Accounting Vacation Internships - 2009/10 (3 Viewers)

[seremify007]

I get what you mean by saying that recruiting before the apps close would get better applicants in first. But its a pretty big assumption that all higher quality applicants will apply early, still my opinion isnt going to change how the firms recruit.

It wasn't just regarding the fairness/unfairness of recruiting early, but it also helped the firms out with time management and resourcing since in the past, there was always a huge surge in applications at the deadline and then all the HC guys would have to read through applications very quickly to get through to offering interviews. There has also been a history (at least when I applied) of computers not working, severs going down, applications going missing, etc... At least with rolling recruitment, it makes the application process alot smoother and also integrates both grad and vaccy group interviews into one which also makes them more efficient. It also rewards those who apply earlier in the process since it means they can both get early offers, and avoid having to do interviews and applications at inconvenient times (e.g. during exam week).

 

[paperpromises]

Response times seem to vary between firms and even within them. I got my offer 15 minutes after I left the Assessment Centre (this is KPMG Advisory in Melbourne), whilst I have friends who applied for EY who had to wait a week before they were called back. Then and again they were notified by letter so it would've taken longer. Anyway, I would think that a week is usually the maximum time you should have to wait, but as you mentioned with the easter holiday there was a string of public holidays so I would give them a bit longer - maybe until the end of the week? - before contacting them.

RE KPMG being slow... I was contacted the next business day after doing their online tests, so I don't think they're really that slow. Once again it'd depend on a bunch of different factors though.

 

[seremify007]

Tip to people in general; don't try to second-guess things like how long it should take to get a reply or what are your chances as a % of getting in, etc... all it does is make you more nervous and doesn't necessarily improve anything.

 

[rayman88]

Response times seem to vary between firms and even within them. I got my offer 15 minutes after I left the Assessment Centre (this is KPMG Advisory in Melbourne), whilst I have friends who applied for EY who had to wait a week before they were called back.

Attn: paperpromise

Did you receive an offer without doing the partner interview?

I guess Melbourne is a bit quicker considering the number of applicants would be half or less that of Sydney's.

Congrats once again and thanks for the heads up.

 

[Deter_mined]

For those waiting on replies of offers from Deloitte, Sydney after partner interviews in particular....I just received my phone call today!!

Unfortunately it was bad news......I can handle the rejection, but what annoys me the most is how the lady said that I was a great candidate with communication and presentation however for the service line and sector I was entering I lacked technical skills (Forensics).......Fair enough I thought until I asked what specifically let me down in regards to my degree and subjects......she went on to say that my chosen area was Forensic Data and another candidate was more apt in this area..........the annoying part was that I actually applied for Financial Crime......this also happened to me with the interviewers, who began talking about my chosen area to be Forensic Data and I had to continuously remind them that I was actually interested in Financial Crime!!!

It makes me wonder whether I truely lost out because of my lack of skill for Forensics altogether or the fact that they didn't consider me in my actual chosen field!

I'm sure this is entirely irrelevant to this thread but I thought I should vent. Congrats to everyone who got offers

 

[paperpromises]

I didn't have an interview with any partners but I was interviewed by two senior members of the division I was applying for (this was at the AC). I received my offer after that.

 

[babygetshaky]

how long is everyone's vac placement
mine is 2 weeks (is this really short???)
i was looking into the bank vac placements and they go for at least 6 weeks up to 8 weeks
still have not heard back from Deloitte, getting a little worried that perhaps they forgot about me...
is anyone going to apply elsewhere
i.e. middle tier firms, banks, etc???

 

[John0]

Two weeks seems very short... what service line did u get offered a position in? I done my interviews etc at EY today and got a call back on the train home with an offer. From memory the assurance vacation programs in Sydney run from 6 weeks except the financial services specialization which runs for 8.

There's nothing stopping you applying for another vac program at a different firm and doing both EY and another provided the dates dont clash( I would check with EY before doing this).

 

[seremify007]

how long is everyone's vac placement
mine is 2 weeks (is this really short???)
i was looking into the bank vac placements and they go for at least 6 weeks up to 8 weeks
still have not heard back from Deloitte, getting a little worried that perhaps they forgot about me...
is anyone going to apply elsewhere
i.e. middle tier firms, banks, etc???

Wow that's really really short. I've never heard of anything like that for vacation programs. You sure it's not a development/preview program?

 

[paperpromises]

Two weeks...? That is really short!! The shortest I've heard about so far was 4 weeks in EY, which was already considered to be reasonably short and was due to certain specific divisions.

My placement is 8 weeks... which means if I start on the date they unofficially nominated to me, then I'll have to miss a couple of weeks of uni. Oh well, not that I'm complaining...!

Congrats with the EY offer John! Seems like you got called back really quickly Are you going to be accepting it?

 

[rayman88]

how long is everyone's vac placement
mine is 2 weeks (is this really short???)
i was looking into the bank vac placements and they go for at least 6 weeks up to 8 weeks
still have not heard back from Deloitte, getting a little worried that perhaps they forgot about me...
is anyone going to apply elsewhere
i.e. middle tier firms, banks, etc???

- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Congrats JohnO,

Wow two weeks is really short.

Yay, I received my offer from Deloitte this morning and it was via the phone, contrary to what they said at the group interview - so relieved any who.

More pertinently, my audit vac. runs for 8 weeks. So which line are you doing?

Congrats all!!!!

 

[rayman88]

Deloitte has been slow because some of their senior partner reviewing your applications have been overseas. So give it a little more time. Well that's according to my HR.

I think it is the same case for KPMG in Sydney, esp. during easter holidays.

I heard from a close friend who's at EY recruitment that all application made close to the deadline where automatically declined because they have done or would be conducting interviews and giving offers at that stage. Hence, I was declined one day afterwards after applying 15min before deadline. Whereas, all the other 3 in which I applied 2-3 weeks prior to deadline, I have had successful replies.

Hope it provides you with comfort

 

[John0]

Thanks guys. I was offered a position in assurance, didnt have a preference for a specific specialisation(industry) though. Ive got until the 1st of May to accept the offer, I will most likely be accepting the offer since I was declined at various stages with the other firms. KPMG finally got back to me yesterday with an unsuccessful email, im pretty disapointed it took them 2 weeks to send an email to me. But at the end of the day I got an offer so im happy.Rayman, what area/industry inside auditing are you going into?

 

[seremify007]

Thanks guys. I was offered a position in assurance, didnt have a preference for a specific specialisation(industry) though. Ive got until the 1st of May to accept the offer, I will most likely be accepting the offer since I was declined at various stages with the other firms. KPMG finally got back to me yesterday with an unsuccessful email, im pretty disapointed it took them 2 weeks to send an email to me. But at the end of the day I got an offer so im happy.Rayman, what area/industry inside auditing are you going into?

Which firm is it again?

TBH in the current climate anything is worth taking- and at least in assurance you get the opportunity to learn skills which can be transferred elsewhere easily. Don't worry about not getting a specialisation- it just means you'll get put in the division which has the most potential to grow and need grads later on; which is far better than being put in a division which is shrinking rapidly! Congrats on the offer!

 

[rayman88]

I think I will be doing pretty much everything in auditing (mostly financial). They didn't really specify a specific area for me. In my contract it says I am a "summer Analyst" for auditing and assurance.

 

[John0]

Which firm is it again?

TBH in the current climate anything is worth taking- and at least in assurance you get the opportunity to learn skills which can be transferred elsewhere easily. Don't worry about not getting a specialisation- it just means you'll get put in the division which has the most potential to grow and need grads later on; which is far better than being put in a division which is shrinking rapidly! Congrats on the offer!

EY. I had the same reasoning for putting no preference for a specialisation. I'm assuming you've done some vacationer program or part of a graduate program atm?

 

[savreena]

hey im going to western sydney at the moment what gpa or average did u hav or u need to get a offer i go to western sydney i wanna no if it will put me at a disadvantage doing business and commerce

 

[John0]

I got a GPA of 5.0 (credit average). the only time i was asked to provide my GPA was during the online application process and on the assessment day because they wanted copies of academic transcripts. I never had to discuss my GPA during the interviews. I think anything less then a GPA of 5 you would need really good extra curricular activities to explain it. Business and Commerce is the most ideal degree, accounting key programs would be viewed as more favourable since you would have the prereqs completed to start the CPA/CA. TBH what uni you go to isn't a huge factor, it was never discussed during any of my interviews, only place i mentioned it was on my resume/application. Whats you GPA atm and what key program are you doing, if you dont mind me asking?

 

[ArdiG]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if you have to be in your second last year to do vacation work?

I have a Commerce degree, with a major in Finance from Melb Uni, but now I'm studying Law in my first year. I would love to get some experience in an accounting/financial firm over the summer, though.

Do you think it is worth applying even though I'm not 'penultimate'?

 

[John0]

There’s no harm in trying, you should try get in contact with the grad recruitment teams of each firm and ask them directly since you do have a commerce degree already. If they want you to be in your penultimate year, just wait it out, there’s plenty of first year programs that you can apply for. Deloitte runs the Deloitte Development Program and Ernst & Young are running a similar program called the Career Compass program, I’m not sure if PwC or KPMG are doing something similar. These programs would be very beneficial since it would give you a headstart against other students when applying for vacation programs.