Insight Day Review

I enjoyed meeting other people who shared an interest in accounting and finance. During the insight we took part in several activities which allowed everyone to share their interests and reasons for attending. There were people from all over the UK at different stages in their careers all wanting to gain knowledge of BDO. I think the insight day did just that, by providing us with all the necessary information about BDO and listening to talks by current employees at BDO. The leader also talked about hints and tips when going through the application process which was useful if someone was to go ahead and apply. Although I did not go ahead with the application, I still believe the insight day was very successful as it informed that this role was not right for me.

The leader of the insight day was very welcoming and organised several ice breakers which included sharing interests, hobbies and current education. She questioned and took an interest in everyone's answers treating everyone an equal. As well as this she also answered the questions herself. At the end of each talk, we were offered to ask questions which were answered every time.

The information that was offered at the insight day was very useful and if anyone had any further questions they were answered. It was a full day with plenty happening and guidance was provided throughout. Despite people coming from all backgrounds, the information was beneficial to everyone creating a welcoming atmosphere.

The leader was part of the recruitment team therefore she knew exactly what to look for in a candidate. She told us what to do and what not to do during the online application and the interviews. These skills were relevant for any job role not just BDO, therefore I will take these into future job applications. The information I received helped me learn that this role was not right for me, however this was my personal preference and nothing to do with BDO.

The majority of the insight day was led by one person, however we did have three other people that came and spoke about their areas of work. These people were given equal time and were separated enough so that we had time to take notes. One of the talkers were a little late however the leader just switched around activities so we were not waiting.

Overall it was pleasant welcoming and informative. I was greeted on arrival and introduced to other candidates. The team building activities supported everyone's ability to feel more confident and lightened the mood within the group. The opportunity to ask questions allowed everyone to contribute to discussion creating an inclusive and positive learning environment.

The company shared information and gave an insight into the various roles within the company which gave me an understanding of specific areas of work and how i may fit in to one of these roles. However, there was no one-to-one advice on future career aspects and no follow ups after the insight day.

The three guest speakers informed us of their day to day activities which informed us of our potential opportunities within the company. They also spoke about the company's values which would be an important aspect if i was to work at BDO. I think the insight was very helpful as it guided me to a firm decision on the company.

One of the talkers at the insight day spoke passionately about his 'not for profit' area which interested me as it told me that the company had others interests at heart apart from money. Some of the company's values were honesty and integrity, mutual support and respect, professional and personal client relationships and empowerment and personal responsibility. These are values which i strongly believe in myself.

The content of the day was very valuable in helping me decide on my future career. Before taking part in the insight day I had preconceived ideas as to what the role of an accountant was. However after the insight day, I learned that some of these were not accurate which lead me to make a decision about my future career path.

There was never any discussion about expenses. The experience for me was about gaining information and developing my understanding if the company therefore i did not take part in this for any reimbursements or expenses.

Throughout the insight day we had three key note speakers who talked about their specific roles at BDO. After their talk we were able to ask our questions which were not answered during the presentation. This was very useful as i had several personal questions which they were all more than willing to answer.

We were always allowed to ask as many questions as we wanted to the leader or the guest speakers which offered more information. As well as this there were several opportunities which enabled us as a group to talk between ourselves. This was interesting as we were all at similar stages and had similar interests.

This was not discussed during the day however the team within the company appeared to work alongside each other well suggesting the team have bonded and built effective relationships.

I would recommend this insight to a friend that was considering applying for BDO or any other accountancy roles as it gives an in depth insight as to what a typical day is in different roles. I felt comfortable and welcomed at the insight day and went away with an idea about my future career.