This document provides a summary of a PwC soft skills workshop on surviving an interview. The workshop covers who PwC is as a global professional services network with over 163,000 employees in 151 countries. It then discusses what an interview is and reasons for failure. The workshop teaches body language tips and how to provide concrete examples using the STAR method. It also addresses unexpected questions and concludes with tips on preparing for an interview and dressing appropriately.
6. PwC around the world
151 countries
163,000 people
FY07: US$ 24.7 billion revenue
FY08: US$ 28.2 billion revenue
FY09: US$ 26.2 billion revenue
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7. PwC in Belgium
4 Offices
Antwerp – Brussels – Ghent – Liège
1 350 people
41 nationalities
FY07: 194 M euro revenue
FY08: 207 M euro revenue
FY09: 195 M euro revenue
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8. Our Clients
PwC Belgium | Long-term relationships with our clients
Large international firms are the core to the business
Belgian Market
19%
Public Sector
2%
EU
3%
Large multi-nationals
76%
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9. Our jobs for juniors
Go for a career in:
Audit & Consulting
IT Consulting
HR Consulting
Tax Services
Legal Services
Accounting
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10. Why is making a
good impression in
an interview that
important?
11. PwC Selection Process
• Application form: Cover Letter & CV
• Selection Day:
− Psychometric tests: numerical & verbal
− Solving a case
− Group discussion
− Language test
− HR and Business Interview
• 3. Offer
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12. What is an Interview?
• ‘Two-way conversation with a purpose; getting to know each other’
• Opportunity for the interviewer and the interviewee to get further
information
• NOT an interrogation!
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14. Body Language
• Give a firm handshake
• Smile
• Respect personal space
• Maintain eye contact – don’t eyeball
• Relax
• Breathe
• Dress appropriately
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15. Take the 3 characteristics
you wrote down
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16. Providing Information
Exercise: your own STAR answer
Team player
Sociable Communicative
Most given characteristics
Motivated Flexible
Driven Dynamic
Optimistic
Enthusiastic Eager to learn
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17. 3 characteristics that describe you best: exercise
Try to describe, as concretely as possible,
a situation in which you showed ...
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18. Providing Information
• When the interviewer asks you for examples, you should describe
them as concrete as possible!
• Using the STAR method
− Situation:
give an example of a situation you were involved in and which
produced a positive outcome
− Task:
describe the tasks involved in that situation
− Action:
talk about the various actions involved in the situation’s task
− Result:
describe what results directly followed because of your actions
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19. Providing Information
Example of a STAR answer:
Situation: Action:
During my internship last summer, I was I designed a new promotional package to go
responsible for managing various events. out to the local community businesses. I also
included a rating sheet to collect feedback on
Task: our events, and organized internal round-table
I noticed that attendance at these events discussions to raise awareness of the issue with
had dropped by 30% over the past 3 years our employees.
and wanted to do something to improve
these numbers. Result:
We utilised some of the wonderful ideas we
received from the community, made our
internal systems more efficient and visible and
raised attendance by 18% the first year.
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20. Providing Information
Example of a STAR answer:
Situation: Action:
Whilst acting as a relief supervisor at a I listened carefully to the customer’s point
well-known pizza restaurant, a customer of view. Calmly and diplomatically, I
began to loudly complain about the explained that there was a lack of staff due
service being slow. to illness. I reassured the customer that the
order was being dealt with and I offered
Task: complimentary drinks whilst the customer
To satisfy the person without upsetting and his family were waiting.
other customers who were also waiting
for their food and who had arrived Result:
earlier. The customer calmed down and
appreciated the situation we faced. He
realised that that it wasn’t deliberate and
decided to wait quietly, with the free drinks.
Lesson learnt: the importance of listening
to people and seeing their point of view.
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22. Unexpected Questions
• If you encounter a difficult or unexpected question; stay calm and
take your time.
• For example:
− Can we continue this conversation in (another language)?
−…
► Treat them as a challenge!
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23. Reasons for failure
• Attending the interview but NOT preparing for it
• Providing superficial information or waffling
• Failing to listen to the questions
• Answering a question that was not asked
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25. Conclusion
Surviving an interview
Tips & Tricks
• Prepare your interview: browse the organisation’s website, think
about why you want to work for this company
• Try out the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Dress appropriately
• Mind your body language: smile, firm handshake, relax and breathe
• Listen carefully to the questions of the recruiter: stay calm and take
your time
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27. Where to find further information
• Stay informed about our jobs and recruitment events on
www.careers.pwc.be
• Apply at PwC! Selection Days every week: www.selectiondays.be
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