Major firm changes recruitment plan - graduate jobs

The UK's top graduate recruitment company is to start focusing on performance in online tests and the self-promotion of candidates' qualities through business cases.

Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PwC), the professional services firm, has now launched its Inspired Talent access route, a broader assessment process allowing candidates without a required 2:1 degree or 300-400 Ucas points to apply.

The tests cover numeracy, judgement skills and "intellectual capability" and the business cases must show drive, resilience, entrepreneurialism and commercial acumen on the part of the candidate. Successful candidates can then go forward to join the main recruitment process.

Applicants who have the required academic qualifications will still apply through the traditional route for PwC, which takes on more than 1,000 university leavers every year.

"With the proliferation of students gaining higher qualifications, you can't just continue all the time to raise that bar as the test," said Sonja Stockton, head of recruitment at PwC.