(see also BDO Stoy Hayward - application to offer and BDO Stoy Hayward working culture)
Application Process
[Edit]The application process for BDO Stoy Hayward consists of:
- Online application form
- Online GTIOS psychometric test
- Verbal Reasoning test
- Numerical test
- First interview
- Online personality test
- Assessment centre
Online Application Form
[Edit]The BDO Stoy Hayward application form consists of three 250 word extended answer questions. Spend time considering your answers; do not use any flowery language or filler, spell check and re-draft as necessary and make sure your answers are direct, intelligent and most important of all, actually answer the questions.
Ask others to check your work. It is worth putting a lot of effort into your application. Even a small mistake at this stage could result in a rejection.
Online Tests
[Edit]The online test is the GTIOS psychometric test. The test is by SHL and involves a numerical reasoning test and a verbal reasoning test.
Verbal Reasoning
[Edit]All the passages in the test are business related. There are 30 questions which you have 15 minutes to answer. You will need to work fast to complete the test and you should aim to finish within your allocated time.
Numerical Reasoning
[Edit]The numerical test consists of 21 questions with 21 minutes available. The difficulty of each question varies. The tests are not negatively marked; if you're running out of time it is worth guessing answers to questions you have not completed.
|
There will be several currency conversion questions within the numerical test. Make sure you prepare for currency conversion, before attempting the test. |
may prove extremely useful in preparing for any of the numerical tests.
First Interview
[Edit]The first interview will then take place. It will last approximately 45 minutes and be with a manager from the line of service to which you have applied. It will begin by informally discussing your application form and any accomplishments and interests you have mentioned.
The second part of the interview will consists of competency based questions. They ask 4.
The competency based questions you are likely to be asked at interview are:
- Tell me about a time when you took a risk.
- Tell me about a time when you delegated.
- Tell me about a time when you compiled a report/project for someone else to look at.
- Tell me about a time you have had to work in a team.
- Tell me about a time you have had negative criticism.
You will also be asked:
- Why BDO Stoy Hayward?
- Why the service line to which you have applied.
Assessment Centre
[Edit]The BDO Stoy Hayward assessment centre starts at 10am and finishes at about 5pm. There will be between six and twelve people at the assessment centre and your day will consist of:
- Warm-up exercise
- Group exercise
- SHL fast track exercise
- Lunch
- Individual presentation
- Partner interview (from the division you applied for).
Warm-Up Exercise
[Edit]The day begins with a quick ice-breaker session; all you have to do is talk to one other person in your group and find out their name, what uni they are studying at or studied at, what they are studying/studied, their "claim to fame" and their most embarrassing moment.
Then you have to stand up in front of the group and introduce the person you were speaking to. This is not assessed, but you do need to be confident and articulate. This will be the moment when you create the important first impression to everyone in the group, including your assessors.
Group Exercise
[Edit]After the introductions you will be split into two groups. One group will do the group exercise whilst the other does the SHL fast-track exercise.
The same case study is used regardless of area you applying for. A company (a well known high-street cafe chain) is 'failing'; you will be given information about the company and must form a strategy as a team.
There are two different proposals of how to expand/take the business forward and you have to decide on the advantages/disadvantages of each option, make a recommendation and say how BDO could help the client in doing all of this. Make sure you find out about the services BDO offers so you can talk effectively about this.
You will get 10 minutes at the start of the group exercise to read through the information pack yourself and make notes. You then have 50 minutes to discuss things as a group. Make sure you contribute to the discussion and be prepared to back up your opinions and defend your suggestions, if others at first disagree with them. Try to be confident and try to be the candidates in charge of your group's discussion.
SHL Fast Track Exercise
[Edit]This test involves six sets of cards. The first set is used as a practice that your assessor will guide you through. Each set is comprised of approximately 10 - 20 cards, each with information on them about different topics. For example the practice set of cards is about insurance groups for motor vehicles. For this set of cards, each individual card has the following details on it: person name, grade, milage, licence type, type of car.
In each set of cards, some cards will have spaces left blank on them and by using the information on the other cards you will have to deduce what the missing information/value is.
You are given 30 - 35 minutes to complete this exercise, but don't expect to finish all of it. As you progress the difficulty of each set of cards test gradually increases. The first test may be relatively straight forward, but later tests may prove difficult.
There is almost nothing you can do to prepare for this kind of aptitude/psychometric test although you can try similar practice SHL tests online.
Lunch
[Edit]Following the group exercise and SHL test you will be given an hour for lunch. You will be given the opportunity to meet with and talk to several current trainees. Be sure to ask them any questions you may have. They will not be assessing you and will be able to provide a much more realistic account of working life at BDO than your assessors and HR. Be sure to ask them about what they do on a day-to-day basis. You will be able to use this information during your face-to-face interviews later on in the afternoon.
Individual Presentation
[Edit]After lunch you will be asked to prepare a presentation relating to the group exercise you undertook in the morning. You will have an hour to do this. The information you were given in the morning will be given back to you, including any notes you made, to help you prepare. You will also be given a flip chart to write down your key points; make sure you use this, as it is very helpful. Split your time between preparing enough notes to make your presentation (60% of your time) and writing on the flip chart (40% of your time).
After your preparation hour you will give a one-on-one presentation to an assessor from the morning group exercise. You are given 30 minutes to give your presentation, although most people finish far sooner. Aim to speak for around 15 minutes. You will then be asked some general questions by the assessor and then finally for your assessment of how the group exercise went in the morning and what you would do differently if you were to do it again. Remember be constructive; don't criticise anyone directly.
Partner Interview
[Edit]The partner interview lasts for around 50 minutes. The style of your interview will depend on your specific interviewer, and can vary from relaxed and laid back, to high pressured and interrogational.
You will be asked about eight competency questions, and questions about why you want to work for BDO Stoy Hayward and why you want to be an accountant.
Your interviewer may ask you to justify yourself and your life choices. If this happens, stay calm and remain confident. Be prepared to defend yourself and your opinions, even if it your interviewer appears dismissive. It may be that you are being tested on your strength of character, determination and ability to argue your opinions convincingly.
Towards the end of the interview you will be given the chance to ask your own questions about BDO Stoy Hayward. You should aim to ask two to three interesting questions, if possible relating to subject matter discussed during your interview.
Now see - BDO Stoy Hayward Working Culture.
3 February 2009 - 6:04pm
Redsuperted
1) Either out of date or perhaps the test takes 15 minutes and the preparation takes 5. Most likely just an error on BDO's part :p
2) I think that's highly likely. Most firms require you to take one test in order to have access to the other. You will probably receive an email instructing you of how to sit the verbal test once you have completed the numerical.
Good luck - pleeeease let us know how your interviews go!
3 February 2009 - 6:11pm
bingkk32
Thanks for quick reply.
I thought that maybe the actual test would take 15 mins and prep takes 5, which would accord with Wikijob. But if that's the case, how does one account for the fact that Wikijob says the actual numerical test takes 21 mins, which is longer than the 20 mins stated on BDO's website! Trivial points I know, but still an inconsistency.
5 February 2009 - 1:26pm
bingkk32
Redsuperted,
Turns out Wikijob is right. BDO's website is wrong. The actual numerical test is 21 Qs in 21 mins. Wiki is also right about verbal - 30 Qs in 15 mins. SOrry for the inconvenience!
5 February 2009 - 1:47pm
Redsuperted
There you have it! WikiJob's profiles are more accurate than companies' own!
10 November 2009 - 5:08pm
yazmina1
I have 1 week to take the tests, if I pass then I'll post the interview Q's up :)
12 November 2009 - 9:00pm
julianfox
Hi Guys,
I took their 1st round interview two weeks ago in their really nice offices on Baker Street. There is a Starbucks directly opposite if you want to get there early and have half an hour or so to relax yourself and read up on the facts and figures of your application one last time. The questions I had were slightly different from the ones on the wikijobs page and there was no presentation about the firm; I was taken straight for an interview which lasted about an hour. I can't remember all of the questions I was asked (but they were the sort of things you'd expect and focused on competency questions of the form 'Tell me about a time you did x'). The ones which I can remember are:
Tell me about a time you had to give someone criticism. Tell me about a time you had to promote an idea/champion a cause. You've clearly had a busy schedule of academic and extracurricular activities, have you ever struggled to keep on top of it? There was also a question which alluded to their four corporate values. I'd make sure you can reel them off. I couldn't but I would have liked to have been able to.
I was also asked which other firms I'd applied to. I wasn't sure how to handle that I gave an honest answer. In retrospect, I think the clever thing to do would be to name only three of four of their direct competitors. Instead, I blurted out something about several investment banks and the Big 4. [I'll post more of the questions I was asked if I remember them]
My interview was Friday afternoon and they had emailed the decision to me by Monday lunch time. They didn't want me and I'm still waiting for feedback as to why! Mixed feelings though, I really didn't want to work for them and only applied because I thought 'These guys are only mid-market audit, I can walk into this role and then use it as a bargaining tool when the jobs I actually want offer me contracts'...or at the very worst, have it as a backup. Maybe that shone through in my interview!
Anyway, hopefully my experience will help you guys and at the very least, give you some heart-warming schadenfreude to keep you going through the interview process.
Good luck to all!
J
9 December 2009 - 4:14pm
daneeks
Has anyone had an interview at the Leeds office for audit? I had one yesterday. I really like the sound of the job and company and I would love to work for them. Unfortunately I don’t think my interview went very well, although I maintained conversation throughout and it was very two way, I don’t think I answered the questions I was asked very well :(. I found the questions quite strange and negative for example I was asked how do you prevent yourself from making mistakes at work? tell me about a time you have worked in a team and not got on with someone? I'm now waiting to hear back. Do they send an e mail whether you were successful or not? Or do they phone those going through to an assessment centre? I wish you all the best of luck if you have interview/assessment centre coming up.
23 February 2010 - 6:32pm
CJE
Daneeks,
Thank you for your post I found it really useful as I have an interview in the Leeds office this Friday. How did your interview go? Did you manage to get through to the AC? Do you have any other tips for the interview or any other questions you were asked? I appreciate it was a few months back now but any help would be greatly appreciated!
8 March 2010 - 3:32pm
daneeks
Hey
CJE how did your interview go? I got the job in Leeds! If anyone wants anymore info message me and I will be more than willing to help! My top advise to you, would be to be yourself not what you think they want you to be like! Daneeks
16 April 2010 - 6:47am
Astro
Hey,
Congratz CIE on being made an offer by BDO!
Could you please tell me what do I have to learn about the key services that BDO offers? I mean, what did you have to know about them? I am asking this question because BDO's website seems HUGE and it is so hard to learn everything about the company and the services they offer. Of course anyone who can answer my question is welcome to do it.
13 May 2010 - 7:29pm
YenYen
Heey
I see you got a job with bdo...congrats! I've got an assessment day coming up and was just wondering if you could give me some details on what each part entails please?
Thaaanks =)
28 May 2010 - 12:03pm
HB
Hi everyone, I have an interview in leeds on wed for audit and I feel v unprepared, do they ask any commercial awareness types of questions or is is mainly the competency questions? did any of you have to resit the online tests randomly when u got there? and can you remember any other questions they ask please? Thanks
28 May 2010 - 1:48pm
daneeks
Hi I have accepted a job offer for Leeds Audit. Is it the first interview? If so mine was very much competency based, there was no commericial awareness! Didn't have to re sit any online test either but they might re test randomly. My interviewer started by asking about things on my CV then questions such as how do you prevent yourself from making mistakes at work? tell me about a time you have worked in a team and not got on with someone? tell me about a time you have had to persuade someone to go with your idea? etc. Best of luck
8 June 2010 - 4:18pm
TTG
I am thinking to apply for BDO Tax. Is it mainly office based? How much travel will it involve???
In terms of choosing the business area, what would you recommend if I want less travel. Does it vary among the companies?
Thanks a lot!
5 January 2011 - 11:22pm
acunited5
Daneeks, congrats on your new job at BDO!
Just wondered whether you or anyone else on here has any updated info (hints and tips) re: Assessment centre?
I've applied for Audit at the London office and have my assessment centre next week so any info will be very much appreciated! Thanks
9 October 2011 - 7:41pm
ando0819
Hey guys has anyone had an interview with BDO recently? If so could you provide some examples of what was asked for?
Thanks
18 October 2011 - 7:14pm
Inceptum
Hi all, I have to do my BDO test within the next two days I think .. (their email didnt tell me there was a time limit as to when the test must be completed... its been 6 days so far and i havent had a chance to complete the test so here hoping I havent been phased out)
I was wondering could anyone give some advice as to what types of questions were asked on the numerical test? thanks!
19 October 2011 - 10:52am
cb1234
they are similar to the SHL ones..not too bad..make sure you know your percentages, conversion rates etc
19 October 2011 - 11:14am
Inceptum
Hi cb1234, thanks for your reply:)
ok so conversion rates and percentages... could you elaborate on what you mean by 'percentages' ?
also, can i ask if you encountered any CPI and Real Price Index questions?
Many thanks!
19 October 2011 - 12:33pm
cb1234
i didn't have any CPI or RPIs...doesn't require any previous economics knowledge!
mine was a few weeks ago so can't remember exactly but just make sure u know how to work out percentages and percentage changes and also make sure you know exactly what the questions asks (sometimes table given in £ but question asks for $ to the nearest 10,000 for example).
i found this one easier than the pwc one if that helps? also i didn't finish the test and still got through so try and be accurate rather than finish!
19 October 2011 - 2:19pm
Inceptum
hey cb1234,
thanks for the reply :)
oh brilliant, so no real price index questions... i had them in another test and they were super hard :(
ok so % increases, calculating % or % changes is what i gota know..
I must ask, you said , "sometimes table given in £ but question asks for $ to the nearest 10,000 for example"
firstly, did you mean to say £ first, and then $ ? (ie was this a currency conversion question u were reffering to?)
and presumably the "nearest 10,000" required some estimating on ur part ? or was a proper calculation required? I hate estimation questions... were there an of them there?
honestly, thank you so much for replying to my questions and unfortunately i have yet to do an application to pwc so i wouldnt be able to understand the difference in difficulty, but i suppose knowing its not as hard as pwc does bring some element of relief! congratulations on passing :) presumably you've got your interview soon? best of luck to you there!
so generally speaking you felt like the test wasn't terribly hard? or did you find it challenging?
many many MANY thanks!
19 October 2011 - 4:12pm
cb1234
- yeah I was referring to conversion questions. They try n trick you sometimes and put one of the answers as the non-converted one so as long as you read the qs properly you should be ok. 'nearest 10,000 - yeah just estimate ur answer to the nearest 10,000 - my only problem with these is that i'm quite clumsy and make silly mistakes cos of the time pressure but difficulty-wise no worries...wasn't terribly hard no
Good Luck!!
20 October 2011 - 4:43pm
Inceptum
hey, i just took the test and apparently I failed it??
I think thats bull because honestly I was doing really good with the questions and only didnt answer 4 at the end, and im really confident my answers were right!
do you think I can email them asking for my actual grade and mark? Because I didn't get them back only a rejection email ???
- (
24 October 2011 - 5:41pm
felics
you're not the onyl one i think i answered 14/18 correctly. Im very very confident in those 14, i only struggled on the oil rig question :? yet i still FAILED. i think its Bull**** i pretty good at numerical tests, and have passed all the other big 4 numericals and verbals with ease.
22 March 2012 - 6:52pm
maya21
The SHL fast track exercise is no longer part of the a/c.
There's an e-tray, group exercise, presentation (told in advance, similar to Deloitte) and partner interview.
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2 questions if I may:
1) the BDO website says "Each ability test will last 20 minutes". Presumably the 15 min duration for the verbal test stated on this webpage is out of date?
2) I have received an email inviting me to complete numerical and verbal tests. On my BDO track application homepage, I only have an invitation to take a numeracy test. There is no invitation to take a verbal test. Does the verbal test invitation only appear once you have completed the numeracy test?
Many thanks!