PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Associate Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated May 22, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 39 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 39 ratings
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| 31–39 of 39 PricewaterhouseCoopers Interviews | Sort by |
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Jul 21, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2008 in Manchester, England (United Kingdom) (took 4+ weeks)
Missed the first intake on a new programme but was contacted to re-apply for the second intake. Fairly standard but reasonably rigorous process of online application form + sumitting CV then a round of online testing (numerical and spatial) followed by a competency-based telephone interview followed by a half day assessment centre consisting of more testing (but this time harder and included verbal reasoning), a group exercise, a written exercise and an interview with two senior managers.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
I wasn't able to negotiate beyond the initial offer but in hindsight probably could have gotten an extra £1K out of them - they try and stick to salary bandings fairly strictly from what I can see. To be fair, they offered me more than the going rate in recognition that I was earning significantly more at the time. PwC leverages it's brand heavily and in my experience the recruitment contact was reasonably aggressive - I took my time to decide whether I wanted to accept the offer given it was a sizeable drop in salary and it was pointed out to me that there would be plenty more people lining up for the job if I didn't want it. PwC generally under-pays or rather, doesn't pay top of the market but in recognition of offering you a great place to work which to a large extent is true - everyone is generally very nice and there are opporrunities there but it's up to you to seize them.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and an IQ/Intelligence Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted May 6, 2010
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2008 (took 2 days)
I would consider it as three round session. First round was kind of on campus interview.Questions were very generic like"Tell me something about youself"?," Can you work in team?", Have you ever had conflict with your superiors , if yes how did you handled the situation"
Second round was like a informal dinner. With 4 people on the table with 4 other interviewees. Generic questions like how do you feel like being here and which places you like to go to drink and eat.
Third round was tuff one with 4 people interviewing me(Some other associates had 3). Detailed question based on what you have in resume(If it is a technical position)
Overall response was good.People answered your questions about the firm and offer.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
I was not able to negotiate. But always try to negotiate. Generally PwC pays less then Deloitte, IBM Consulting and Capgemini but more then EnY and KPMG for advisory associate. Show your HR personal a graph of salaries from IBM and Deloitte.
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Background Check, a Personality Test and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Apr 28, 2010 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jul 2008 in McLean, VA (took 2 weeks)
Had an initial phone conversation where the recruiter asked what I was looking for. I was coming from an engineering manufacturing company where I had a background in Continuous Improvement and Supply Chain Management. Followed by an in-person interview with two senior associates, and a manger. After that initial round of interviews, I was called the next day to set up a final interview with a Managing Director. Usually they have you interview with Managers and a Director and the final round with a Partner, but I guess this team was different.
I received a call the next business day with a verbal offer where I negotiated for a sign-on bonus. I received the written offer later that afternoon and accepted the offer.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
It was over the phone with the recruiter. She offered me a base and I asked for more. She said she would check with the Managing Director and came back about 10 minutes later saying that the MD approved a sign-on bonus, but that was as high as they would go.
Other Details
I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Background Check, a 1:1 Interview and a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Mar 13, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2008 (took 4+ weeks)
Very timely in responding to candidate post-interview. Very relaxed during on-grounds interview. Second round at the office involved a series of presentations, informal lunch meetings and one on one interviews with employees from different levels. Work culture seemed comfortably conservative. My advice would be to practice behavioial questions about leadership experience and work habits.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Background Check, a Group/Panel Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Feb 7, 2010
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2010 in Chicago, IL (took 2 weeks)
The people at PwC were great. The final interview day consisted of three one-on-one interviews where we just talked about my experiences and what it's like to work at the firm. They really tried to get to know me instead of simply asking scripted questions.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted May 5, 2009 — 3 of 3 people found this helpful
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2008 (took 3 weeks)
This review is for an on-campus recruiting position. This probably doesn't reflect the process for experienced hires.
PwC posted several job posting on my university's career website. From there, I got an invitation to interview on campus. This interview was pretty standard, about 45 minutes, with your basic behavior questions ("Tell me about a time when....", "Why PwC?"). No cases or brainteasers.
About a week or so later, I got a call and e-mail inviting me for an office visit and second round interview. They put me up in the Ritz, which was next-door to the office, and took me and the other interviewees out to dinner the night before. The next day was made up of a few information sessions, 3 or 4 interviews (usually one with an HR person, one with a senior associate, and one with a partner), and a lunch. They also pair you up with an employee (usually an associate) to help you get to where you need to be and answer any questions you might have. The interviews themselves were very similar to the first round on-campus interviews. All behavioral and fit questions. They know you're smart from your resume, but they want to know that (1) you want to work there and (2) that you'll fit in.
After the interviews, it was probably about 10-14 days before I got a decision. Once I found out I got an offer, every single person I interviewed with (even the partner) called to congratulate me and ask if I had any questions. The partner also called a few months later just to check in, which I thought was nice.
Overall, PwC does a great job in making you feel comfortable, and they really go out of their way to make you feel wanted once they extend an offer.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Since it was a standard offer extended to hundreds, if not thousands, of new hires, there wasn't really much room for negotiation. However, due to the economy, they later adjusted the base salary down, but provided the difference in the form of semi-annual bonuses.
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Mar 24, 2009 — 2 of 2 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jun 2008 in Atlanta, GA (took 1 week)
The recruiting process on campus all together lasted a full semester with many entertaining social events and opportunities to mingle with the people you could eventually be working with. Everyone was always extremely kind and willing to do anything they could to help you. After an on-campus interview, you may be offered a chance to travel to the office for a visit to tour the facility. During this time you will be presented with a group information session, as well as three interviews--oh yeah and they put you up in expensive hotels and take you to eat at expensive restaurants, but concentrate on the interviews :-) You will interview with someone just above your level, usually a senior associate; this one is mainly behavioral. You will next have a more technical interview (in my case, because my position was rather technical). The last interview is another behavioral interview, only this time you are interviewing with a partner in the practice. Don't freak out--the partners are very down-to-earth and are just as easy to talk to as your best friend. Just don't become too informal during the process. After leaving the office I had a call the next day with the results of the interview and my offer letter with the next week.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
It's best to have a second offer letter to use as leverage during negotiation, but I actually didn't even interview at another firm, so of course that was out of the question for me. I was still able to negotiate an additional $5000 per year, although they seem at first as though the salary is set and there is nothing they can do about it. I never actually heard back from them about it until I got a duplicate offer letter in the mail that had my new salary on it.
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Mar 19, 2009 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2007 in Dallas, TX (took 3 weeks)
The interview process began with a half hour one on one interview on campus. After that, I was contacted for a second interview referred to as the office visit. PwC took all the candidates to dinner the night before to give us an opportunity to network with and observe the people who work there. I felt this was a good opportunity to prove you could interact well and provide a good first impression. The following day, the office visit took place. First, they provided breakfast and a presentation on their company. I really appreciated that part of the day because they exposed you to the exciting opportunities they had to offer, and it really helped reinforce why you were there. After that, three separate interviews were conducted. They were a little intimidating, but the interviewers did a good job at making you feel comfortable. There was a lot of emphasis on my point of view and any questions I had, so I would suggest having a few questions in mind before the office visit. Finally, they took us to lunch to finish the day and contacted me shortly afterward. Overall, it was an exciting experience, and I feel that PwC has a great process.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Personality Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Advisory Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Posted Mar 19, 2009
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2008 in New York, NY (took 3 weeks)
This process began with on-campus recruitment where PwC visited and conducted first round interviews. A dinner with people from the team I was interviewing for was held the night before which was incredibly helpful and allowed for great insight into the interview the next day. This initial interview was a fairly easy behavioral interview, b/c I had made my impression already the night before at dinner (I sat next to the person who interviewed me). The next step was a full day interview on-site at the PwC building in NYC. I interviewed with 3 people - HR and 2 managers on the team. There was a lunch with a peer where I was able to ask additional questions, and a panel where I heard from recent hires. The day was long, but it was done well. The interviews did not involve a case, but were very behavioral and situationally based. Lots of examples were requested and details were required. Finally, there was a 1 hour interview with the head partner over the phone which was supposed to be a formality. It turned into a pretty detailed and specific interview about what I had done and what I wanted to do. I believe this last interview played a role in my negotiation. Overall culture was impressive, and build upon a platform of a "coaching environment". Overall office atmosphere was busy, but light-hearted.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Very little. However I did try. I had another offer on the table for significantly more money, at a higher pay grade. But, the other company was inferior, and thus there were fewer long term prospects. I went back and forth with my HR representative, who in turn was going back and forth with a partner in the group I was accepted into. I would suggest always negotiating, but be careful, and consider the economic times. Do your homework and understand what you are worth, benchmark against other companies in the area so you know your range and consider negotiating for things OTHER than salary.
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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