Analyst - Transactions Tax - Real Estate Review

On a day-to-day basis, I am the most junior member of a team working on a project. Usually I am involved in anywhere between 3 and 8 projects simultaneously. Part of my work is admin (conflict checks, take-on procedures, billing) but we do get provided opportunities to stretch ourselves. I'm usually in by 9.30 and leave between 6.00 and 7.00pm. Lots of interaction with consultants but also see Partners/Directors to chat to a lot too. Given responsibility early on.

Learnt lots of soft skills particularly regarding networking and working with clients: be this listening into senior people on calls or on lunches. Simple things such as using the phones, setting meeting agendas, organising meetings are things that I hadn't had to do before at school. Also had the opportunity to speak at a Conference for c. 600 international Partner's and Directors. Conversely, at a junior grade, I don't think Deloitte makes the most of what I'm good at, but largely due to the technical nature of my job.

I hugely enjoy it. Whenever I tell friends, I explain I don't think it could have been possible to have a better Gap Year experience. Positioned in the heart of London working alongside driven, motivated people being treated as a Graduate only a couple of months after finishing A Levels. When combined with the training, the socials (free drinks), the lunches and parties, purely on a 'glitzy' scale it's incredible and that's before all the skills I've developed along the way. So whilst at times it feels like work, largely due to the people and the opportunities I've had, a really enjoy it. I, and the other Gap Year Scholars, can't quite believe how lucky we are.

The Scholar Scheme has been around for c. 30 years and so has an established set of alumni as well as senior people (from Partner's down) who have been on the scheme. HR is sometimes a little problematic only because it's a niche programme and they're not many of us. I have a 'Buddy' and a 'Coach' who both provide career advice and on the job support who are previous scholars.

Very supportive and willing to understand concerns. Working is flexible but, at least for my team, very centred around the office. Expenses and logistics to travel are all covered. They understood I was busy after work when preparing for university interviews and provide two paid days holiday for me to go to interviews. But it's pretty good on the whole.

I don't have any formal qualifications to complete. I was supposed to complete training for the Accountancy ACA course but missed it due to interviews. This was one of the only things in the course that was poorly arranged. However, given they like you as a person and invested in you, the firm are keen for us to succeed.

The ACA is an integral part of a junior's life at Deloitte. Largely it is a mark of financial competence and rigour and certain teams have greater overlap between the content of the qualifications and the work conducted on a day to day basis. It certainly makes you a more well rounded professional.

Extra-curricular is a big part of Deloitte's outreach programme. These include: - Volunteering for a tax charity called Tax Aid - Charity auctions to help a Homeless Charity - School mentoring and university application support locally. Equally, I go to socials on average once a week (paid for by Deloitte) and there are teams that organise ski trips. There's an annual 7 a-side football trip to Prague from across European Deloitte teams. There's a reasonably priced gym too.

Yes

Deloitte is a brilliant, forward-thinking, people-driven company. It is large which brings with it the scale of fascinating, well known clients, multifaceted projects and enough revenue to allows significant investment in employees. It's incredibly sociable but also filled with ambitious, intelligent employees who are the sort of people I actively choose to spend time with.

Deloitte seems to hire a certain type of person. It's not about being incredibly smart or having huge knowledge, though those things certainly help. The firm seems to hire on the basis of personality, fit to the corporate culture and how easy you are to work with. All of which can be gleaned from the various interviews. But focus on what you are good at and how you can bring value and benefit the company.