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Preparing for SEO Interviews

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)

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

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

Professional Services
Internship Areas
Audit
Consulting
Tax
Professional Services key dates
Preparing for SEO Interviews
Making a strong application
Professional Service FAQS
Professional Service Firms