Milkround Offers 2013/2014

Alfred Borden · 07-09-2013 6:12pm #1

Right thought I would get this started for this year so we can discuss everything for everyone applying.

Good luck everyone!

100200 shih · 07-09-2013 6:18pm

anyone else having hassle on KPMG website or is it just me ????

Gael23 · 07-09-2013 6:21pm

I know very little about the milk round to be honest. Is it only the big4 that are in it?
I will most likely graduate with a 2:2 degree so that rules them out for me

iMuse · 07-09-2013 8:40pm

Any point in me applying with 390 LC points? I have a 2:1 degree and 2:1 Masters in accounting (Full CAP 1 & 2 exemptions). Didn't apply last year as I had planned on going travelling.

shuyin1 · 07-09-2013 8:53pm

iMuse wrote: »

Any point in me applying with 390 LC points? I have a 2:1 degree and 2:1 Masters in accounting (Full CAP 1 & 2 exemptions). Didn't apply last year as I had planned on going travelling.

Apply! You've nothing to lose and everything to gain. Those points requirement is your first challenge. If you give up so easily it lessens their load and less applicants to for them to screen.

TokenWhite · 09-09-2013 10:32pm

Is it worth applying more than once to a single firm? For example PWC have a number of positions in various cities but each application only allows you to enter your 1st and 2nd preferences? Would I increase my chances by applying to 3-4 different positions or are they likely to think I have no idea what I want?

Helpneeded86 · 15-09-2013 12:36pm

Im a really messed up candidate as far as this goes. if you give me a CV I can make myself look very talented.

I have 340 points in the Leaving Certificate. I studies the night before each exam pretty much. This was also 10 years ago.

I have a 2.1 avg in 2nd year and a 2.2 avg in 3rd year. Overall my average is 2.1 and I expect to get a 1.1 or 2.1 at worst.

I never done 1st year in my course as I was allowed enter 2nd year due to life experience.

I have 8 months experience in the Financial services as part of my course alongside about 8 years work experience outside finance. 6 months overseeing a Marketing campaign of a new company and 1.5 years as Manager of a casino.

The only role I have an Interest in is Advisory. What do people think am I wasting my time applying with such an unorthodox past?

freeze4real · 15-09-2013 10:17pm

You have nothing to lose so apply.

Word of advice, type your answers on MS word and paste it on the answer box.

You never know when the PC can crash, turn off or when your laptop battery dies. And also the software used by the big4 and other companies are laggy and filled with bugs.

bigmc23 · 16-09-2013 3:29pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

Is it worth applying more than once to a single firm? For example PWC have a number of positions in various cities but each application only allows you to enter your 1st and 2nd preferences? Would I increase my chances by applying to 3-4 different positions or are they likely to think I have no idea what I want?

It doesn't work like that. I checked this last year. one application per person. Id imagine these rules apply even if you wanted to apply for tax and audit. Don't think they want one person being in the running for two positions at the one time. Might not be of interest to you but because deloitte and PwC (and other firms) in Ireland are seprate and from their UK operations you could apply for a position in both belfast and Dublin at the same time for theses firms. The recruitment process will be slightly different in belfast though.

Ticking and Bashing · 17-09-2013 4:41pm

Hi All, before applying / accepting any offer, make sure you speak to someone working in audit / tax in the Big4 to get a greater understanding of what sort of work they did as a audit juniors, semi seniors and seniors and decide whether that's something you'd be interested in.

It can be quite a shock to people when they start work without having understood what they'll actually be doing. A lot of people usually leave the contract as their expectations of what the work will be like v's actual work was very different. Its also very easy to 'go with the flow' and apply to the Big4 because other people in your class are applying and also due to the presence of the Big4 in Universities. You could also look into Grad Programmes offered by other companies - i.e Glanbia, Kerry Group etc.

You need to be motivated and up for the challenge of working long hours (typically during busy season which runs from Dec to June), and studying and attending lectures in the evenings / weekends. The Big4 do offer great Grad Programmes, training and support during your contract and the experience you gain from various audits can be interesting and you learn new skills which you develop on each audit assignment.

Best of luck with the applications

TokenWhite · 18-09-2013 6:03pm

Which role would be the most employable? i.e. In which department would I have the best prospects of getting a position? I'd prefer consulting or tax but if I thought I'd have a much better chance of going doing the auditing/assurance route then I'd change my application to suit. I figure I could branch out into other areas after that.

Helpneeded86 · 18-09-2013 6:30pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

Which role would be the most employable? i.e. In which department would I have the best prospects of getting a position? I'd prefer consulting or tax but if I thought I'd have a much better chance of going doing the auditing/assurance route then I'd change my application to suit. I figure I could branch out into other areas after that.

Audit is where the vast majority of jobs are as far as I seem to be hearing.

April O Neill · 18-09-2013 6:50pm

I'm doing a PGDip in Taxation so it'd be mighty strange if tax wasn't my first choice on applications.

The___________ · 18-09-2013 7:23pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

Which role would be the most employable? i.e. In which department would I have the best prospects of getting a position? I'd prefer consulting or tax but if I thought I'd have a much better chance of going doing the auditing/assurance route then I'd change my application to suit. I figure I could branch out into other areas after that.

Definitely the most positions available in Audit, if you do apply for other areas be sure you can answer the why question. i.e why tax/consultancy over audit.

bigmc23 · 18-09-2013 7:41pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

Which role would be the most employable? i.e. In which department would I have the best prospects of getting a position? I'd prefer consulting or tax but if I thought I'd have a much better chance of going doing the auditing/assurance route then I'd change my application to suit. I figure I could branch out into other areas after that.

audit is definitely your best bet. Consulting would have the least amount of jobs on offer id say.

April O Neill · 19-09-2013 4:10am

Can one of the references you provide be academic? I'm completely changing career direction, so would be keen to get a reference from a lecturer or tutor to show I have the chops, as I won't have any exam results to report until after Christmas.

TokenWhite · 22-09-2013 10:47pm

April O Neill wrote: »

Can one of the references you provide be academic? I'm completely changing career direction, so would be keen to get a reference from a lecturer or tutor to show I have the chops, as I won't have any exam results to report until after Christmas.

I've applied to 4-5 of the firms already and only remember being asked for reference details on one of them, but I reckon so, can't imagine they'd expect recent graduates to have much in the way of references from employers.

On another note, the questions for each of the firms have been broadly similar, they tend to ask the same type of questions i.e. (To paraphrase) Why have you applied for this position? What are your hobbies and interests and detail your level of involvement in them. Discuss a time when you were in a position of responsibility and how you coped etc. etc.

Where I can, I've generally been using the same answers for all firms so far. Obviously the differing word counts and slight variations in the questions mean that I have to tailor them to an extent, but generally, they're fairly closely matched answers that touch on (what I think are) key phrases and examples such as teamwork, analysis, communication, motivated, etc.

Have other people been doing this or should I always start from scratch with each answer?

April O Neill · 23-09-2013 4:31am

TokenWhite wrote: »

I've applied to 4-5 of the firms already and only remember being asked for reference details on one of them, but I reckon so, can't imagine they'd expect recent graduates to have much in the way of references from employers.

Well, I graduated in 2009 and have work experience in my degree field behind me. It's quite different though. I'm started a related PG Dip today.

TokenWhite wrote: »

On another note, the questions for each of the firms have been broadly similar, they tend to ask the same type of questions i.e. (To paraphrase) Why have you applied for this position? What are your hobbies and interests and detail your level of involvement in them. Discuss a time when you were in a position of responsibility and how you coped etc. etc.

Where I can, I've generally been using the same answers for all firms so far. Obviously the differing word counts and slight variations in the questions mean that I have to tailor them to an extent, but generally, they're fairly closely matched answers that touch on (what I think are) key phrases and examples such as teamwork, analysis, communication, motivated, etc.

Have other people been doing this or should I always start from scratch with each answer?

I have a good number of applications in progress now, and I'm using a lot of the same answers in each of them. My view is why would I change my answer for each application for questions that are the same in each application? If the answer you give is what you think, then there's no problem, IMO.

Accounting13 · 27-09-2013 5:24pm

Hi guys,

I'm currently in the 4th year of a Buiness and Management degree, majoring in accounting. My results up until now are:
Year 1 - 2.1
Year 2 - 1.1
Year 3 - 1.1

I'm applying for an a graduate training contract in KPMG's Audit Dept.

My LC results are of an average amount. Just wondering if somebody could advise on my chances of an interview? I've really researched and taken my time with the application, which is ready for submission. I've also had experience in RSM Farrell Grant Sparks for 5 months this year.

bigmc23 · 27-09-2013 6:06pm

Accounting13 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm currently in the 4th year of a Buiness and Management degree, majoring in accounting. My results up until now are:
Year 1 - 2.1
Year 2 - 1.1
Year 3 - 1.1

I'm applying for an a graduate training contract in KPMG's Audit Dept.

My LC results are of an average amount. Just wondering if somebody could advise on my chances of an interview? I've really researched and taken my time with the application, which is ready for submission. I've also had experience in RSM Farrell Grant Sparks for 5 months this year.

Im afraid to say that I think if your applying to the bigger firms with the online systems and you don't meet the LC reqs your application will just get filtered out before any human sees it.

Accounting13 · 27-09-2013 6:09pm

Thanks for the advice.

Are you employed by any of the Big Four, if you don't mind me asking?

bigmc23 · 27-09-2013 6:16pm

Accounting13 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

Are you employed by any of the Big Four, if you don't mind me asking?

yeah, I start with one of them next month. Some top ten firms might even be lenient with the LC points but id give their hr depts a call to confirm that

TokenWhite · 27-09-2013 6:18pm

Accounting13 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm currently in the 4th year of a Buiness and Management degree, majoring in accounting. My results up until now are:
Year 1 - 2.1
Year 2 - 1.1
Year 3 - 1.1

I'm applying for an a graduate training contract in KPMG's Audit Dept.

My LC results are of an average amount. Just wondering if somebody could advise on my chances of an interview? I've really researched and taken my time with the application, which is ready for submission. I've also had experience in RSM Farrell Grant Sparks for 5 months this year.

There's no harm in applying. It seems to be true enough that the bigger firms use automated filtering software that weeds out applicants with lower LC points, but you say your LC is average so you might be alright. I'd imagine anywhere upwards of 350 points combined with your 1:1 would see you through the process.

I applied to a few of the bigger firms last year and throughout the year as openings arose and noticed that it was stated on the website that the minimum criteria was a 2:1 and upwards of 350 LC points (the LC points obviously varied depending on the firm, but 350 was about typical). This year though, I haven't seen any mention of minimum required LC points at all on the page with the criteria information so maybe it's less rigid this year. Or maybe I'm just being overly optimistic.

TokenWhite · 27-09-2013 6:45pm

On the subject of LC points. Have any of you gotten below 350 and still been called up for an interview with one of the Top 10 firms? I've a poor LC (about 310) but did much better at 3rd level, I'm hopeful of getting an interview but worried that the poor LC will hold me back.

Accounting13 · 27-09-2013 6:52pm

Thank you for the advice, BigMac and TokenWhite.

Would also really appreciate hearing from anyone who secured a contract with average LC points, if they're out there?

Firms are losing talent if they're screening applications in this way. Persons with very high points on my course are averaging a 2.2 grade only.

Gael23 · 27-09-2013 6:56pm

I was at a talk given by the person responsible for grad recruitment at EY during the week.
She said there is room for leniency in terms of the LC but a 2:1 degree is not negotiable.

April O Neill · 27-09-2013 7:47pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

This year though, I haven't seen any mention of minimum required LC points at all on the page with the criteria information so maybe it's less rigid this year.

Really? I've seen reference to LC points on a good few firms' grad programme sites.

moleary20 · 27-09-2013 7:53pm

I would be thinking with 350 you will get filtered out of big 4 applications, from my big 4 experience most successful applicants have an LC of 500+, with some others coming in between 450 and 500.

Their reasoning is those with higher results are more likely to pass professional exams which they are paying for after all.

Outside of the big 4 are probably more lenient on this though and many have very comprehensive grad programmes.

TokenWhite · 27-09-2013 8:16pm

April O Neill wrote: »

Really? I've seen reference to LC points on a good few firms' grad programme sites.

Haven't seen anything myself although I've only applied to about 5-6 firms so far. Just checked PWC, Deloitte and KPMG again to make sure and all I see mentioned are the usual 2:1, ambitious, motivated, etc. No mention of minimum LC points. Although maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Still though, that's not to say that applications won't be filtered out on that basis regardless.

April O Neill · 28-09-2013 7:25am

People, don't let yourself be psyched out by the rumours of needing 500+ points etc. etc.

Apply, give it your best, you have absolutely nothing to lose!

Gael23 · 28-09-2013 5:02pm

In relation to the 2:1, do you need to havr averaged it each year or is it ok if you get a 2:1 overall?

bigmc23 · 28-09-2013 6:06pm

ryanf1 wrote: »

In relation to the 2:1, do you need to havr averaged it each year or is it ok if you get a 2:1 overall?

overall.

Gael23 · 28-09-2013 6:29pm

bigmc23 wrote: »

overall.

Strange they ask for a breakdown of your grades from each year. I've got a few dodgy grades on my transcript that don't look so good.

iMuse · 28-09-2013 7:12pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

Haven't seen anything myself although I've only applied to about 5-6 firms so far. Just checked PWC, Deloitte and KPMG again to make sure and all I see mentioned are the usual 2:1, ambitious, motivated, etc. No mention of minimum LC points. Although maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Still though, that's not to say that applications won't be filtered out on that basis regardless.

E & Y where recruiting a few months ago but the minimum LC points for application where 420 with specific grades required in maths and english aswell. They will have the same filters in place for this round aswell I assume.

TokenWhite · 28-09-2013 8:22pm

iMuse wrote: »

E & Y where recruiting a few months ago but the minimum LC points for application where 420 with specific grades required in maths and english aswell. They will have the same filters in place for this round aswell I assume.

Yep, I did see that, and they weren't the only ones I had seen (KPMG and Deloitte too had similar LC requirements). But the fact that they haven't mentioned it this time at least gives me some hope. Don't take that from me! It's all I have!

bigmc23 · 28-09-2013 9:04pm

TokenWhite wrote: »

Yep, I did see that, and they weren't the only ones I had seen (KPMG and Deloitte too had similar LC requirements). But the fact that they haven't mentioned it this time at least gives me some hope. Don't take that from me! It's all I have!

I would get that confirmed by the HR dept. Last thing you want is to spend days on the application only for it to turn out that your LC points were too low anyways (and it is a lengthly application form) at the expense of applications to other firms where they were more lenient with the LC points.

April O Neill · 02-10-2013 3:22pm

How are people's applications coming?

I've made a good start on most of them. They're not THAT horrendous, TBH. I thought they'd be MUCH worse.

Muzi5434 · 02-10-2013 3:24pm

iMuse wrote: »

Any point in me applying with 390 LC points? I have a 2:1 degree and 2:1 Masters in accounting (Full CAP 1 & 2 exemptions). Didn't apply last year as I had planned on going travelling.

Yes!
I got 340 LC points and 2.1 in degree and masters. Been working in one of the big 4's for 2 years now!

Alfred Borden · 03-10-2013 12:11pm

i see a few trainees in consulting dont have to sit any accounting exams and maybe get the PRINCE2 Project Management award and then maybe a diploma in hrm instead of sitting any accounting exams? or are accounting exams a must?

April O Neill · 03-10-2013 5:03pm

I'm deciding on what to apply for at the mo and am also looking at schemes outside of the accountancy firms.

Quick q, would you consider biology an analytical degree?

Thanks!

jus_tin4 · 03-10-2013 7:51pm

So what's everyone applying for? I have done mazars, e&y kpmg Deloitte! Not saying I have any hope&#55357;&#56861;

April O Neill · 03-10-2013 8:03pm

Only one completed thus far is Grant Thornton, applying to some of the big 4 and various mid-tier firms. Might not apply to all of them, dunno yet. You can almost do too many, ya know?

03-10-2013 10:25pm

Does anyone have any knowledge as to the standard of candidate they usually look for when filling the consultancy roles? It seems there are far fewer of these than Audit so I assume they are more difficult to get. I have Audit down as my second choice, do they normally consider rejected consultancy applicants seriously for other departments?

I'm studying Commerce in UCD and am just short of a 1:1 currently, not sure if I'll get it though. 470 in the leaving.

mgk2004 · 07-10-2013 9:51am

AdamD wrote: »

Does anyone have any knowledge as to the standard of candidate they usually look for when filling the consultancy roles? It seems there are far fewer of these than Audit so I assume they are more difficult to get. I have Audit down as my second choice, do they normally consider rejected consultancy applicants seriously for other departments?

I'm studying Commerce in UCD and am just short of a 1:1 currently, not sure if I'll get it though. 470 in the leaving.

think they usually want someone to hold or be obtaining a postgrad going by the Boucher anyway, im sure every case is different though, if you have an exceptional application and come across really intelligent in interview dont think they would pass up on you.

Of course they will consider you seriously for your second choice, id say it may limit your chances of an offer a little bit but if its what you really want go for it.

jubella · 07-10-2013 2:14pm

Quick question: I've already accepted an offer having done an internship with the company. They wanted the contract signed before milk round started. However I'm now having second thoughts. Is it really bad to go back on a contract? Would there be consequences?

Alfred Borden · 07-10-2013 2:18pm

jubella wrote: »

Quick question: I've already accepted an offer having done an internship with the company. They wanted the contract signed before milk round started. However I'm now having second thoughts. Is it really bad to go back on a contract? Would there be consequences?

Nope not at all, I have done the same. One thing is though that may be hard to get into that firm again! :pac:

jubella · 07-10-2013 2:20pm

Raf32 wrote: »

Nope not at all, I have done the same. One thing is though that may be hard to get into that firm again! :pac:

Thanks, that's put my mind at ease a bit now! And don't worry I have no interest in returning to the firm if i get another offer!

Alfred Borden · 07-10-2013 2:27pm

jubella wrote: »

Thanks, that's put my mind at ease a bit now! And don't worry I have no interest in returning to the firm if i get another offer!

just double check could be different with different firms but cant see how there could be any trouble with plenty of notice.

April O Neill · 07-10-2013 2:40pm

First milkround application just submitted!

Deloitte, let's be havin' you! :cool:

The___________ · 09-10-2013 1:45pm

I hope that everyone applying for a Big 4 position has real experience or has researched what its actually like, having worked with one of the Big 4 for 8 months on placement it definitely isn't for everyone.

jubella · 09-10-2013 2:03pm

The___________ wrote: »

I hope that everyone applying for a Big 4 position has real experience or has researched what its actually like, having worked with one of the Big 4 for 8 months on placement it definitely isn't for everyone.

Completely agree, that's why I'm having second thoughts after accepting my offer with one of the Big 4. It's a great opportunity but I hated 90% of my time working there during placement.

Milkround Offers 2013/2014

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