How to Get a Deloitte Referral

Deloitte is the largest professional services firm in the world. A referral from a current Deloitte employee gets your application fast-tracked past the initial screen and into a real conversation.

Find Contacts Who Can Refer You

By the Numbers

460K+

Deloitte employees worldwide

~40%

of hires from referrals

higher offer rate vs cold apply

Deloitte is the largest of the Big Four accounting and consulting firms, with over 460,000 employees across audit, tax, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory. The sheer size of the firm means its alumni network is enormous - and that the odds of having a connection there are very high.

Deloitte's referral program is one of the most active in professional services. Employees earn bonuses for successful referrals and the firm actively encourages employees to refer from their networks. A referral moves your application to the front of a recruiter's queue and often results in direct outreach rather than waiting for a generic response.

How to Get a Referral: Step by Step

Identify your Deloitte connections: With 460,000 employees globally, almost anyone has a Deloitte connection in their extended network. Focus on finding people in your target service line (consulting vs. audit vs. tax vs. advisory) and your target office location.
Match service line to your background: Deloitte's divisions are quite different. Consulting is the most competitive and best-known. Audit and tax are large and hire aggressively. Risk and financial advisory are growing. Be specific about which service line you are targeting.
Reach out to alumni from your school: Deloitte recruits heavily from accounting programs, business schools, and top universities. School alumni are your warmest leads and are typically very willing to help fellow graduates navigate the recruiting process.
Ask for an informational call: Deloitte's culture is relationship-driven. Ask about their experience in their service line, their team, and what they look for in new hires. This conversation is as much about you assessing fit as it is about them assessing you.
Follow up with a specific role: Deloitte posts roles on deloitte.com/careers. Send your resume and the specific role after your call and ask if they would be open to submitting a referral.

Find Alumni Who Can Refer You

Tips That Make the Difference

Deloitte hires in large classes - timing matters

Deloitte's biggest hiring push is in the fall for summer and full-time positions (for students) and rolling for experienced hires. Reaching out to alumni in August or September - before the main recruiting cycle - gives you time to build relationships before applications open.

Deloitte Consulting vs. Deloitte Digital

Deloitte has a large digital and technology consulting arm (Deloitte Digital) that is distinct from the traditional strategy consulting practice. If your background is technical, Deloitte Digital may be an easier path in and has its own active alumni network.

The Big Four all have active referral programs

If Deloitte is your target, also consider connections at PwC, EY, and KPMG. Professionals move between the Big Four frequently and a referral at any of them uses the same alumni networking approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Deloitte have an employee referral program?

Yes. Deloitte has one of the most active employee referral programs in professional services. Employees receive financial bonuses for successful referrals and the firm actively promotes the program internally. Referred candidates are prioritised in the recruiting queue and typically receive faster recruiter outreach than cold applicants.

What GPA does Deloitte require?

Deloitte's GPA requirements vary by service line and office. For consulting roles, a 3.5+ GPA from a target school is typically expected. For audit and tax, the bar is slightly lower. A referral can partially compensate for a GPA that is slightly below the stated threshold by getting a human to look at the full application.

How many rounds does Deloitte's interview process have?

Deloitte's interview process typically involves two to four rounds depending on the service line and level. For consulting, rounds include case interviews and fit conversations. For audit and tax, rounds focus on technical knowledge and behavioural questions. A referral gets you into the process faster but does not reduce the number of rounds.