Why EY? How to Answer This Interview Question (2026)

Author: Taylor Warfield, Former Bain Manager and interviewer

Last Updated: April 6, 2026

 

"Why EY?" is one of the most frequently asked questions in EY interviews across every service line and seniority level. The best answers combine a genuine personal connection to EY with a specific EY differentiator that no other firm can offer.

 

In this article, I'll give you a proven 3-part framework for answering "Why EY?" along with five ready-to-customize sample answers. Having interviewed hundreds of candidates during my time in consulting, I know exactly what makes a "Why this firm?" answer stand out.

 

But first, a quick heads up:

 

McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms accept less than 1% of applicants every year. If you want to triple your chances of landing interviews and 8x your chances of passing them, watch my free 40-minute training.

 

What Makes EY a Good Place to Work?

 

EY (Ernst & Young) is the third largest professional services firm in the world by revenue. According to EY's fiscal year 2025 results, the firm generated $53.2 billion in global revenue and employed roughly 406,000 people across more than 150 countries.

 

There are several things that make EY stand out as an employer. Here is a quick snapshot of the firm before we get into interview strategy.

 

Category

Details

Global Revenue (FY25)

$53.2 billion

Employees

~406,000 across 150+ countries

Global CEO

Janet Truncale

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Purpose

Building a better working world

Service Lines

Assurance, Consulting, Strategy & Transactions (EY-Parthenon), Tax

Founded

1989 (merger of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young)

 

Beyond the numbers, five things consistently attract people to EY:

 

  • EY-Parthenon, the firm's strategy consulting arm: With roughly 9,000 consultants and $6.2 billion in revenue, EY-Parthenon competes directly with McKinsey, BCG, and Bain on pure strategy work. This gives EY a level of strategic credibility that sets it apart from the other Big 4 firms.

 

  • Investment in AI and technology: EY grew its AI-related revenue by 30% in fiscal year 2025, with over 15,000 people working on AI projects. The firm launched EY.ai as a unified platform for all AI solutions.

 

  • Learning and development programs: EY offers the EY Tech MBA (in collaboration with Hult International Business School) and the EY Badges program, which lets employees earn credentials in technology, sustainability, and leadership.

 

  • Global mobility and flexible work: EY operates in over 150 countries and actively encourages cross-border transfers. The firm also supports flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options.

 

  • Commitment to diversity and inclusion: EY has long ranked among the top professional services firms for diversity. The firm actively promotes an inclusive culture where different perspectives drive better outcomes for clients.

 

How Is EY Different from Other Big 4 Firms?

 

EY's biggest differentiator is EY-Parthenon. No other Big 4 firm has a dedicated strategy consulting practice that competes at the same level with MBB (McKinsey, BCG, and Bain). This means EY can offer end-to-end solutions that combine high-level strategy with the implementation muscle of a global professional services network.

 

Here is how the Big 4 compare on key dimensions.

 

Firm

FY25 Revenue

Employees

Strategy Arm

Deloitte

$70.5B

~457,000

Monitor Deloitte

EY

$53.2B

~406,000

EY-Parthenon

PwC

~$55.4B

~365,000

Strategy&

KPMG

~$38.4B

~275,000

KPMG Strategy

 

According to EY's published financials, the firm's consulting division generated $16.4 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2025, growing at 5.2% year over year. Between fiscal year 2020 and 2025, EY's compound annual revenue growth rate was 8.2%, showing consistent expansion.

 

EY also differentiates through its four integrated service lines. Unlike some firms that silo their practices, EY encourages cross-service collaboration. A strategy project led by EY-Parthenon can pull in specialists from Tax, Assurance, or Consulting to deliver a complete solution. This integration is something you can reference in your interview answer.

 

What Is the Best Framework for Answering "Why EY?"

 

The best "Why EY?" answers follow a simple 3-part framework. In my experience coaching candidates, the people who use this structure consistently outperform those who wing it.

 

Part 1: Start with a Genuine Personal Connection

 

Open with a real experience that drew you to EY. This could be a conversation with an EY employee, an event you attended, a project you read about, or something from your background that connects to EY's work. The key word is genuine. Interviewers can immediately tell when someone is making something up.

 

Part 2: Name a Specific EY Differentiator

 

Identify one or two things about EY that other firms cannot offer. This is where your research pays off. Generic answers like "EY is a great firm" or "EY has a global presence" are not specific enough. Every Big 4 firm has a global presence.

 

Strong differentiators to reference include:

 

  • EY-Parthenon's strategy work in a specific sector (e.g., private equity, education, health sciences)

 

  • EY's integrated service model (strategy + implementation under one roof)

 

  • EY's AI investment and the EY.ai platform

 

  • The EY Tech MBA or EY Badges learning programs

 

  • A specific EY thought leadership publication or initiative you found compelling

 

Part 3: Explain What You Bring to EY

 

Close by connecting your skills, background, or goals to what EY needs. This flips the answer from "why I want you" to "why we're a great match." The interviewer should walk away thinking, "This person belongs here."

 

A strong answer takes about 60 to 90 seconds. Anything shorter feels underprepared. Anything longer risks losing the interviewer's attention.

 

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What Are the Best Sample Answers for "Why EY?"

 

Below are five sample answers you can customize. Each one follows the 3-part framework and targets a different EY service line. Swap in your own experiences and specific details to make the answer yours.

 

Sample Answer for EY-Parthenon (Strategy Consulting)

 

"My interest in EY-Parthenon started when I attended a campus presentation where an EY-Parthenon Director walked through a private equity due diligence case in the health sciences sector. What struck me was how the team combined deep strategic analysis with access to EY's broader tax and operational resources to give the PE client a complete picture before the acquisition.

 

That integration is something I have not seen at other strategy firms. EY-Parthenon can deliver pure strategy work at the level of MBB, but with the added advantage of pulling in specialists from across EY's network. Given my background in healthcare analytics, I believe I could contribute meaningfully to the health sciences practice from day one."

 

For more on preparing for EY-Parthenon specifically, see our guide on EY-Parthenon case interviews.

 

Sample Answer for EY Consulting

 

"I first became interested in EY Consulting after reading about how the firm grew its AI-related revenue by 30% last year. I spent the last two years at a tech startup building machine learning models, and what excites me about EY is that you are applying AI at enterprise scale across industries, not just in isolated pilots.

 

I also spoke with two EY consultants at a networking event who both mentioned the EY Badges program and how it helped them build skills outside their core practice. That commitment to continuous learning is exactly the kind of environment where I do my best work. I would love to bring my technical AI background to EY's consulting practice and help clients turn AI strategy into measurable results."

 

Sample Answer for EY Assurance

 

"I chose to apply to EY Assurance because of the firm's investment in technology-driven audit. When I learned that EY has developed proprietary tools to analyze entire data populations instead of relying on sampling, I realized this is where the profession is heading. I want to be at the firm leading that transformation.

 

I also value EY's purpose of building a better working world. As someone who cares about trust in capital markets, I believe high-quality audit work has real impact on society. My CPA background and experience with data visualization tools would allow me to contribute immediately to EY's technology-forward audit approach."

 

Sample Answer for EY Tax

 

"What attracted me to EY Tax was a conversation I had with an EY Senior Manager who described how the tax practice works closely with EY-Parthenon on M&A transactions. I was surprised to learn that EY tax professionals are often embedded in deal teams from the very beginning, shaping the structure of multi-billion dollar transactions.

 

That cross-functional exposure is rare in the tax world. Most firms keep tax in a silo. At EY, tax is a strategic function. With my background in international tax planning, I am excited to bring my technical skills to a firm that values tax as a driver of business strategy, not just compliance."

 

Sample Answer for Experienced Hires

 

"After five years in industry, I wanted to move to a firm where I could solve problems across multiple sectors, not just one company. I chose EY specifically because of the EY Tech MBA program. I spoke with two managers who completed it and both said it fundamentally changed how they think about technology strategy.

 

Very few firms invest that heavily in their people's long-term development. On top of that, EY's global footprint of over 150 countries means I could eventually take on international engagements, which aligns with my goal of building a career with global exposure. I believe my operational experience in manufacturing would add immediate value to EY's supply chain consulting practice."

 

What Are EY's Core Values and How Should You Reference Them?

 

EY's stated purpose is "Building a better working world." According to EY's website, the firm's values are built around three pillars:

 

  • People who demonstrate integrity, respect, teaming, and inclusiveness

 

  • People with energy, enthusiasm, and the courage to lead

 

  • People who build relationships based on doing the right thing

 

The key is to not just recite these values back to the interviewer. That tells them nothing except that you visited the website. Instead, connect EY's values to something you have actually done or experienced.

 

For example, if you want to reference EY's focus on teaming and inclusiveness, share a quick story about a time you built an inclusive team environment or sought out diverse perspectives to solve a problem. If you want to reference doing the right thing, describe a time you made an ethical decision that was difficult but correct.

 

In my experience, the best candidates mention values once and let their stories do the heavy lifting. The worst candidates list all of EY's values like a shopping list.

 

What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Answering "Why EY?"

 

Based on hundreds of mock interviews I have conducted, here are the most common mistakes candidates make with the "Why EY?" question.

 

Do

Don't

Reference a specific EY program, project, or person

Give a generic answer that could apply to any Big 4 firm

Connect EY to your personal background and goals

Recite EY's website or annual report verbatim

Show you have done networking and research

Say you are applying because EY is a "big name"

Keep your answer to 60-90 seconds

Ramble for three or more minutes

Mention what you bring to EY

Focus only on what EY can do for you

Be honest and authentic

Badmouth other firms you are interviewing with

 

One mistake I see constantly: candidates say "I want to work at EY because of the people." While the sentiment is nice, this is the single most overused answer in professional services interviews. If you want to reference culture, be specific. Describe a real conversation you had, name the office or team, and explain exactly what impressed you.

 

Another common mistake is tailoring your answer too broadly. If you are interviewing for EY Tax, your answer should reference EY's tax practice specifically. If you are interviewing for EY-Parthenon, talk about strategy consulting. A generic answer signals that you have not done your homework.

 

What Does the EY Interview Process Look Like?

 

Understanding the full EY interview process helps you know when to expect the "Why EY?" question. According to Glassdoor data from over 10,000 EY interview reviews, the average interview difficulty at EY is rated 2.85 out of 5, and roughly 75% of candidates describe the experience as positive.

 

Here is what the process looks like at a high level.

 

Stage

Format

What to Expect

Application

Online submission

Resume and cover letter screened by recruiters

Online Assessment

Timed test

Numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and situational judgment

First Round

1-2 interviews (phone or video)

Behavioral questions + case interview (for consulting roles)

Final Round

2-3 interviews (in-person or video)

Behavioral + case + possible group case interview (EY-Parthenon)

 

The "Why EY?" question can come up in any round, but it is most commonly asked during the first round phone screen or the behavioral portion of your interviews. Be ready to answer it at every stage.

 

For EY-Parthenon roles specifically, the interview process typically includes two to three rounds with a mix of behavioral interviews, case interviews, and a group case interview in the final round. The average hiring timeline at EY-Parthenon is about 31 days according to Glassdoor. For a complete breakdown of EY-Parthenon case interviews, including example cases and preparation tips, check out our detailed guide.

 

If you want to prepare for the case interview portion of EY interviews, my case interview course can help you become a top 10% candidate in as little as 7 days.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is EY a Good Company to Work For?

 

Yes. EY is consistently ranked as one of the top employers in professional services. The firm generated $53.2 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2025 and employs roughly 406,000 people globally. EY offers strong learning programs (including the EY Tech MBA), flexible work arrangements, and a culture that emphasizes diversity and inclusion. According to Glassdoor, approximately 75% of EY interview candidates describe their experience as positive.

 

Why Is EY Better Than Other Big 4 Firms?

 

EY's primary advantage over other Big 4 firms is EY-Parthenon, its strategy consulting arm. EY-Parthenon competes directly with McKinsey, BCG, and Bain on pure strategy engagements. No other Big 4 firm has a strategy practice of equivalent scale and reputation. EY also differentiates through its AI investment (30% AI revenue growth in FY25), the EY Tech MBA, and its integrated service model that connects strategy with implementation.

 

How Do You Answer "Why EY-Parthenon" Specifically?

 

For "Why EY-Parthenon," focus on what makes EY-Parthenon different from both MBB firms and the other Big 4 strategy practices. Key differentiators include EY-Parthenon's access to EY's broader network of tax, assurance, and consulting specialists, its strong private equity practice, and its industry depth in sectors like education and health sciences. Always pair these points with a genuine personal connection and what you specifically bring to the team. For a deep dive, read our EY-Parthenon case interview guide.

 

What Should I Research Before My EY Interview?

 

Before any EY interview, research the specific service line you are applying to, EY's most recent revenue and headcount figures, the firm's purpose statement ("Building a better working world"), and any recent EY thought leadership or news. Most importantly, talk to current or former EY employees. Nothing impresses interviewers more than saying, "I spoke with someone on your team who told me about a specific project."

 

Does EY Ask "Why EY?" in Every Interview Round?

 

Not always, but you should be prepared for it in every round. It is most commonly asked during first-round phone screens and behavioral interview portions. In final rounds with partners, you may get a variation like "What makes EY the right fit for you?" or "Why this service line?" Having your 3-part answer ready ensures you can adapt to any version of this question.

 

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