Hey everyone, I’m Ali, a Data Analytics Apprentice at KPMG. The journey I’m about to take you on has a few interesting nuances, and I hope that you can benefit from it in one way or another.

It all started at the beginning of Year 12. I did Biology, Chemistry and Psychology – I know, a combo detrimental to my mental health. Nonetheless, that year was nothing but a joy. I didn’t feel the ‘jump’ from GCSE.

Little did I know I was in for a treat.

Fast-forward to January 2024, I got my mock results, decent overall, but Biology was lacking. I’ll let you in on something, since GCSE’s, exam technique wasn’t my best friend. Don’t get me wrong, I was the academic standard for most people throughout high school, but from Year 11-Year 13, exams served as my biggest challenge. I knew the content, but mark-scheme mechanics was something I really had to get to grips with during preparation for my final exams.

Anyway, I’m digressing. Back to the main point.

February 2024 – the ‘shift’.

After multiple conversations with parents and introspective thought, I decided medicine wasn’t for me. Not because I thought I couldn’t hack it, but because I was well aware of the ‘heart’ you need for medicine; the different calibre of resilience required when the going gets tough. Oh, and the kicker, taking the UCAT exam, something I intentionally didn’t complete. The degree itself requires its own dedication and mental fortitude, plus numerous years to become qualified in your chosen specialism. That was not my cup of tea. I had to diversify, it was crunch time, the home stretch for A-levels.

My father was a massive help in deciding my career, and for that I will be forever thankful to him. I was confused, daunted, overwhelmed and a bit helpless. In those situations, you need someone there to support, mentor, and see everything from a spectator’s perspective. This article is titled ‘How I played to my strengths’ – and that’s exactly what we did.

“Ali, what are your strengths?”

“I think I’m quite naturally analytical.”

“Ok, that’s a good starting point – which industry piques your interest the most?”

“It would probably be Technology. I have proficiency in use of data visualisation tools, and find tech quite fascinating.”

“Congrats Ali, you’ve found your calling.”

It almost felt like I was being shoehorned into a career which I didn’t choose. Unbeknownst to me, it was to be the fruition of a dream I was always meant to embrace. My eyes were open, but my heart was blind.

Time to take off the blindfold and chase it with open arms.

I ruled out university. I didn’t fancy having a noose around my neck (student debt) for 30+ years, the format of ‘learn via PowerPoint delivery’ also didn’t appeal in the slightest.

The solution to all of this? A Degree Apprenticeship. No student debt, a free degree, and a few years of pure professional experience, being mentored by some of the best in my field.

I made about 15 Degree Apprenticeship applications in Year 13. All rejections. Not the easiest pill to swallow as someone who holds themself to high standards across the board, but I wasn’t ignorant to my shortcomings. I was naive when it came to DA applications. My CV wasn’t ATS-compliant, I had not yet understood the art behind acing online psychometric assessments; there was so much yet to learn.

Fast forward to results day, I got mediocre grades (in my eyes). I had university offers in hand, quickly said ‘sayonara’ to them.

“Mum, Dad – I’m taking a Gap Year. I have a vague plan, I know which companies I want to apply to, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Go for it Ali. You’ll always have our full support.”

To address the elephant in the room, I hit a home run of defying all the cultural stereotypes – not going to uni straight out of A-levels, a career that wasn’t medicine, law, engineering etc. Moreover, I took a year out of education, usually frowned upon, but I’m blessed to have educated parents, who understand that times have evolved, and the pursuit of a ‘coveted’ degree is no longer the ‘be all and end all.” Now, I had to honour their trust in me.

September-December 2024: ‘the grind’.

By this point, I had joined careers-oriented communities such as ‘Apprentadream’ and ‘OuterCircle’.

I embellished my skills – soft, hard and technical. I watched podcasts on physical and verbal communication, and implemented principles of how to leverage behavioural psychology to add finesse to my interviews. I crafted a research strategy that no one was using.

Assessment Centre’s started coming my way - again, a consistent hurdle I hadn’t yet overcome. Until, the day finally came.

7th February 2025. 14:10pm.

Yes, I marked the date and time. I received my first offer, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God). An automotive giant just offered me a role in Data Analytics. Not only that, one of the interviewers (my soon-to-be Manager) had the next 15 years of my career planned out, he was that impressed.

The feeling was ineffable. Nevertheless, I didn’t stop there - I was hungry for more.

April 2025. KPMG offer. Alhamdulillah. Yes – one of the Big 4, and to you, this may look like it's just another offer on the table. To me, it was the conclusion of multiple rejections turning into success. Year 13, I was rejected upon application. Gap Year, rejected after initial assessments. I stated my academic extenuating circumstances, and was let back in. Made it to the Assessment Centre, came out thinking I smashed it. I received an email a few days later. Passed the benchmark, but rejected.

I can’t lie; my heart sank. This was supposed to be the one. Until I had the feedback call for my Assessment Centre a couple of weeks later, I get another call from a random number afterwards.

“Hi, is this Ali Hassan?”

“Yes, speaking.”

“Now I can imagine that you would’ve been disheartened getting rejected initially, but we have decided that we would like to take you on.”

I thought to myself, “You must be joking.” I had mentally accepted my fate beforehand thinking this company simply wasn’t for me. But there I was, second offer in hand, with a big decision to make.

Fast forward to June 2025, I completed another Assessment Centre for an ‘Academic Programme’ for a global tech powerhouse, that I mistook as a ‘Degree Apprenticeship’. There was no wait for a decision this time.

“Hey Ali, we don’t usually do this with candidates who haven’t completed an undergraduate degree, but we would like to offer you a position on our Graduate Programme.”

Best believe I felt like ‘that guy’. However, as if the decision wasn’t already hard enough, this spiced things up even more.

I took my time deciding, but KPMG prevailed. As the saying goes, 'the rest is history'.

Fast forward to today, I love every bit of it. I’m relishing the challenges of ‘busy season’, my team is fantastic, the culture is fantastic; it’s not all a bed of roses, nothing ever is, but it has most definitely exceeded expectations.

Right, I have waffled enough, here are my most valuable tips to assist you in your endeavours:

It is not about how much experience you have; it is about how you articulate it.

One of the main things that plagues applicants, is the notion of thinking you need a wealth of experience to land a role. News-flash – you don’t. You could do every work-ex under the sun, but if you can’t communicate answers in interviews that are coherent, well-structured and are reinforced with passion for your role, no one will want you. Find a way to make them feel endeared towards you, rather than someone easily forgotten.

It is all about your mindset.

I have had so many talk to me about their panicky video interviews, their anxiety before an assessment centre etcetera. Everything you do, is governed by your mind. Affirmations, visualisation of success, belief in yourself, embodying this character that is most congruent with your ‘ideal self’; will help create neural pathways in your brain that will transform you. Believe me, it will do wonders, regardless of your endeavours.

Enjoy it.

Yes, ironic. Yes, it’s easier said than done. However, you won’t get to relive these moments of your life again. Celebrate the small wins; relish the challenges. Every master was once a beginner, and every success story has failures along the way. There’s beauty in everything, trust me.

Thank you for taking the time out to get an insight into my journey so far, it means a lot. If reading this leads to a 1% improvement in your life, that would make me very happy. Feel free to reach out to me on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hassan-1836352b4

Ali Hassan | Data Analytics Apprentice @ KPMG