Business Academy Intern Review

I was involved in multiple Q and A sessions with current employees and apprentices where we were encouraged to ask as many questions as we had. There was visits from EY Partners during the week talking about their careers and what sorts of opportunities they have had during their careers. I was also involved in skills sessions that taught valuable skills to help me in my career e.g. business writing and presenting skills. Discussions took place about two case studies I was given which was a very helpful insight into the world of accounting.

During my work experience I was given lots of skills development sessions which were all presentations teaching me new skills that I could take away with me and apply to my work in my career no matter what I go on to do. I was given guidance on how to present and write in my career and I got training on how to improve my confidence. During my training there was lots of opportunity to ask any questions that I might have.

I have really enjoyed my work experience and I have been very amazed at how well organised it was. My work experience took place virtually due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and I was really surprised at how much I've still been able to take away from this experience despite it being a virtual one. EY have done extraordinarily well to set up an experience like this and I am proud to have taken part in it. It has really emphasised to me how professional EY are and how well they provide their services.

My work experience was extremely well organised. From the first time I applied to the work experience to the last minute of the programme, I have never felt unsure of what I'm supposed to be doing as EY have always been very quick to reply to any queries on email. The actual week itself was very well structured and followed an itinerary that gave enough time for each task to be carried out properly.

I already knew quite a lot about the company and its culture but there's only so much you can find out about a company without having contact with their employees. This experience has allowed me to interact with current employees and apprentices to really get a feel for what it's like to work for the company. All the employees that I spoke with were very friendly and really just wanted to help me have a better experience. I heard lots of stories about people's careers and how they joined EY and it was a really insightful week.

I was already quite interested in a career in Tax and I knew I didn't want to go to Uni. After spending a week on the EY Business Academy I now know for sure that I want to apply for the EY Business Apprenticeship. This work experience gave me a great insight into the world of a chartered accountant and really solidified my choice to pursue Tax. I was able to speak with people who were in my shoes not so long ago and I received great advice from them.

I was paid for this experience and I have to say it was a very wage considering I gained so much knowledge and experience from the programme. I was happy to participate in this programme regardless of the fact I got paid to do so. The fact that EY paid me for this experience shows how well EY like to treat their employees and Business Academy Interns. I really felt welcomed at the firm and the money was a very nice bonus.

There was plenty of opportunity to network with employees and other participants of the programme which was very impressive considering it was virtual. Multiple times throughout the programme there was networking opportunities where we could speak to each other and apprentices from EY about different subjects. We used Microsoft Teams to talk to each other through audio and webcam technology, However, nothing was forced upon anyone who didn't feel confident enough being on the camera. The alternative was to use the chat box.

Yes

EY are an extraordinary company who have such a good culture and great morals throughout their workforce. Every interaction I have had with a member of EY's workforce has left me very impressed with how professional and helpful they are. Something that sets EY apart from other professional services firms is that they have such a diverse look on everything and they welcome people from all sorts of backgrounds. They really want to see what you can bring to their company and how you can use your skills to benefit them.

My biggest piece of advice to anyone else who is applying to EY is to be yourself. I say this because EY give everybody equal chance no matter what background you're from. It has became clear to me (after participating in the EY Business Academy) that EY really are interested in finding out more about you and seeing how you could benefit them. Take all the opportunities that EY give you because they will really help you to progress wherever you go with your career.