Application process
Stage 1 – Online application
The application form is completed online and should take approximately one hour to
complete.
We ask all applicants to complete the same application form to ensure everyone is
assessed in a fair and objective manner.
Each application form is screened by a member of our recruitment team.
You will be asked to fill in details regarding your academic background, positions
of responsibility, extra curricular activities and work experience.
There are four free-text questions that you need to complete. Once you have submitted
your application, we will send you an email to confirm receipt.
Your application will then be assessed by one of our recruitment team before we decide
whether you can go forward to the next stage.
Our aim is to inform you of our decision within two working days.
You will have the ability to track your application by logging back into the system.
Stage 2 – Online ability
tests
If your application is successful at Stage 1 you will be asked to complete numerical
and verbal reasoning tests online. The professional accountancy exams and your work
at the firm will demand a high standard of both numerical and verbal reasoning and
we use these tests to indicate your ability.
Each ability tests will last 20 minutes. If you pass both tests you will be invited
to attend a first round interview.
Stage 3 – First round interview
You will be invited to attend a first round interview at your first choice office.
You will be interviewed by a manager from the service area to which you have applied.
Please note: if vacancies have been filled at your first choice office, your application
will automatically be sent to your second choice office.
We conduct competency-based interviews. This means we will ask you questions based
on competencies we believe are important in the role you’ve applied for. The
interviewer will mainly ask questions that let you draw on past experience from
university, any previous work you’ve done, or other activities you’ve
undertaken.
Stage 4 – Online Occupational
Personality Questionnaire (OPQ)
Candidates who perform well at their first round interview will be invited to attend
an assessment day. Prior to attending an assessment day we ask all candidates to
complete an online Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ).
The OPQ is a self-report questionnaire designed to provide the firm with information
about your preferred or typical ways of behaving at work. It is a questionnaire
and not a test – there are no right or wrong answers. It is in your own interests
as well as ours that we gather an accurate impression of your own preferred working
style.
Stage 5 – Assessment day
You will be glad to know you’re nearly through our recruitment process! The
BDO Stoy Hayward assessment day lasts a whole day and involves:
Group exercise
You will be asked to review a case study and discuss the content with other members
in the group. The assessors are interested to see how the group works together,
how the group approaches problems collectively and how you contribute as an individual.
Presentation
You will be asked to give a presentation on a topic provided to you on the day. You
will have an hour to prepare for your presentation and you will be provided with
literature and material to assist you in preparing for your presentation.
Lunch
A chance to recharge, relax and refocus. Where possible, current trainees will join
you for lunch so you can ask them any questions we haven't answered so far.
Second round interview
Second round interviews are conducted with a partner. The format of the interview
will be similar to first interview. Once again, the interviewer will conduct a competency-based
interview. This means they will ask you questions based on competencies the firm
believes are important in the role you’ve applied for. The partner will mainly
ask you questions that will enable you to draw on past experience from university,
any previous work you’ve done, or other activities you’ve undertaken.
Stage 6 - The final stage…
We will communicate the final outcome of our selection process to you within 48 hours.