Finance Review

From the moment I arrived I was welcomed by staff and found that once the icebreakers were done and everyone was more comfortable with each other we worked well as a team. I enjoyed the challenges we were set as I found it better than to have to fit and listen to a load of information but instead could learn on the job however with one of the activities you did feel as if you were thrown in at the deep end ( the Harvey Travis activity) but even this would be easily managed by simply not using this activity as the first one of the program.

I loved my experience at Deloitte most because everyone I met no matter if it was the person running the student recruitment insight days or the secretary and cleaners were very welcoming and helpful, offering a smile and treating you as an equal. They made sure to explain and offer help if you didn't feel that you understood one of the activities and by the end, you already felt as if you were ready to join the company.

If ever you didn't understand a task or just had a question about anything relevant it was made very clear that you just had to ask and you would receive all of the help you required. Through a networking lunch, we were given the opportunity to speak directly to workers and people who had done the insights and schemes we were interested in applying for so we had a real insight into what we would be getting ourselves into. There was also a question and answering session more formally done with just two candidates, one graduate, and one brightstarts student.

We were given a session on interview skills but it wasn't just aimed at the interview process at Deloitte but instead was both specific to that and to any job/university/apprenticeship application. There was a fun activity which taught us the importance of a good handshake and what it can say about you and also how to be enthusiastic and show motivation for a job without trying to stare an employer down or creep them out. Overall the do's and don'ts of any interview were explained. As well as this in the other sessions, we worked on our communication, problem-solving and analytical skills.

The entire program I was one was scheduled down to the minute and we were shown the timings and what was planned after every session. As well as this we got warnings of the up and coming questioning and answering session so we could prepare for that ahead of time. After two morning sessions, we would get a break before having another long session. Lunch was long for networking before the afternoon sessions took place. There were a few issues with the structuring due to the fact our scheme was reduced from a week's worth and condensed into two days. This meant the hardest session was the first we did which I feel would have been better to do after we had gotten used to things on the second day but even still it wasn't impossible.

The general atmosphere of the event was happy and constructive, perfect to get some work done and take in what we needed to know about the company. All the staff were friendly and young which I feel made them treat us better as they were closer to our age and our worries and hopes were still fresh in their minds when compared with someone older.

The firm invested its time in getting younger people more aware as I found not many people my age knew about Deloitte but knew about the Micro-Tyco competition that they run to win this experience. Through doing this insight work experience your application into their brightstarts scheme would be fast tracked when compared to applicants without this experience.

Each of the sessions ran in the work placement was aimed to give some insight into what it would be like to work a certain role within the company. At Deloitte, this was audit, tax, financial advice, risk advice and consulting. Workers from each of these areas would come to help at the sessions relevant to them so that we got to experience their different opinions and experiences of life working with the company. The games and challenges worked well to get the information across in a fun and active way that I believe helped me take in more than any sort of passive learning.

Through speaking to the different area representatives I got to find out about the differences in company cultures had in the smaller regionally bases compared to the bigger branches that were in the big cities like London. We were told that it was very much dependant on which sector you work in what the socializing was like and how much time you would spend at a desk at the firm or out speaking to different companies. This was good for me as I had little idea of the differences between the sectors beforehand.

I believe that my experience has opened me up options for the future that I previously wasn't aware of at all. It has given me a goal to work towards after my degree and a pathway with already made connections that I can take if I ever doubt the path that I am on. I would love to work for a company like this who quite obviously takes care of their employees that all seem to love their experiences working for the company.

We had to find our own transport to the office and pay for that ourselves. It took place in the summer holidays so didn't get in the way of any studying but you did get supplied with free food that was very nice and there were ongoing refreshments of tea, water, orange juice and biscuits all throughout the day that more than covered travel costs.

Each of the sessions was supervised by a person working in a different sector of Deloitte who would explain what they did and their experiences getting into and working in the company. The networking lunch was also one of the main times to network where everything was less focused on a task and more just asking friendly questions. There was a questioning and answering session that were pre warned about to prepare questions to throw at some of the companies newest employees so closest to our age.

All of the networking opportunities were done in a friendly laid back way with people either eating alongside us or sipping at their cups of tea and biscuits while we fired questions. As we were such a small group I think we had an advantage of being able to have our own private conversations with the employees or talk within small groups before starting one big discussion that everyone was welcome to.

We did find out about activities that the employees get up to outside of work. Through our networking lunch and questioning and answering session, we were able to get to know the employees and they chatted about what they enjoyed doing to find similar interests. it was surprising to find that even those who had come from non-financial backgrounds had made it into a successful career at Deloitte through their schemes. I learned about the socials that are held in celebration of a big audit being finished and the sporting eventual and college experience as well as abroad opportunities and possibilities to relocate.

I would recommend this insight program to a friend because to get onto it you must take part in a fun competition that raises money for a charity that helps people create businesses in third world countries. The application is simply to keep a diary of what you did during this plus answer two questions about why you want the insight placement and how skills used during the competition will help you in your future.