Placement Year Review at Grant Thornton

The Role

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Really interesting work and a dynamic and supportive environment.

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I was given responsibility from the start and was immediately able to see how my contribution was helping the team.

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I was encouraged to make my own decisions but always felt like I could revert to them if I was unsure. No question ever seemed too small to ask.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

There was rarely a time when I found myself with nothing to do. Everyone is happy to stay late if there is a heavy workstream but I found that ok because the work was so interesting.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I certainly felt that I was being relied on and I learnt that any mistakes I made would be traceable to me, so in that sense I felt very responsible for my work

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

My organisation skills have improved tenfold. I was sent on several internal training courses to improve soft skills such as communication and effectiveness, which will be useful in all paths of life after my placement, particularly in the critical third year of my degree.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

There was always a social not too far away and the office was very relaxed. Because everyone is so hard working and approachable, you feel relaxed because you know if your workload becomes too much there will be people willing to help you out. There was also chaos during 'Mo-vember'!

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Grant Thornton are very used to placements and therefore have a superb structure that improves year on year. Although I was part of the team in all aspects, I would have periodic meetings to discuss my University requirements and other placement needs, for example my managers were keen to give me a large variety of work in my year.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I got to go to Grant Thornton's training facility - a manor house in Buckinghamshire for a 3 day course on top of many internal training courses done in the office. People from all ranks in the company were on these courses so I could tell that there is constant investment is people all throughout their time here.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

• Subsidised Canteen
• Sports and Social Club
• Subsidised/Company Gym
• Company Parties/Events
• Healthcare/Dental
• Travel loan

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Many interns and placements return to the graduate scheme.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

There were 7 of us in my office and we all got on like we'd known each other for years. We had our own socials, some organised by ourselves and others by HR. I plan on visiting them at their respective universities this year.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

A shared flat is considerably more than anything at University, but your salary reflects this and I was never out of pocket. There is hardly anywhere more expensive to live than central London!

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Unbeatable!

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I played 5-a-side football every week and from this many nights out followed. We were allowed one day off a year to do some volunteering, and there were team socials, such as bowling, on a regular basis. 11-a-side football and netball is at weekends.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

It is never apparent that you are on a placement, you are considered and treated like a permanant member of the team.

Review 68/86 for Grant Thornton

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