Help by Partner
Hello guys,
I am an accounting major with 3.82 GPA from DePaul Univeristy. I am coaching tennis and recently I met a retired Deloitte partner. She takes tennis lessons from me every day, so she offered me any kind of assistance that I could need for my career. I am not sure what should I ask not to be too demanding but at the same time I do not want to miss an opportunity. Recently before I met her I got a phone interview from Deloitte for a tax intern position and I let her know about the person who interviewed me because she insisted and told me that she would reach out to a Chicago office (where I go to school). Any ideas how should I approach her? she has been very helpful, I guess she sees the effort that I put in her lessons. No idea.
Thanks a lot!
match point
What do you mean Melvvar by saying "match point". thanks
.
I would just be up front and ask her if she can put you in contact with somebody that can help you out. If you're still in school I know big 4 hires a majority of its interns post-graduation, so just be like "Hey, do you think you can set me up with somebody to talk about an internship for next summer?"
If she already offered her assistance, I wouldn't beat around the bush and just ask for help.
She just told me that she made inquiries about permanent position for me. Also she told me that she talked to the people at the top in tax division and they are interested in me. Do not know how Deloitte can be interested in me when I do not have much experience. Any ideas?
This whole rat race is about who you know at the end of the day. People with zero experience get hired to amazing places because of who they know. You happen to be in a position to know someone that can help you, stop asking questions and just #1 thank her and #2 if she does end up getting you a job make sure that you work hard in the role that you're given.
Well do you want to do accounting or another service Deloitte offers?
Yes I definitely want to do accounting for Deloitte. Tax is what I am thinking of but I cant deny audit at this point either. what do you think?
This! ^^ Be sure to give 120% in any interview she arranges for you, not to speak to give 150% if it materialises in a job. ... and thank her!
I understand that I have to put 120%effort. I need less of that kind of advice hungaroe. What I am looking for is the way I can utilize this connection. effort is expected and definitely doable.
What do you mean how you can "utilize" this connection ?
I mean "using persons connections who wants to help me to advance in my career".
In this case it is clear that she likes you and wants to give you a hand. Be open to her and tell her about your plans and goals. In any case let her have the lead and update her on any progress you make.
With other contact it depends on how close they are to you and their interest in you. Sometimes it is better to ask for "advice" on how to best approach a company (or their own company), hence give them the opportunity to chose their level of involvement (mostly people tend to engage themselves when they see a motivated, educated young professional). Sometime it is better to start by asking their motivation for working in their company, why they chose that field, how they see the development/future of their industry, and thereafter start with your "pitch".
Asking directly for help is a tricky issue, but sometimes you only have one shot, so be honest. At some point most people have had a helping hand in a way or another.
Thanks for the input hungaroeand bfin , I appreciate your advises. Okay, so I did not get that internship because hours I could work legally (20 since I am an international student) were not matching their full time internship requirement. But my friend who I talked about above (retired partner) showed me email exchanges she had with other current partner and and actually person who recruited me and they were talking about me as a potential full time employee, if I apply for it. Then I talk to an actual recruiter and he urged me to apply for fulltime permanent positions. I did.Also he told me that we could have a coffee during a lunch time some time next few days. I have never been invited to a business lunch so I am not sure how should I act, especially when I will be interacting directly with a Deloitte HR recruiter. If you guys could tell me what should I act like, what type of questions should I ask and all these general stuff, then I would be really thankful!
Sincerely, George
The best way to describe that kind of lunch would probably be to treat it as if you're meeting with your girlfriend's parents for the first time. You want to be proper and polite, but you also want to be likable. Since you already have a retired partner vouching for you, it's likely that the people from Deloitte there will already have a good impression of you (I know that at my firm, when someone says they've talked to a kid and had a negative/positive impression, 90% of the time I'm going to go wind up agreeing with them.) Basically, don't make any offensive jokes, think about what you say and how it's going to sound before you say it, and be polite. A couple other things to note about business lunches:
They're not about eating. They're a social event, and the meal should be the last thing on your mind, especially when you have something to gain, as you do here.
Ask questions, but not too many questions. It shouldn't be a constant stream of questions from one side or the other, but rather a conversation. If you ask a question and find something you have in common or something you find interesting, go ahead and comment on it and dig a little deeper.
Best of luck in your recruiting.
These lunches are vary varied, but it is a good analogy. There is interest in you, placed by an sponsor that has some leverage in the decision. The HR wont stand in the way if you don't mess it up. The decision will probably come from the business side, but they are most of the time hungry for good people. Additional interviews will follow.
I'd say, take it as an interview in a more relaxed and favourable setting. By no means be under stress, but don't take it lightly either.
Fully agree with the hints. here some basic suggestions and other more of style:
Be polite, show your interest for your host and the company/potential opportunity, "court" the HR guy (nice conversation, instead of Q&A or your monologue).
1) don't go hungry to the lunch. You should focus on the conversation. 2) be on time (i.e. 10 min earlier and wait for him on the bar. it is ok to already order a glass of water for instance) 3) dress formally (business is ok), brush shoes, and groom 4) let him guide the conversation, and have the "control" of the event. 5) however, make sure you bring three or four important points over the conversations. So prepare these three points (what is it that I'd like him to remember/give feedback from me/this lunch), and bring them over with confidence but tact. 6) as mentioned above, your goal will be to have a nice, agreeable conversation, placing your interest and why you are a good candidate. 7) in my opinion, I would make sure you decently drop a few words on the partner and your gratitude to her for helping arranging for the meeting, as well as to your host for taking the time to know you. 8) follow up (perhaps later or next day) with an email to HR host, and also communicate with the partner and quickly brief her and thank her personally.
last point: better avoid drinking wine/alcohol, if possible.
You have a tremendous leverage from your sponsor (partner), so if you tick the right boxes, you are a good step ahead.
Good luck, keep us posted.
if she was a partner and you have decent grades in accounting then I'm sure she can help, just ask
Guys thank you so much for such a great input!
I am browsing through the web and looking answers for Deloitte recruiting process for Tax consulting (that what I applied for) and I do not find anything specific. Does anyone know or have any idea how many interviews are conducted, and in what format, for this kind of job?
Also, Monday I am attending an office visit with Deloitte, and I am wondering what I should be acting like. What is the purpose of it,for me as an applicant and etc.
I will definitely keep you posted with what happens ahead.
Thanks again for an invaluable input! George
Hello guys, I wanted to keep you posted with how recruiting process is going, while at the same time, ask you your opinion that has been genuinely helping me out throughout this process. I was selected for the 1st round on campus interview and I successfully completed it with 2 partners after which they contacted me within 2 days and told me that I am selected for the second interview. In office interview is going to consist of Dinner the night before interview, and 3 in person interviews followed by lunch with tax staff. What do you guys think, how different is second round interview going to be from first? how are the chances to make it through second round,in compared to first? Please explain me your reasoning. I am very thankful to all of you for your inputs.
Sincerely, George
Congrats George! You are on the right track, particularly if the 2 partners + former-partner are availing you.
In my experience this kind of follow-up interview can be to confirm their view (get other partners ok) and particularly get the opinion of the people actually working with you. I never heard of Big 4 actually giving chance to be interviewed by staff, but recruiting differs from location to location.
These interviews will probably be more "personal" (motivation, past work, etc), particularly when meeting the other partners. The staff piece can entail both a chance (i) for you to ask questions and get a good picture of your role there (many times it is easier to ask "some" questions to "peers"/jr people), (ii) staff people get an insight of you, perhaps flag any personal traits not welcome in that group (i.e. arrogance, etc.). Perhaps you will get an interview with associate/VP level, with a more technical touch. The partners decide on extending an offer. Having 3 positive opinions in your pocket already is a good advantage, as the others usually tend to corroborate/be anchored by these. Nevertheless, each interview is a world for itself. In many cases, Partners will hear staff's opinion, mostly to get a 360 view and if is an absolutely no-go.... but, missing one technical question will be a secondary concern for them.
Same core advice as in the previous posts, and include the following: be consistent, and use the chance to ask questions, see things and get a good picture if in your opinion you fit in their shop and they are a good fit for you.
Good luck!
Deloitte takes referrals pretty seriously, congrats on stumbling upon an excellent networking opportunity. Just stay connected and continue being friendly but make your desires known. Be upfront and honest about it, but not pushy.
Thank you Hungeroe, and yeahright,
yeah guys, this is my dream company so I was preparing for the first interview more than for exams. I answered questions pretty smoothly and gave them understanding that I did quite a research about the company and I was up to evey news. One interesting fact though. My friend who was interviewing right after me, asked to the partner how many people were advancing and they said that they would pick 8 out of 16 people for the second round. and then on the second round 5 people would be picked for the position. I don;t know guys, this seems too high of a numbers, do you think that this could be realistic? 2nd: even if this is not a realistic number, could it be the case that chance of going through 1st round of interview is lower than the chance of surviving send interview? I personally thought that 2nd interview must be harder to survive.
Anybody's opinion matters, thanks a lot guys
Hey guys! I got an offer from deloitte and other two big 4 firm as well! I am so happy. Thanks for sharing your knowledge...I have to accept one withing couple of days
Hey guys! I got an offer from deloitte and other two big 4 firm as well! I am so happy. Thanks for sharing your knowledge...I have to accept one withing couple of days
Hey Congrats! that's great news. Now get ready to get all the best for your career and personal growth.
Thank you very much for your advises hungaroe
Ab ullam distinctio mollitia velit minus. Error est est quia eum. Harum tempore quisquam qui incidunt. Aliquid deleniti corporis mollitia praesentium aspernatur. Reprehenderit consequatur numquam consequatur voluptatem hic nemo. Vitae occaecati magni pariatur sequi neque.
Provident voluptas animi commodi ea laudantium illum voluptas. Beatae ab numquam architecto blanditiis recusandae aliquam quas. Et voluptas nostrum error dolore ea ducimus voluptatem. Veritatis repellendus voluptatem sed quo qui. Perspiciatis sit quis sint.
Asperiores veritatis id in illum est possimus a. Ratione officia quo rerum quaerat temporibus modi et.
Sunt iste perferendis ut debitis. Ipsum id quae nihil voluptatem corrupti perferendis. Unde voluptas occaecati rem incidunt qui dicta voluptatem. Quae dignissimos aut reiciendis alias mollitia quae sint. Ut eos ut expedita qui facilis iure tempora officiis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Quod nemo aut qui voluptates qui. Non nemo autem deserunt deleniti quisquam ullam non. Quasi minima quo ut tempora delectus laborum ut. Praesentium voluptatem officia quo cum dignissimos maxime quia. Sit aut quos hic incidunt modi possimus deleniti. Tempora aliquid aliquid non officia quia ipsa voluptate earum.