We recently caught up with Alessandra about how she secured an internship with EY, how she built her commercial awareness before the interview and her top tips for Bright Network members looking to follow in her footsteps.
What stood out to you about EY?
What most attracted me to EY is its purpose: building a better working world. I believe that the world has reached a point where there is an urgent need for change and EY would provide me with the tools and opportunities to help with this change.
I also made sure that EY's values and sense of work-life balance fit with my vision of the future. EY cares about its people and wants to make sure everyone works at their best. They are flexible and understanding and everyone I have spoken to made me feel sure about working with them.
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
To build my commercial awareness I researched the company's website and read articles about their recent works. I took notes and learned details about those that I knew could have been a good example during the interview. As soon as I started the application process, I started following EY on their social platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter) and turned on the notifications. I also took part in several networking events like Bright Network Festival and spoke with employees to gather a thorough understanding of what the company was focusing on at the time. It's important to remember that you don't only need to conduct in-depth research but also be able to understand and express how your division helps and why they decided to complete certain projects.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
Think about the reasons why you are applying to a specific role: do you like that company, its values and its work-life balance or are you just attracted to its money or its prestige?
Also, don't pretend to be someone you are not, for two reasons: people will read right through you and you have nothing to hide about yourself. You deserve to find a job that respects who you are as a whole otherwise you already know it's not the right choice.
Finally, be organised! It'll make sure you know what to do every step of the way.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
Bright Network offered me amazing opportunities in terms of networking and understanding what I needed to do to secure a role. I always found networking awkward, and it is true that practice makes perfect. Sometimes I would go to events and talk to the first two people that made eye contact with me and that was about it. With time and practice, Bright Network helped me find the confidence to speak my mind and ask questions.
What’s been the toughest interview question you've faced and how did you tackle it?
The question "Why would you want to work with us?" is always one of the toughest questions of the interview process, hence why it is important that you are genuinely interested in the position. You have to remember that recruiters receive hundreds of answers to this question every week and you absolutely need to stand out. The way I tackled this question was to focus on the values of the company and show how their values fit with you: for example, I am genuinely interested in making the world a better place and in my spare time I tutor children coming from disadvantaged backgrounds with Action Tutoring. This perfectly fits with the sense of community and going beyond what you'd normally do that EY values. Bring actual examples of how you match and respect each and every one of their values and you will be just fine.
Did you use Bright Network Academy in your career search and if so, how did it help you?
Bright Network Academy is an excellent tool to learn more about the industry you want to get into, as well as learn how to tailor your CV and application so that you can stand out during the application process. I personally did not use Bright Network Academy specifically, but I managed to get my CV checked by Bright Network Advisers and often used their calendar tool to make sure I would not miss any deadline.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- It's never too early to start thinking about your next step.
- Don't let opportunities slip away, even if that means getting out of your comfort zone.
- Everyone is in the same boat as you so don't be scared to ask for help, no shame in that!
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
