This is a guest post from Year in Business BSc Management with Accounting student, Amal Aitbenmoussa, who is currently undertaking an Audit and Assurance placement at Deloitte and offers her tips for students interested in applying for professional placement roles.
Typical Recruitment Process
Most firms follow a structured application process that may
include:
- Online
Application & CV Screening
- Aptitude
Tests (such as numerical and verbal reasoning)
- Digital
Interviews (combining competency and scenario questions)
- Assessment
Centre (including group exercises, case studies, and a final
interview)
Tips for Acing the Application Process
- Build
an Impressive CV: Make It Stand Out!
- Clean
Structure: Bold your name, use clear headings, and separate sections
(e.g., Education, Experience, Skills).
- Highlight
Relevant Skills: Focus on skills essential for the role, like Excel
proficiency, analytical thinking, teamwork, etc.
- Quantify Achievements: Numbers add impact—use them to showcase accomplishments (e.g., “boosted customer satisfaction by 15%”).
- Include Relevant Courses: Mention key modules (e.g., Financial Reporting, Business Analytics) to show your academic preparation
- Write
a Strong Cover Letter
- Why
the Company?: Mention specific projects, values, or initiatives that
inspire you.
- Why
the Role?: Refer to keywords from the job description and align them
with your skills.
- Why
You?: Share an example of relevant experience that highlights your
fit.
- Bonus:
Add a LinkedIn link in the header to make your profile easily accessible.
- Be
Authentic
- Don’t
try to be someone you’re not—most companies value genuine, unique
perspectives.
- Be
confident in your strengths and open about areas you’re working to
improve.
- Prepare
for Aptitude Tests
- Practice
common tests like numerical and verbal reasoning; resources like SHL or
JobTestPrep can help.
- Familiarise
yourself with the test format to boost your speed and accuracy.
- Master
the Assessment Centre
- Group
Exercise: Stay collaborative; listen, contribute, and consider taking
a role like “timekeeper” if you’re nervous.
- Case
Study: Focus on analysing information, proposing solutions, and clear
communication.
- Interview:
Reflect on experiences that demonstrate key skills. Prepare a few
insightful questions to ask the interviewer.
- Build
Relevant Experience & Network like a PRO
- Virtual
Work Simulations: Forage and similar platforms offer free simulations
that give you hands-on experience (I found this really useful).
- Attend
Networking Events: Look for virtual events, insight days, and
recruitment fairs on sites like TargetJobs or LinkedIn.
- Stay
Organised
- Use
a Calendar: Mark interview dates, deadlines, and set reminders to
check your emails regularly.
- Check
Spam: Application emails sometimes go to spam—don’t miss important
updates!
Final Thoughts
Applying to the big 4 can be intense and seem a bit daunting,
but staying prepared, organised, and authentic will make the process smoother.
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