We recently spoke to Bhavika who talks about securing her internship with EY, how she built up her commercial awareness before the interview, how Bright Network helped her secure her role and her top tips for members looking to follow in her footsteps.
What stood out to you about the firm you secured your role with?
As an accounting and finance student, I really wanted to learn more about the different careers in professional services. The main thing that stood out to me about EY is how people focused the firm is. They have so many different networks to both educate and bring people together. These networks are employee-led and it is so inspiring to see EY promoting diversity and inclusivity. Ultimately, I got the feeling that I would really enjoy working at EY and that is why I applied. It's important to be able to picture yourself working there and having a good time.
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
Before my interview, I actually took the time to read up on the local financial news. My favourite sources to look at are the Financial Times and BBC news. I would keep on top of these weekly and I would really encourage discussing the topics you read about with other people to deepen your understanding.
A new source that I have started using is the Bright Network podcast on Spotify. Before this, I spent time reading their weekly updates on their website. The podcast is so easy to understand, and it is nice to hear topics being discussed that you may not necessarily see on the news.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
My top tip for the application process is to spend a decent amount of time researching the firm you are applying to. By this, I don't mean just learning about what they do. It's important to learn about who their clients are, what their new projects are and also frequently asked interview questions.
I remember creating a word document that included everything I knew about EY and it was perfect when preparing for the initial application form, video interview and final interview as all the work is already done. It really helps to keep you calm as you feel more prepared before starting the process.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
Bright Network provided me with so many resources to use during the whole application process. I made sure to read over other people's experiences to get tips from people who have already gone through the application process. This helped me adopt some of their tips and tricks before the next stage in the process.
I also made use of Bright Network's commercial awareness updates as well as their tips for interviews. Its important to practice before any interview and the resources on the Bright Network website were extremely helpful to do that.
What’s been the toughest interview question you've faced and how did you tackle it?
The toughest interview question I've faced is 'What do you think the accounting industry will look like in 10 years time.
The way I tackled this question was by bringing in commercial awareness and also relating this to how I can imagine the industry to be in the future. Although this is hard because as a student we have limited experience in an accounting field, we already have seen how accounting has changed over the last 10 years- It's become more automated and more about interpreting figures instead of calculating them! With a tough question, it is so important to stay calm and take a minute to gather your thoughts. There's no right or wrong answer, the interviewer just wants to know how you think.
Did you use Bright Network Academy in your career search and if so how did that help you?
I did not use Bright Network Academy in my career search. However, for those of you who are looking for a placement, I would highly recommend them.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- My main tip is to RESEARCH the company. It is so important to understand who you are applying to.
- I highly recommend taking part in online courses to build commercial awareness and knowledge about the industry. Bring the things you learn into the interview process.
Apply as early as you can. Places go fast, so give yourself time to complete each stage of the application so that you can demonstrate your full potential.
