How to prepare for PwC Job Interview

What is PWC (PriceWaterhouseCoopers)

PwC is second-largest professional services network in the world and is considered one of the Big Four accounting firms, along with Deloitte, EY and KPMG. PwC firms operate in 157 countries, 742 locations, with 276,000 people. PwC works in areas related to Assurance, Tax and Advisory services. In FY19, PwC firms provided services to 85% of the Global Fortune 500 companies and more than 100,000 entrepreneurial and private businesses. As of 2019, 26% of the workforce worked in the Americas, 26% in Asia, 32% in Western Europe and 5% in Middle East and Africa.

Key highlights

Company name: PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited
Short name: PwC
Founded: Merger of Price Waterhouse with Coopers and Lybrands in 1998
Business verticals per revenue: Assurance (41%), Tax and Legal Practices (25%) and Advisory (34%)
PWC Headquarter: London, UK
PWC Offices in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune

Why should you work at PwC?

PwC is a globally renowned brand that is recognized and respected as part of Big4
PwC offers tons of different kinds of services to clients be it Audit/tax/consulting/technology/risk/advisory etc. and thereby provides opportunities for employees to work across areas/domains/problems.
Working experience at PwC makes it easier to move to other Big4 due to similar type of work, structure and consulting areas.
PwC has well defined global policies, employee engagement and structure.
PwC is extremely fair towards its employees. It pays everyone at par or above market standards. Performing employees are recognized and rewards.
PwC employees work with premium domestic clients and challenging business/technology problems in most cases

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Interview process at PWC

PWC is one of the largest professional services firms in world, and its brand is recognized everywhere. Every year, a large number of candidate apply for different roles in PWC, and few lucky one make through the rigorous interview process at PWC.

PWC follow a fixed pattern in its hiring process.

PwC Online application

This is first stage of PwC hiring process. You are required to visit PwC website, and fill in the online application form, which includes your education and professional work experience so far.

Important points to note in PwC online application process

Make sure to highlights your achievement in education and professional career. For example, if your work has been recognized and rewarded, or you have cracked any particular entrance test, do highlight this achievement with all the details.
Make sure the information you are provided are latest and correct to your knowledge
You may be required to answer some motivational questions like “Why are you applying for this job”. “Tell strength/weakness”. Make sure you analyze your profile well in advance before attempting these questions
Most important point is to submit your application as earliest as possible. Delay in application may hamper your candidature for current profile.

Career Evaluation: PwC Situational Judgement Test

PwC Situational Judgement Test (SJT) may be conducted during the assessment test stage. The objective of SJT is to assesses candidates behavioral traits and attitudes by presenting them with a variety of work-related situations, asking them to choose how they would respond by choosing one of the action options given.

PwC SJT is a behavioral test, and you need to mark options on basis of best and worst scenarios. PwC’ Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is a multiple choice test, and its result will be used to measure candidate’ behavioral traits.

Why is Situational Judgement Test(SJT) needed?

PwC is a professional services company offering services in multiple areas. Its consultants are required to interact directly with clients, and work on their problem. Situational Judgement Test (SJT) basically put you in shoe of PwC consultant, and let you think what should a PwC consultant do in the given scenario. As this is a behavioral test, and answers are not numerically calculated, this test allow candidate to showcase their thinking process.

Tips to crack PwC Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

PwC SJT (Situational Judgement Test) is based on the profile which you are applying. Read all the instructions from PwC HR mail regarding test and other related information
Make sure you do the practice of mock SJT tests beforehand. This will help you make familiar with paper pattern, types of question asked and what answer to be given (on basis of your profile). Since lot of companies conduct similar psychometric test, it is important to do test practice well in advance.
PwC Situational Judgement Test (SJT) objective is find whether you are good fit for the company, and also whether company is a good fit for you. So be yourself, and answer on basis of what you think of situation yourself.
PwC Situational Judgement Test (SJT) questions are often repeated. It is advised to answer the test carefully and honestly. Company will check your consistency too in this test.

PwC aptitude test

PwC screen its candidate on basis of aptitude tests which has 3 major parts: Numerical reasoning, Logical reasoning and verbal reasoning. They may be test of personality assessment too.

PwC Numerical Reasoning Test

PwC numerical reasoning test is similar to traditional online aptitude assessment test. You will be asked 18 questions, which you will have to answer in less than 15 minutes.

Syllabus of PwC numerical reasoning test

PwC numerical reasoning test will contain questions from below mentioned topics.

Number System
HCF & LCM
Percentages
Allegations and Mixtures
Ratios, Proportion and Averages
Work and Time
Series and Progressions
Time, speed, distance
Equations
Reasoning
Geometry
Arrangement & Series
Profit & Loss
Problem on Ages
Probability
Clocks and Calendar
Permutations and Combinations
Data Interpretation

How to prepare for PwC numerical reasoning tests

Make sure you have covered each topic of the syllabus
This test contains questions upto Grade 10 level mathematics. You are required to prepare for higher standard mathematics.
Pwc numerical reasoning test is basically a speed test, where you have to answer maximum correct questions in limited time. You need to practice good enough for all concepts and with complete tests so that you build you speed and accuracy required for cracking PwC numerical reasoning test.

PwC Verbal Reasoning Test

PwC numerical reasoning test is similar to traditional online verbal ability assessment test. You will be asked 18 questions, which you will have to answer in less than 15 minutes.

Syllabus of PwC Verbal reasoning test

Questions will be asked from below mentioned verbal reasoning topics.

Reading Comprehension
Fill in the Blanks
Spotting Error
Error Correction
Sentence Correction
Sentence Selection
Sentence Completion
Analogy
One word Substitution

How to prepare for PwC verbal reasoning test

There are two major sections in verbal reasoning test: Reading Comprehension and Grammar practical.
Reading comprehension is a short paragraph (100 words), and you will be asked 2-3 questions from that paragraph.
You will be asked questions to find the correct grammar. For example: error detection, sentence correction etc
Before going to the PwC verbal reasoning test, make sure that you have good knowledge of grammar rules
Make sure you are doing sufficient practice for both reading part and grammar part which is required for the PwC verbal reasoning test.

PwC Logical Reasoning Test

PwC Logical Reasoning test consists of 18 questions which need to be finished in less than 15 minutes. There will be questions based on small puzzles as well as pattern recognition or sequence finding.

Syllabus of PwC Logical Reasoning Test

Arrangements
Syllogisms
Coding Decoding
Number series
Cryptarithmetic
Clocks and Calendar
Data Sufficiency
Most logical choice
Puzzles
Logical Deduction
Pattern recognition in spatial arrangement
What comes next- Finding sequence

How to prepare for PwC Logical Reasoning Test

PwC Logical Reasoning Test is a typical brain teaser test. If you don’t have sufficient practice in all the topics, you will find it tough to crack.
Lots of logical reasoning topics require simple tips to crack in shortest time. If you don’t have knowledge of these short tips or have enough practice, it will take good amount of your time to solve logical reasoning questions.
Make sure you do good practice for all the topics as well for combined test.

PwC Personality Test

PwC personality questionnaire (also known as the PwC work style preference questionnaire or the OPQ) gives the company a fuller picture of your potential fit in the workplace and company culture. PwC personality test is an online test, and has over 100 questions that look at multiple personality traits.

This work style preference questionnaire presents a two-fold challenge; giving honest answers whilst also showing your best character traits. Preparing for this PwC personality test can help you overcome this obstacle by giving you the tools to fully understand each question.

PwC Career Conversation: Video Interview and Face to face interview

If you successfully pass the online tests stage, you’ll be invited to a Video Interview.

This is the opportunity for you to demonstrate your interest and show that your skills make you suitable for the role you’ve applied for, so you really need to get it right.

There are multiple rounds of interviews

Telephone or video interview
Face to face interviews (atleast 2 round of interviews)
HR round

PwC interview questions

PwC interview consists of questions on your personal profile, scenario based questions and guestimates (for consulting profiles). We have listed most commonly asked questions in PwC job interviews.

Most common PwC interview questions

Tell me about yourself?
Why PwC?
Why do you think you are suitable candidate for the given role?
What do you know about PwC? Anything specific from recent news?
What do you think this role involves?
Can you tell me about a piece of recent financial news you’ve read? Why did you find it interesting?
What’s the most difficult thing about working with you?
What do you know about the ACA exams?

Scenario based PwC interview questions

Give an example of a time when you had to improve a piece of work after criticism?
Give an example of a time you had to correct someone’s mistake
Give an example of a time when you have worked in a team to deliver a piece of work? – What was your role in the team? What did you do exactly?
Give an example of a time when you’ve successfully managed a project for example coursework or organising an event. What challenges did you overcome? Who supported you? What was the outcome?
Give an example of a time when you were given vague instructions for a task and had to figure out what to do.
Give an example of a time you failed to accomplish something.
Give an example of a time you built a relationship.
Give an example of a time you worked with someone with a different style. How did this differ to your own?
Give an example of a time you said something unethical.
Give an example of a time when you weren’t given enough guidance.
Give an example of a time you overcame conflict.
Give an example of a time when you worked with people outside your usual network.
Give an example of a time you solved a complex problem.
Give an example of a time when you had to complete multiple different projects to a short deadline.
Give an example of a time you dealt with a team member who didn’t pull his weight.
What would you do if you heard one of your co-workers releasing confidential client information?

PwC HR interview questions

Introduce yourself.
What is the difference between smart work and hard work?
List some of you achievements?
What according to you was your greatest failure in life?
Where do you see yourself after 2 years?
Explain your personality in one word.
What opinion do your friends have about you?
When do you think you will complete and be able to join?(contextual question)
What changes would you make at your college?
If you were to ask one of your professors to describe you, what would he or she say?
What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?
Do you prefer working in a team?
How would a lecturer describe you?
Do you keep your promises?
What motivates you?
Are you a good listener?
Have you ever wanted to quit something?
Tell me about your groups of friends?
Do you believe in talent or hard work?
What interests you most about this position?
What is the difference between primary key, foreign key and candidate key?
How has your education prepared you for your career?
Describe your Final Year Project. What innovations did you bring into this project?

How to crack PwC Interview

Do your homework beforehand. Practice questions which can be asked from your resume. This will include your past projects and work experience.
Be interview ready. Make sure you are formally dressed, have pen and paper with you. In case of video interview, make sure the room is properly lit, and you have checked your mic/speaker of laptop.
Maintain eye contact. During the recording it’s important to look up and keep your eyes focused on the camera, so try not to rely on your notes too much.
Focus on your strengths and direct the interview in your way. That also helps the interviewer to judge you, because he realizes that you know how to tackle when things are not in your favor.
Be honest and quick throughout the interview.
Don’t talk rubbish, talk things which you feel the interviewer may not know or may be impressed to hear from you. Don’t beat around the bush.
Don’t get lost while narrating an answer. Be concise but impressive.
“Tell me something about yourself”, “why PwC”, “why not core”, “how are you the best fit for the post/ company” may seem to be easy and general questions but actually these are few of the most important questions that you need to prepare earlier.
Do a basic research on PwC, its projects and its competitors.

More: 10 interview tips which will increase your chances of getting selected

End Note

In this article, we have shared complete interview process of PwC Company, interview pattern and commonly asked questions during interviews. If you have any doubt or suggestion, do write to us or post your comments in discussion thread below.

We are offering interview preparation and test practice services for PwC. We have online learning material and practice module covering test related to Aptitude Test, Psyhcometric test, PwC SJT and we are offering mock interviews also. If you have any requirement, you can mail us to rakesh@xamnation.com

PWC Interview process