Hey guys, I have some questions here, hoping to get some information from the people here.

I have recently (around 2 weeks ago) submitted my applications for internship in December, either directly to HR (EY, Deloitte) or through their online application submission (KPMG). However, till now I have yet to receive any reply from them at all, so I was just wondering is this their normal time period taken to process applications and reply especially for interns, or rather it's a sign that I'm not likely to be selected for the job?

Another question is if the department that I'm applying to has no more vacancy (I'm applying for Transaction Advisory/Financial Advisory), would they automatically consider me for Audit?

FYI, I have attached all required transcripts & certificates scanned complete with cover letter and resume when I submitted those applications, so there shouldn't be any documents that I left out.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I have a question here, wonder if anyone can give me some insight into it.

Under normal circumstances, would a candidate with prior internship experience in the local big4s stands a better chance (especially when applying back to the company they intern-ed at previously) in getting shortlisted into the interview process, assuming that the feedback received during internship is positive?

Thanks

I reckon that really depends on how urgent they need people or how efficient is their HR department. I have only gotten an email from PwC informing me to attend their assessment 1 month after I submitted my application, while for KPMG they called me in less than a week's time.

You will do 2 tests (verbal and numerical) plus a short essay with KPMG before proceeding to the 1-on-1 interview. For more information and a sample of how the test is gonna be, google up Cubiks and look for their sample test for verbal and numerical, but to answer your question, no the math test doesn't require any complicated formula. My essay was a pretty short one (well you only have 20minutes so you are not really expected to write a long story), basically you will be given 2 questions, I did the one that asked me to write about how I see myself in 3 years.

No idea about Deloitte assessment though.

Anyone here has any idea or experience on how's the interview + assessment like in Ernst & Young Singapore for a fresh grad?

This post has been edited by jae: Mar 25 2010, 09:21 PM

Usually at the end of your internship you will be asked to submit evaluation form(s) filled and signed by your senior/manager in charge before they send you the testimonial. The feedback from your evaluation form(s) will most probably determine whether they will give you a conditional offer pending on meeting certain academic requirement upon graduation. I know that in EY KL you would still have to attend an interview session with the HR Director although from what I gathered, it's usually in a pretty casual/relaxed manner plus you get to skip the earlier stage of interviews one usually has to go through.

Lol if distance is the main reason you select a firm, then you are in for a surprise man. But to be fair to him, i guess during the late nights you will probably be back in office if clients don't allow you to stay beyond their working hours.

On a side note, I didn't know there's a second round of interview for KP though, is it because they have slowed down on recruitment due to the off-peak period?

Yeah I had been through the whole thing, but I never had a 2nd interview back then when they offered me, which is why I was wondering. They did take quite some time to get back to me though, but when they called it was an unconditional offer. EY is simple in the sense that they don't have assessments, but if I am not mistaken there are more than 1 round of interview.

KPMG I'm pretty sure it's similar with EY, 2 intakes every month, just that their intakes vary depending on certain months of the year. PWC definitely seasonal, not too sure about Del.

Hmm don't mind me asking, do you have connections in PwC to bypass the screening process? Otherwise, it wouldn't make much sense to me cuz PwC is usually the one more stringent on selections, and if you could get through that, I don't see why you couldn't get through the other Big4 screening process.

But to get you the interview, your grades must at least make the cut during their filtering stage to be called for interview.

Unless they have drastically changed the format, otherwise this should be the standard one (at least that's what I had):

You start off with verbal and numerical tests by Cubiks, then you will be asked to select a topic (usually 2 topics will be given) and write a short essay about it (don't need to write long stories because you will only be given 20minutes if I am not mistaken for that). After that, you will proceed to the interview stage, usually with the audit manager of the department. In my experience, usually Big4s interviewer would be the audit manager/director and quite uncommon for the HR to conduct the interview, except for interns or a very brief preliminary phone interview.

For fresh grad position, depending on the interviewer you get, but usually they won't ask too much on the technical side, in fact none of my interviewers ask on anything technical. They just want to ascertain whether you are fit for the role, heck the first few questions I had last time was 1)Can you work late, 2) Can you work on weekends, 3) Do you have your own transport etc.

And for KP, yes usually you will be in the same department if you do get the job.