Marcus K. Reif, head of recruiting and employer branding for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at EY, will tell you how to make the leap into the consulting business.
Why is EY the ideal first employer?
The global EY organization is a market leader in auditing, tax advisory, transaction advisory and management consulting. With our experience, our knowledge and our services, we strengthen trust in the economy and financial markets worldwide. We are ideally equipped for this: with excellently trained employees, strong teams, excellent services and proverbial customer service. Our goal is to move things forward and make them significantly better – for our employees, our clients and the society in which we live. This is what our global claim “Building a better working world” stands for.
What career entry opportunities are available at EY?
These are diverse and range from internships at home and abroad to trainee programs (AuditPLUS and AdvisoryPLUS), traineeships or working student positions through to direct entry as an assistant or consultant in all specialist areas.
No matter which area you start in, you will quickly take on responsibility, encounter exciting challenges and take a look behind the scenes of companies in a wide range of industries and sizes. Right from the start, you help move things forward and make them significantly better. We support our employees in exploring their talents and developing the potential that lies within them.
“Cold numbers people”, “stuffy”, “poor work-life balance” – these are some of the clichés regarding the profession of auditor. What do you say about such prejudices?
Our employees often act at the center of the action. They not only check and certify, but are also advisors, trustees and experts for their clients - from innovative medium-sized companies to large DAX mandates.
Our teams around the world are the guarantee of our success. Powerful, flexible, diverse, innovative and values-based collaboration – a real plus for EY and for everyone who is part of such a team. Mutual appreciation and an inspiring working atmosphere in which every opinion counts are the cornerstones of our team culture.
What qualities and skills should a young applicant have? What impresses you?
We are looking for personalities who will help us move forward. Talent and potential are more important to us than grades. Because the person who has the best analytical skills and is an expert in theory is not always the best colleague for the respective project.
We are looking for talent with good academic performance, analytical skills and the will to create! We also rely on social skills and flexibility. Due to our international network, good English skills are a prerequisite, as is the ability to work in a team.
Students and graduates in which disciplines are you looking for?
We cover a wide range of disciplines. We welcome graduates of business administration, economics, law, business informatics and computer science, as well as industrial engineers, business mathematicians and mathematicians.
What does the selection process consist of? What tasks do applicants have to face?
The application is made online in the job portal. After checking your application, you will receive an invitation to our online assessment if you are generally suitable. This test gives us and you the opportunity to find out more about your strengths. Your application has convinced us: we will then invite you to get to know us personally.
How many new employees do you hire per year?
In the last financial year, we hired around 1,600 new colleagues. In addition, we offer around 1,400 internship positions every year in the areas of auditing, tax consulting, management and transaction consulting
What advice would you like to give to students and graduates?
Create relevance in everything you do.
Marcus K. Reif, head of recruiting and employer branding for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at EY, will tell you how to make the leap into the consulting business.
