Akarsh’s insights into securing an audit role with BDO

We recently caught up with Akarsh to discuss securing an audit role with BDO, from what stood out about BDO to tips on how you can succeed too.

What stood out to you about the firm you secured a role with?

I first came across BDO at Bright Network’s Festival and when I spoke to the BDO representatives the supportive nature of the team really stood out to me. They seem to heavily invest in the skills of their employees. This is really useful for someone just starting out in their career. 

I originally applied for an internship which I got and since then they’ve converted this internship into a graduate role. They were great at accommodating me and my requirements for the role and during the interview process. I thought it was great that they had someone from Human Resources calling all the applicants the day before the interview to check in with them and make sure everyone’s on the same page.

How did you make your application stand out?

I was genuine. They received a lot of applications and it’s easy to pick out when someone’s not being genuine or copying and pasting from the internet. It’s also important to research the role before the interview. Bright Network helped me with this through the website by having lots of articles online about the industry and the firms. For me, being successful was a combination of being genuine and researching the firm.

What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?

The assessment centre - this was the last part of the application process. One of the tasks was a discussion with the other applicants which was quite daunting. The others were quite confident and seemed to know their stuff quite well, but it’s important to understand that everyone’s in the same boat and keep calm.

To prepare, I researched the firm on the website and online more generally. I also contacted an employee at BDO, and she ran me through the procedure. This was really helpful before the assessment centre. 

If you want to prepare for your assessment centre, complete our Assessment Centre module to learn everything you need to succeed.

What are your top tips for tackling touch interview questions?

Don’t overthink it. Lots of people say the answer the interviewers are expecting rather than what they want to say. Sometimes they fumble the answer or don’t understand what they’re saying fully. Speak confidently and don’t worry too much about what the interviewers want to hear.

What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?

1. Start early. I started engaging with Bright Network right at the beginning of university which was really helpful. This helps you figure out which firm, not just which sector.
2. Remail confident. You’ll probably face lots of rejections, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something better waiting for you.
3. Research. Do some in-depth research into the company, the role, and the skills required. See if these skills match what you need in a job and your long-term career goals. 

I wish all graduate members the best in your job search!