I did it this morning did the assesment first then the interview. Just tryin to find out what the partner interview is like to prepare for it and how many people they have been calling back

Pandoras Twist

Just ask them questions to show you've taken an interest in the company. Things like "So how much reputation damage do you think has been done to the firm with the Anglo Audit Scandal" haha

But seriously, second round interviews are usually just a double check to make sure youre OK. They might go over one or two questions that are the same as your first interview, so prepare for any questions that you might have messed up or wern't happy with.

And ask them a few questions too... just not the one I suggested

I'm withdrawing my application from E&Y later today

Pawwed Rig

Hi jdooley
Be yourself. Look fresh, look smart. Be interested, enthusiasic. Make sure you know what to expect if hired. Show maturity. Think of positive reason why you want to be in Audit/tax (whatever you're interviewing for). Good handshake. Eye contact. Know about the industry, some of the clients. These guys earn serious money and have time constraints everyday. If you are doing a partner interview they are interested in you. Not sure exactly how many get to this stage compared to the jobs on offer but these guys don't give up their time easily.
Be confident but not arrogant. Best of luck man

jdooley28

Pandoras Twist wrote: »

Just ask them questions to show you've taken an interest in the company. Things like "So how much reputation damage do you think has been done to the firm with the Anglo Audit Scandal" haha

But seriously, second round interviews are usually just a double check to make sure youre OK. They might go over one or two questions that are the same as your first interview, so prepare for any questions that you might have messed up or wern't happy with.

And ask them a few questions too... just not the one I suggested

I'm withdrawing my application from E&Y later today

One less person looking for a place so:). If more people could copy Pandoras Twist and leave more spots for me that would be great:D. Are you withdrawing because of a better offer?

Pandoras Twist

My friend also withdrew his application if that helps.

Just don't want to work for them to be honest.

jdooley28

ha 2 people i know withdrew as well, things are lookin up! Any reson or just a vibe u got off them? I was very impressed with PwC 2 but don't think ill get that it they didn't seem over enthusiastic about me in the interview on Friday

Pandoras Twist

Various reasons, their attitude just hasn't really stood out as much as the others have, I've heard more horror stories about them then the others and I've a feeling they're going to end up involved in a lot of controversy when the Anglo Audit is examined.

Have my PWC lunch in a few hours, going to decide whether to go for the interview based on how the lunch goes

jdooley28

U'l enjoy the lunch its very nice and I think they are very professional. I got an offer from them this morning so I am plesed with that anyway takes a lot of pressure off going into the interviews tomorrow.

djk1000

jdooley28 wrote: »

U'l enjoy the lunch its very nice and I think they are very professional. I got an offer from them this morning so I am plesed with that anyway takes a lot of pressure off going into the interviews tomorrow.

If I go into any details, my post will probably be deleted. All I'll say is, if it's between E&Y and PwC, for god sake man take PwC.

jdooley28

Any chance ud PM why??

johnn

any more advice on the partner interview? they said i would be getting an industries Partner or something cause i expressed interest in working in the different sectors rather than financial services.

Any economy, NAMA, budget stuff come up? literally nothing like that came up for me today was all about my leadership and communications ability.

johnn

Did everyone who got the position after the partner interview actually get told by the partner at the end of the interview that they would be made an offer?

Mine seemed to be going well she even said maybe i could come in this year instead of next year as im unemployed at the moment, and discussed which department id be in.....then after my questions at the very end she said she would give me a bit of advice and said i should make sure i really want to do this! then no offer and she mentioned nothing about when i would hear back.

Odd considering the senior-manager interviewer yesterday seemed to think the things she didn't like were my strong points and why i should be hired, and i ran into him again today and he was happy to see i was in the final round.

maninblack

how'd the partner interview go john?

had the 1st one today and the test. went really well, got the call back only an hour later.

little nervous about the partner one tbh, expecting some tough economic q's!

Pawwed Rig

HR make the offers. Usually a few days later

johnn

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

HR make the offers. Usually a few days later

Yeah i know HR actually make the offer, but the two people who went before me were told by the partner "you should receive an offer in the next couple of days". Which is why i dont think i got it as it wasn't even mentioned to me when i could expect to hear from them.

johnn

Got made an offer this morning! they want me to start at the end of this month

maninblack

johnn wrote: »

Got made an offer this morning! they want me to start at the end of this month

fair play man! say ur delighted!

any advice for me tomorrow in the partner interview? should i expect a grilling?

johnn

maninblack wrote: »

fair play man! say ur delighted!

any advice for me tomorrow in the partner interview? should i expect a grilling?

Cheers man.

I'd say for the partner interview make sure you know good reasons as to why you want to work there, why you chose that line of work Assurance/Tax, what are your career goals over the next 5 years.

You'll then probably get asked about your work experience. They have the feedback from the 1st interview in front of them so they ask you a bit about your strengths which is pretty much repeat what you said in the first interview.

I didn't think mine went great but got an offer so you must have to do something seriously wrong to get turned away at this stage so make sure you give a calm, confident interview.

maninblack

johnn wrote: »

Cheers man.

I'd say for the partner interview make sure you know good reasons as to why you want to work there, why you chose that line of work Assurance/Tax, what are your career goals over the next 5 years.

You'll then probably get asked about your work experience. They have the feedback from the 1st interview in front of them so they ask you a bit about your strengths which is pretty much repeat what you said in the first interview.

I didn't think mine went great but got an offer so you must have to do something seriously wrong to get turned away at this stage so make sure you give a calm, confident interview.

cool, dosen't sound too bad!

how long was it for you roughly? they told us yesterday it would only be 25/30 mins "stamp of approval" type of thing!

johnn

maninblack wrote: »

cool, dosen't sound too bad!

how long was it for you roughly? they told us yesterday it would only be 25/30 mins "stamp of approval" type of thing!

It was half an hour, i did get a bit of a grilling tbf, but that was stuff specifically related to me so i wouldn't worry about that.

jdooley28

Fair play Johnn well done

johnn

Any one else here going to be starting at the end of the month? i think HR said there will be 3 new people starting. I'm hoping all the new intake haven't been there long as ill have catching up to do on fitting in.

maninblack

had the partner interview this morning anyway.

I don't want to scare anyone, talking to the others in the reception it seems like I drew the short straw more than anything! Got grilled pretty hard on economic issues. Didn't ask me anything I expected (e.g. why do you wanna work here? what skills do you have?)

Was literally:

Q1. Tell me about yourself...
Q2. What do you make of the economic turmoil in this country?

Talked at length about the Budget, IMF Bailouts, Bond Yields increasing etc. Was very very nervous because I'm by no means an economic expert!

He asked me about my thesis also. I said I was doing it on Corporate Governance. He told me that was a pretty broad topic. I stupidly said "Oh, tbh, I was thinking of narrowing my focus to one specific sector..... possibly the voluntary sector".

Started quizzing me on government aid going to third world countries, totally caught me off guard with:

"So lets say, Concern are delivering aid to Darfur... and only 95% of it is reaching it's intended target... and the other 5% is going elsewhere.... now, how would you adjudicate for that?"

Literally had no IDEA what to say to that. I'm pretty decent at waffling even if I'm not sure about a topic, but my mind just went totally blank! :eek: Ended up saying something to the effect of 'Well perhaps the UN should enforce tighter controls to get this 5% figure down!'

He asked me about my work experiance, and what internal controls were in place in my old job (worked part-time in an office). Started talking about password-protected computers, the chain of command in place and that type of thing... didn't seem to be what he was looking for though!

Ah well, all things considered, I think I did.... OK. Prob give myself:

Interview 1: 9/10
Interview 2: 5/10

Hope it's enough. Seriously worried now Heard of others talking about salary details at the end of their interview. Mine just ended with a handshake and a "We'll be in touch within the coming weeks". fml.

Inquitus

lol only take a place at E&Y if the rest say no.

johnn

Inquitus wrote: »

lol only take a place at E&Y if the rest say no.

Why's that the all seem similar enough to me.

Pawwed Rig

They ARE pretty much all the same. Mostly just personal bias that causes people to favour one over the other

maninblack

How long is it generally taking HR to make the offers?

Had the Partner interview last Friday morning. Still nothing back here and it's Wed now!

Thought I'd def hear something by now

House of Wolves

Anybody from first round interviews today hear back yet? E & Y is my last one so kinda eager about hearing back!

Pawwed Rig

johnn wrote: »

Got made an offer this morning! they want me to start at the end of this month

Congrats John. What area are you working in?

john 337

had my partenr interview last friday thught it went well but still haveen't heard back. this mine anything?

MMeister

Hey guys, have my partner interview tomorrow. Apparently theyre considering me for an immediate start this month but Im actually kinda hoping I can negotiate a 2011 start without seeming like Im not 'willing to make sacrifices' as they asked...

Still hoping to hear back from PWC on advisory interview. Its offically been 11 days now..

johnn

MMeister wrote: »

Hey guys, have my partner interview tomorrow. Apparently theyre considering me for an immediate start this month but Im actually kinda hoping I can negotiate a 2011 start without seeming like Im not 'willing to make sacrifices' as they asked...

Still hoping to hear back from PWC on advisory interview. Its offically been 11 days now..

Why would you want to wait till 2011 if you're available now? Im starting in 2 weeks time. I won't be able to do the CAP2 till next year but it'll be handy picking up a decent wage for a year whilst not having to attend lectures or study.

johnn

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Congrats John. What area are you working in?

I think I will be working in the Industry area of Assurance. Are you starting there?

johnn

maninblack wrote: »

How long is it generally taking HR to make the offers?

Had the Partner interview last Friday morning. Still nothing back here and it's Wed now!

Thought I'd def hear something by now

I got called the next morning with an offer, some of the people that went before me got told there and then they would receive an offer, so i suppose its different for each candidate.

MMeister

I dont get any exam exemptions for 1 thing and for another ill be slightily behind in the training. I think this will be the last chance I get to travel too. Itll be a tough decision I guess...if I make it through interview tomorrow.

House of Wolves

Got my interview on Wednesday, hopefully it will go well! Thought I messed up the test but guess they were right when they say everyone thinks they done badly!