Securing a graduate role with EY

New employee being introduced to their team

Vinnie Anyakudo, management studies student

Hello everyone, my name is Vinnie, and I am a third-year student studying management, who has secured a graduate role in tax at EY.

Alongside my studies, I worked a flexible part-time role where I could pick and choose my shifts around my schedule. This experience helped me develop strong time-management, communication and organisation skills while balancing academic deadlines.

Applying for graduate roles

During my final year, I focused on applying for graduate schemes within professional services, particularly in accounting and tax, as I am keen to build a long-term career in this field and work towards professional qualifications.

My journey included setbacks and rejections, and I submitted several applications before receiving an offer. Each stage helped me refine my application, improve my interview technique and better understand what employers were looking for.

Securing the EY graduate role was incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to start the role after I graduate. The support from the Careers team played a big part in helping me feel prepared and confident throughout the process. I wanted to share a few things that helped me along the way.

1. Start early and research the role thoroughly

I began researching graduate schemes and application timelines well in advance, even before my third year started. Understanding each company's values and what they look for in candidates helped me tailor every stage of my application and show genuine interest.

2. Tailor every application

It does sound tedious but rather than sending generic applications, I spent time tailoring my CV application answers to the role and company. What I did was create a CV for each industry I wanted to apply for so for finance, HR and so on.

3. Use the Careers team's resources

I made the most of CV reviews, interview, and general application advice appointments. Receiving feedback and helpful tips really helped me improve my confidence and performance.

4. Prepare well for assessments and interviews

I practised online tests and researched common interview and assessment centre questions.

Preparing examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helped me structure my answers clearly and showcase my experiences effectively.

My recommendation would be to use a website called Graduates First (free access for UoN students via the Careers website) as they provide many resources for different sectors to practice multiple scenarios such as verbal reasoning tests and typical interview questions which often pop up during the graduate job hunt.

5. Be yourself and show enthusiasm

During interviews and networking opportunities, I focused on being authentic, positive, and enthusiastic. Employers are looking for people they can see themselves working with, so showing personality alongside professionalism is important.

My biggest piece of advice is to stay consistent and not be discouraged by setbacks, you will inevitably see some rejections come your way but every application, interview and assessment centre is a learning opportunity.

Are you graduating this year? Check out our Graduating in 2026 webpage for advice, job vacancies and frequently asked questions. Book an appointment with a member of our team whether you know what you want to do, not sure at all or somewhere in between - we're here to help.