How to Get an Internship at Deloitte

Close-up of Deloitte logo on building
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An internship with one of the Big Four accounting firms will make the perfect addition to your CV.

For accountants, it’s kind of like winning a gold medal at the Olympics. But as you know, winning a gold medal is no easy feat; it requires a lot of hard work and determination on your behalf, as well as the right skill set.

That, however, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

To help you along the application process – and earn that proverbial gold medal – we’ve devised a quick guide for you.

Here’s how to get an internship at Deloitte.

1. Know the basics

Deloitte offers a 6 or 12-week summer internship programme to university and college students all over the globe.

They also have a separate global internship programme which is available for four weeks in July. If you want to apply for this programme, you’ll have to travel to one of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Germany, Hong Kong, Malta, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden or the United States. To qualify for the global internship, you’ll need to be a current university student studying towards a bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree.

The requirements for the summer internship are a little more specific: you’ll need to be an undergraduate student in the final year of your studies.

2. Find the right role

The first step you need to take when applying for an internship or graduate scheme is to check what roles are available and what best suits your studies and interests. If you’re not sure about which route to take, meanwhile, Deloitte’s easy-to-use online assessment tool Find Your Fit will help you narrow down your options.

The most common internships offered are in the following areas:

  • audit and assurance
  • business and financial advisory
  • governance, risk and regulation
  • human capital
  • real estate
  • strategy and operations
  • tax consulting
  • technology.

3. Focus on your CV

You’ll be expected to submit a well-structured CV along with your application, so make you do. And make sure it’s flexible in format, it’s easy to read and that your skills, education and experience take centre stage.

Remember: hiring managers only spend about 10 seconds reviewing each candidate’s CV, so it’s essential that yours has been carefully tailored to the position you’re applying for. If you really want to secure a Deloitte internship, your best is to stand apart from the competition, so make sure that you do.

4. Submit your application

Once you’ve chosen an internship programme, you’ll need to complete the online application form for the available vacancies. This form should take between 10 to 15 minutes to complete. While going through the questions, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your current CV nearby, so that you can easily answer questions based on your experience.

After the hiring manager has scanned your application form and CV, you’ll then be required to complete an online assessment. Before getting started, it’s important to read through all the questions carefully to make sure you answer them as best as you can. These questions will help hiring managers get a better understanding of what you’re like in a working environment.

Lastly, you’ll be asked to write a 100-word paragraph on why you want to join Deloitte; this is kind of like your elevator pitch to secure your place in the next stage of the hiring process.

For certain internships, meanwhile, you may be asked to complete a video assessment as part of your application. If you happen to be one of the lucky few to complete this stage, you’ll be given 2 questions to answer; your response should be in the form of a video, and you’ll typically be given a 48-hour deadline.

When completing this step, be sure to dress professionally and to film your video response in a quiet location where you won’t be interrupted by anyone. The best part about this stage is that you can re-shoot the video if you aren’t pleased with the initial outcome.

5. Ace the interview

The interview process isn’t anything out of the ordinary; it involves an online personality test and two interview stages – a competency-based interview with a member of the HR team and a potential-based interview with a senior member of your applied department and a senior member of the HR team.

Below we’ve described them in further detail to help you prepare accordingly.

Competency-based interview

The first interview will be a sort of informal chat with a member of the HR team and will cover common behavioural interview questions. You’ll usually talk the HR manager through your CV, and you’ll be asked about your interests and hobbies. This will help decision makers get a clearer picture of how you spend your free time and, ultimately, determine if you would be a good culture fit.

Potential-based interview

The second interview will be based on a case study. You’ll be given a specific scenario, and you’ll need to complete calculations, or similar, according to the information you’ve been provided with. Throughout the interview, the hiring managers will also ask you questions based on the case study.

You shouldn’t feel threatened here; you’ll be given an hour to complete the questions provided, so take your time and don’t let your nerves cloud your judgement. The whole point is to see whether you have the technical abilities and teamwork skills required to work at Deloitte.

6. Get an offer

Once you’ve successfully completed all the above steps, you’ll receive an offer with further information on your start date.

As an intern, you’ll be treated as a member of the team from Day One. You’ll attend company meetings, pitch ideas and complete tasks and assignments, all of which will help you acquire the required skills to succeed in the working world.

If you also manage to make a lasting impression, you’ll most likely be offered a full-time position after graduation. In other words, it’s an opportunity that’s not worth missing!

With so much to learn and experience at Deloitte, an internship can pave the way to a successful career, which is why it’s essential to present yourself in the best possible light by following the tips listed above!

Have you ever applied for an Internship at Deloitte? If so, share your experiences with us in the comments section below!

 

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published on 14 July 2014.