Sources checked
KPMG
KPMG publishes the exact competencies it recruits against and scores you on them one at a time, ending at an assessment centre it calls Launch Pad. This guide covers the spoken competency rounds, not the online assessments or the recorded video interview.
The KPMG process
3 of 8 stages you can practise here
- 01Explore and apply
A job-preview quiz built from workplace scenarios, then an application form on academic background and work experience. KPMG budgets about 45 minutes and applies contextual recruitment for socio-economic background and extenuating circumstances. Not simulated.
- 02
Conversational screen weighted heavily toward why KPMG and why this programme
career motivationlearning and curiositycommunication - 03Online assessments (not simulated here)
Two assessments, about 60 minutes in total: an untimed skills assessment presenting scenarios and asking you to rank how you would think, feel or respond, and a 36-minute timed cognitive assessment covering numerical reasoning and logical problem solving. Neither is a spoken round.
- 04Recorded video interview (not simulated here)
About 40 minutes across six questions, delivered by an AI-generated avatar. KPMG states that 'your recorded answers will be reviewed and scored by a member of our Student Recruitment team'. One-way, so out of scope.
- 05
Competency-by-competency interview against the list KPMG publishes
resiliencecritical thinkinginclusive collaboration - 06Launch Pad assessment centre (immersive activities not simulated here)
KPMG calls it 'the assessment centre that we run at KPMG': a half-day in-person event that combines assessed and non-assessed activities with time meeting KPMG colleagues. The immersive and group activities are out of scope; the interview inside the day is the next stage.
- 07
The one-to-one interview inside the assessment day, with a manager or partner
make sound decisionsbuild collaborative relationshipscareer motivation - 08Offer
KPMG says of Launch Pad: 'If successful you will have your job offer within 2 working days!' Not simulated.
Common questions
- What does the KPMG interview process look like?
- KPMG publishes a four-stage graduate process: an application of about 45 minutes, two online assessments totalling about 60 minutes (an untimed skills assessment and a 36-minute timed cognitive test), a recorded video interview of about 40 minutes covering six questions, and Launch Pad, an in-person half-day assessment centre. KPMG says that after Launch Pad, "If successful you will have your job offer within 2 working days!"
- Is the KPMG video interview conducted by a person or by AI?
- The questions are delivered by an AI-generated avatar, but the scoring is human. KPMG states: "Although your interviewer is AI generated, we'd like to reassure you that your recorded answers will be reviewed and scored by a member of our Student Recruitment team." The stage runs about 40 minutes across six questions.
- What competencies does KPMG assess?
- For early careers KPMG names twelve: career motivation, learning and curiosity, resilience, relationship building, effective communication, initiative, planning and organisation, results focused, critical thinking, inclusive collaboration, integrity, and applying expertise and technology. For experienced hires it publishes a competency set grouped under three Leadership Principles: Deliver Impact, Seek Growth and Inspire Trust.
- Does KPMG ask case interview or coding questions?
- Not in its published graduate process. KPMG describes Launch Pad as "the assessment centre that we run at KPMG," a half-day event that "combines assessed and non-assessed activities," and names no case interview and no coding round across any of its four published stages. What it does publish is the competency list the interviews are scored against.
Sources
Built from what KPMG publishes about its own process. No leaked question lists. The questions you get are generated against your own resume, so they are not from anyone else's interview.
The four published stages; the untimed skills assessment where 'You will be presented with various scenarios and asked to rank how you would think, feel or respond in each situation' and the 36-minute timed cognitive assessment; the six-question video interview delivered by an AI-generated avatar and scored by a person; Launch Pad as a half-day in-person event; 'If successful you will have your job offer within 2 working days!'
Per-stage timings (45 minutes to apply, 60 minutes of online assessments, a 40-minute video interview, a half-day Launch Pad); Launch Pad as 'the final stage of the recruitment process'; the twelve skills assessed across the process.
Definitions of the twelve early-careers skills, including career motivation, learning and curiosity, resilience, critical thinking, planning and organisation, results focused, initiative, inclusive collaboration and integrity.
The experienced-hire competencies grouped under three Leadership Principles (Deliver Impact, Seek Growth, Inspire Trust), including 'Make Sound Decisions' as exercising 'sound ethical and business judgement when making decisions' and 'Build Collaborative Relationships' as connecting with individuals, teams and organisations to build lasting relationships.
Hiring managers assess against 'KPMG Values', 'Competencies' and 'Skills and Experience'; 'This is a two-way process and we would expect you to also use the experience to assess whether the opportunity is right for you.'
The insight-programme variant: a 90-minute Transforming Small Businesses assessment built on three fictional small businesses, and a 60-minute Delivering Outcomes assessment with timed video and written responses.
KPMG's own description of the final stage: 'Launch Pad is the assessment centre that we run at KPMG.'
The US hiring tracks (executives, experienced professionals, students, contractors). KPMG publishes no US stage list, which is why the loop here follows the UK process.
Sources last checked . Hiring loops change, so this date is the honest limit on everything above.