Internship Review at PwC

The Role

Role Description

I worked as part of audit teams planning and carrying out audits. I was given responsibility to complete audit work such as veryfying the existence of fixed assets or checking bank statements matched cash figure in a company's balance sheet. I was asked to assist other staff in work such as setting up an audit file or carrying out prliminary reviews of financial statements. I also had a group project to complete during my placement which included preparing a report and presentation on ethical issues within the firm.

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

At times there wasn't much work to do and sometimes the tasks I was asked to do were not very interesting. However, my collegues were very nice and at other times I was asked to do work that was both interesting and important.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Most of the time I was doing essential work and there were time pressures and so I was a valuble member of the team. Often i was able to do simple tasks which take along time which saved the more senior staff time and they really appreciated it. Only occassionally did I feel like I wasn't needed.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

The recruitment team worked very hard to keep us informed and to make our placement worthwhile. All of my collegues were more than happy to take time to coach me through work including some senior staff. I had a junior collegue as a buddy who helped me settle into the office and answered everyday questions. I also had a career coach who was a senior member of staff who provided advice on bigger issues and spent time with me setting targets and reviewing my achievments.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

My placement was during a quiet time of year for the firm and so at times there was little work to do. However at other times there was plenty to do. We were given a project to complete during our placement which helped fill up quiet times.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

From the start I was given responsibility over certain parts of an audit and expected to meet with clients. However, there was always someone to ask and someone reviewing 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 5/10

The skills I learnt were valuble and I believe that i matured during my placement. No specific skills will help me in my degree but the experience has increased my sense of where I am going.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Most of the staff were very young which made it a lot easier to fit in. A lot of my time was spent at client sites working in small teams where everbody got on and shared a laugh.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

We were taken away for a weeks training and everything was looked after. The firm is experineced at taking on interns and the scheme is very structured and well organised.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

We were taken away to a very nice hotel for a weeks training. We were assingned a junior member of staff as a buddy and a senior member of staff as a career coach. There was constant goal setting and feedback and the oppertunity to spend time with senior members of staff including partners. We all had to complete a project which was presented infront of a team of partners who gave us useful feedback. PwC is exceptional on this front.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

• Sports and Social Club
• National Travel
• Company Parties/Events
• Healthcare/Dental

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

At the end of my placement I was offered a place on their graduate scheme which I have accepted. Most of my fellow interns did as well.

Other Information

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

We were taken away for a weeks training with all the interns from across the country where there was plenty of socialising. Within the office I often met for lunch with other interns and we had evening events too. However, a lot of time is spent on client sites where there was usually only one placement student.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Reading is an averagely expensive town. All of the interns either lived at home or in student houses that they had anyway so there was no cost of living. The company paid expenses for any travel to client sites.

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

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

I lived at home during my pacement so didn't experinece it.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

During my time I played an office cricket match and did a piece for the office newsletter. Other interns played rugby and football for the office and we were invited to team socials which thy attended.

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?

PwC supported me throughout my placement including the application process which made it very easy less daunting. The staff were all incredibly friendly and the firm is very used to having placement students so it was easy to get involved.

Review 276/276 for PwC

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