#GradStories Laoise Keys, Graduate Consultant, Grant Thornton

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day-to-day work varies a lot. The only thing that’s constant is that we have a daily catch up with the team where we talk about what everyone is working on and what deadlines we have to reach. Some days I might be doing research, on other days I might be working on client deliverables and meeting those deadlines.

I was also part of developing a training programme which we rolled out across the Grant Thornton international network.

What skills do you need to be successful in your role?

Transferrable skills like communication and listening as you’re working with people all day every day.

You also need to be organised and prioritise your different tasks. You also need to be adaptable and comfortable with change as there is a lot of variation in what you will be required to do as a consultant.

What was your career break?

I completed my undergraduate in business and management in TUD and I completed my master's in strategic management last year. As part of the course, I was able to do a summer internship, so I applied to Grant Thornton and they took me on as a summer intern. At the end of the internship, I was offered a place on the graduate programme which I was delighted to take.

What advice would you have for students?

Challenge yourself and find something you’re really interested in and put yourself out there. Reach out to people if they are in an industry, you’re interested in. People help in any way they can by offering insights and answering questions. That’s how you will learn about what you will be most suited for.

What do you love about your job?

I like working with my team, we all get along really well. Grant Thornton have created a warm and friendly culture. It is a fun place to work and the skills you pick up on a daily basis are really useful and transferable.

How have you adjusted to working from home?

Grant Thornton provided me with all the necessary equipment. I never felt isolate, lots of people reached out to me. People organised virtual catch ups and coffees. So, I have had a great support system and I have enjoyed the hybrid system.