Interview Preparation for Big 4 Article Trainee Roles

How I Secured an Offer with the Big Four (EY) in Less Than a Month! Want to know how I did it? Here’s the breakdown: ✅ Step 1: Apply & Stay Connected A recruiter reached out to me on Handshake (if you haven’t updated your profile or aren’t using it, you need to). She liked my resume and profile, sent me a direct link to apply for EY’s 2026 Technology Risk Assurance internship, and told me to let her know once I applied so she could expedite my application. After submitting, I followed up immediately. Two days later, I got an interview offer. ✅ Step 2: Stand Out in the Interviews I had two 30-minute behavioral interviews: • One with a senior manager in Technology Risk Assurance. • One with a higher-up at EY. What made the biggest difference? I made every answer connect back to EY. No matter what they asked—whether it was personal or technical—I always related my responses to EY’s mission, values, or the role itself. This showed that I wasn’t just interested in any opportunity—I was intentional about EY. I also highlighted that I bring more than just technical skills to the table. I talked about: • My youth advocacy work, where I’ve spent years pushing for equitable access to education and career opportunities for underrepresented communities. • My leadership experiences, including founding Abby’s Formula for Impact, a personal initiative dedicated to supporting underserved communities through care package donations, mentorship, and community service. • Real-world projects, where I worked in teams to solve problems and engage with clients—showing that I can collaborate, communicate, and think critically. ✅ Step 3: Do Your Research & Network Before my interviews, I put in the work: • Researched EY’s mission, values, and company culture to ensure alignment. • Reached out to EY employees on LinkedIn to ask about their experiences. • Requested an office tour to see if I could picture myself in that environment. Interviews go both ways—it’s not just about them choosing you, but also about making sure the company aligns with your values. The goal is for both sides to benefit. 🔥 Final Takeaways: 🔹 Don’t just apply—build relationships with recruiters and employees. 🔹 Make your interview a conversation, not a script. 🔹 Tie every answer back to the company’s values. 🔹 Do your research so you can confidently explain why you’re a great fit. At the end of the day, companies hire people, not just resumes. If you’re applying to the Big Four, FAANG, or any top company, focus on connecting, communicating, and showing up as your authentic self. If you need any advice or have personal questions, DM me! I know opportunities like this are competitive, and it can be tough. But if you put in the work, keep improving your resume, and stay persistent, you’ll get there for sure. Let’s connect—happy to help!

I’ve cleared interviews with EY, KPMG, RSM, Forvis Mazars! By 20 and 21. Curious how I did it? Let me walk you through what helped me: 📘 Treat audit concepts like your holy text. Understanding core concepts and their practical application is a game-changer. 💡 IFRS 15? Never forget it. Revenue recognition comes up a lot—master it. 📂 Know your Standard Working Papers (SWPs): Be clear on PPE, Cash, AR, AP, and how assertions tie into each one. As well as audit opinion. During interviews, I constantly drew from my past experience at EY to explain how we used audit assertions in real working papers. Like how each assertion like completeness , accuracy etc took place at each level of audit. 🗣️ Own what you don’t know. Whenever I didn’t know an answer, I confidently said: "I’m not sure about this right now, but I’ll brush up on the concept." Interviewers appreciated the honesty—and many even took the time to explain it to me. That turned most interviews into insightful conversations, not interrogations. 🤝 Keep it technical, but human. From audit opinions to soft skills, every conversation was a mix of technical knowledge and genuine connection. If you're preparing for audit interviews—you've got this. Stay curious, stay honest, and study smart. 💼✅ #Audit #Big4 #InterviewTips #KPMG #EY #RSM #ForvisMazars #AccountingCareers #AuditLife #LinkedInSuccess

I've interviewed 100s of people for 6-figure roles. (Here's what nobody tells you...) It's not the most qualified candidate who gets the job. It's the best prepared for the interview. How to prep like the top 1%: 1. Research the company like you already work there. ↳ Know their challenges, victories, and latest news. 2. Practice your answers out loud. ↳ What sounds good in your head may not when spoken. 3. Prepare 3 specific stories that showcase your skills. ↳ Focus on your adaptability and leadership. 4. Study the job description. Find the top 3 skills they want. ↳ Then craft examples proving you have them. 5. Do a mock interview with a trusted person. ↳ Someone who will give you honest feedback. 💡 And 7 questions to ask that make YOU stand out: 99% of candidates ask basic questions at the end. Don't waste this opportunity to impress! Ask these instead: ➟ What does success look like in the first 90 days? ➟ What are the biggest challenges facing the team that I could help solve? ➟ How would you describe the management style of the person I'd be reporting to? ➟ What distinguishes your top performers from everyone else? ➟ How does the company support professional development and growth? ➟ What made YOU decide to join this company, and what keeps you here? ➟ What do new employees find surprising after they start? The best candidates don't just answer questions. They create meaningful conversations. Remember: Interviews are a two-way street. You're evaluating them just as much as they are you. You spend 90,000 hours of your life at work. Choose a company and manager that support your growth. Your career will thank you. P.S. What's your best tip for nailing your interview? Share in the comments to help others prepare. ♻️ Valuable? Repost to share with your network. 🔖 Follow Justin Wright for more on career success. Want my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: BrillianceBrief.com   

How to get a job in a Big 4 company? During my interactions with 2000+ students each month through campus visits and guest sessions, I’ve realized one thing: most students feel prepared but stumble when faced with common finance interview questions. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺: 1️⃣ "𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲." Tip: Don’t just list your achievements; tell a story. Highlight key milestones, connect them to your passion for finance, and emphasize how they align with the role. 2️⃣ "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁?" Tip: Show your understanding of the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. Example: Profits from the Income Statement go into Equity on the Balance Sheet, and operating activities in the Cash Flow Statement reflect changes in working capital. 3️⃣ “𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺?" Tip: Research the company thoroughly. Align their values, culture, or achievements with your career aspirations. Be genuine and specific! 4️⃣ "𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁." Tip: If you’ve done this, describe your approach—assumptions, challenges, and the results. If you haven’t, explain how you would structure one. (Pro tip: Take an online course to strengthen this skill!) 5️⃣ "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀?" Tip: Stay updated on financial news. Share a well-rounded perspective on recent events or trends like rising interest rates, AI in fintech, or evolving ESG investments. Bonus: Behavioral Questions Prepare for "𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱" or "𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁." Use the STAR method to structure your responses. How to practice? ✅ Mock interviews ✅ Case studies ✅ Group discussions 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽? 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲👇: https://lnkd.in/gZU4M2gB Comment "Interested" if you need assistance or more relevant questions—from basic to advanced—to help you ace your next finance interview. #interview #finance #valuation #ratios #jobs