EY Graduate Interview Process 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

The EY graduate interview process typically has four stages: an online application, a job simulation assessment, a pre-recorded video interview, and a final assessment centre or partner interview. To pass, you need structured STAR stories, a clear link between your goals and EY's purpose of "building a better working world," and calm time management on timed tasks. Start preparing at least two to three weeks before your application deadline.

TL;DR

• EY's graduate process runs in four stages: application, job simulation, video interview, assessment centre or final interview.
• The job simulation tests technical and soft skills together, including situational judgment, reasoning, and written communication.
• Video interviews focus on motivation, teamwork, ambiguity, and ethics. Answer them with the STAR method.
• At the assessment centre, EY watches how you collaborate, not just how you perform alone.
• Tie your examples to EY's values: integrity, respect, teaming, and inclusiveness.
• Practice out loud and get feedback; reading advice alone rarely changes how you answer.
• Prepare questions for your interviewers about team culture and recent initiatives.

What Are the Stages of the EY Graduate Interview Process?

The process moves from broad screening to close personal evaluation. Each stage tests something different, so your preparation should too.

Stage	Format	What EY Is Testing
1. Online application	CV, transcripts, sometimes a cover letter and role questions	Fit with the service line, leadership, digital skills
2. Job simulation	Timed, scenario-based online tasks	Judgment, numeracy, verbal reasoning, writing
3. Video interview	Pre-recorded answers to set questions	Motivation, structure, communication
4. Assessment centre / final interview	Group exercise, case study, partner or senior manager conversation	Teamwork, problem-solving, cultural fit
5. Offer and onboarding	Offer, then orientation	Not assessed

Exact steps vary by country and service line (audit, tax, consulting, or advisory), so confirm the details in your invitation emails.

How Do You Get Through the Online Application?

Tailor each application to a single service line rather than sending a generic CV. Name the line you are applying to, reference a specific EY initiative or sector that interests you, and quantify results where you honestly can (for example, "led a team of five on a society fundraising project").

Priorities that tend to matter most:

1. Leadership and teamwork evidence: society roles, group projects, part-time jobs.
2. Digital comfort: Excel, data tools, automation, or any analytics coursework.
3. Distinct perspective: international study, volunteering, or unusual projects.
4. Clean, error-free writing: a single typo undermines a claim of attention to detail.

How Does the EY Job Simulation Work?

The job simulation is a multi-part online assessment that mimics real work instead of a classic aptitude test. Expect situational judgment questions (written or video), numerical and verbal reasoning, written tasks such as drafting an email or short report, and prioritization exercises.

A practical approach for the simulation:

• Rehearse the format first. Do at least two or three timed situational judgment and reasoning practice sets before the real thing.
• Choose the answer a trusted colleague would respect. Favor integrity, transparency, and collaboration over heroics.
• Budget your time. If a question stalls you for more than a minute or two, make your best call and move on.
• Write like a professional. Short paragraphs, a clear ask, and a polite tone in any email task.

What Questions Are Asked in the EY Video Interview?

The pre-recorded interview usually covers motivation, teamwork, change, and ethics. You get limited thinking time, so having stories ready matters more than improvising.

Theme	Sample Question	Strong Angle
Motivation	Why EY, and why this service line?	Link a personal goal to EY's purpose and a specific team
Teamwork	Tell us about working in a diverse team.	Show how you included quieter voices and adapted
Ambiguity	Describe a time plans changed suddenly.	Explain how you clarified priorities and moved forward
Ethics	When did you face an ethical dilemma?	Stress the principle you applied and the long-term result
Digital	How have you used technology to solve a problem?	Name the tool, your role, and the outcome

How should you structure each answer?

Use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Spend roughly 15% on situation and task, 60% on your actions, and 25% on the result and what you learned. Aim for 90 seconds to two minutes per answer, and prepare five to six flexible stories that can cover several question types.

What Happens at the EY Assessment Centre?

The assessment centre, held virtually or in person, usually combines a group exercise, a case study, and an interview with a partner or senior manager.

• Group exercise: Contribute early with a structure suggestion, then listen and build on others' points. Assessors reward collaboration over dominance.
• Case study: Clarify the client's problem, analyze the data, and give a recommendation with one or two risks. A simple frame of "clarify, analyze, recommend" keeps you organized.
• Partner interview: Expect a conversation about your motivations and values. Bring two thoughtful questions, such as how teams handle development in the first year.

How Can You Stand Out Against Other Graduates?

Candidates who stand out usually do three things consistently:

1. Connect to purpose. Describe a concrete experience, like a sustainability project or ethical call, that shows why "building a better working world" matters to you.
2. Show a global, inclusive mindset. Use examples of working across cultures or championing someone's inclusion.
3. Network early. Attend EY campus events or webinars and message alumni on LinkedIn; their insights can sharpen your answers and sometimes lead to referrals.

How Can You Practice Effectively Before the Interviews?

Reading advice is not the same as performing. Record yourself answering the sample questions above, listen for filler words, and check that each story has a clear result. Mock practice with a friend or career adviser helps, and an AI tool can add structured feedback on demand. CloakAI (cloakai.me) is an AI interview assistant that can help you rehearse STAR answers and tighten structure. If you are weighing live support against rehearsal, this breakdown of real-time AI assistance versus mock prep explains where each fits, and this guide on whether a real-time AI interview assistant is worth it covers the trade-offs.

Always check EY's candidate rules and instructions for each stage before using any tool, and follow them. Assessments differ in what outside help is permitted, and honesty is itself one of the values EY evaluates. You can download CloakAI to use for practice sessions.

A Simple Two-Week Prep Plan

1. Days 1-3: Research EY's purpose, your service line, and recent news. Draft your "Why EY" answer.
2. Days 4-6: Write six STAR stories covering teamwork, leadership, ambiguity, ethics, and technology.
3. Days 7-9: Complete timed situational judgment and reasoning practice, plus two written email exercises.
4. Days 10-12: Record mock video answers; refine pacing and delivery.
5. Days 13-14: Practice a case study and a group discussion with peers; prepare questions to ask.

FAQ

Q: How many stages are in the EY graduate interview process? A: Most graduate candidates go through four assessed stages: online application, job simulation, pre-recorded video interview, and an assessment centre or final interview, followed by the offer. Details differ by country and service line.

Q: What is the EY job simulation? A: It is an online assessment that mimics workplace scenarios, combining situational judgment, numerical and verbal reasoning, written communication, and prioritization tasks. It evaluates technical and soft skills together rather than testing them separately.

Q: What method should I use to answer EY behavioral questions? A: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Keep answers to roughly 90 seconds to two minutes, and focus most of your time on what you personally did and what changed as a result.

Q: What values does EY look for in graduates? A: EY emphasizes integrity, respect, teaming, and inclusiveness, all tied to its purpose of building a better working world. Choose examples that demonstrate these values in action.

Q: How early should I start preparing for EY interviews? A: Two to three weeks is a reasonable minimum. That gives you time to write STAR stories, practice timed tests, and rehearse video answers and case studies.

Conclusion

EY's graduate hiring rewards candidates who are organized, ethical, and collaborative as much as academically strong. Build a small bank of STAR stories, practice the simulation format under time pressure, and let your genuine motivation for EY's purpose come through at every stage. For more preparation guides, browse the CloakAI blog.