First Interview with Grant Thornton

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for your post - I have my first interview with Grant Thornton tomorrow so your post is really useful! Also useful to know I will be facing two people rather than 1!!

When did they say they would contact you about being successful or not? I hope mine goes ok, I haven't done that much specific research to GT, did they expect you to know loads of info about them?

THanks

Not loads of information. In fact they didn't really ask me what I knew about Grant Thornton just why I wanted to work for them. They didn't even ask why them and not big four although I did slip in the fact that I thought working for them would provide a greater variety of clients so maybe that's why.
They said I should know by the beginning of next week so I assume Monday or Tuesday.
Good Luck! What office is your interview at?

Hey music 107 how did it go?
I received an e-mail today inviting me to a final round interview so quite surprised but happy at that!

hello - it was more of a chat than anything! not too sure how it went really, it was just with a manager and he asked a few competency questions but we diverged quite alot of the subject. quite a fun interview actually as they go! will let you know when i hear - well done on getting through thats brilliant!!

Hi guys!
Very informative conversation so I'm gonna intrude :-)
I had an interview with GT on Tuesday but found out yesterday I didnt get through!So just wishing you guys the best with it. Let us know how it went music107

And also there was only one interviewer for me, and she asked very similar questions to those Rachel has said. Mine lasted about 40mins-very friendly interviewer!
Ive got an interview at PKF on Monday so if anyone can help with that, much apprecieated!!

Thanks fot that info!!It should really help!!

3 interviewers!??Im nervous when theres 1 lol never mind 3 of them!!!Couple of interesting questions like the one about the client being angry,I better start thinking then!
Which office was your PKF interview at btw!?

I wish I'd had a bit more info on what to expect before I went so no problem. I was scared when I saw there would be 3 of them too but it's fine, most of the time they are all writing anyway but when one is looking up make sure you speak to them if you know what I mean.

I can't remember if there are any other questions like that but most are hypothetical rather than tell me about a time when you... so I found them much easier to answer.
My interview was for the Sheffield office. Where is yours for?

Yeah I'd probably rather have these sort of questions than the competency based ones too.
Thanks again for the advice, my interview is at the Manchester office.

They emailed me actually and said that there would be two people interviewing me, one person from HR and a manager from the relevant department so Im assuming theres going to be just two then. Sheffield must be a little dfferent then.

I have an interview with Grant thornton on tuesday morning in the Cardiff Office. I was just wondering whether you think the questions asked are standardised across all their offices? I had a letter from them about the key areas of the interview and two of them were resilience and credibilty. I cant think of any possible questions on these areas. Was wondering if any of you had any questions in the interview on these areas? or possible questions they could ask?

Any help would be great!

Alrite guys,

Just thought i'd let you know I had the PKF interview earlier today. I thought it went pretty well. There were 2 interviewers as expected both very friendly but I did think mine resembled more of an interview than a discussion to be honest but perhaps it was just the way these guys did things!

Rachel thankyou for the advice it actually helped a lot,nearly all the questions came up! I'll find out a week on Wedsnesday so fingers crossed!

Mukk2k3,

In response to your queries I think there questions are pretty much standardised across the offices because I got very similar questions to the ones listed at the top of the page( struggled on the 'struggled to reach a deadline' question personally so think of your answer!). One other question I was asked not listed above was How do you organise your work/yourself? so they could ask that. Otherwise the q's very similar to above.

With regard to the credibilty and resilience areas I was not asked directly about these dunno bout the other guys.
Good luck anyway mate.

Oh well I hope you hear good news regarding that. It's strange how the different offices work because I found out whilst I was on the train home! But they said even if I'd been unsuccessful it would have been the next day so I don't want to worry you!
I have my final interview with Grant Thornton tomorrow. I am very nervous! The e-mail says I need to ask for one of 2 managers at the reception so confused whether I have the interview with both or just whoever is free :S And then that I will 'potentially' meet a partner and have a trip around the office. So whether If I don't that means they have decided they don't want me. Arggghhhh!
Will let you all know what I get asked when I get back tomorrow.

Thank you very much for the tips luue and rachael. I think im all prepared for interview now, just a bit nervous now! hope everyting with your interviews go ok. I will let you know how it goes?

Many thanks agen!

hi rachel - got through GT interview and got my final one on wednesday. sounds like it's going to be pretty similar to the first interview I had as they said it would be with a manager as well. Not sure what else to look at! When is your final interview???? I think the questions are certainly standardised but it's obviously at the interviewers choice which ones to ask you and where to expand, if they feel the need to do so. With mine, I felt like I hardly answered any competency questions, but there were a few and I think he was supposed to ask me more. Good luck anyway Mukk273, and rachel hope your final one goes well!

also rachel - just wondered who they said would be in your interview? mine says it's with a manager, then maybe a chat with a partner afterwards? what does that mean? partner interview or not?!?!?!

Final one is tomorrow and yes sounds very similar in that they'll go over education and work experience again along with commitment to career and Grant Thornton. Hopefully won't be too scary. I'll try and get on here tomorrow night afterwards and let you know what sort of things I was asked if yours is on Wednesday.

that would be absolutely amazing if you could! good luck - hope it goes well and you get the job!

Oh didn't see your second comment when I first posted. Yes mine says potentially with a partner so I'm a bit confused about that. Maybe it depends on if the partner is free or whether they think you have done well enough to justify seeing the partner. The interview slot I booked says its an hour and a half but the email I was sent said it will last an hour, its all very confusing. Maybe the extra half hour is if you see the partner? :S

Well I just got back from my first round interview and fingers crossed I think it went OK. I had quite difficult questions I thought, quite a few that wasnt mentioned above, and they seemed to ask questions about most of the statements I said, asking what I would change if I was in certain circumstances again etc. Also asked me to say about something in the news that interested me, and how that would effect Grant Thornton and then how that would effect the Audit department...luckily I knew a little about the intrest rates and adapted it to the buisness, so hope it went Ok anyway! They said at the end that they were only taking on 2-3 in the Cardiff department (which is the one that I had the interview for) but that Id defenitately hear by the end of the week.

Hope yours has gone well Rachael and your future one does Luue!

Hi, i got a job offer from grant thornton from a regional office so thought i would help you guys out.

I had a 1 hour manager interview first which was your standard 'tell me a time when you havent met a goal' - u can use the same examples from phone interview i think but dont copy them all. Then i had a 1 hour manager with an audit manager (i went for ACA audit) - laid back just standard questions (why audit etc) more of a chat really.

This is when i thought it would end with a tour - but they told me they were impressed and wanted me to have a partner interview straight away instead of coming back, once you have the partner interview i think you are basically in just checkin you will fit in. he told me i had done the hard work lol so it was just a chat (mainly about aca and what i do outside uni). I mentioned i had other assessment days so think this is why i had a partner interview straight away cause he was in the office.

Just to give you some advice, my mate went for the same job and had the interview a few days before me and thought he nailed it. You need to mention mainly stuff outside uni to stand out from the rest. my mate didnt get the job - i think because all he mentioned was uni situations. they hear this all the time, luckily i have good work experience so mainly used this, it makes you stand out!

Finally, i chose grant thornton over the big 4 because of better work/life balance, same salary from what i gather and it looks like a really great firm. Ask any questions and i will try and help!

Well I had my final interview today I ended up being there for over 2 hours which I hope is a good sign! I had about an hour and a half interview with two managers from the tax department. After each example I had given they gave me some information about how the information about the skills I have would relate to the role. I can't really remember many questions and I know on a few my examples weren't the best to fit the questions :S
- Tell me about a time when you have had to solve a complex problem. (I think here they are mainly looking for how you explain a complex problem to others in easier terms like you may have to with clients)
- Tell me about a time you have been a leader in a team situation
- Tell me about when your motivation and drive has helped to solve a problem (This one stumped me and my example really wasn't that good!)
- How do you motivate yourself
- Tell me what you know about the current economic situation. What started it all off?
- Why tax?
- What do you think you will be doing in tax?
- Are you thinking of doing ACA or CTA? Why?
- What have you done to research Grant Thornton/accountancy etc?
- What do you think makes a successful accountant?

That's all I can remember. Not a Why GT but I think that's because I tried to answer that when talking about other questions.

After this I was then left or a few minutes whilst a new trainee was fetched who then gave me a tour of the offices. I then sat down for what was supposed to be a 5 min hat with a partner but went on for 20!
It was quite informal but he did ask quite a few questions.
- Why tax specifically?
- What do we do in the tax department?
I mentioned saving clients money and then we got onto discussing HMRC giving people a second option to disclose offshore bank accounts which led him to ask me:
- Do you think what we do is ethical? (Stumped me a bit a first but then I said yes, accountancy firms help people save money but they do it whilst complying with all the regulation in place. They point out the options open to pay less tax that are in the system and legal to clients)
- Where do you see yourself progressing to? ( I mentioned that the main goal for anyone entering accountancy really is to achieve partner which he said was good and that you shouldn't be afraid to say that is what your goal is!)
Then we just had a bit more of a chat regarding exams and routes through tax. What route he followed. Opportunities within the firm for secondments etc.

That was it! He said he now had to go and discuss it with the managers who interviewed me and I would know within the next few days.
The more I've been told about GT the more I would like to work there! But I'm scared to want the job so much just incase they don't want me!
There was another person being interviewed before me he was waiting to go on the office tour and they said they're only taking on 2 graduates in the tax department this year, so fingers crossed!
Good luck with your interview tomorrow Music107 and I hope you hear good news about it Mukk2k3. What offices are you applying to again?

Well Im applying for the Cardiff branch, and Im applying for the audit department. That seems like an awful long process. The HR and audit manager gave me the impression that if i do get through this stage it will just be with the partner himself. Although i surpose it may be different in different offices, departments etc. They also told me that they also will only be taking on 2-3 graduates which seems very low. They said i will know at the longest by friday, i worked out from the dates that you found out on a friday and also luue on here found out on the friday! So do u think they interview throughout the week and let the everyone know on the friday?

I really hope I have got through because I really want the job, but dont want to wait til friday! If not iv got a pwc interview on monday so have to try an get that, but i would prefer to work for GT i think!

Oooh maybe they do. That's weird if we all found out on a Friday! I don't want to have to wait till Friday to find out mine :S

yep i've just checked my email and my interview is just with a partner, i'm seriously scared now !!!! After reading your post rachel I feel a bit nervous, plus I need to be back in work within two hours - it'll be so bad if i'm there longer! i'm worried I don't know enough about everything basically! I've picked a few different topics I'm interesting in but I'm also worried I don't know them in enough detail. Oh deary, it's too late know I guess.....eek.

Im sure you'll be fine music107. Someone told me that they were told that once you've got a meeting with a partner that you more or less got it anyway they just want to make 100% so don't worry about it too much mate! I just hope I get to that stage!

Anyway best of luck to both of you! Let me know how it goes!

yep i've just checked my email and my interview is just with a partner, i'm seriously scared now !!!! After reading your post rachel I feel a bit nervous, plus I need to be back in work within two hours - it'll be so bad if i'm there longer! i'm worried I don't know enough about everything basically! I've picked a few different topics I'm interesting in but I'm also worried I don't know them in enough detail. Oh deary, it's too late know I guess.....eek.

You'll be fine. The partner was really nice. I was asked before i met the partner if I needed to be anywhere plus I was talking to the graduate for quite a while whilst the partner was waiting to come and speak to me!! I'm sure if it starts running on a bit that you can mention you need to be somewhere plus if yours is just with a partner then I doubt it will be that long. Which office are you applying for again? Seems weird how everywhere is so different for them. Some offices have telephone interviews and assessment centres :S

i know! I'm applying for manchester office...they're one of the largest offices so not sure what to expect really! you must be so relieved yours is over, i can't wait for this time tomorrow!

i know! I'm applying for manchester office...they're one of the largest offices so not sure what to expect really! you must be so relieved yours is over, i can't wait for this time tomorrow! what office are you applying for??

Im applying for the Cardiff office and there was no telephone interview, or any assessment centres. The interview I had also seemed a bit different to the ones that you had, it was a bit more formal rather than casual. Just cannot wait to hear now! And I have totally forgot that I have an exam tommorrow because Ive been preparing so much for the interview!

That's weird. I'm applying to Manchester too. We could end up working together! Strange how your process is different though :S I wonder why that is. I really want this job now! I guess they will look at all of us before making a final decision though. There was another guy in before me too :S

Good Luck in the exam Mukk2k3! And I hope you hear soon as well!

hi mukk, just read your message about the partner interview - that's reassuring if anything! i'm gonna try and believe it anyway! will see how it goes tomorrow, spend so much time applying to places i'll be gutted if I don't get anything! plus this is my first final stage interview...

well i'm applying for audit so at least we're not in competition with each other!!! hopefully we'll both get a job!

That explains why the process is a little different then. The office and the people seem really nice and its in a great place. It was my first final stage thing as well although I have AC's with EY and KPMG coming up and a final stage with PKF. Despite being incredibly nervous I soon calmed down once we'd started. I just hope they will excuse some of my poor examples with nerves!

Well I have just been rang and offered a place so I'm so happy and relieved!! Not wanting to get stuck back into my revision either now although the job offer will still be conditional on a 2:1 so I better pull my finger out!!
Good Luck Music107!

Congratulations on getting the job i bet your pleased! Im on pins to find out if i have got through! Although I have a funny feeling that I havent got through tho! even though they said i would here by the end of the week! If I had got through tho i thought i would have heard by now! The long you wait the more u think u havent got through i surpose!

Yes the longer you have to think about it the worse it is. They could be really busy and no news at all is better than bad news. I felt awful when I failed an interview and was told within like 2 hours of leaving... obviously I was that bad they didn't even need to think about it! I though it went ok as well!
Good Luck anyway. I cant wait for the offer letter to come through I'm intrigued on what's going to be in it :)

Salary?

rachel did u hear u passed the first round interview by phone or email?

I heard about the first round by e-mail. The job offer was given over the phone and then a confirmation e-mail sent. How come? You sill not heard anything yet?

just wondering because i keep checking my emails and looking at my phone! lol no i still havent heard anything! i take it im gonna here 2moro now! im just thinking they have been interviewing all week and are waiting until 2moro 2 decide which ones 2 choose, because there are only 2-3 places! i really want this job. i would rather work for GT than Pwc who i have got a first round interview for on monday?

Yeah I guess tomorrow is probably about right. Although they are only taking on 2-3 people they'll still take more than that through to the final interview. Did they give an indication of how many people they were interviewing?
Preparing for your PwC one might take your mind off things a bit?
I wonder how music107 got on yesterday.

I don't even know if they definately are interviewing more this week i just assumed that because they were going 2 let me know by the end of the week! I havent really started preparing for my pwc interview yet cos can use most of same material i used for the GT interview! just have to do some more specific research into PwC as a company! yeh i wonder how he got on! i thought he would have been on here last nite! dont mean to be cheeky but did they giv u any indication of ur starting salary?

Nope and I didn't want to ask. On the website they say it varies depending on region, obviously it will be much less than what you get in London but aside from that I have no idea at the minute. I'm not expecting it to be amazing because of all the training they give but I'm hoping its not too low!

i know i wouldn't have asked either! the salary is not the most important thing anyway isnt it? the training and how u will enjoy your job is more important! yeh i know it varies between offices but i would imagine it would be in the region of 18k, dont think it would be much less than that!

Hi Rachel well done!!!!!!!! that's brilliant!! are you going to take it???? i'm waiting to hear on mine, they said either tomorrow or monday so will let you guys know. i will be really gutted if i don't get it after all of this...i'm so jealous of you! they were interviewing quite a few people thought so I don't know what my chances are. oh well can only wait and see!

Like I said I know they were interviewing before me as well so there's still the possibility! How did it go? Was it just with a partner? Did you get a tour around the office?
I think I probably will take it but I've got a few final stages coming up so going to still go to them before I make a final decision.
Good Luck and keep us informed!!

I want to know what the salary is! Wonder when they say????

Do you have an offer from them selly8? I presume the offer letter will contain salary information.