Here's what to expect in Ernst & Young job interviews

A job interview is the first big step in your career. You’re not just looking for a job — you’re launching yourself on a lifelong journey. With so much at stake, the interview process can be stressful. But the Ernst and Young team says - it doesn’t have to be.

If you go in adequately prepared, you’ll be able to communicate your skills, achievements, motivations, potential and career objectives to the interviewer in a confident, clear and articulate manner.

At Ernst & Young, a full interview will typically consist of two back-to-back, half-hour interviews, each with a different representative.

Phase I: Introduction 2–3 minutes
The introduction helps establish a rapport. The interviewer wants you to be relaxed so that you’ll talk freely. After the personal introductions, the interviewer will often begin by outlining what will take place during the interview.

Phase II: Employer questions 20–35 minutes
The evaluation process begins in Phase II. The interviewer will be evaluating your skills, abilities and other qualities that satisfy the requirements of the position. Interviewers’ styles will vary, and so will their questions and interviewing experience. The types of interviews they conduct may also vary - One type is the traditional interview, which focuses on your resumé and questions that get you to evaluate yourself (for example, “What are your strengths?”). You can easily anticipate traditional interview questions and prepare appropriate responses. The other type of interview that many employers favour is the behavioural interview that primarily emphasizes on bringing out “real life” examples. By providing relevant examples or stories of what you have done in specific situations in the past, you’ll demonstrate that you possess specific competencies — motivation or good communication skills, for example — that are essential for success in a given position.

Phase III: Evaluation
the interviewer will likely concentrate on the competencies and qualities that will satisfy the requirements of the position like technical skills and abilities, Client-service focus, Leadership, Flexibility, Teamwork, Motivation and initiative, Communication skills, Intellectual competence. In addition, employer questions will focus on such topics as education, relevant experience and career goals.

Phase IV: Your questions 5–6 minutes
The interviewer’s evaluation of you continues throughout the interview, so be prepared to do more than just “ask questions.” Well-thought-out questions will send the employer the message that you’re prepared and interested in information beyond basic recruiting literature. At this stage, the most important questions you can ask will focus on the responsibilities of the position, career path, advancement, and further information about the organization that will help you evaluate it from the viewpoint of a prospective employee. A good rule of thumb is to enquire about areas of real interest to you.

Phase V: Close 2–3 minutes
The last phase in the process is the “close.” Typically, at this point, the employer will ask whether you have any final questions, review what will happen next and end the interview. This can be a good opportunity to emphasize your interest in the position or make a final statement about your qualifications.

Phase VI: Follow-up
If you’re successful in your interview, you may be offered the job, or you could be called back for more interviewing. At Ernst & Young, a successful interview will result in an offer of employment and an invitation to visit the office. So it’s important to be prepared after your interview is complete. Taking notes immediately will give you a good start. Include a summary of major points discussed during the interview and points for follow-up during your decision.

Now that you have a clear idea of what you should expect in an Ernst and Young interview, here’s how you can crack it:

-Prior to the interview, analyze what information you’ll need to present about yourself, prepare a clear statement of your career goals, know sufficient facts about the employer, and understand the qualities the employer is looking for.

-Being well prepared will impress the interviewer because it will be evident that you’ve spent time thinking about how your accomplishments will help you achieve success in the future.

-Effective communication is more than simply responding to one question after another. Be familiar with the type of interviewing style that’s used in the interview. Recognize how the interviewer’s questions interrelate, and the importance of supporting your qualifications with facts and examples about yourself.

By following these strategies, you should be well prepared for every interview — even the most challenging. Good luck!