Associate Review

Day to day activities generally consist of project based activities. This could be working with a bank for some consulting work, Anti-money laundering or cyber security. The type of work can change very often as the project you are assigned to may be short term. Between projects I complete business supporting roles.

During my time at work I have gathered a multitude of skills through completing a range of projects and therefore I have managed to increased my levels of experience in different sectors. In university, I have developed new skills in regards to business management and leadership which can then be incorporated into my role at work.

I am finding the programme very enjoyable. The work I complete is challenging and stimulating, this then encourages me to succeed in my role. The study side of the apprenticeship works well in tandem with the work I complete and the assignments I submit are all relevant to the workplace.

My programme is extremely well structured. I spend 80% of my time at work and 20% of my time for study. Most of my study time is spent attending lectures at university however when university is not on, I can use them days as study days in order to manage my own time and utilise them when I need them more, around assignment deadlines.

I recieve a wide range of support from my employer. We have regular communication with the apprenticeship team and I feel well informed all the time. There are various different sources I can look to go to for support. The flexibility around choosing my own study days is crucial as it helps to manage my own time.

In regards the CMI portfolio, my employer has been extremely supportive. This is because they are actively asking about areas that we (as a cohort) are struggling to find evidence for. When these are identified, sessions are put in place for us to use as evidence when submitting the final portfolio.

I think the qualification will help me to perform better in my role when I reach a management level, this is because most of the topics are leadership and management. Although a lot o the information can be incorporated into my role now, the topics on managing employees will be most utilised in hopefully a future role.

There are lots of networks to get involved in at EY, these networks provide support for different groups of people. EY also have different sport teams, for example they have a netball team that takes part in the local league. Although social activities haven't yet been experienced myself due to COVID I'm sure there will be many once there is a return to the office.

Yes

I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the firm, the experienced has been very enjoyable and I have felt extremely supported during my role. The work I have done has been a broad range and therefore there is a sense of job rotation which keeps the role stimulating. EY also has a clear vision for sustainability which is good to see from such a large firm.

During the application process, be yourself and answer all the questions honestly. Have questions prepared for you to ask the interviewer in order for you to sound engaged. Do your research before attending assessment days and interviews so that it comes across as if you are interested in the firm and you are proactive.