Bookshelf

Key Competencies  

In addition to your academic qualifications, we look at your competencies in eight key areas. By competencies we mean the skills and behaviours which you will need to demonstrate to be successful at KPMG. 

When preparing for your interview and assessment centre, you should think about these areas carefully and consider how you have demonstrated these skills and behaviours in your life.

You can demonstrate these through academic work, hobbies, part-time jobs or extra curricular activities. Try to think about some specific examples of things you’ve done in the last two to three years that relate to our competencies. Spend some time remembering what you did, what role you played and what challenges you faced.

Business Focus

It’s very important to us that our employees are genuinely interested in business and commercial issues. We really want people to be passionate about the business world.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you had a job where you gained real insight into the factors affecting a business?

• Could you see how this business could be further developed?

• Do you keep up-to-date with the business news by reading the press and watching or listening to the media?

• Do you read about various organisations and can you offer ideas about how they could develop their activities and improve their results?

Building Relationships

Teamwork is a big part of what we do at KPMG. Whichever area of our business you join, you’ll work as part of a team on a regular basis. We’re looking for people who enjoy sharing ideas and discussing issues, and who value the input of other team members. Client contact is a big part of what we do, so being able to build relationships is also crucial.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you ever successfully completed a project as part of a team?

• Do you try to get everyone involved when you're working with other people, supporting and helping when necessary?

• Do you avoid blaming individuals if things go wrong, but help the team to learn from its mistakes?

Leadership

Positive leadership is not about telling people what to do. Instead, it’s about being prepared to take the lead where necessary and having the ability to provide positive and constructive feedback. At KPMG we’re very committed to our core values and look for others to lead by example.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you ever been in a situation where you had to motivate others to achieve a task or project?

• Do you feel comfortable tackling a project with minimal guidance and supervision?

• Are you willing to take the initiative?

Problem Solving

Problem solving is about considering and evaluating all relevant factors, and then making decisions based on your conclusions. It also involves thinking creatively to develop innovative solutions. We look for strong problem solvers who also have the ability to analyse and assess complex numerical information.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you tackle problems in a rational and logical manner? Are you able to see the key issues?

• Do you feel comfortable analysing numerical data and being able to extract key information?

• Do you think through all the options in a systematic way before making a decision?

Task Management

To meet deadlines and work commitments, you’ll need to be a capable task manager. That means being able to plan, prioritise and prepare in advance so that you work efficiently. Invariably there will be occasions in your KPMG career where you’ll have less time than you would like to complete a task.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you take a structured and methodical approach to your work?

• Are you able to keep track of your progress towards a goal and manage your time effectively?

• Are you someone who can manage multiple tasks and plan in advance so that you work efficiently?

Drive and Resilience

We’ve all faced times when challenges or setbacks need to be overcome to achieve a goal. What’s important is how we react to these setbacks and keep motivated in difficult situations. The workplace is no different and there will be times when you face an obstacle or have to work under pressure.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you get your projects completed on time, without too much panic, loss of sleep, or missing out socially?

• Can you think of setbacks, either in education or at work, that you've successfully overcome?

• How do you cope when circumstances change – are you happy to adapt and take a more flexible approach?

Career Motivation

We realise deciding where to begin your career can be difficult, and we understand that you may choose to apply to a number of different organisations. However, we also hope you’ve identified why you want to work for us in particular and have thought carefully about why you want to work in your chosen field.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you thought seriously about why you think you would enjoy working for a firm like KPMG?

• Have you found out as much as you can about the work involved in the specialist area you're aiming to join?

• Have you read this site thoroughly and looked for any further information available?

• Do you have a clear understanding of what you will be doing during the early part of your career?

Making an Impact

To make an impact with colleagues and clients, you must be able to communicate clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing. You’ll also need to be able to adapt your style to meet the needs of different audiences.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you communicate your ideas persuasively and effectively both verbally and in writing?

• Are you able to stick to the point and not get distracted?

• Do you understand the needs of different audiences and adapt your communication methods accordingly?