Milkrounds 2014/2015

gladiator111

Said I'd get this up and running this year so we can all share our hardship over these application forms and see how we get on with offers etc!!

So who's applying to where?

Alfred Borden

gladiator111 wrote: »

Said I'd get this up and running this year so we can all share our hardship over these application forms and see how we get on with offers etc!!

So who's applying to where?

Probably be applying to ten or so outside Dublin. The thoughts of all the applications is so off putting. Has any of them opened yet?

LFC1990

Raf32 wrote: »

Probably be applying to ten or so outside Dublin. The thoughts of all the applications is so off putting. Has any of them opened yet?

All of the Big 4 have opened for applications, I plan on applying for most of the top 10, very time consuming though.

gladiator111

Wow, the big4 applications are tough. Any advice on which service line to choose? Mostly interested in Advisory but not sure if I would have a better chance of putting Assurance down first as there's more places available. Any advice?

LFC1990

gladiator111 wrote: »

Wow, the big4 applications are tough. Any advice on which service line to choose? Mostly interested in Advisory but not sure if I would have a better chance of putting Assurance down first as there's more places available. Any advice?

You would definitely stand a better chance if putting down assurance as this is the largest department in the big4, but from what I gather working in this area certainly isn't for everyone, Big 4 applications are tough, I'll be glad to get them submitted.

AtticusFinch86

How acceptable would it be to send in the same (or at least a broadly similar) application to the one I sent in last year? I got called to a couple of interviews last year (Deloitte, GT, etc.) so I was thinking I might send in similar (but updated to reflect my new work and education experience) applications to try and save time. It would allow me to spend time on fixing applications to firms I don't not get a call back from (KPMG, PWc, etc.). I'd be using different email addresses but the education results and answers to the "why have you chosen this service line" would be broadly similar.

Is it likely that they'd find out? I'd be quite conscious of the fact that it might look lazy on my part but I'm quit pressed for time these days so I thought this approach might be the most time efficient

miss no stars

Surely your education results and your reasons for choosing audit/tax/consulting are actually the same? Anyway, it's impossible to determine whether it would be noticed. Me? I'd read over it, then I'd have someone read it aloud to me and I'd think about modifying it a bit based on how it reads to you and to someone else. For the sake of saving a couple of minutes here and there on a very long application it seems like a false economy.

AtticusFinch86

Education results might be but the qualitative answers wouldn't as they differ for each firm. Answering those questions consumes by far the majority of an applicants time. It can take well over an hour to prepare a good application for even a medium sized firm.

miss no stars

Yeah I know that, but I'm not sure why (if you have answers already done up so you're not starting entirely from scratch) you wouldn't gloss them over a bit, try to improve them. Of course they're long - painfully so - but it's not like there are stacks of them to do. Pick your preferred firms and apply to them. That's like, 4 or 5 applications at most with 6 weeks to do them. Starting from scratch they take the guts of a day to fill out properly, with a few more days to a week (each) researching each of the companies in depth. You're not starting from scratch here, so spending the time making the application the best you possibly can (by touching things up in places) seems like an obviously good move to make.

dashdoll

Hi guys,

I'm considering applying for some of the Big4 Milk rounds this month and my situation is quite different to most applicants who would be final year students so would appreciate some input / advice.

My background is that I'm 27 (which is obviously a lot older than recent grads). Law degree and Masters in Law, QFA qualified and 2+years legal experience. I'm considering qualifying in tax so this seems like a good starting point to apply.

Anyway, I suppose I'm just interested to hear on what my chances of interviews/success would be for someone with my background bearing in mind my age/educational background and experience and that I don't have any business/accounting/tax experience. I certainly don't fit the average mould for these roles!

Would really appreciate any thoughts/advice!

TheDoctor

dashdoll wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm considering applying for some of the Big4 Milk rounds this month and my situation is quite different to most applicants who would be final year students so would appreciate some input / advice.

My background is that I'm 27 (which is obviously a lot older than recent grads). Law degree and Masters in Law, QFA qualified and 2+years legal experience. I'm considering qualifying in tax so this seems like a good starting point to apply.

Anyway, I suppose I'm just interested to hear on what my chances of interviews/success would be for someone with my background bearing in mind my age/educational background and experience and that I don't have any business/accounting/tax experience. I certainly don't fit the average mould for these roles!

Would really appreciate any thoughts/advice!

Big4 firms get a wide range of people from different courses and areas of expertise.

In my group on intake I was the only one who had done straight accounting all the way through college, the majority had some business form of degree while we also had like yourself a law graduate. There are plenty of Big4 entrants who like yourself would be starting at the bottom of the ACA exam structure. Some Partners are more in favour of this over those who studied accounting through college as they fell you learn more in the institute exams.

In other groups of the intake we have engineering graduates and also someone who holds a PHD in English! So having a Law background will certainly bring you closer to tax than these people as alot of tax advice will be dealing with revenue legislation.

In terms of your age, that will not be an issue, we just had someone complete their training contract in our group who was 29-32 over the time of the contract, so 27 isn't that old!

Your education and experience of working in a professional environment for 2 years will also stand you in good stead going forward in the application process.

In fact I would see you as a strong candidate, and not being too far removed from the "average mould" as you described above.

Good luck with the applications!

dashdoll

TheDoctor wrote: »

Big4 firms get a wide range of people from different courses and areas of expertise.

In my group on intake I was the only one who had done straight accounting all the way through college, the majority had some business form of degree while we also had like yourself a law graduate. There are plenty of Big4 entrants who like yourself would be starting at the bottom of the ACA exam structure. Some Partners are more in favour of this over those who studied accounting through college as they fell you learn more in the institute exams.

In other groups of the intake we have engineering graduates and also someone who holds a PHD in English! So having a Law background will certainly bring you closer to tax than these people as alot of tax advice will be dealing with revenue legislation.

In terms of your age, that will not be an issue, we just had someone complete their training contract in our group who was 29-32 over the time of the contract, so 27 isn't that old!

Your education and experience of working in a professional environment for 2 years will also stand you in good stead going forward in the application process.

In fact I would see you as a strong candidate, and not being too far removed from the "average mould" as you described above.

Good luck with the applications!

Thanks for the info, it is very helpful and much appreciated!

gladiator111

So got a call from EY yesterday inviting me to a quiz night and then a partner lunch.... Anybody know what this means? The lady who called didnt mention an interview! Anybody heard the same or know of anyone that has? Bit daunting!

Anybody started to hear from any other firms?

TheDoctor

Back a few years ago when I did the milk rounds the night/lunch went hand in hand with the interview.

You'd do the lunch and a few days later the interview

gladiator111

TheDoctor wrote: »

Back a few years ago when I did the milk rounds the night/lunch went hand in hand with the interview.

You'd do the lunch and a few days later the interview

Thanks a mil.

Have you any tips for it? Do they bring in interviewees from the different service in at different lunch days or what should I expect from the lunch?

khan1

gladiator111 wrote: »

Thanks a mil.

Have you any tips for it? Do they bring in interviewees from the different service in at different lunch days or what should I expect from the lunch?

Hi Gladiator, I got a call as well from EY. The lady mentioned the interviews are starting on 29th October and a lunch on 20th October. She just said the lunch gives us an opportunity to meet partners or other employees working in EY to get the better understanding of the company's culture, etc. Nothing to worry about in my opinion. But did you get the confirmation email from her about the time and everything? She said that she will send me an email but never did. I was wondering should I call her back or wait for her email?

gladiator111

khan1 wrote: »

Hi Gladiator, I got a call as well from EY. The lady mentioned the interviews are starting on 29th October and a lunch on 20th October. She just said the lunch gives us an opportunity to meet partners or other employees working in EY to get the better understanding of the company's culture, etc. Nothing to worry about in my opinion. But did you get the confirmation email from her about the time and everything? She said that she will send me an email but never did. I was wondering should I call her back or wait for her email?

Hi Khan1, got the email today!

Hopefully they will schedule the interviews as soon as possible, need to be able to get out of work!!

What position did u apply for? And have you heard anything about their overtime policy??

errlloyd

Just back from that ey lunch. Seems like it was no guarantee of an interview but a very strong indicator you would get one.

I'm applying for performance improvement and the guy I talked to seemed to suggest they interview about 5 people per position

Marcusm

The quiz and lunch are effectively situational interviews and can be used to screen a significant number of candidates in a relatively short period of time.

Alfred Borden

Did PWC close theirs last week? Thought it was tomorrow for some reason!

MinisterJD

I think the applications for consultancy closed last Friday but the application deadline for the rest of the service lines is tomorrow.

Open to correction but there was definitely at least one of "The Big 4" closed applications for consultancy on Friday.

Alfred Borden

MinisterJD wrote: »

I think the applications for consultancy closed last Friday but the application deadline for the rest of the service lines is tomorrow.

Open to correction but there was definitely at least one of "The Big 4" closed applications for consultancy on Friday.

No your right, thank you! My application mustnt have saved properly so last minute work now

GoldFour4

Have people heard back from many firms yet? I've only heard back from PWC, have an interview in the first week of November with them for Assurance, was really hoping for Consulting as my masters is that area but I'll see how the interview goes.

Emp.Bubbles

I got a call for interview for KPMG and PwC nothing from the others yet...

AtticusFinch86

Haven't heard from anyone yet. It's early days yet. For those of you who got called already, do you mind if I ask what your LC results were? and if you have any previous work exp? I'm just trying to gauge my own chances of getting a call.

GoldFour4

AtticusFinch86 wrote: »

Haven't heard from anyone yet. It's early days yet. For those of you who got called already, do you mind if I ask what your LC results were? and if you have any previous work exp? I'm just trying to gauge my own chances of getting a call.

I've only heard from PWC but I only applied to them and Deloitte from the Big 4. I wouldn't worry much about LC points. PWC have a requirement of 475 but I only have 455 so it obviously wasn't that strict a requirement. My only previous experience was an internship with the finance department of a PLC the previous summer.

Emp.Bubbles

AtticusFinch86 wrote: »

Haven't heard from anyone yet. It's early days yet. For those of you who got called already, do you mind if I ask what your LC results were? and if you have any previous work exp? I'm just trying to gauge my own chances of getting a call.

Yeah true its still early days, I got 440. I applied for Tax in both of those. I got an interview for Tax with PwC and Audit with KPMG though. Not much work experience, but I spent 3 months in Summer working for the Revenue Commissioners which might have helped with the Tax application.

AtticusFinch86

Sounds like you both did very well on the LC and have relevant work experience to back up your applications. That would explain the early calls. My LC was shocking but I've some work exp and very strong college grades so hoping for a call soon. Only applied to KPMG and Deloitte from big 4 though, along with a few mid tier firms.

errlloyd

Wow calls already, that is fairly impressive efficiency on their part.

I applied for KPMG, Deloitte and EY and nada so far.

McTaggDub

Hey, joined this to get some advice over next few weeks. Good luck everyone. Had few emails yesterday to say my application was being reviewed.

gladiator111

Has anybody heard from consulting or has anyone had an interview scheduled for EY?

Superdude1234

Emp.Bubbles wrote: »

Yeah true its still early days, I got 440. I applied for Tax in both of those. I got an interview for Tax with PwC and Audit with KPMG though. Not much work experience, but I spent 3 months in Summer working for the Revenue Commissioners which might have helped with the Tax application.

Hi, Just wondering how did you get the work experience in Revenue? Was it a summer internship?

Gael23

Does anyone know how many places Pwc have?
I was unsuccessful last year so trying again this year.

Emp.Bubbles

Superdude1234 wrote: »

Hi, Just wondering how did you get the work experience in Revenue? Was it a summer internship?

Yeah lots of public departments take on temporary clerical officers during the summer as most employees take holidays then. I applied on publicjobs.ie last feb/mar/apr for the temporay role.

j80ezgvc3p92xu

Hey
I only applied for tax at one of the big 4, got a call today inviting me to an interview. Unfortunately I will be abroad for that week and I asked about the possibility of an interview on a different week. They wouldn't do that but instead I was offered a phone interview. Was that a bad mistake on my part?

khan1

Dennis Acidic Man wrote: »

Hey
I only applied for tax at one of the big 4, got a call today inviting me to an interview. Unfortunately I will be abroad for that week and I asked about the possibility of an interview on a different week. They wouldn't do that but instead I was offered a phone interview. Was that a bad mistake on my part?

Man, to be honest I would never ever do that. If I were you, I would cancel the trip right away, call them again and arrange an interview in person. They will get to know your personality better that way. They also want to see you before making their final decision. They want to know whether you carry yourself professionally, i.e, dress well, sit confidently, how you communicate in person, whether you are the type of person they can send to their clients, etc. They cannot do that over the phone. The company also wants to know how motivated you are. They will figure out right away that you are more interested in trips abroad. Unless its a really important trip, cancel it man and go for a face-to-face interview. In my opinion, you have made a bad mistake but you can put things right.

errlloyd

A few friends got rejected from ey consulting, but I haven't heard of anyone getting it

Bernanke KOs Trichet

gladiator111 wrote: »

Has anybody heard from consulting or has anyone had an interview scheduled for EY?

I have an interview scheduled for next Saturday with EY (not consulting hth) ,received the call Friday evening.

Best of luck to all.

Humour Me

Contacted by Mazars this morning for an audit interview on Thursday, applications only closed on Wednesday so they are going through the applications pretty fast

gladiator111

ryanf1 wrote: »

Does anyone know how many places Pwc have?
I was unsuccessful last year so trying again this year.

I'm not 100% sure but I would say its around the 170 for dublin office anyways for all the service lines, for regional offices maybe 3 per office?

Thats just a guess, but I have heard PwC dont take as many as KPMG do.

What service line did you apply for?

Gael23

gladiator111 wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure but I would say its around the 170 for dublin office anyways for all the service lines, for regional offices maybe 3 per office?

Thats just a guess, but I have heard PwC dont take as many as KPMG do.

What service line did you apply for?

Tax as my 1st preference and Audit/Assurance as 2nd. I would love tax but I was given advice that there aren't many places and competition will be strong

Peaceplease

Hey! Just wondering does anybody know if Deloitte still do an e tray test as part of the interview process? And also what kpmg's business exercise is like?

errlloyd

No word from 3 applications, getting pretty worried now. Are rejection emails common or is it just a case of waiting a few days and if you hear nothing you missed out?

Peaceplease

errlloyd wrote: »

No word from 3 applications, getting pretty worried now. Are rejection emails common or is it just a case of waiting a few days and if you hear nothing you missed out?

Haven't heard back from EY but I've heard from people last year that firms can take a while to process applications! Look at it this way no news yet might still be good news

milkrounds1516

errlloyd wrote: »

No word from 3 applications, getting pretty worried now. Are rejection emails common or is it just a case of waiting a few days and if you hear nothing you missed out?

Hey yeah they will let you know that you haven't gotten through. If I remember correctly from the internships though you'll know long before they contact you.

Who are you waiting to hear from? I've heard of very few being contacted by EY if that helps, even the really top notch candidates.

errlloyd

Peaceplease wrote: »

Haven't heard back from EY but I've heard from people last year that firms can take a while to process applications! Look at it this way no news yet might still be good news

milkrounds1516 wrote: »

Hey yeah they will let you know that you haven't gotten through. If I remember correctly from the internships though you'll know long before they contact you.

Who are you waiting to hear from? I've heard of very few being contacted by EY if that helps, even the really top notch candidates.

EY is the one I am particularly looking for, but their interviews are this weekend, so I guess no news won't be good news for that long !

Peaceplease

errlloyd wrote: »

EY is the one I am particularly looking for, but their interviews are this weekend, so I guess no news won't be good news for that long !

Has anyone heard from EY? For audit? I know consultancy have heard?

errlloyd

Peaceplease wrote: »

Has anyone heard from EY? For audit? I know consultancy have heard?

Consultancy have heard, I haven't heard of anyone getting an interview for consultancy yet, but that is my first choice. I have heard of Audit getting calls. One mate who was switched from Audit to Assurance as well.

AtticusFinch86

Bit early yet to worry about not getting called back, application date not even closed a week. They've hundreds and thousands of applications to get through. I'd say if you haven't heard by friday of next week then you might want to accept defeat. Before that though there's still hope.

Got a call earlier today about an interview for deloitte next week. I told the guy on the phone that I'd go to the information event the tuesday before but it's a huge hassle for me to get the day off work and get there, head back home that night and get another day off for the interview two days later. Would it be frowned upon if I didn't go? Should I get in touch with them and explain.

milkrounds1516

Peaceplease wrote: »

Has anyone heard from EY? For audit? I know consultancy have heard?

Yeah I've heard of one person getting an audit interview, this Saturday. But no one else

milkrounds1516

AtticusFinch86 wrote: »

Bit early yet to worry about not getting called back, application date not even closed a week. They've hundreds and thousands of applications to get through. I'd say if you haven't heard by friday of next week then you might want to accept defeat. Before that though there's still hope.

Got a call earlier today about an interview for deloitte next week. I told the guy on the phone that I'd go to the information event the tuesday before but it's a huge hassle for me to get the day off work and get there, head back home that night and get another day off for the interview two days later. Would it be frowned upon if I didn't go? Should I get in touch with them and explain.

Apparently it's not a big deal. They make allowances for the fact that many people have like a million interviews all in the one week.