PwC is one of the largest professional services firms in the world providing specialist business support to business of all sizes and sectors. PwC belongs to the Big Four group of major auditors, which makes it one of the most sought after in the country – it has remained number 1 on the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers for the last fourteen years.

Candidates can apply for a variety of graduate schemes programs that match the fast-changing world of business in : Actuarial, Assurance, Consulting, Deals, Law, Tax, Technology, and Transactions. Graduate Schemes at PwC can last between six and eleven months.

To mix with PwC you will need to jump through a series of hoops before reaching the Assessment Centre. Below you can learn about PwC Graduate Scheme, along with details on the application process and the various steps involved.

Please, bear in mind this will differ depending on the career path you choose.

 

PwC Application Process

There are 5 steps of the PwC Application Process:

Stage 1: Online Application

Stage 2: Psychometric Tests

  • Diagrammatic/ Logical Reasoning Test
  • Numerical Reasoning Test
  • Verbal Reasoning Test
  • Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ)

Stage 3: First Interview

Stage 4: Assessment Day (steps will differ depending on the route)

  • Confirmatory Psychometric Tests
  • Group Exercise
  • Written Exercise
  • Case- Study Exercise

Stage 5: Final Interview

 

PwC Psychometric Tests

Psychometric tests are a key component of PwC’s Application Process. Depending on the Graduate Program route candidates are taking, they might be required to sit Numerical Reasoning Tests, Diagrammatic/ Logical Reasoning Tests, and Verbal Reasoning Tests. You will also need to fill in the Occupational Personality Questionnaire which is a standard role preference questionnaire that will let the people at PwC learn about your preferred working style. It’s a part of the application that won’t be assessed.

Details on PwC Tests can be found below.

 

Diagrammatic/ Logical Reasoning Test

These tests will assess your sequence and pattern identification skills, logical thinking and ability to approach a problem as well as how good you are at solving it.

Questions are comprised of numbers, figures, and shapes arranged in a particular pattern. Your task as the brainy PwC employee – to – be, is to deduce the underlying logic of patterns presented to you in an exercise and guess what is next to follow. But for now, you might want to follow to the Diagrammatic/ Logical Reasoning Test page to see if it makes any sense at all.

 

PwC Numerical Reasoning Test

The multiple – choice PwC Online Numerical Test assesses your ability to evaluate, analyze, and interpret numerical information that will be provided to you in charts, graphs, and tables. You will have limited time to find a correct answer, so all the calculations like percentages, ratios, and basic arithmetic should be executed quickly and accurately. We know that you can do it, but If you really want to master the BP Online Numerical Test – it can be easily learned through our online tests and video tutorials available on the website.

 

PwC Verbal Reasoning Test

The PwC Verbal Reasoning Test comprises of a series paragraphs which you will be required to read and a set of questions matching the information provided in paragraphs. Your answer options will be True, False or Cannot Tell.

By presenting you with the Verbal Reasoning Tests, people from PwC want to verify your understanding of the written word, as well as your dexterity when it comes to filtering out the key information from a bulk of the text. Here, please take a moment and imagine a pile of emails residing in your future Inbox, waiting to be read and replied. Not easy, huh?

To get the necessary confidence and speed up things, practice some Verbal Reasoning Tests now.

 

First PwC Interview

First PwC interviews are usually telephone interviews and we know it can be daunting. Especially, when someone lacks the confidence to talk to strangers on the phone. But you have to shine on this stage, as on any others, so it’s important to know how to snap out of that nervousness!

It’s a blunt thing to say, but the only way to overcome is to prepare beforehand. You need to take advantage of the time given, rather than approaching this as a casual conversation. So, do your homework and prepare.

Think of the topics that people from PwC might want to discuss with you and think how your skills and experience can relate to these.

 

PwC Assessment Centre

If everything went well you would be invited to one of the PwC headquarters to attend the Assessment Centre. Usually, it’s a lengthy process that might take even half of your day, so make sure you will be free from any other obligations on that day.

The PwC Assessment Centers are usually a mix of individual and group activities. The exercises will differ depending on the job position you are applying for, but it is recommended to be well prepared for both scenarios in order to stand out from the crowd.

Apart from being designed to assess your skills, the PwC Assessment Centre aim is also to give you the chance to demonstrate your qualities and to learn something know about the life and culture at PwC.

Group Exercise – the exercises will vary, but the general skills that the assessors are looking for is a good balance between teamwork and leadership skills. You might be a great leader, but approach the group exercise as a test of your collaboration and teamwork skills. Communicating in non-aggressive manner will get you few extra points.

Group Study Exercise will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Written Exercise – you will be provided with briefing materials that have to be read and analyze in 30 minutes. Later, your task will be to write a report on a given subject. The exercise is meant to check if you are skilled enough to produce reports that match PwC standards. Similarly to University requirements for the precise form of essays and reports – you will be assessed based on the appropriate use of language, logical structure, and coherence in a manifestation of your thoughts.

Case Study Exercise – This would be imaginary tasks that would be related to the role position you are applying for. Priori to this you will be given a pack of information that needs to be used during the exercise. Depending on the size of the group it might be a team or an individual task.

Case Study Exercise will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes

Confirmatory Psychometric Tests – these will be another series of aptitude tests, similar to those you had to take on Stage 2 of this Application. The rules of the game won’t change, so it’s good to rely on the feedback you have been given after completing the tests during the online assessment. Upon this stage, candidates are asked to take numeric, logical or verbal reasoning tests ( optional for some routes).

 

Application Process

Stage 1: Online Application
Stage 2: Psychometric Tests
Stage 3: First Interview
Stage 4: Assessment Day
Stage 5: Final Interview

 

Links

http://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/student/applying/hints-tips.jhtml

 

Prepare for your PWC tests

  • Practice Numerical Reasoning Tests

  • Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests

  • Practice Diagrammatic Reasoning Tests

  • Practice Situational Judgement Tests

  • Practice Assessment Centre Tests

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There are number of categories within the organisation that offer the graduate programme and within these are further business areas in which you can begin your career with the PWC graduate scheme whilst studying to become a Chartered Accountant (in all schemes but Consulting and Technology; in Actuarial you’ll also gain a different qualification). All schemes require a degree with a 2:1 or above. As well as the following individual schemes you can do ‘Shared Schemes’ which takes on two of the below subjects.

Actuarial – in this field you work with clients to analyse how future events could affect them. You can chose from one of two business areas; Human Resource Consulting or Actuarial & Insurance Management Solutions. You’ll receive both a structured induction programme as well as practical experience. You’ll need a degree with a 2:1 or above and at least a B in maths at A-level. You will gain the qualification of Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

In Human Resources Consulting you’ll work in either the pensions team or reward team in a variety of companies, providing advice and consulting.

In Actuarial and Insurance you’ll work with clients from the insurance industry as well as from other sectors like banking, public and healthcare.

Assurance – in this field you’ll be part of a team who identifies where high-quality audit can add insight and value to the client’s business. You will work closely with the client to understand their business and activities whilst studying to become a Chartered Accountant.

You can chose from 4 business areas; Public Services, Financial Audit, Risk Assurance or IT Risk Assurance. In Financial Audit you’ll provide market-leading audit services to a range of clients (including many from the FTSE 100).

In Public Services you’ll focus on clients in the public sector, ensuring taxpayers money is spent wisely.

In Risk Assurance you’ll help clients deliver business controls to protect and strengthen their business.

In IT Risk Assurance specialists work with clients to help them anticipate, manage and mitigate risk to their IT systems.

Consulting – there are 2 distinct graduate routes into consulting. For broad experience across a number of disciplines, Management Consulting would be the best route, which is a 2 year structured programme building on a range of core skills. For more specialised consulting practices there are other routes in Economics Consulting, Strategy Consulting or Sustainability and Climate Change Consulting.

Management Consulting offers a structured programme with experience across all industries. This will then help you decide where to want to specialise. Or if you already know then you can try one of the more specialised consulting schemes.

Economics Consulting involves advising senior level clients in the public and private sectors, focusing on complex business and policy issues facing the clients – such as commercial disputes and developing strategies for growth.

Sustainability and Climate Change Consulting involves helping clients embed sustainability in their strategies.

Strategy Consulting will involve working alongside CEOs and senior executives in order to aid with corporate and M&A challenges.

Deals – this area focuses on the deals and crisis elements of the business and you could work on anything from international take-over bids to economic crime investigations. You can select from 1 of 5 Deals businesses which give you the opportunity to work across the Deals portfolio by supporting you through a 3 year professional qualification. These businesses are Valuations, Corporate Finance, Business Recovery Services, Forensics and Transactional Services.

Valuations are a collaborative team who work alongside clients to support them in making strategic valuation decisions on various types of deals, such as disputes, tax regulation and financial reporting.

Corporate Finance offers a range of advisory services from acquisitions to advice on infrastructure to name a few. This operates across all industry sectors and involves all types of clients.

Business Recovery Services involves advising under-performing companies on restructuring, refinancing and accelerated mergers and acquisitions.

Forensics help clients to investigate, analyse and solve a wide range of business risks and issues. You will investigate and resolve potential crises.

Transactional Services supports private equity firms, investment funds and corporate clients through mergers, acquisitions and disposals.

Tax – this covers every area of taxation and you’ll be part of a business that is proactively engaging in the tax policy and debate and focussed on leading views and new ideas. There are 3 separate areas within tax that you can focus on; Corporate Tax, Human Resources Consulting Services and Indirect Tax.

Corporate Tax involves helping clients, of all types and sizes, manage their tax risk and comply with complex legislation.

Human Resource Consulting Services involves helping employers make the most of their people with projects including international pensions, tax compliance, employee incentives and many more.

Indirect Tax is a wide-ranging and ever-changing field and you’ll be advising on all areas of indirect tax, such as VAT.

Technology – this involves providing advice to clients regarding technological innovation and this route involves 5 different pathways; Cyber Security, Data Analytics, IT Risk Assurance, Technology Consulting and Human Resource Technology.

Cyber Technology deals with how to operate the cyber environment securely whilst providing technological skills to clients to help them resist, detect and respond to cyber threats.

Data Analytics involves assisting clients in analysing complex data sets. For this you will need to be undertaking, or have, a degree in Data Analytics.

IT Risk Assurance aids in looking to manage the risk associated with business management systems and focus on consulting engagements supporting clients.

Technology Consulting is a specialist group within management consulting. It’s a 2 year structured programme developing your expertise in business technology and how it supports clients from all industries.

Human Resource Technology which seeks to advise organisations define and implement strategies to improve the effectiveness of technology across the HR function.