First Year Spring Insight Programme Review

The insight was highly enjoyable. The presentations were well balanced between business skills and career opportunities within the firm. The first day networking gave the opportunity to network greatly and talk to a wide range of current graduate trainees who were all very friendly and willing to talk. The business challenge was very fun and I would definitely do it again. I would've just liked it to gone on longer!

Everyone I met was very friendly and more than willing to talk about their experience and provide contact details to ask further questions if they came up, or simply "connect" on LinkedIn to build your network for the future. Breakfast and lunch was provided on both days, as well as travel expenses - it almost felt like you were already an employee at times!

This is a slightly misleading question as we did not particularly do anything that required guidance or support. However there was always the team who were running the event available if anyone had any questions and we were well prepared for the business challenge.

The skills workshops were fantastic - providing a good level of information to carry through into both my degree and through into my future career - such as presenting, working with a group of people I'd only met a few hours ago on something that could provide a great reward at the end if successful and networking, to name just a couple.

Both days were very clearly structured and there was absolutely no waiting around for speakers or activities at all.

My only issue is that I didn't get to know everyone on it, and there was some seemingly unconscious segregation between the male and female participants, however I feel this is on all of the people taking part in the insight day rather than the organisers of the event. I personally could've done more to break down this barrier, as could others if they were so inclined, but with just two days it can be quite difficult to find the right moment. The people I did meet were lovely and I enjoyed their company, and the activities we did were all done with a smile and a laugh. The atmosphere during presentations was attentive and engaged, and the presenters themselves were again very warm and open about their experiences.

As it was an insight programme, there is not all that much investment in personal training and development a firm can do. The presentations/workshops done were excellent in quality as was the business challenge, however obviously no qualifications were gained. However the opportunity to be fast-tracked to the summer placement for next year is a significant investment for anyone successful.

The presentations done by current graduates within the different roles were incredibly thorough and painted a clear picture of the job they do and what you should expect from it. The presentations not only opened my mind to potential new career paths I had not considered, but also gave me a much clearer idea, such as the specific department in a broader service line, that I would be interested in if I pursued the career I was intending to before I did the insight day.

There was a whole presentation on the company culture, their competencies and their code. It gave a detailed idea of what the company expects from its employees but also what it does for them and how they give back both to the employees and community; for example providing 6 days of paid leave for volunteering opportunities per year, or being able to buy extra holiday.

It was incredibly valuable. While I am early on in my degree and have plenty of time to reconsider, it gave me an idea of certain career paths I was certainly not interested in, but also provided more detail on careers I was already considering, and the actual roles I can apply for. This has provided me with the opportunity to be able to know exactly which department within the firm I wish to apply for when applying for future opportunities.

Breakfast and lunch were provided and travel expenses were reimbursed with a valid receipt or ticket.

Yes. Every presenter was given a Q&A. If there was a break after their presentation they often stuck around to allow people to gain contact details. At the end of the first day there was a "networking drinks" with recent graduate recruits as well as a few more senior staff.

The networking itself was very good, the employees were proactive in coming to the undergraduates and starting conversation. They were open, honest and receptive to all types of questions. They were more than happy to provide contact details for future use. The slight downside was the location - it was a relatively small area with many people and thus it became crowded and conversations could be disrupted by people pushing through to get where they needed to go.

There was information provided on the wide range of activities outside the office for employees to get involved in and during the networking event employees were again willing to answer questions on this. There appeared to be a vast array of opportunities for people with all kinds of interests, be it sporting, technology-based or otherwise.

I would absolutely recommend it to a friend. Not only is KPMG an invaluable and highly regarded firm to have on your CV, but it was also a very enjoyable two days where I learned a lot about the industry, KPMG specifically, the career paths I'm interested in, and myself.