Tips for a good application

Your application form is the first introduction that we have to you, so it is important that you get it right first time. We have put together some tips to help you complete your application. We hope you find it useful.

We do not have a deadline for most of our roles. Instead as they are filled they are closed. So there's a real incentive for submitting your application as early as possible.

It's also important to make the application as good as possible. A fuller application with all details included will have more chance of being successful. Although it varies, most people report having spent around 2 - 3 hours to complete in full. Copying and pasting your answers from other applications will not produce a robust and focused application.

We usually take a week to give you an outcome of your application, however, at certain times of the year high volumes mean we could take longer. Our team look at every application individually.

Your on-line application

Once you have completed a section of your application a tick will show against that particular section. Ensure sections are ticked in order to move onto the next section. Remember to keep saving after each section to avoid losing any of your application and do not click the internet back button, as this will bring up an error message.

Once you have completed the application in full there is an option to view and print your application. We recommend you take advantage of this, proof read your application and then click to submit when you are happy with everything included.

Completing your application

Below is the outline of various parts needed to complete your application:

1. Main details

This section requests your personal details (e.g. name, address, employment details if currently employed, how you heard about this vacancy and if you have you ever worked for the firm before). Please complete this in full.

2. Equal Opportunities

This section is not compulsory but as part of Grant Thornton's commitment as a Equal Opportunities employer, we kindly request that you complete our questionnaire. This data is not visible to our hiring managers and is not used in the selection process.

3. Education

For this section you will need any secondary education (school/sixth form), higher education (college/university) and post-graduation education details (including the name of establishment and the month and year you started and finished at each).

4. Qualifications

All qualifications must be listed including subjects, results and the date of the qualification achieved for your GCSE's, A-Levels and undergraduate degree (or equivalents). Please ensure the qualifications section of your application is complete, as this will ensure your application can be reviewed without delays. It also gives you the best chance of being successful.

5. Work experience

You will be asked to list any employment details including the name of the employer, dates employed and a description of responsibilities, experience and knowledge gained. We suggest you list all work experiences from within the last few years. Better answers tend to highlight key parts to the role, achievements and is related to the role you're applying to.

6. Free text questions

We appreciate these are the ones people don’t like! They are for us though a key way to differentiate applicants. We think its important you have your say so we haven’t restricted the number of words for your answer. Our advice - stay focused to the actual question being asked, give facts and structure your answers. We recommend you check your answers for grammar and spelling mistakes.

When answering these free text questions always ensure you cover all aspects of the question, in a focused and succinct way. The fuller and more direct answer you give, the better.

We have four questions…

1. To be a successful trainee, you need to be focused and a good fit for our firm. Please list the reasons behind why you have applied to us at Grant Thornton and particularly what you think differentiates us from our competitors

2. We are looking for people who are focused on the role they are applying to. Please detail your understanding of the role you are applying to, the division, and the professional qualification you would study (where applicable)

3. We aim to develop our trainees early in their career and you will be expected to take on early responsibility. Describe any positions of responsibility you have held

4. We look for well rounded individuals to join our teams. Please detail any other extra curricular activities, achievements, interests, scholarships, awards and prizes.

Questions one and two differ slightly for our internship application. Please refer to the actual application for the specific questions.

Preferred locations

You are asked which is your first and second preferred location for the role you are applying. We have 28 offices in the UK of which we hire trainees into the majority. Our HR Team review every application and will consider you for both roles that you have applied to.

7. CV Upload

We recommend that you spend your time completing your application in full rather than the CV. Although you are welcome to upload your cv, usually we will make a decision solely based on your application form.

8. Assistance

Should you have any technical issues submitting your application, please e-mail trainee.recruitment@uk.gt.com or phone your local office that you are applying to.