My Journey to EY & Experiences
When I started at St. John’s University as a freshman, I lacked a clear vision for my tech career. My only goal then was to land a job at a Big Tech company. I was captivated by the allure of “FAANG” companies, including Amazon, Google, and Meta. In hindsight, I was too focused on their brand names and prestige, while overlooking their core values, missions, and the impact of their work. I was lost.
Given the rapid evolution of the tech industry, calling my lack of direction a dangerous position is the understatement of the century.
Fortunately, I stumbled upon an unexpected opportunity that not only rescued me from the precarious position I was in but also redefined my career path and broadened my perspective on the tech industry:
The EY Launch Internship.
This is the story of my journey — from discovering EY last September to successfully completing my internship with them this August — and a glimpse of what’s coming next!
Discovering EY: My Path to an Unlikely Opportunity
My road to discovering EY started in my freshman year. That year, I began to get involved in my school’s premier Computer Science & Cyber Security club, SJU ACM. I rose up the ranks by getting more involved as time progressed, first becoming freshman representative and then Treasurer in my sophomore year. As I gained leadership experience through SJU ACM, I developed collaboration, communication, and project management skills. These skills would prove invaluable when it mattered most.
On September 13th, 2023, I had my first and most consequential encounter with EY. We at SJU ACM collaborated with the firm and other organizations on campus to bring a two-part resume workshop. Part one was in-person, while part two was virtual. Knowing that my resume desperately needed a rework, and with some nudging from my fellow E-Board members, I decided to attend the first part.
During the resume workshop, EY recruiters offered invaluable tips and tricks for enhancing our resumes (Click here for the key insights I gathered from this workshop). Additionally, fellow classmates who had previously interned at the firm shared their firsthand experiences, providing a deeper insight into what it’s like to work at EY. Throughout the workshop, I entertained the idea of interning at the firm.
Finally, at the end of the workshop, the EY recruiters provided an in-depth overview of what EY stands for as a firm, the diverse career opportunities they offer, and the extensive benefits of working there. They highlighted the supportive work culture, growth prospects, and the firm’s commitment to employee development. Additionally, they discussed various ways to get involved, including current job openings and internships, giving us clear steps to take if we were interested in pursuing a career with EY.
Many opportunities were available, but unfortunately, I wasn’t eligible for them. Except for one unexpected opportunity:
The EY Launch Internship.
Now was my time to act. I had the keys to open the door to a career in professional services, business, and technology. All I had to do was open the door. Opening the door wasn’t easy, but with help from my friends and fellow E-Board members, I mustered up the courage to go to one of the recruiters and ask about the Launch Internship.
To my surprise, my conversation with the EY recruiter was fantastic. I learned more about the internship, including the application process and timeline, and was even asked to send in my resume!
Now, the ball was in my court. It was time to apply for my first-ever internship and take a big step in my career journey!
Road to EY: The Application and Interview Process
After the resume workshop, I began refining my resume and preparing my application. I submitted it just a day before the deadline, during my afternoon Philosophy class — a final, deliberate act before entrusting my future to the will of God.
A few weeks later, I received an early birthday surprise from EY: an invitation to back-to-back behavioral interviews scheduled for the morning of my birthday, October 13th! Once again, the ball was in my court — it was time to seize this unexpected opportunity and make the most of it.
Hold up right there — this is when everything almost went off the rails. Picture this: I procrastinated on my interview prep so badly that I only started cramming the night before and continued into the morning of my version of Superday. Yep, you read that right — I had no idea what to expect, and the pressure had cranked up to 11.
To my complete surprise, my first interview was fantastic. What started as a run-of-the-mill behavioral interview quickly evolved into a dynamic conversation about technology and the exciting opportunities at the firm, particularly in technology consulting. At the end of it, I connected with my interviewer on LinkedIn! My confidence soared — I felt like a surefire pick for the internship. But as I rode that high, it was time to face my second interview.
To be fair, my second interview wasn’t a complete disaster, but I could feel a shift in the atmosphere. It lacked the enthusiasm and dynamism of the first one (Not because of anything the interviewer did); it was just a straightforward behavioral interview. To top it all off, I forgot to ask my interviewer to connect with me on LinkedIn. Slowly but surely, doubts and questions of whether I would get an offer began to creep into my mind.
But the job was done. All that was left now was to wait and let the results speak for themselves.
Receiving EY: The Offer That Set My Journey in Motion
With the application and interview process behind me, the countdown to the offer decision began. Thankfully, my wait was quite brief — and well worth it.
Just ten days later, IT HAPPENED.
On October 23rd, right in the middle of my Intro to Data Structures class, my phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. I stepped out of class, my heart racing with anticipation. It was the moment I’d been working so hard for — the call from EY! The recruiter’s words were music to my ears: I had been offered a position as a Launch Intern for Summer 2024! All my work up to this point paid off. I was elated to have finally gotten my first-ever internship offer!
In November, I signed my offer letter, officially marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my life — becoming an EY Launch Intern, based out of New York’s One Manhattan West Office!
Starting at EY: My First Week on the Job
Let me save you some time and jump to June 17th, 2024 — the first day of my EY Launch Internship. After months full of onboarding procedures, the moment had finally arrived. The EY Launch Internship.
Let’s do this.
My first week began with two days of virtual orientation sessions, part of the firm-wide ‘Welcome to EY’ (WTEY) orientation program. These sessions laid a strong foundation for the journey ahead, covering essential topics such as:
The who, what, when, where, and why of EY
EY’s diverse service lines
Resources available to interns
Crucial industry and firm-specific terminology
Tips for being successful as an intern
In addition, EY organized a welcome social for all interns based in the NYC/Hoboken area at the Japanese restaurant Katsuya New York. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with many fellow interns from the Launch program, like myself, and from other service lines. The event perfectly blended networking and socializing, a glimpse of what would come while at the firm.
After a successful first two days at the firm, an even greater event was on the horizon:
National Launch Training. Baltimore, Maryland. June 19th to June 21st.
National Launch Training (NLT) was a transformative experience, unlike anything I had ever encountered professionally. Never before had I been part of an event where I got to network with hundreds of fellow interns and professionals nationwide! The theme of NLT and the Launch Internship experience was to Discover, Define, and Develop who I wanted to be as a professional.
Here are some of the highlights from NLT (besides networking):
Spent time with my fellow interns in beautiful downtown Baltimore and the sparkly waterfront
Learned about EY’s new AI initiatives
Developed my skills in business, communication, and leadership
Took 370+ photos and videos combined
Won a photo challenge with my fellow interns and St. John’s classmates! (See below)
With NLT now behind me, my first week as an EY Launch Intern was complete. It was an experience beyond words, thoroughly equipping me for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead during my internship.
Rotating EY: The Journey Through My Rotations
With my first week as a Launch Intern complete, the real work was just getting started. The Launch Internship's rotational structure makes it unique — allowing me to work on diverse projects and clients across various areas within Technology Consulting for three weeks at a time. This summer, I would rotate through two key areas: AI & Data and Cybersecurity.
In AI & Data, I dove into the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence and data analytics by working with a pharmaceutical company developing a web-based data marketplace for its customers and stakeholders. Long story short, I learned about diverse technologies and tools, some of which I never heard of. These include:
Languages:
Python, Java, Javascript
Frameworks:
Flask, Spring Boot, React
Cloud:
AWS Aurora, RDS, Lambda, S3
Data Intelligence:
Collibra, Snowflake
What’s the caveat to all of this? I couldn’t access any client code due to tight security measures.
Yikes.
On the bright side, I had the opportunity to team up with a fellow intern whom I had met during NLT to tackle a critical deliverable on the adoption side. This deliverable was important because of an amazing three-letter initialism: OCM.
OCM, or Organizational Change Management, is a documented strategy that outlines how we would communicate and manage the changes required during the application implementation process for the client.
Tackling the OCM plan for the client was my first exposure to the business side of Technology Consulting. To my surprise, my fellow intern and I did GREAT! We obtained critical feedback from our team’s adoption lead and applied it to the OCM plan before our next rotations.
Although I couldn’t work directly with client code, I gained valuable insights into the business side of technology consulting during these three weeks. I learned how to communicate effectively with stakeholders, a language different from what software engineers typically speak. Being able to bridge both worlds allowed me to excel on the one key deliverable I contributed to during this rotation!
My second rotation was similar, but this time, I was working in the Cybersecurity arm of technology consulting. I collaborated with fellow interns and cybersecurity professionals to support a critical alliance for EY. And when I say critical, that’s an understatement.
Throughout the last three weeks of my internship, I worked with a team of three interns to create and organize PowerPoint decks for the alliance. While it may sound mundane, I obtained serious insight into the vast cybersecurity industry while learning about different technologies and tools.
Microsoft Azure, one of the ‘big three’ cloud platforms, is the main technology at play here. I delved into its extensive cybersecurity solutions, and while I didn’t see them in action, I gained a deep appreciation for their massive business impact on a global scale. At the end of this rotation, my team and I got stellar feedback and submitted our deliverables on time.
Although I wasn’t as hands-on with the technology as initially expected, I gained invaluable business experience that I couldn’t have found anywhere else. As my second rotation ended, so did my internship, leaving me with a wealth of knowledge and a broader perspective on the tech industry!
Reflecting on EY: Lessons from Start to Finish
My Launch Internship concluded on August 9th, marking the end of an unforgettable experience at EY. Throughout my time at the firm, I connected with incredible individuals and gained invaluable insights into business, technology, and everything in between — far beyond what I imagined!
Here are three of the most valuable things I learned throughout my Launch Internship:
Network = Net Worth: As cliché as it may sound, the value of networking cannot be overstated. At EY, I prioritized setting up coffee chats and connecting with as many professionals as possible. Each conversation offered new insights and perspectives on tech, data science, AI, and more. The knowledge I gained from these interactions was invaluable and broadened my understanding of the industry. Moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to network; make it an intentional and integral part of your experience!
Be a ‘jack-of-all-trades’: With diverse projects and clients, adaptability is key at EY. You must speak the client’s language and serve their needs, not just your own. The more skills and tools you master, the more valuable you become — not just meeting client expectations, but exceeding them. Plus, a broad skill set makes it easier to land projects and work with clients you’re passionate about.
Average is the enemy, and Complacency will kill you: This powerful advice comes from Ken Bouyer, Americas Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recruiting Leader at EY, who has over 30 years of experience with the firm. He shared this wisdom with us at NLT, highlighting the need to excel as interns at EY and in life. In the rapidly evolving tech industry, where the bar is constantly being raised, we must step up, deliver, and consistently exceed expectations to truly stand out!
What’s Next?
Through publishing this article, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve received a return offer from EY to return as a Launch Intern in Summer 2025! I can’t wait to rejoin the firm and continue growing my professional journey with EY!
If you have questions about EY, my experiences at the firm, and more, contact me privately!