Assurance - Summer Internship Review

The internship was a really valuable experience and every day I got to work on something new and develop different skills. I found myself pro-actively seeking out tasks I could help with or take leadership on. The work was enjoyable and the people were great too. The company is filled with like-minded people so everyone gets on really well. There was always a variety of work on offer and if you are proactive there was generally always some work to be done.

My colleagues were always very keen to check on me and make sure I wasn't struggling with anything whilst also encouraging me to enjoy myself. They were very proactive in asking for my assistance with anything so there were very few times when I was sat with nothing to do. They also gave me work of real value - not just fodder to fill my time.

The structure at PwC is great for providing you with support and guidance should you need it. Before joining you are assigned a buddy who answer any questions you have before you arrive and are there to look after you when you do join. You also have a people manager who is more senior and able to help with any bigger problems. The teams you work with on a project are also a great provider of support.

This varied depending on which project you were on, who you were working with and what part of the business you were assigned to. Although there were times when I wasn't particularly busy this time could be used for networking or working on our intern challenge which was a useful background activity to fall back on.

I was given a good amount of responsibility that I was able to cope with - there was no point where I was too overwhelmed with the size of the task I had been given. I was given a lot of autonomy with certain members of staff and less with others, this just depends on their style. Overall you can expect a good amount of responsibility if those around you think you can handle it.

Studying Economics, having real exposure to a business environment will inevitably benefit my university studies. Furthermore, I developed a vast range of transferable skills, namely analytical skills, networking and communication skills and presentation skills. In addition to this, I greatly developed my confidence during my time spent at PwC and this will benefit me when applying to any future roles.

The atmosphere in the office was great! Everyone was very sociable and keen to look after you and make sure everything was going well. There were lots of opportunities to talk to senior members of staff both in the office and in a more relaxed setting for drinks. The associates also regularly have socials and go out so there was a lot of time to get to know people and have fun. The ping pong table in the office is also a good way to have a break and chat to people.

Upon arriving I wasn't assigned an initial project to work on which was slightly disheartening but this was quickly resolved. Also the intern challenge had a few technical hitches and updates were not well circulated - for example no winner was announced and no feedback was provided on your contribution. Overall, the initial induction was well organised and the office were quick to sort out any failings.

It is clear the company if not spare any expense when accommodating us during the induction and spending money making sure we enjoyed ourselves. The office I worked in was very recently renovated so the facilities to work in were fantastic. Also the provision of a laptop was another good perk as you could take this home with you.

The future job prospects are very appealing with this organisation. From the beginning of the internship it was apparent if you made a good impression and worked hard a job offer would be available at the end. This was a real incentive as the application process was very difficult. In addition the experience with the company was very positive and there is no reason I wouldn't take a permanent job with them.

The social scene with fellow colleagues was great. Friday night drinks were frequent and associate socials also took place. Colleagues and fellow interns were keen to socialise together and everyone had a good social relationship as well as a working relationship. This was one of the key things that stood out for me.

The living cost associated with London, but this was always to be expected! However, I managed to find accommodation at a reasonable price and I was provided with a generous intern salary, so I never felt that I really struggled financially at any point. The cost of socialising is also quite high, but it is possible to find bars nearby doing good offers on drinks, food etc.

There is a range of Nightlife within range of the office and across the city so your options are not limited.There are tots of places to eat and drink. Easy to get to party areas. However it is expensive but its what you expect.Overall London has an excellent range of sporting, entertainment and nightlife venues.

We had one social whilst we were there, which was good fun. Apart from that, there were opportunities to do stuff outside of work but I did not take advantage of them, so I cannot pass judgement on those. However, it seems that there are many and varied things to do outside the office.