Technology consulting Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Women in Technology Insight Week with KPMG. We were there for five days and each day there was something new and exciting to do it never got repetitive and I learnt a lot from my time there. The hosts were warm and welcoming and overall I came out feeling happy with my experience there.

I found everyone I came in contact with during this insight week to be so friendly, from the graduates on the graduate scheme to partners of the company and everyone in between. As a result of the positive vibes I got from everyone at the firm and how genuinely lovely everyone was that I would like to pursue a career with the firm.

Because the hosts were so approachable I never felt intimated to ask any questions or for help if I needed any. If ever there was something I didn't understand or needed clarification on,the hosts were always more than happy to help. Not that there was much need for questions as everything was always explained so clearly there wasn't much room for confusion!

The focus of this insight week - technology, is not directly related to my degree at all so in terms of helping me in my degree studies it hasn't really done much. Having said that there was a lot of group work and presentations during my time there, a skill set that is invaluable not only during my time at university but also in the wider world of work.

I think the insight week was structured perfectly. The first day was an introduction to the firm and the technology department in particular so that we could have a better idea of what we were going to be doing during the week. There was an exam on the second to last day of the insight week but because the week was so well structured I felt that we were all well prepared for the exam due to all group work we had been doing prior to this.

The general atmosphere was very positive. Everyone was motivated and not only were the staff very friendly with us but even with each other, you could tell that everyone got on with each other and it was a very positive working environment. Which is always a bonus as due to the nature of the work done at KPMG and how stressful it can be at times, it is comforting to know that the atmosphere of the workplace is so positive - helps make the job a little easier.

Despite the fact this insight was only a week long, I felt it was more than enough time to see what a full time role with KPMG would be like. From what I saw during the insight week I learnt that this would be a very demanding job that can get quite stressful at times made easier by the community of people you are working with. As a firm they also offer lots of training and guidance for their employees so I would never feel out- of my depth there as there would always be help if I needed it.

I think it was very valuable. Prior to the insight week I hadn't really considered a career with KPMG let alone one in the technology field. This is because my degree is neither related to the financial sector or the technological sector so it hadn't occurred to me that I could still be a candidate for the role. I thought I would be out of my depth during my time here but I was completely wrong. I ended up really enjoying my time at the insight week and as a result I am taking up the opportunity for a summer internship with the firm next year.

Yes there were lots of networking opportunities. There was even a whole afternoon dedicated to networking where we got to meet representatives of different parts of the technology department at KPMG. It was very helpful as we learnt a lot from this session, chatting to the representatives who gave us their honest opinion on their job roles and what their work consists of on a day to day basis.

It was briefly brushed over in the 'introduction to the firm' session. We learnt that employees at KMPG had to do at least 6 days of volunteering for a charity of their choice which speaks volumes about the company culture and what great firm it is to work for as it looks to make a positive impact not only among their clients but also among local communities.

I already have! A friend of mine was very keen on this insight week when she found out I was doing it. I told her all about it and my positive experience there and as a result she is looking at applying to similar undergraduate opportunities with KPMG (she can't apply to the Women in Technology Insight Week as it is an opportunity only open to first years).