What was the biggest surprise transitioning into a graduate role from a vacationer role?
The biggest surprise for me as I transitioned from a vacationer to a graduate role was finding out about all the different learning opportunities available at EY. The internship definitely provided me with a glimpse since I had the chance to complete an EY Bronze Learning Badge and also sign up for the Ripples initiative; however, once I became a graduate, there were just so many more, including learning guides, Udemy, Coursera, and training specific to certain applications.
Describe a typical day for you in EY with your team.
There really isn’t a typical day for me, and it’s one of the main reasons why I love consulting so much. In the finance team, we could be working on accounting and reporting, data analysis, business analysis, finance architecture and systems, gap analysis, implementation processes, or even sustainable finance, just to mention a few. And we use a multitude of applications too, including Excel one day, PowerPoint the next, and anything in between. I’ve worked with PowerBI, Anaplan, ARIS, and a multitude of other applications!
What do you enjoy the most about working at EY?
Definitely, the diversity of projects and people. Having the opportunity to work on different projects and with other teams really keeps the work interesting and presents lots of great learning opportunities. And because of EY’s global reach, it’s always really cool when you get to connect and work with people from all over the world.
If you could go back in time and give your university self some advice, what would it be?
Work hard, play hard! This would be some general advice that I think always works well, but it’s especially important to strike the perfect balance which essentially comes down to each person as an individual. Everyone knows how hard they work and play, so just always check in and see that both elements are being taken care of to the right degree.
What is your top tip for incoming graduates or vacationers at EY?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and contribute your ideas. It can be really daunting at times, and imposter syndrome can sometimes be a real challenge, but the team is always there to support you. Be brave, be proactive, and it’ll really pay dividends.