We recently caught up with Kirisun about securing a Junior Tax Associate with BDO, making an application stand out and top tips for Bright Network members looking to follow in their footsteps.
What stood out to you about BDO?
Initially, BDO's values are what compelled me to apply for their internship programme as I was looking for a firm with strong core values. The values were:
- Being responsible and acting with integrity
- Being genuine
- Being collaborative
- Being bold
I believed that BDO would be a great place to gain experience and assess if it is a culture and firm that I would like to be a part of.
During my assessment centre, I met various members of the VAT team who had either been with the company for a long time or had returned to BDO. This stood out as it showed me that it is possible to have a long career within one company or have the opportunity to return appeals to me.
During my internship, I was glad to witness all the values displayed in day-to-day interactions across the board. This greatly contributed to my decision to accept the graduate role offer to return as a Junior Tax Associate within VAT at BDO.
The Early in Careers team also stood out to me. They were in touch and personal throughout this experience. Our assessment centre was postponed, but their proactive nature eased any concerns.
How did you make your application stand out?
‘Be yourself’ was my approach to making my application stand out.
At the time of my application, I had no direct experience that could relate to a corporate environment. I also had taken a few years out of education for various reasons, during which I gained indirect experiences.
Using the job description provided and the values of the firm, I tailored my CV to show how I have demonstrated the qualities and soft skills needed in the past in a different industry and setting. I decided not to use a chronological CV and went with a competency-based CV as I believed it would be better suited for my circumstance.
Do you want to make a stand-out CV like Kirisun? Read our CV advice to ace your applications too
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
The assessment centre, the final stage of the application process was what I would deem as the most challenging. The main reason was that this was my first assessment centre; therefore, it was all new to me, and I was not sure if my preparation would be adequate or not.
However, as it was my first assessment centre, I had told myself that if I did not pass this stage, it would still have been an opportunity to learn, allowing me to ease my nerves, be present and enjoy the process.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
BDO was not a company I was familiar with; it was through Bright Network’s ‘Apply for internship’ tab I came across BDO. From there, I was able to add it to my tracker and research BDO and apply within the deadline.
Later in the process, when I wanted to gain more information about the assessment centre. I turned to Bright Network’s 'Bright advice for acing your assessment centre’ page. This provided me with an understanding and further links to gain a deeper understanding. This, combined with support from my university’s careers team, greatly assisted me in securing this role.
Follow Kirisun's lead and read our Bright advice for acing an assessment centre
What are your top tips for tackling tough interview questions?
1. Prepare
Before the interview, you have the opportunity to prepare. My university’s careers team and tutor supported me by doing a mock interview in the first few weeks of my second year. This mock interview did not go how I wanted, but doing this ahead of time meant that I could better prepare myself for the interview I had with BDO.
2. Spend time to research and reflect
You will not be able to predict all the questions you may be asked; therefore, spending some time researching the role and industry and self-reflection may help answer any unexpected technical and motivational questions.
3. Be honest
Especially if you are asked a question, you do not know the answer to or one where you need to explain a gap in your CV. There are many approaches to these, and you can work with your university’s careers team or independently conclude how to handle them.
Did you get any feedback in the past that helped you with your application?
1. Have a system
You will most likely be applying for more than a handful of opportunities, and it is important to have a system that you can rely on, allowing you to keep track of what stages you are, a copy of the job description and deadlines.
2. Research
Consider why you are applying for the company you chose and how they set themselves from their competitor. In-depth company-based research will help you answer questions relating to the companyand help you form well-thought questions you would like to ask your interviewer and those you interact with during your internship.
3. Consider your unique position and what sets you apart
All of us have different story, personal trials and triumphs. Think about what would allow you to be the person the company is looking for. This can help shape your answer to standard interview questions such as; why us, describe yourself in three words, and what are your strengths and weakness.
4. Have a positive attitude and smile
Rejections will be inevitable, and it may take a while before you have your first human interaction in the application process. This might take a toll on you mentally and discourage you, but your long-term goal is important and gives you the chance to be successful by presenting your best self throughout the process.
From my mock interview and presentation, the advice I received was to smile as things got serious; my facial expression became muted due to nerves and overthinking. Smiling was a visual improvement, and my tone changed, making the overall experience more pleasant.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
1. First-year students, doing well academically allows you to apply for internships and placement years during your second year. Now is also the time to pay attention to when internships are opening and the requirements and roles. I would also use this year to attend events and insight days.
2. Create and update your LinkedIn profile and use it to talk to employees at firms and in roles that you would like to know more about. Looking for alums from your school or university would be a good start.
3. Apply early as you will learn how to create a better application based on your last one.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
