Grant Thornton Assessment Centre, Aptitude Tests, Recruitment Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024
What Is Grant Thornton?
Grant Thornton is one of the largest international professional service networks of independent accounting and consulting firms that provide various services to both the private and public sectors. With over 50,000 employees in 130 countries, Grant Thornton prides itself on discovering the latest and pioneering ways to serve its clients efficiently.
What Is Grant Thornton’s Hiring Process?
There are four steps in the Grant Thornton recruitment process.
Online Application
The first step in the pre-employment screening process is to complete the online application form. This form primarily focuses on the key competencies of Grant Thornton – collaboration, leadership, excellence, agility, respect and responsibility.
You will be asked a series of questions, each with a 500-word limit. In your answers, you should ensure that you highlight your experiences in alignment with the key competencies. Before submitting, you will need to upload your most recent CV and cover letter.
If you pass the application screening, you will move on to the second stage of the recruitment process.
Aptitude Tests
For graduate internships and a handful of other roles, you will be asked to complete two psychometric tests. Grant Thornton mainly uses IBM’s Kenexa Prove It and SHL Assessments to distribute their aptitude tests.
Numerical Reasoning Test- The numerical reasoning test is a timed test that gives you one minute per question (there are 20 questions in total). You will be given various data (graphs, charts, tables) and asked to interpret them. Once you have understood the data, you will select an answer from a multiple-choice selection. The numerical reasoning test is not testing you on your mathematical skills but rather your ability to accurately interpret the data presented to you within a one-minute timeframe. Free numerical reasoning sample questions.
Verbal Reasoning Test – The second test is the verbal reasoning test which evaluates your capability to identify and examine written information. You will be given a block of text to read and then asked to determine if a statement regarding the writing is true/false or if you cannot say. The verbal reasoning test allows Grant Thornton to understand where your verbal skills are as well as how well you work under time pressure. Free verbal reasoning sample questions.
You will be invited to the third stage video interview if you pass both aptitude tests.
Pre-recorded Video Interview
You will be sent a link to a website with a set of questions, and you will be asked to record your answers. You can expect competency questions, and you should link back to Grant Thornton’s key competencies wherever possible.
Below are some common questions:
Why Grant Thornton?
Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict.
Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
Tell me about a time when you led a team.
Because your answers are recorded, it is a good idea to have a few practice rounds with friends or family members beforehand so that you are confident when it comes time to record.
If you are successful with your pre-recorded interview, you will be invited to the assessment day.
Case Study – You will be given a case study on the day related to the job you are applying for. You will then be given 45 minutes to analyse the information and recommend to your partner how you would proceed.
Role Play – The role play will come immediately after your case study and will involve you and your partner discussing the solutions to your case study. Your partner will act as one of Grant Thornton’s clients and ask you real-life questions you will encounter within your role.
Group Task – The group task will see you paired with other job seekers. You will be given a problem and will need to work as a team to come to a solution before presenting back to a panel of interviewers. You want to ensure that you come across as a friendly yet confident team player and show the panel that you fit in with their company values.
Final Interview
The last part of the assessment day is a face-to-face interview. You will be asked competency questions and questions about your work history to date. The interview will last around 45 minutes to one hour and will be with the hiring manager plus an HR representative.
Before attending your assessment centre, you want to ensure that you are up to date with the latest news in the financial industry. Should a question crop up in the interview, then you will be prepared for it.
How to Prepare for Grant Thornton’s Assessments?
Psychometric tests and assessment centres are difficult, but with lots of preparation, you will be able to build up the necessary skills to be successful on the day. For example, taking practice numerical and verbal reasoning tests gives you a sense of how it feels to work accurately under pressure.
The great thing about online practice tests is that you can complete them as many times as you like until things start to make sense. Then, if you keep failing on certain parts of the tests, you can get explanations for the answers, which will help you learn.
The more practice tests you complete, the more familiar you will become with their structure and content and the more comfortable you will feel taking the tests on the day.
