Cheat Sheet is a regular series in which the people hiring for some of the most desirable jobs reveal how they pick apart applicants. This week: how to turn a B-School campus interview into a senior position at the huge professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
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First Round:
Two on-campus interviews that deal with behavioral and situational questions. Candidates are expected to offer examples of their leadership experience.
Second Round:
Half-day interview at the office, about a week later. Applicants are ushered through two more technical interviews by a PwC host a level above or at the same level as the hiring position; they'll meet with three to six staff members throughout the day.
Third Round:
Applicants have 45 minutes to solve a problem set similar to Harvard Business School case studies. The time crunch mirrors a real-time scenario. The hiring manager plays the role of the client and assesses applicants on their ability to take feedback with poise.
The Score:
The advisory hiring committee that conducted the interviews rates each applicant on how well his or her skills align with the companies five core qualities, which include technical and global acumen. Success in the case study is weighted highest.
Do rave about your love of crunching numbers. “We absolutely look at someone's passion for analytics and using big data to drive client solutions.”
Do mention you speak a second language, if you do. “Knowing another language is a tremendous benefit.” Mandarin and Spanish are the most popular at PwC.
Do remind the recruiter if you attended a PwC campus event. “We have events for a reason. It's not a prerequisite, but it does differentiate an applicant if they have reached out before.”
Don’t show off your educational accolades. “We're looking for intellectual curiosity. That doesn't necessarily mean we need to hear you were the president of this club or that club. We want to hear your ideas.”
Don’t botch the case study. “We aren't measuring capability; we're looking at the way you present a solution to a problem and your approach.”
Don’t be awkward. “Soft skills are a prerequisite for us. Our business is built on the ability to communicate with impact.”
