Trainee Associate Review

I work in Consulting at EY at Associate level. I work on various engagements with clients, from anti money laundering to travel insurance. I also do business development work for EY, which involves internal tasks to benefit the business. I am studying for a BA in Business Leadership and Management Practice at Northumbria University as a part of the degree apprenticeship.

I have learned many skills since joining EY. It has definitely boosted my confidence and I have learned how to portray myself in a business setting. One new skill which I have developed since joining EY is telephony with retail customers, something I had no experience of before joining EY.

I enjoy it very much. I am always kept busy and I never seem to get bored with the work that is given. There are stressful times which I feel brings the best out of me as I work well under pressure. I also like the people I work with which is good.

It seems to be very well structured as we have support from both work and the university. We get loads of training and at work we are assigned a 'counsellor' who takes a mentor role and helps you through the course which I find very helpful. However the university can seem disorganised at times which is a little worrying.

We receive a lot of support. We have a 'counsellor' who is a more experienced member of staff who takes a mentor role and guides you through the course and answers any questions you have. Managers tend to change from project to project but they're usually very supportive and helpful.

We do receive support from the university as we can contact the programme lead at any time with questions or queries about the course. We also have a mentor from the university who is involved in tripartite meetings with my workplace counsellor and it's good to have support from both sides.

The university provides us with the theory that can be used in the workplace, and EY provides me with the opportunities to practice and demonstrate the theory. This helps with my role at EY in any tasks that we do and the university content is very relevant.

As we work from home, there is not much to get involved with through work. There are opportunities to join societies however, and I may join one once we are back in the office. The university provides a much wider range of activities and I am currently on the Northumbria University rowing team which helps keep up my fitness.

Yes

EY genuinely care about the wellbeing of their employees and they offer great opportunities to gather a wide range of experience in different sectors. It's a great place to start your career for that reason. EY also has a great reputation as one of the big four which is a good look.

It's easier said than done, but it's to be yourself and don't see the interviewers as scary bosses, see them as friends who want to help you and give you opportunities to succeed. Grasp every opportunity you get to demonstrate your strengths and have a positive mindset throughout.