First Year Insight Participant Review

What I particularly liked about this insight programme at KPMG is the company took into consideration that students participating are first years, thus providing us an overview of all business areas within KPMG. This gave me a greater idea as to what I want to do in the future. Additionally, members from each business area coming in to speak exclusively about their backgrounds, experiences and opinions was something very useful. Overall, the insight programme was very well planned and thought out, with many enjoyable group exercises that will benefit me in the future.

I felt the staff at KPMG accommodated each individual's different needs very well, which gave me a positive impression about KPMG's culture and how they value their employees. They even ran exercises that would promote our professional development and how to get the best out of professional environments, which highlights their commitment to career progression. Additionally I liked the fact that KPMG reimburse travel expenses after a certain amount but I feel the allowance could be a little more as I met students who were travelling from a long way to attend the insight programme.

The guidance and support we received was at a high level - the student recruitment staff were always open to questions and promoted the value of Q and A's which gave us an opportunity to gain more information. Additionally, networking events were frequent and the networking session during the first day was particularly useful. It gave us the opportunity to build contacts and gain useful information from members of our preferred business area.

The skills I developed from the various group exercises and presentations during the insight programme will give me greater confidence in presenting to others in my coursework projects and the economics and finance society I am a member in. Additionally, the insight programme has emphasised the importance of networking, which is essential in gaining a career in financial services. The insight programme has taught me a lot about how to get the most out of campus events and programmes such as this.

The insight programme was well structured and there was a clear outline as to what to expect from each day which allowed us to effectively plan and prepare for tasks and exercises that would arise. What I particularly liked about the structure, is that KPMG provided breaks during the activities which made it more enjoyable since there was a lot of information to absorb from the business areas. Activities were well planned out and the information included helped us prepare for them as best as we could. I thought the time allowed for the business simulation allowed students to provide a good presentation, giving us time to come up with innovative ideas.

Everybody that participated in the programme, from student recruitment to the staff that came in to help, were very friendly and enthusiastic. It was great to see that friendships had been formed outside of the professional environment which meant people at KPMG are approachable and helpful. Also, I met many great candidates during my insight programme and have built good connections during my short time. This was because the atmosphere during the insight programme was so friendly that it gives you the incentive to build more connections too.

Although it was an insight programme, the staff ran activities that were not directly linked to the company but benefitted us in the long-term. I felt this was very important and the presentations related to networking and presentation skills meant KPMG are committed to developing skills that help others in their future endeavours. Also, KPMG provided the opportunity to convert it to a vacation programme to further develop our skills.

I think it's good that those on the graduate scheme came in and spoke to us about the work-study balance and how they've coped with that. During the overview of the business areas, there were some that covered their day to day tasks in a little more detail. For example, I remember a member of staff from Audit that spoke about his various tasks and how they constantly change. He also mentioned the type of clients he deals with and that's something that stood out. I think it's always difficult to get an idea of what it would be like to be in a full-time role without doing it practically.

In my initial interview, I mentioned KPMG's company culture and gained a little more information having spoken to the interviewer. However, it was only after the insight where you get the full breadth of the company culture by getting the exclusive and unique insights from members of staff. The emphasis of inclusiveness and career progression really stood out to me when people from different business areas came in to speak to us about the company culture.

The overviews from all the business areas helped me get a better idea on what I want to in the future. Additionally, it was exciting to see that KPMG are open to movement around the business internally to allow staff to gain greater experiences and make their job more enjoyable. Hearing others talk about what they enjoyed and the challenges they faced during their time was relatable to me - it helped me understand what challenges I would prefer and how I would work better.

Travel expenses were reimbursed for each day up to a certain amount - this is something I particularly liked about KPMG that they are committed to recruiting the best staff and understand that everyone has different financial circumstances. However, I felt the reimbursement amount could have been a little more as I know students who were travelling from a relatively long distance which meant their expenses were over the amount.

There was a lot of opportunities to network with students participating in the programme and staff that have recently been accepted on to the graduate scheme. It was good that KPMG allowed us to build professional connections but also make friendships. Networking with those on the graduate scheme meant I gained a unique insight as to what their day to day tasks are and their overall opinion on the company culture and career progression. There were also a lot of opportunities to ask questions.

There were many networking opportunities - from the start of the insight programme staff encouraged students to meet with eachother and allowed enough time to get to know more about one another. This was important in building professional connections but it also allowed us to perform better on our group tasks and exercises. Moreover, there were opportunities to network with people from different business areas particularly during the first day.

There was information from various employees about the type of activities they get involved in from outside of work, from socialising to helping the community. Moreover, they provided information that KPMG offer a number of days annually to contribute to activities they are passionate about. I feel it would have been nice to get a booklet about the types of activities an employee can get involved in since everybody is different. It was nice to hear that employees don't just have professional connections but also build friendships outside of work which are long-lasting.

Certainly, this insight programme offers an opportunity to directly convert it to a vacation programme. However, I feel this insight programme is much more rewarding in that it promotes professional and personal development, whilst ensuring you have a fun and enjoyable time. Moreover, the group tasks and exercises will mean I am much more confident in presenting to others and has made me value teamwork and inclusiveness more. One thing I would emphasise is that attending the insight programme will give you the opportunity to learn more about the different business areas and the company culture. Don't hold back in asking questions you are passionate about!