Professional Experience Week Review

I very much enjoyed Deloitte’s professional experience week at their Reading office. It gave me a far more comprehensive understanding of the main service lines in which Deloitte look to recruit; Audit, Financial Advisory and Tax. I now feel that I could seriously consider a career in professional services thanks to this experience.

Obviously with a professional environment, one expects a very formal atmosphere where everything is done “to the letter”. Nevertheless, I felt very welcomed upon my first visit to the office, and all Deloitte representatives greeted us with courtesy and a genuine interest into what we hoped to get out of the week. They offered advice and feedback whenever possible, for which I am greatly thankful.

We received a fair amount of guidance during the group tasks, for example with a tax exercise there was at least one Tax employee to lend their expertise into how to go about tackling this exercise. Saying that, we were very much encouraged to use our initiative for most these group tasks, and the feedback from the mock interview on the last day was invaluable.

Attending this insight week was by no means a waste of time. I was able to get a better understanding of what a career in professional services would be like, and if I would be a decent fit into Deloitte’s working environment. The group exercises and interview practice helped me to apply my communication skills more extensively, which will help me a great deal in presenting myself in the future.

The week was well structured, with speakers from both Deloitte and external parties coming in to help give us a clearer picture of professional services. The group exercises allowed us to apply some of this in real situations. On the last day, we did finish an hour or so earlier than originally planned, however that was by no means an issue.

The working atmosphere seemed positive. I did feel a very professional “clinical” vibe across the location, with a strong emphasis on merit and achievement. Saying this, I would much prefer to work in an environment where people always strive to do better, and Deloitte definitely seems to be an organisation that strongly focuses on the individual being at their best on a daily basis.

In all honesty, as an Insight Week it is difficult to gauge how much a company “invests” in those who attend. Having said that, I felt very much taken care of during the week. Travel, accommodation and food was all paid for, which was a very nice perk. I was also able to get a better understanding of the application process, so in that sense I feel like Deloitte had invested a fair bit into their potential graduate employees.

It is undoubtedly worth going to an insight day or experience week if one wants to gain a more comprehensive understanding of what life might be like working for Deloitte. Whilst their press releases, brochures and student website information gave me a decent idea of how the business goes about its business, the quality of first-hand experience I obtained from that week alone was unparalleled.

The company culture seemed to be very focused on bringing the best out of everyone, and making sure that the individual brings their best to work every day. I got the idea that the work would be difficult, but I did not come across a single Deloitte representative who complained or found the work “too hard.” I like the fact that there is a strong idea of realising one’s potential.

The content on offer across the week helped me to recognise a potential career in professional services. An external speaker’s presentation on body language has already benefitted me in presenting myself to larger groups in a more formal setting, and the exercises on each service line made me realise that a career in Audit or Risk Advisory could be a genuine career path for me.

Accommodation was paid for in advance; we stayed in a nearby Ibis barely 10 minutes walking from the office. Dinner was reimbursed (£15 limit per person per night) and travel was paid for also.

There were plenty of opportunities to network with some of the Deloitte representatives throughout the week. Some of the speakers stayed behind for an hour or so to talk to anyone who had more specific questions to their own personal circumstances or career paths. There was also a group meal on the Tuesday night where there was a more informal scene. Many of them were also happy to share their own LinkedIn details to help us in the future should we need any questions.

There were plenty of opportunities to network with some of the Deloitte representatives throughout the week. Some of the speakers stayed behind for an hour or so to talk to anyone who had more specific questions to their own personal circumstances or career paths. There was also a group meal on the Tuesday night where there was a more informal scene. Many of them were also happy to share their own LinkedIn details to help us in the future should we need any questions.

In terms of what Deloitte employees get up to outside of work, I came away with somewhat of an idea of what Deloitte workers get up to outside of work. I was made aware of the fact that there are clubs and societies on offer at most of the offices, which is a big plus for me.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this Experience Week, or any Professional Experience for that matter, to a friend. Experiences such as these are invaluable as they helped me to get a more in-depth understanding into Deloitte, what each service line entails and the type of people who work there, as well as their own thoughts on the work that they do. It also helps one to gauge whether they would be a right fit for the company, before applying for an internship/graduate role. It made me feel more confident about applying for a role in this industry.