I had my final interview for an audit apprenticeship five weeks ago. I have phoned and emailed the EY student recruitment team and have been told my application is still under review, however on one occasion they said the recruiter would phone me with an outcome, and then on another occasion that I would get an email. However, I have heard from others in my cohort that they have started to recieve outcomes, either as reserve listed or rejected, because apparently there is no spaces left on the apprenticeship programme. One thing I have noticed is I have been sent holding emails from EY letting me know I’m still under review, however those I have spoken to with an offer have said they had no emails as such after their final interview. Are any of these elements an indication that I am unsuccessful? Thank you!
From what you describe, there is no clear signal yet that you are unsuccessful.
In large firms like EY, especially for structured programmes such as apprenticeships, decisions are often released in waves. Some candidates receive offers or rejections earlier, while others remain under review until final headcount and drop-offs are confirmed. Holding emails typically mean exactly that, your application is still active in the process.
The fact that you are still receiving updates, even if generic, suggests that you have not been rejected at this stage. It is also common for communication to be inconsistent, as different recruiters or teams handle different parts of the process.
That said, if others are already being informed that spaces are filled, it is possible that you are currently in a “waitlist” position, even if this is not explicitly communicated yet.
At this point, there is not much more you can influence. I would continue to monitor communication and follow up again if you do not hear back within a reasonable timeframe. Until you receive a formal outcome, your application should be considered still under consideration.
Agree with Rita - every firm ranks their candidates in terms of attractiveness to them. Given everything you describe it seems they have released offers/outcomes to others they potentially like more first. This does not mean that you will not hear back with good news - it is easy for a firm like EY to cut you, so as long as they haven't done it I would stay positive.
Hi there,
Honestly, the fact that EY is still actively sending you holding emails and confirming your application is under review suggests you are likely still genuinely being considered. Firms usually don’t continue manual communication for long if a clear rejection decision has already been made.
That said, based on what you’ve heard from others, it’s possible they are now managing waitlists, reserve candidates, or internal headcount approvals — which is why the messaging has been inconsistent. The different answers you received (phone call vs email) are more likely a sign of recruitment team disorganization than a meaningful signal about your outcome.
I would not interpret the holding emails themselves as a rejection indicator. In fact, candidates who are clearly rejected are often informed more quickly once decisions are finalized. The delay could mean they are still deciding between remaining candidates depending on offer acceptances and available spots.
Unfortunately, at this stage there’s probably not much more you can do beyond waiting. I’d continue applying elsewhere in parallel, but I wouldn’t assume you’re rejected until you receive an official outcome.
Best
Evelina
