We spoke with Chloe from EY on how she went from her degree in Mathematics degree to a career in Professional Services.
When did you start thinking about which industry and employer to apply to? What did you do to get the ball rolling?
During my second year of university, I attended careers fairs and got involved with employer events on campus to get an idea of which industry I would be most interested in.
What made you realise you could get a job at EY with your degree, and what drew you to EY in particular?
EY had a strong presence at my university and I attended some of their recruitment events. The message that an accounting/business degree was not required was often pushed at these events. What stood out to me about EY in particular were the people. In comparison to other employers, the people that I met and spoke to from EY were always incredibly approachable and extremely enthusiastic about working for EY.
What skills and experiences helped you through EY’s application process?
I had been fortunate enough to do a year’s placement as a Finance Analyst and so my experiences from this job, as well as my experiences through the recruitment process when applying for placement, was a huge help!
What skills from your degree have you been able to transfer to your role at EY?
Probably softer skills such as organisation and revision habits – revising for multiple mathematics modules has definitely helped me to develop good revision habits which I have carried through to my ACA exams. Most of the actual mathematics I used at university has not been relevant to my job at EY although having strong foundations in mathematics definitely helps with some of the ACA exams.
How has EY supported your transition from a Mathematics degree into business?
EY offers great training from the minute you start at the company, training is very hands on to increase understanding. It also helps that you attend college straight away on starting to commence studying for the first accounting and assurance ACA exams – these are a great foundation to understanding the job role.
What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to students studying the same degree as you did and how to go about getting a job with an organisation like EY?
My advice would be to look for a placement or summer internship before applying to graduate schemes as the experience really helps in answering some of the more difficult situational based questions as well as meaning you get some good experiences at assessment centers. It also helps you to identify the kind of career you would like to follow! In terms of getting a job at EY, I would say EY has a massive focus on its people. Be enthusiastic and friendly to everyone you meet throughout the recruitment process and show a keen interest in wanting to learn.