Hints and Tips

ONLINE APPLICATION

Preparing for your online application

Our application is quick and easy.

You’ll need to detail your educational background and experience. Please check our eligibility criteria in FAQs before starting your application.

Tips for applying online

• Answer each question fully and correctly.
• Share any information you think would be helpful for us to know, but don’t exaggerate; keep everything factual.
• Save your application regularly – you don’t have to complete it all at once.

If you want to refer to your application again, you’ll be able to access it online.

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know we’ve received it. You can then track your application by logging back into the system at any time.

TASK-BASED ASSESSMENT

Overview

The first stage is an online assessment. You’ll complete a series of interactive, puzzle-like tasks that measure behaviours and cognitive traits such as decision-making, problem-solving and resilience. A task-based, behavioural and cognitive assessment designed to measure your potential — not past experience.

Hints and Tips

• Choose a quiet place so that you can focus.
• Undertake the assessment on a laptop or tablet (phones can be used but you need the visibility provided by a laptop or tablet).
• No preparation is needed but you can try the practice task before starting.
• The tasks may feel unfamiliar so have patience with yourself.
• Remember to stay calm and have confidence in your abilities. We’re not looking for perfection, we want to see how you approach the tasks.
• AI tools will not help you so do not use them. The assessment is designed to understand your natural responses.

Logistics and Support

• The assessment is accessible via web browser (no app required).
• It works on phone, tablet, or laptop (check your invite for details).
• If interrupted, your progress saves automatically. Otherwise, you’ll need to contact support.
• Adjustments are available for applicants with disabilities or who are neurodivergent (request when you apply as this can’t be implemented when the process has begun).
• Only BDO hiring staff can view your results, so the process is GDPR compliant.
• You’ll receive personalised feedback afterwards.

AT THE VIDEO INTERVIEW

Set the scene

Dress as you would for a normal job interview. Before you start, make sure that your tech is all working smoothly. Choose a quiet space where you can focus without distractions. When you do get started, remember, it’s fine to take a pause and think through your answers.

What we’re asking

We’ll ask you a series of scenario-based questions, such as “What would you do if…?”. When you provide your answers, what we want is for you to try and show an understanding of the business stream that you applied for (Audit, Tax, Advisory, etc.).

We’re looking to understand how you approach different situations. You can draw upon examples from work, study, volunteering or group projects. However, don’t solely focus on your past achievements. It’s about how you think on the spot and what you would do in the scenario we ask you about.

Use the STAR approach to help you

To help structure your answers, use the STAR approach (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Even though you’re talking about a hypothetical scenario, STAR will keep your answers clear and logical.

What we’re looking for

What we’re looking to discover about you is your communication skills and your business awareness, including how you make decisions and how your approach fits with our values. As you draw on your experiences (whether that’s from work, study, volunteering or group projects), we’re looking for communication skills, business awareness, decision-making, and alignment with our values.

What we want is for you to show that you understand the business stream you’ve applied for. Whether it’s Audit, Tax, or Advisory, it’s important to frame how you would approach the challenges specific to that function. Give us a sense of how you would think and how you would act.

Be yourself

Finally, we want to get to know the real you. Speak clearly, with confidence, and try and answer as honestly as you can.

Remember, there’s no one perfect answer. We’re interested in your reasoning, your approach, and your potential to grow with us.

ASSESSMENT CENTRE – ‘DAY IN THE LIFE AT BDO’

Overview

For this part of the process, you’ll login to our online Assessment Centre and undertake a series of tasks relevant to the business stream that you applied to. Testing a range of skills, the activities are designed to simulate real ways of working here.

Hints and Tips – Case Study

• In short, what you’ll need to do is analyse the information you’re presented with and give your recommendations to assessors.
• First, read all the information provided, and then plan how you’ll use your time (e.g. 5 mins prepare and plan, then the remaining time is for analysis).
• Identify key issues, trends, risks and opportunities.
• Use a simple, clear structure (e.g. problem → recommendation → justification → risk) to explain your points. Show us that you understand the business context (clients, outcomes, values).
• Make sure that you tailor your ideas to your stream (for Audit you’d address risks and controls; Tax would focus on regulations and client impact; and for Advisory it’s about strategy and change).
• Keep your presentation concise and structured (aim for 5-7 points to keep it focused).
• As you prepare to answer the questions, stay calm, clarify your thinking, pause if you need to and then answer the question.

ASSESSMENT CENTRE – GROUP EXERCISE

Overview

You’ll work in a team as we assess how you all work together. The main task is to analyse a business problem and present your recommendations to us. What we’re looking for is not just to see your findings, but to watch how you got there and how you supported each other on the way.

Hints & Tips

• What we’re looking for is collaboration over competition.
• We want you to listen, build on each other’s points, and encourage quieter team members to participate
• Make sure that you balance speaking and listening. Make meaningful contributions without dominating the group.
• Be structured and use the time you have wisely.
• Try and guide the discussion and remember to summarise key points.
• Help the group stay focused on the task at hand and keep things moving.
• Don’t panic if your idea isn’t used. Supporting the team is equally valued.
• What we’re looking for is how you work in a team, your leadership potential, how you apply business thinking, through things like decision-making, communication and showing client focus.

INTERVIEW

Overview

For the final part of the assessment process, you will participate in a conversation with senior staff to explore your levels of motivation, decision making, learning agility and for us to assess your potential.

Hints and Tips

• To prepare you can review recent experiences where you showed leadership (i.e from sports, school, university etc), teamwork, or adaptability and assess the role that you played.
• Don’t just say what you did, we want you to explain how and why, and reflect on what you learned from challenges or mistakes.
• Be ready to explain why you chose your business stream.
• Make sure that you find time to research what we do on our website.
• Tell us what excites you about the idea of working here.
• Link your answers to our values: Being Responsible, Being Bold, Being Collaborative, and Being Genuine.
• Make sure you think of some questions to ask the interviewer. Questions in the style that you might want to ask are things like: ‘What does success look like in this role?’, ‘If I was fortunate enough to be selected, how would I know I was doing a great job for you?’, and ‘What do you like about working in Audit / Tax / Advisory?’ We’re looking for questions that show what intrigues you about working here.