Our application process

The online assessment usually takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and was created by Neurosight, who are specialists in designing bias-free assessments of potential.

The test is designed to measure the strengths which enable high performance in a trainee role at Grant Thornton. The assessment also promotes fairness by using dynamically adaptive scoring algorithms, accounting for individual differences and promoting diversity and neurodiversity. 

Preparation 

Unlike other types of assessment, you don’t need to do any significant preparation or practice beforehand – in fact, it’s best to go in with an open mind, and be prepared to trust your instincts rather than overthink your answers. You will be eased in with some warm-up items before the assessment begins. We highly recommend finding a quiet space with no distractions to complete the assessment and answering the items naturally and honestly. 

Tips for your online assessment  

We want you to do your best in this assessment, and have compiled some tips to help you below: 

1. Ask questions, your recruiter is there to help
2. Find a quiet place to complete your assessment, away from distractions
3. Read and reread the instructions to make sure you understand them
4. Be confident and stay focused. Try not to overthink it. 

What happens next? 

After you take the assessment, you will receive a personalised report of your top strengths with advice on how you can make the most of them. If you have any questions about the assessment, your recruiter will be able to answer them.

AI is already part of how we work, so it's part of this assessment too. It's your chance to tackle a realistic business scenario, the kind our trainees and apprentices get stuck into from day one, and to find out more about the clients we work with.

This assessment looks at how you read and interpret written content and data, and how you use AI to help you build and present a recommendation. We're assessing your analytical skills, critical reasoning and written communication. Our people use AI every day to work smarter and deliver better outcomes for clients, so we expect you to use it here, just as you would in the role.  

What we're really interested in is your judgement. Do you know when to rely on AI, when to question its output, and when your own thinking should take the lead? There's no single right answer. We want to see how you think and how you use the tools available to you. 
 

What you'll do 

You'll review a set of business materials, write a recommendation and record two short videos. You'll have a built-in AI tool to help, with up to 10 prompts.

We’d recommend setting aside 50 minutes to complete this assessment. You will need to use a computer or laptop with a working camera and microphone, you’ll also want to make sure you’re sitting this assessment in a quiet environment with a stable internet connection.

How to prepare  

We understand this is a different type of assessment from what you may be familiar with, so we'll invite you to book a coaching call with our early careers recruitment team before you start.

You don't need any specialist technical knowledge, but getting comfortable with a generative AI tool beforehand will help. Here's what we'd suggest:

• Subscribe to a GenAI tool: Most offer free versions that are more than sufficient to get yourself ready.
• Spend some time practising: get comfortable writing prompts, asking follow-up questions, and reviewing AI-generated responses critically. The AI tools themselves are a great teacher – if you're unsure where to start, just ask them.
• Try a few practice prompts to build your confidence, such as researching a company before an interview, summarising an industry article, or structuring a short presentation. Have a go at a sample case study on an AI platform to build your analysis and recommendation skills
• Practice using AI for a sample case study. While the assessed task will differ, this is a great way to build your skills in analysing information, applying critical thinking, and developing your own recommendations.

The penultimate stage of the application process is a group exercise, which will take place virtually and be led by a member of our recruitment team. You will need to use a device with a working camera and microphone; you’ll also want to make sure you’re joining from a quiet environment with a stable internet connection.

The group exercise allows us to get an insight into how you would work in a professional environment and how you collaborate and work as part of a team. It’s a chance to share your ideas but also show you can listen and understand requirements. Encourage your teammates and bounce off their suggestions to get to the best result. Time management is also at play here, so keeping everyone on track will be key.

Tips for your group exercise

• Act as you would in a professional environment, just because its virtual doesn't mean you shouldn't be professional.
• Think about where you will do the exercise, try to limit any possible distractions.
• Listen to others, we're not just looking at how you perform individually we're also looking at how you interact with others. 

If you're successful in the group exercise, you'll be invited to the final stage of the application process: our experience day. We do things differently around here, and this is more than an interview. It's your chance to see where the purple path could take you.

What to expect 

Our experience days will take place in person at our London office, with extra dates in Manchester for school leavers based in the North.

You'll spend the day hearing from our senior leaders, meeting our teams and getting a proper understanding of our programmes and our vision for the firm. You'll see how your career could progress, right through to partner. You shape the conversation, so ask our leaders whatever matters most to you, pick up advice from people who've walked the path you're about to start, and make connections that could last well beyond the day. 

Your final interview is part of the day, with senior people from the service line you've applied for. We want to hear what motivates you, why you'd like to take the purple path and the skills you'd bring with you. So bring your energy, your curiosity and your innovative mindset.

How to prepare 

You’ll have an individual coaching call before the day. It’s the best place to get insight into what to expect, so you can go in feeling set up for success. The conversation on the experience day won’t always follow a set format, so go in flexible and ready to adapt. You’re in the driving seat, and we want to hear how you think, so let us see your thinking as it happens.

Here’s how to bring your best: 

• Get to know the role and service line you’ve applied for, and re-read the job description so you’re clear on what the work involves
• Explore our website and keep up with industry news, so you can talk about what's happening in the sectors we work in
• Think about what motivates you and how it could shape your career here: the work you’d like to do, the skills you’d like to build and the impact you’d like to have
• Research your training programme, and find out where your pathway could lead, right through to partner
• Write a list of your strengths along with examples of when you’ve shown them, whether that’s at work, school, university or in your own time.
• Be ready to talk openly about your development areas and where you're still growing
• If you’re describing something you’ve done, the STARE technique can be a handy guide: set the scene, explain the task, describe your action, share the result and reflect on what you’d do differently. Use it as a guide, not a script, and let the conversation flow
• Listen carefully to what’s being asked, and don’t be afraid to ask for the question to be repeated or clarified if you need to. If a question surprises you, take a moment, then answer in your own words
• Come prepared with a list of questions to ask, this is your golden opportunity to learn about us 

 
Next steps

Your recruiter will be in touch after your experience day. We aim to do this as quickly as possible, because we know how much the wait matters. Whatever the outcome, we'll give you detailed feedback to help you learn and develop.