I initially applied to Mazars Birmingham office back in October 2016. After going through the initial online stages which included online application form and numerical tests, I was invited to the first stage interview in the Birmingham office in November 2016. The first stage interview is a competency based interview (the competencies you are tested against are readily available on the Mazars website/Glassdoor) and consisted of a comprehension exercise where you are asked to read an article and prepare answers to questions on it before you have a 1-1 interview with a partner. Be sure to prepare examples of your ability to complete the Mazars competencies using the STAR technique. However, a very important part of the Mazars interview process is to let your personality show and to be yourself. The ethos of the company relies on its people and hence they look to employ personable people who will fit into their workforce, so relax! After being told that I was successful after the first stage, I received an email telling me that the position had been filled in Birmingham but I was welcome to progress to the next stage in a range of other offices. I chose Leeds due to its proximity to my University town. After not hearing anything for months, in March 2017 I was finally invited to the Assessment Centre in Leeds. This consisted of a 1-1 skills based interview with a partner, a basic numerical and writing test. There is very little you can do to prepare for this Assessment Centre as they are looking to see what skills you have and (especially) the kind of personality you possess. Mazars do provide a pack to give you an idea of the running of the day and what they are looking for. You can use this to do a little bit of preparation, but really they are looking for natural, unscripted answers that give them an idea of what motivates you and how you work rather than examples of previous working experiences (that's what the first stage interview is for). In the group exercise it is a good idea to keep an eye on the time (personal watches come in handy for this) and make sure your group meets the brief set. Make sure you listen as much as you speak and give everyone the opportunity to contribute, but don't worry too much, this is also a fun experience. I received a phone call with my offer of employment less than an hour after leaving the assessment center (I was on the train travelling home) though they say that it can take up to 2 days to be informed. I have consequently accepted the offer.

Very simple -more like a conversation. It was like an informal chat. Very simple questions and they appreciated honesty. IT went by very quickly and they were very welcoming. There was treats and snacks available after along with a chance to chat to some employees