Chapter 7 – Case Study: Employee Selection at Deloitte Australia (p. 280)
Deloitte is the brand name used for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK-based private company with more than 263,900 professionals worldwide in the service areas of audit, tax, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and related services. The firm operates in more than 150 countries and had revenues in fiscal year 2018 of $43.2 billion. Deloitte is one of the “Big Four” accounting firms and the largest professional services firm in the world.
Deloitte Australia is recognized as the number one employer-of-choice for graduates by Grad connection. Workplace Gender Equality Agency has recognized the firm as an employer-of-choice for women. Deloitte Australia is the only professional services firm on the Australian Center for Corporate Social Responsibility’s Top Ten list. Further, the firm has invested more than $20 million in their communities through pro bono work and donations, as well as through volunteer work.
Deloitte Australia, like the rest of Deloitte, is a highly progressive company that is often on the leading edge of HR practices. The firm provides information on the company website that can serve as a guide for prospective employees. The website also includes information about the company’s recruitment and selection processes for both new college graduates and experienced hires.
The application process for college students starts with completing an online application. Applicants can also read information about Deloitte and about the members of the recruitment team on the website. Recruitment team members review applications, make an assessment of fit with skills, and determine if there is a match to key selection criteria. The company tries to contact applicants in seven days with a decision about their continuation status in the selection process.
The selection process includes multiple steps. The process starts with a first interview, usually by phone with a member of the recruitment team, and continues with interviews with members of the relevant service team. The number of these interviews varies across service areas. The process ends with an in-depth interview addressing technical and motivational fit with the role, team, and company. A Deloitte partner from the service line participates in the final interview.
The selection process for some roles may also include psychometric or skills-based tests. Other roles require an assessment in the form of a case study. These assessments take place either online or face to face, within two weeks of the rest of the interviews.
Finally, if the firm is interested in making an offer, it will conduct a pre-employment check of the applicant’s references and work rights with the Australian government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
scenarios
Answer the following questions:
- Discuss the pros and cons of providing so much information about the selection process on the company website.
● Would this amount of information make you more or less likely to apply for a job with Deloitte Australia, or any other company that provided this much information? Explain your response.
- What concerns would you have about the process if you were an applicant?
- Describe the the selection process in terms of which parts are initial screening and which are final screening.
● Is Deloitte Australia using a compensatory, multiple-hurdle, or multiple-cutoff approach to selection?
● Why do you believe they have chosen this particular approach?
● Do you believe it is logical, given the nature of the firm?
- Research Australian hiring guidelines and discuss how they differ from the U.S. guidelines and how they are similar.
Use 6 peer reviewed articles and in text citations.