EY Opportunities — Something For Everyone

At EY, we offer a range of amazing programmes for school leavers, undergraduates, and graduates

A-level results day is quite the experience, huh? I remember my own like it was yesterday, replaying those strange hours in my mind as if it were a film of just two acts: fear and euphoria. I’d imagine most students begin that day in the same way, but sadly some don’t get the happy ending they and their parents had hoped for, instead heading to bed in a state of sorrow.

Happily, this year’s A-level results in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland hit a record high, with 44.8% achieving A* or A grades — up from 38.5% last year. And although the story in Scotland wasn’t quite as thrilling, with the overall pass rate dropping slightly, the number of pupils getting A grades also hit an all-time high. This left more youngsters with a smile on their face and feeling hopeful than with tears in their eyes and dipped in gloom.

Whether or not things turned out as expected for students, and whether they intend to use their grades to attend university or dive straight into the workplace, anyone who put in the effort deserves a heartfelt…WELL DONE! I know EY shares this sentiment, which is why we offer a broad range of opportunities to people at different stages of their education journey.

EY is such a great place to begin and grow a successful career — I might not have started off here myself, but the firm has certainly given me the right conditions to develop quickly and in ways I hadn’t expected. In a number of fields, we guide some of the world’s top organisations through changing markets and emerging technologies, and there’s scope for students to hop on board in many ways. So, there really is something for everyone!

Let’s go through the different options for school leavers, undergraduates and graduates:

School leavers

EY understands that university isn’t the right choice for everyone and that not all shining careers in business begin with a degree-level qualification. For that reason, we offer young people the pick of various carefully-designed work experience and apprenticeship programmes, which immerse them in the workplace environment. There, they can earn a salary, gain qualifications, collaborate with real employees, and contribute to important and fascinating projects. It’s all about giving students the chance to craft their own narrative while engaging in meaningful work!

I guess I’m not really supposed to have favourites, but I’ll confess I do — don’t tell! As EY’s UK & Ireland Client Technology & Innovation Officer, I have a special affinity with the opportunities that give students the best access to and application of technology, such as the Digital & Technology Degree Apprenticeship, where participants help businesses solve complex problems using cutting-edge tech. Right up my alley!

Undergraduates

It’s probably clear by now that EY is passionate about preparing students for the world of work. The firm seeks to do this for not only school leavers but also undergrad students (whatever stage they’ve reached in their studies), investing in and supporting their chosen futures. This is accomplished with a suite of formal but flexible opportunities of varying lengths, each of which represents the EY experience in one great way or another.

At one end of the scale, we have events lasting a short but impactful two days; then our summer internships of a substantial six weeks; and finally, at the other end of the scale, there are industrial placements spanning a full year.

Graduates

Our graduate programmes are some way down the line for those who just received their A-level results, but who doesn’t love to plan for the future? These opportunities are wide-ranging, allowing participants to plunge into the exciting world of EY and its clients at the same time as figuring out where their strengths lie and the path they should take. We offer support the entire way to make sure the knowledge and experience gained at the firm leads to a successful long-term career.

Again, I’m particularly fond of our technology graduate programme, where participants learn how to exploit the latest in digital and tech to help clients adapt and flourish in the transformative age.

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I hope this is all useful. EY also has other programmes and opportunities that may be of interest. For full details of those, the application process, upcoming career events, and a link to our handy Pathfinder, or even just to get in touch with any queries about anything I’ve mentioned in this blog, click here.