An EY leader shares the smartest move she's seen a candidate make

You might think your parents’ advice to walk up to a hiring manager with a paper résumé is outdated, but in today’s job market, that kind of old-school gesture may set you apart.

As employers increasingly look for candidates to show their work, putting yourself — physically — in front of a hiring manager can pay off.

Francesca Jones, EY US early careers leader, recalled a recent candidate — who is expected to be an intern in 2027 — who made his mark by doing just that.

She said he managed to sneak into a career fair at a large university that he didn’t attend.

EY also recruits at his college, she said, but he showed up anyway to broaden his network and to meet an EY partner he knew would be present. “He went all in on making sure that he was getting that air time,” Jones said.

She said the move was smart, savvy, and demonstrated eagerness and dedication.

It also showed curiosity, which has become a top priority for the firm in hiring in the AI era.

The talent leader said the world is in a period of transformation as AI is changing how work gets done, both at the firm and more broadly.

That means candidates need to demonstrate an exploratory mindset and agility, she said. “There is no guidebook for that, and if we’re not able to show the curiosity, we’re not going to be able to unlock what’s on the other side,” Jones said.

Jones said that once the candidate introduced himself to EY and reached the interview stage, he also proved to be a “huge dot connector,” which is another quality the firm is seeking.

Candidates who can reference something an employer shared in a previous conversation or incorporate insights from their own research are the ones who stand out, she said.

Jones said that during the interview process, the candidate raised points from previous interactions and built on the networking and skills he had developed in college. “By the time he got to the interview, his comfortability was so strong and so high,” Jones said.

Jones, who didn’t meet the candidate at the career fair, said that when he introduced himself to her a few months ago, she already knew his name, where he went to school, and the story of how he got an internship offer. “That is the impression that he was able to leave,” Jones said.

Jones’ story underscores the importance of networking in landing a job in today’s job market.

While written reach-outs can also be important for candidates, she said interviews are ultimately where candidates distinguish themselves.

So if there’s an opportunity to get in front of an employer in-person before you apply to a role, it might be worth the effort.