The transition from university to the corporate world is a big change for many. Shannon shares her experience of the corporate space, and the ways in which they have she supported in making an impact during this initial stage of her career.
Shannon joined RSM in August 2022 as part of the accounting and business advisory (AIA) graduate programme. Shannon has been working with the accounting and business advisory (ABA) team at our Newcastle office.
Shannon studied maths at university, a degree that would prove quite useful to her life at RSM.
‘It wasn’t completely unrelated to the accounts preparation work which I am mainly involved in day to day as I feel a strong foundation in general numeric skills has helped me to better understand key accounting concepts. However, I hadn’t really even seen a set of financial statements prior to starting at RSM!’
Shannon credits university for providing her with a number of soft skills that have been transferrable in her transition to the workplace. For example, she’s been able to take the communication and teamwork skills she learnt through group presentation and apply it to her everyday working life. These skills gave her some comfort when interacting with and needing to communicate efficiently with her colleagues.
Although maths was helpful to Shannon, she emphasises that in no way did studying a different subject outside of accounting at university disadvantage her in her role at RSM.
Shannon explained to us that this was due to the extensive and varied training that is given to all graduates.
‘The training opportunities are second to none.’
‘There have been great opportunities for learning and training within my service line, which has come in a variety of different formats. Obviously, the day-to-day learning on the job from colleagues has been invaluable for getting to grips with work processes, but the extensive library of training videos and courses have really helped my greater knowledge as well. Moreover, studying for my Associate Chartered Accounting (ACA) qualification has also helped me to develop my technical knowledge which has supported me in my everyday work.’
At RSM, we want to see our graduates flourish in their roles, so we provide opportunities for them to work on personal development and skills, outside of the compulsory training.
Since joining RSM, Shannon has benefitted from the support given by line manager, in the form of regular advice where ‘both advice and practical solutions’ are offered to ensure that she achieves her career goals. These catch ups are very beneficial at RSM, especially due to the hard work that our graduates put in to achieve success.
Shannon was keen to give her experience of the additional activities provided at RSM. Mainly in the opportunities the firm provides to get involved and help local charities, such as the ‘office charity spin challenge’ for ‘Daft as a Brush’ that she participated in.
We asked Shannon if she had any advice for graduates thinking of applying to RSM.
‘The main advice I would give is to go for it! RSM are a very supportive employer and have been great during the early part of my career development. I would also advise you to just be yourself during the interview process, as personality is a key part of what drives people and is what people want to see.’
If you’re interested in an exciting career journey like Shannon’s – why not apply for a graduate role at RSM? Regardless of what you studied at university, you can count on us to be by your side every step of your journey, with hands-on experience, on the job training and tailored professional development to accelerate your career.
We run programmes across audit, tax, and consulting, so you can choose the path that’s right for you. Whichever pathway you choose, you’ll be supported through the relevant professional qualifications and training at every step.
Take the first steps towards your future because with us, you can make an impact.
