KPMG Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – Very diffcult questions were using the star method

Interview Details – I started by emailing an alum of the law school who worked for KPMG. I had previously applied to the company through its online system. Interviews appear to be gained through networking but this may be a function of the economy. They did not appear to interview on campus but as an LLM, I am not apart of the on campus interview process. I was contacted by KPMG's HR person and I was scheduled for an interview. During the first interview I spoke with 2 people. Both attorneys and both accountants. They were both experienced attorneys who had worked for other employers and had recently been hired by KPMG. People seem to gain some promotions by switching companies instead of being promoted upwards. Neither interview went great. I did not feel good about the interview process. When I was obtaining my JD, I interviewed with a number of law firms so I think I know how to interview with attorneys but these interviews did not go well. I was pursuing employment because I anticipated that I would obtain my LLM in May and I did obtain my LLM in May of 2011. But, I had a second interview with their accountants in the SALT department. I spoke with 5 people. I was tired by the end of the interviews. They don't put people up in hotels the day before interviews like law firms do. I think I know how to explain my experience to lawyers but I do not know whether those explanations work for accountants at an accounting firm. I don't think they understood the type of work I used to do at Sullivan & Cromwell. It did not seem to be a fit at all. It just was not a fit. I cannot explain their culture but it wasn't a fit. I kept trying to understand what an attorney does at an accounting firm. I know what attorneys do at law firms.

Interview Details – Very detailed tax questions and situations...not adequately prepared for interview. Better luck next time.

Interview Details – After having applied online, the first round consisted of a recruiter contacting me and running through the standard gambit of questions relating to my experience, educational qualifications and why was I applying for the position. The next set of questions was a basic technical screening on the technologies used (Object Oriented Principles, .Net Basics).

After clearing that, I had a more detailed screening on the phone. This was with a Development Manager and was for a little over an hour. The questioning was on everything I said was my strengths, in terms of technologies. Lots of detailed questions on SQL, Advanced C#, Databases, Designing and .Net technologies. Definitely an intense round as the questions were not the canned types but more the thought-invoking ones with 'why would you do this, what technological aspect of blah blah would you use in this scenario', etc. Be prepared to justify your answers in detail, and not just spitting out what you learned online.

Third round was on site with a whole group of Architecture, Development and Product Managers. This was for about 4 hours. I was asked everything about everything I have probably ever done in 5 years of my work experience and why and how I could have, would have done it differently and why! Technical questions, design questions, implementing technical solutions to problems on a white board, analysis of code, nuts and bolts about .Net framework, internals, memory utilization, threading, C#, database designing, etc. PHEW! Don't expect a red carpet with coffee and cake. It's all business!

Interview Details – Initial contact was a very quick and general phone interview about why I was interested in the position. I was invited to interview with 2 fairly senior individuals in the group.

My first 1:1 interview was very intense and very technical. I was asked very specific statistics and financial valuation questions. The first interview felt rushed and there was no Q&A at the end.

The second interview was very behavioral. There were still resume questions but much more high level. Asked why I wanted the position, what I can offer etc. Q&A lasted for what seemed like half the interview.

HR was very quick and rejected me a few hours after I left the interview.

Interview Details – Rigorous

Reason for Declining – I wanted to get some technical experience and due to the length of the interview process had a better offer already

Interview Details – Walk me through your resume?
Experience in Transfer Pricing?

Negotiation Details – A phone call with the salary ready, it seems to be the same salary of $3666 per month for all interns.

Interview Details – Very reasonable interview process by multiple managers and directors.

Interview Details – Upon submission of the application online, I got a call from HR within 24 hours to arrange a meeting with the Senior Managers. The senior managers were very helpful and focused greatly on how a job applicant would be able to grow in the position. I was subsequently referred to the Partner interview, and the interview was extremely technical.