Business Academy Student Review

As a Business Academy Student each day is different within the team you work in, depending on the type of work you are given to complete. Everyday we had a virtual skills session via Skype where everybody on the programme in the country could interact and network. In these skill sessions we learnt about different skills that EY looks for in it's employees and how to develop them all the time eg confidence, networking, personal brand, resilience and Business Writing. I also helped with work in the Transaction Tax team most days. We also had the opportunity to meet new people at different talks at lunch.

Through the skills sessions I have furthered my networking skills as well as looked at how to write in a business context. This has allowed me to focus on how to change my language and tone when speaking to different people in different contexts. Also, when doing pieces of work that aren't necessarily exciting but can still be quite challenging, I have learnt resilience as I know the job has to be done to a high standard but as quickly as possible in order to move onto the next task. We also had to do a presentation which increased my confidence but the skills session for this was actually after my presentation. However, I did request for it to be emailed beforehand so I could have a look through the slides.

I have enjoyed the programme as my team were very welcoming and it was great to meet like-minded Business Academy Students. I also was able to experience what it's actually like in different positions within the tax team eg graduate, intern, school leaver, senior, manager, director and partner. Everybody has been willing to help me whether it's working my computer, helping with my presentation or just helping me find my way around the building!

Everybody has been extremely welcoming and offered to chat with me about working at EY and more specifically in the team. I have also been allowed to attend important meetings and client calls which I was surprised at but made me feel part of the team, which I greatly appreciated, especially when I don't have that much knowledge on Transaction Tax. When given work to do I was always briefed first and then set to do it on my own which showed they had confidence that I would do it to the best of my ability and if there was a problem I would raise it with a team member immediately.

The IT Induction online was very useful and it was very good being able to access the IT systems and printing systems straight away. It was also good to have the outlook calendar so I could organise my day around the different virtual sessions on Skype. The first day was a little disorganised due to some team members not knowing that we were arriving however throughout the rest of the week, I always had something planned to do and if not I was given additional work from my team. Even though there wasn't always a set structure it was good to have independence as you would in a work place.

My councillor was always checking we were okay around the office and answered any email requests quickly. We had a meeting at the beginning of the week and a final meeting on the Friday to discuss whether or not we achieved the goals we had set. I didn't have any problems necessarily but when I was confused about something on my calendar, my councillor or my buddy would sort it out immediately.

The student recruitment team have been very helpful prior to and during the Business Academy via email, Skype and offering there phone numbers for urgent help. The buddy scheme means there is a constant point of contact who you become familiar with throughout the week and it is easier to ask them questions and they offer guidance.

My travel costs were relatively low as I am under 18 so can still use a low fare oyster card when travelling to and from the office at Canary Wharf. These expenses were offered to be paid for. 2 of the days I received lunch from the team which was really nice. I received a good wage for an u18 and definitely appreciated this as not only was I helping the team, but I was learning at the same time.

As I am only here for a week I have not had any opportunities to attend events or activities, however the Canary Wharf office is surrounded by great shops and restaurants and I know many of my colleagues have been taken out to lunch and met clients. I have also heard about different volunteering opportunities to help charities all around the globe, that people are able to take part in through EY.

Yes

EY is obviously a very successful company with extremely busy staff and managers, however every single person I met always took the time to speak with me about my aims of the week or what I would like to do moving forward. Once you have been accepted onto one of their schemes or opportunities, a lot more opportunities arise eg fast-track the next stage of your career.

Ensure that you find a quiet space to complete the online tests and do them as soon as possible as you only have a short space of time to complete the tests in. Also, whilst completing the actual tests you are being timed so therefore try to be as accurate as possible but still being time-efficient. During your telephone interview, prepare beforehand a list of things that you have done that you have found challenging, or you are proud of so that you can draw on these examples during your questions. This not only tells the interviewer you have these skills but shows them how you have used or gained them.