2025

What was the full recruitment process?

1. Application: grades and work history
2. Online assessment: tests comprising situation judgement and verbal intellect questions (note that the online assessment forms part of the initial application stage)
3. Video interview
4. Virtual assessment centre
5. Partner interview
6. Vacation scheme

Which aspect does this report cover?

Virtual assessment centre

Where did the assessment centre take place?

The assessment was conducted online, through a secure platform provided by EY 

What did the assessment centre involve?

The order of tasks varied for participants, but my personal sequence was as follows:

1. Group exercise: working in a group of six, we were each given an area of a client’s business to invest in (45 minute discussion, with 2 associates assessing).

2. Written exercise: I was given an acquisition situation where I had to send an email to a partner summarising and analysing the information provided by a client (45 minutes)

3. Networking session: we were given a chance to speak to two trainees and learn about their roles. This was non-assessed (30 minutes).

Group exercise

Each participant was allocated, at random, one of the client’s company’s departments, which we had to analyse against six metrics. The metrics were sustainability, client satisfaction, profitability, competitors, project deadlines, and team upskilling. The task was to collaboratively decide on two departments which the client should allocate more resources to. 15 minutes before the deadline, new information was introduced, requiring us to re-evaluate our initial discussions. 

This was a collaborative task focusing on commercial awareness and decision-making under pressure with changing conditions. It tested our ability to quickly adapt and work effectively as a team to come up with a solution for the client based on evolving information.

Written exercise

This exercise required me to summarise and analyse a packet of information provided by a senior lawyer and then provide suggestions to the client. The client was looking to acquire a company in a market that they did not have much experience in.

The exercise assessed analytical skills and an ability to convey complex information clearly in writing. Clear and succinct logic behind my reasonings was crucial.

What was the outcome?

I was contacted three weeks after the assessment and was informed that they were looking forward to progressing my application and I had to complete a written ‘Why EY?’ task. I was then contacted ten days later and told that I had been rejected at that stage of the application process and I would not be taking part in the final partner interview.

Do you have any specific advice on how to prepare?

• Make sure you stay up to date on industry trends because EY definitely looks for real world application in your answers – whether that be in the group or written exercise.
• Practice your writing skills and learn the different structures of formats they could ask you to write (e.g. memos, formal emails, informative articles, one-pagers etc.).
• Spend time becoming confident speaking in a group. Perhaps listen to podcasts to understand speaking in a group dynamic or take time to engage in some kind of discourse with friends or family. It can be intimidating at times so becoming confident in group situations is important
• The assessment day is really a full day so make sure you take time away from your laptop to eat and rest. They provide opportunities during the day to relax so make sure you take advantage of them so as to not get burnt out.