Ernst & Young

what is EMS process for graduate level

The EY assessment day 2009.

I applied for indirect tax, also at the day were applicants from direct tax and actuarial.

There are so many tasks compared to other assessment days i have been to. To let you know, i was unsuccessful which i thought was a load of BS. The graduate recruitment specialist was unable to give feedback. I thought i struggled on the numeracy test (saville consulting), but I was told i was in the 90%+ quartile so it wasn’t that. When i asked where i failed, he couldn’t tell me. Btw, i have over a year in another big four company. I don’t believe this day to be representative of the office, which they seem to think it is and they really emphasise this point.

Pre work (before assessment day)

• You are told to research 2 hours on the business benefits of investing in employer well-being. This is for the group discussion. When youre actually in the discussion, there will be new information that says the event is actually aimed at graduate recruiters. You then need to decide how to deal with that.

1) Numeracy test – this is formed of 24 questions and there are 3 sections. 1, verbal reasoning. You have 6 minutes to do 8 questions. Then there is the maths section and the logical reasoning section, same format, 6 minutes for 8 questions. My advice is to work fast and read the information quickly and carefully. Know your percentage changes and i also remember one of the questions is what word can replace ‘break-even’, the answer is ‘parity.’ The test is similar to the initial online screening one but harder and i think there is less time given to you too. To clarity, you do the test in 3 sections, 3 x 6minutes, so you don’t overrun from one section to the next.

2) Proof read – you are given a set of draft accounts for Green-move, 5 pages, written by an intern. You need to review and give feedback on this, through a phone call to ‘sam’ the intern, played by one of the assessors. This task is easy, simple spelling and grammar mistakes that you need to look out for such as, director’s report or directors’ report, missing full stops etc. on the front page, they have spelt march wrong. small mistakes like this.

3) Company analysis – the company is called green-move and in the recycling industry, you need to summarise around 5 pages of info into 4 main titles for your fake manager Claire. Company performance, where tarik (FD) is leading the company, the recycling business and also need to draft an email to tarik to invite him to speak at a lunch.

4) Graduate recruitment event planning. You need to plan a graduate recruitment event. There is a lot of info to digest and you need to also choose a marketing option. I chose option c. You need to plan a task list for yourself which needs to state the task itself, the timescale and who would be responsible. Tasks will include marketing material, booking train tickets, speaking to various people involved with recruitment.

5) There is a feedback bit where they ask you a load of questions, feels quite informal but i think it is assessed! you'll get asked, what do you think went well, what is your impression of ey etc... general bs questions, they scribble away so i think it does matter.

there is no partner interview, you'll only get that is you pass the AC. oh yeah, lunch is terrible! sandwiches. not like deloitte where they take you out to strada.

Good luck!

What office did you apply to? I had mine in Nov and i passed, they gave me loads of feedback on the phone for each of the tasks!