From school to the working world, my Degree Apprenticeship experience.
I applied for degree apprenticeships and universities in my final year of school, and after lots of thought and research I decided to pursue a career at EY, a decision from which I never looked back.
When I was applying, I felt that there was very little light shone on apprenticeships, and most people don't consider it as an option when applying. The people that did apply, like me, were slightly confused and unsure during the application process. Even after my application was successful, I didn't know what to expect from my job role, and how being an apprentice affects my corporate responsibilities. As a result, I have spent as much time as I can demystifying and sharing my experience with as many people as possible and I’m always available to discuss and share my journey with you.
Financial data analyst, working with Audit teams to provide Assurance
I work in the Data Intelligence and Delivery (DID) team in the Assurance business area . We work on extracting and cleansing clients financial data for the Audit team. We use a variety of tools to do this and create Analyzers, which Audit teams use to perform their processes and evidence their work with reliable data. I'm also in a team that specifically optimizes first year audits and focuses on trying to cut down on the inefficiencies that happen when a new client is won by EY to Audit. I use a mix of technology and Audit knowledge in my role every day, and there is lots of collaboration and communication in my job.
Pursuing my passion and interests, and make an impact to the business.
Back in school my favorite subjects were Mathematics and Economics, I enjoy working with numbers and money, so the financial work highly interests me. I also really enjoy working with people, building relationships and connections. Working in a team environment gives me an opportunity to make an impact on people and the business, which is one of my biggest goals. One of my motivations is to get to position to influence the business processes, and improve efficiency and sustainability in the company.
Prepare and research, failure is only a stepping stone
One of the key messages I tell people applying for apprenticeships is to prepare. Research is paramount, and often assessments and interviews can be simply a matter of practicing. If you prepare for as many scenarios as possible, you are less likely to be caught off guard. The more you can practice your strengths, the better chance you have of performing under pressure. Additionally, take failure as a learning experience. From my personal experience, there are going to be many rejections, and the only way to see success is to take it lightly and improve on your mistakes. It's important to keep a positive outlook and treat each opportunity like a fresh start, because no matter how it may seem the hard work will most likely pay off.
Being selected to take part in an EY photoshoot in London.
I was so grateful to be given the opportunity to go to London, and be one of 4 people to take part in a a photo and video shoot for EY. The whole day was an amazing experience, with an external branding team managing the shoot on the day. I made good connections with everyone there, and put myself out there for future opportunities. Definitely one of the biggest achievements during my career to date, despite it being not that long.
