What would you choose to do differently if you had the chance to start from the beginning at EY?

Hi - although addressed to Vidhant, I thought I'd jump in and also give my opinion! One of the main things I would have done differently would be making the effort to come into the office on a more regular basis right from the start. It feels so easy to work from home sometimes, and although it has its benefits, I definitely believe coming into the office as often as possible is great as it improves social communication, enhances interactions and you can get to know your colleagues better. Personally, my productivity also increases when working in the office and it makes it a lot easier to ask questions.

Another thing I would have changed, which I believe is a great tip for when you are completing your professional qualification, is to keep a diary from the beginning and fill it out each day/week with a record of work you have completed. Within ICAS, we are required to complete a logbook which involves documenting your relevant practical experience. Thus, if you keep a diary you are easily able to go back and see what you have completed two months ago for instance, instead of trying to think back and struggling to recall the details. I hope this helps :)

This is a great question! I’m still fairly new to EY, and this is the kind of question I find myself asking senior staff in order to help me make the most of my time here at EY. Even so, there are already a couple of things I wish I had done differently:

Firstly, I wish I had prioritised attending the social events arranged for our office prior to starting at EY. I ended up working during the summer, and our event took place during one of my shifts. In hindsight, I wish I had asked for time off - not just because it sounded like a really fun day, but also because not attending meant I didn‘t have the chance to meet any of my year group before our induction event in London. Obviously you have plenty of opportunities to get to know your colleagues in and away from the office, but I would say that making the effort to attend a social event before starting will help you to make the most of your first few days in the role.

Secondly, I would definitely tell myself to be less nervous about starting at EY! I know it is easy to say that in hindsight, but a lot of the things I was worried about have definitely been unfounded. I think it’s important to remember that a) you are not going through this alone - one of the biggest advantages of joining a graduate programme or apprenticeship is that other people will be starting at the same time as you and you can support each other while settling in - and b) most colleagues you work with will have gone through a similar programme recently and will know what it feels like to be new. I was definitely worried about my first engagement as I didn’t think I was ready, but everyone in my team has been really patient and helpful with all the questions I have had.

Thank you very much Lucy and Ross for taking the time to answer and for sharing your views. Wish you success in your role !