Graduate CAreers
application process
Background to the Milkround process
From October to December each year we take part in the accountancy Milkround process governed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. The Institute have established rules for the Milkround that are designed to make the process fair for both applicants and recruiting firms. The rules deal with a variety of issues including the following:
- The procedures and timescales for the acceptance and processing of applications
- The timing of interviews
- The timing of job offers to candidates
- Deadlines by which time these offers should be accepted or rejected
These rules must be followed by all accountancy firms recruiting Graduate Trainees between October and December each year.
Applying online
To ensure that everyone is assessed in a fair and consistent way, we ask all candidates to apply online. Applying online is the first stage of our selection process and offers you the opportunity to save a draft application and review your answers before submitting your application in advance of the published closing date. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
Please bear in mind the following when completing the form:
- Making a good application takes time, energy and thought
- The key to success lies in preparation and careful reflection on the role and your skills
- You need to gather as much information as possible about yourself, about BDO and the accountancy profession to ensure that you are making the right choice
- Ensure you have the minimum academic requirements we’re looking for. If you don’t, but there are extenuating circumstances, we’d still be very interested to hear from you. Please note that we reserve the right to validate any exceptional circumstances that you provide
- Make sure you answer each question fully and properly. Your objective is to ensure that you have presented clear evidence that you possess all the qualities and skills that we require. Do not talk in general terms; but instead focus on what you did, why and what you learned as a result
- The information you provide in your application is used for shortlisting purposes and the shortlisting panel are not able to make any assumptions based on the information you provide. It is therefore advisable that you provide clear and unambiguous answers
- We are interested in what you've done, but we are even more interested in what you have achieved or learned from the experience
- Please adhere to the word limits
- Remember to save your application regularly – you don’t have to complete it all at once. You can save and come back to it later to make sure you include all the information you want to submit
- Please ensure that you complete a grammar and spell-check, and get someone to proof read your application. Misspellings and poor grammar may impact on the success of your application
- Once you submit your application, you will receive a copy of your completed form via the e-mail address you provided. Please ensure that you retain this for reference, as required, in latter stages of the process
Post application
After your application has been processed, if you are shortlisted for interview you will be invited to attend a presentation evening led by our team, which will then be followed in the days immediately following this, with an interview with Senior Members of our team.
We commit to contacting everyone who submits an application to let them know the outcome. If you do not hear from us within an appropriate timeframe, please contact us at HRDepartment@bdo.co.uk so that we can follow-up with you.
Closing Date
The closing date for applications submitted as part of the annual Milkround process is the last Friday in October at midnight.
Non-Milkround recruitment
If you are applying for employment outside of the September to October Milkround period, please note that the presentation evening will not form part of the process. Full details on available vacancies are available at our vacancy pages.