360 apprentice Review

The apprenticeship I am on is a rotational one. This means throughout the apprenticeship I will experience being a member of different teams. Currently I am in information risk management which is essentially IT audit. My role varies but often will include me contacting clients, arranging and attending meetings, collating information provided and then documenting this for review. I tend to work on the same client for a few weeks before moving onto a new one.

One skill I have learnt is notetaking skills. This is a skill I have learnt through notetaking during internal and external meetings. In the case of client meetings I upload my notes to our teams share drive where they will be referred to by my team. I have also developed my excel skills. Although I had used excel before I had limited knowledge. Since starting at KPMG I have been taught how to use excel to a more advanced level. This has then helped me be more efficient with my work.

I really enjoy the programme as I feel that the work I do is challenging yet rewarding. I have constant support from people in my team, the apprenticeship team and my fellow apprentices. I feel that the rotational element of the programme is very valuable as it means I can find the department I enjoy being part of.

The programme is quite well structured. The training provider and internal apprentice team sort out study days, tuition and exams which I feel is great. We also have regular forums where all apprentices across the UK in my intake meet in the London office and train and develop skills. I feel that the programme is well structured and events are planned in advance.

I receive a lot of support from my team. I have a performance manager who I go to for support or any queries. He will then put a lot of effort into helping me. Furthermore, we have regular meetings where we will discuss my progress and career development. I feel very supported by him.

Our training provider (BPP) offer a lot of support. They arrange our exams and tuition smoothly. The tutors who teach us the qualification are very supportive and offer lots of help. There is also a website that allows us to practice for the exams. BPP regularly send us emails on our progress. I also have calls with BPP who explain the next steps in the qualification and my goals on how I will achieve this.

When studying for my qualification I learn a lot of accounting concepts in theory, On the other hand, when at work I am learning on the job. I believe it is most beneficial to learn information in theory and in practice simultaneously. This allows you to develop a deeper understanding of what you are doing. Therefore I find my qualifications have benefitted me when completing work as I have theoretical knowledge of what I am doing.

There is a huge range of social activities, sports teams and networking events at KPMG. There are many sports teams such as a running club, a netball team and a rugby team. There are many social events that occur such as Christmas parties, team meals and team sport events. There are also networking events that allow you to meet people in other teams.

Yes

I am very glad that I joined KPMG so therefore would recommend it to others. The programme is very well organised, the qualifications are valuable, there are a lot of social and networking opportunities and KPMG is full of friendly people. KPMG is also a reputable firm who I think people would be proud to work for.

When applying for KPMG, I would advise others to be honest and to show their true self. It is important to do this as it allows KPMG to see your value and skills. Don't worry too much about 'selling yourself' as interviewers can see through this. Just be yourself. Also make sure to research KPMG as a firm and the values it has.