Behind the Scenes with a Campus Recruiter
A recruiter from Deloitte shares what they’re looking for, and how to stand out.
Job seeking early in your career can feel daunting and isolating, but it doesn’t need to be.
Many companies create services to identify and attract early talent — a campus recruiter may become your advocate in getting your ideal role. Recruiters sift through thousands of resumes and conduct hundreds of phone screenings. We spoke with Brandon Toney, a campus recruiter at Deloitte, to get a view behind the scenes.
What are campus recruiters looking for and how do I stand out from the crowd?
In a phone screen, it’s about quality over quantity. If you make a good impression in the first 15 minutes, we’ll be likely to refer you and delve deeper into the next stage.
Location interest matters at Deloitte. It surprises people when we ask about that. If you’re looking to be in San Jose, what interests you about this area? Ultimately, we want to make sure you’re growing at the location you’re based in. It’s a grooming exercise. We typically look at your top two choices and line them up with the spots that are available.
It’s ok to ask “can I be connected with a professional?” I want to be sure you have a clear picture of the role before you accept and I love connecting candidates to colleagues in the company. And you want to start building those connections, even during the interview phase.
Work with your career advisor. I get a lot of referrals from career advisors. They have a good idea of what we’re looking for. Definitely get connected with them.
What myth needs to be busted?
Consulting campus recruiting is broader than you think! Each department is like a tree that branches out from international to business services. It’s a specific set of skills that we look for in each role.
Take data science, for example. Data science is applied at so many levels at Deloitte. There are roles in every business area whether it’s in Audit and Assurance, Consulting, Internal Services, Risk and Financial Advisory, or Tax. Your background may make you a perfect candidate for data engineering, government, and public service agencies, or analytics. For example, right now we’re looking for an early career team of Applied AI Analysts, and the role of data scientist would be a core member, supporting our Analytics and Cognitive team. And that job is available in 15 locations.
Do diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matter within consulting firms?
DEI represents so many things that you might not think are available. We have a discovery internship focused on diversity and inclusion for candidates as young as freshmen and sophomores. There’s also the Black Action Council that’s centered around our black employees. There’s a council for sustainability and climate change. One thing I love is the well-being subsidy. It’s all about supporting your fitness and well-being. If doing yoga is your thing, maybe upgrading your yoga mat could elevate your game. This is an opportunity to make it your own.
What common mistakes could I be making and not know it?
Don’t be afraid to share your story. Talk about what makes you unique! Just because one candidate said something, that may have been their authentic answer, but it may not work as well for you. Every partner I’ve met has expressed that they are seeking the diamonds in the rough.
Don’t ask me, “What position is this for again?” Keep track of what positions you’ve submitted yourself and consider focusing on 2–3 for each company at a time.
How can I stay in touch with Deloitte?
Check out Handshake if your school uses that. We’ll always relay our events through career services. If we’re not at your school, reach out to us over LinkedIn!
