How to Answer: Why should EY hire you over other applicants?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an EY job interview.
15. Why should EY hire you over other applicants?
The Goal
The hiring managers at EY want to choose the person they believe will help them solve a problem or a pain point. The goal of your response is to spotlight how you will meet the firm/department's most significant needs when they choose to hire you.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 23rd, 2022
Pro Tip
Consider the factors that the firm looks for when choosing new team members. EY asks that you "Bring us your open mind, your energy, your definition of career success. Your passion amplifies our purpose, so together we can build a better working world."
Your response should be original and unique. There are some simple ways to ensure that your answer stands out from other candidates:
1) Avoid giving a resume review. Your response should highlight the best reasons why your achievements, skills, and characteristics are a match for EY's most pressing needs. Provide a snapshot, not a complete biography.
2) Think about value. Think of how you will add value to the company now and in the future. Help the decision-makers picture you with EY for years to come.
3) Sprinkle in achievements. Mentioning specific numbers, percentages, awards, and accolades is an excellent way to grab the decision maker's attention. These soundbites will make you a memorable candidate.
4) Tell a story. Psychology tells us that offering a compelling, relatable story makes us more memorable and persuasive. Some studies show that telling a story makes us 22X more memorable. If you could be 22X more memorable than the next candidate, think of the impact it could make on your interview outcome!
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 23rd, 2022
How to Answer
First, think about your best skills and qualifications. Ponder on a mix of hard skills and soft skills.
- Hard skills: Specific knowledge gained through training and education.
- Soft skills: Traits you possess, such as emotional intelligence and sociability.
If you can't think of ways you stand out, ask a few trusted friends, family members, or coworkers what sets you apart from others. Their observations may be helpful. If you already know your stand-out skills, that's great! Either way, don't be afraid to brag about yourself a bit. In an interview, you are your greatest advocate.
Also, take your time reviewing the job description. It's essential to approach this question with less focus on your needs and more on EY's needs. Looking at the job description or job posting for the role, you can quickly dissect what the hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. Once you know the firm or department's primary needs, you can frame a precise answer to this question.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 23rd, 2022
What You Need to Know
The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the HireVue parameters set by EY, the asynchronous interview platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 23rd, 2022
Answer Example
"The senior manager job posting mentions that EY's Financial Accounting Advisory Services department requires an experienced accountant to help finance leaders address the ongoing challenges they face in their business. Having worked as a Senior Corporate Accountant for the past fifteen years, I've developed these skills and more. I have a passion for helping finance leaders address the challenges facing their businesses. I genuinely enjoy partnering with them to achieve their potential in acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, or accounting standards policy implementation. EY should hire me because I will work tirelessly while applying my knowledge and experience to meet the needs of the firm, my department, and the clients that I serve. In addition, I will create innovative commercial insights for clients, and drive improvements in business processes."
Written by Rachelle Enns on May 23rd, 2022
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