Friedman LLP Interview Questions
& Process

I got referred by my employer and then had a phone screen with HR at one of the offices, which went well. After that, I went to the main office for an interview where I met with another HR person and a manager. The HR person let me know their decision quickly and nicely. Because I interviewed before the main recruiting period, I didn't have the usual superday where you meet a bunch of managers and partners. I wish I had met with another manager or partner to get a more unbiased opinion. I really don't think you should only talk to one hiring manager for a full-time job.

I approached FLLP at a campus job fair looking for an internship. After a quick chat with a recruiter, I learned they didn't offer internships but asked about my interest in a full-time role and availability for an interview later that day on campus. Despite my initial focus on internships for graduate school, I agreed to the interview. The process involved two one-hour interviews. I was impressed by their benefits and company culture, which ultimately led me to accept their offer and adjust my graduate school plans.

I interviewed in November of 2016 and the whole thing took about 3 weeks to a month. There were 3 main events: 4 personal interviews, 1 group interview, and 1 luncheon. My first impression with Friedman was really genuine and comfortable. I met two HR generalists at a career fair at my school. We had a simple discussion and I never felt like I had to prove myself to them. It was really fluid and sincere networking, very conversational. Both the Marlton based generalist and I noticed a connection and we locked in an initial interview on the spot. The initial interview had a relaxed vibe. I had another more in-depth discussion about my work experience and qualifications with the same HR generalist. This was really a chance for me to really nail home that I was qualified for the position I was applying for, along with an opportunity to ask any preliminary questions I had before speaking to the managers. I appreciated this. It was a chance to get familiar with the office and learn a bit more about their business (along with some buzzwords to drop in later interviews). I think it made a big difference. Finally, there was the final "Superday" interview. This was very different from my other "Superday" interviews and truly was the deciding factor in my decision to accept Friedman's offer. First off, there were only 2 other applicants. Which may be due to the smaller size of Friedman as opposed to the other larger firms I applied with. However, it gave the impression that HR had really put effort into their recruitment process. Coming from a "Superday" with a much larger firm that grouped me with 180+ applicants vying for under 20 positions, it was nice to not feel so much like human capital and to feel like I was being hand picked. Second, the lunch. While it sounds silly to say the lunch was important to me, it was an integral part of my decision. The lunch (@ Brio, A++) was with the senior associates, no managers, no principals and no HR. This was surprisingly impressive to me. I realized that these would be the people that I would not only work with, but also lean on, as I learned the ropes throughout my first year working with Friedman's client base. The lunch with just these senior associates gave me the chance to see if our personalities meshed well, and also kept the lunch from feeling like a sales pitch. I'm excited to work with all of them and I truly hope they had a part in the decision to hire me. Last but not least, was the discussion with the HR director, Audit Manager and the Principal. I was most wary of these interviews, because interviewing with senior management is usually where the messages and the meanings get fuzzy. I was concerned (seeing as Friedman is a smaller firm) about long term goals being presented as current reality. However, these interviews were sincere and relaxed as well. There was discussion of my personality and work ethic and the culture and climate of Friedman. It was clear to both parties that this was in an attempt to find harmony between the two. Which I'm glad to say we found. There was also a satisfying clarity of purpose and direction I found with these managers. They were all on the same page and knew exactly where Friedman was best positioned within their market. This was comforting, seeing as public accounting can be brutal enough without pressure from growth metrics and forcing maximum utilization. All in all, as far as public accounting goes. Friedman proved to me to be the Holy Grail. I'm proud to say I work there.

Applied through my school's portal. Got an email a couple of days later. Did a phone call for like 30 minutes. A week later, I got an email to have an in person interview. Scheduled it with someone from the marketing team. Afterwards, a week later, got another interview but this time with the Marketing manager. I'm waiting for another response. A week has passed and got emailed for another call.