Vacation Student Review

It was extremely enjoyable - everyone I met was friendly and helpful and I got a good insight into the work that the team does. The vacation programme is not too structured, which means that every intern's experience can be different depending on the team joined. I would definitely recommend KPMG's vacation programme to students who want to experience what it is like to work here.

I was involved in a number of projects over my 4 weeks at the firm. Even though it was rather quiet, my colleagues were willing to spend time with me explaining the work that they do, even the Directors and Partners. The team tried their best to involve me however they could, including team socials and dinners.

We had a centralised induction day on Day 1 to get everyone settled in with staff passes and IT equipment. Every intern is assigned a buddy who can offer support and answer questions. Frequent catch up sessions to ensure that I was progressing well. Managers were genuinely interested in ensuring that the internship was up to my expectations, and they were willing to go the extra mile to seek out opportunities for me. Many online training courses on all aspects of the business and Excel/Powerpoint skills are available.

I learnt that it pays to be proactive and ask for support when needed, which is applicable to both university and working life.

The insight was very flexible - the structure depends on the team joined and personal goals. I was rotated around different teams and projects to gain the most exposure and a better understanding of the different types of work done.

Colleagues were friendly and genuinely wanted to help. Fellow interns met up frequently to catch up and support each other too.

There was a full day induction on Day 1. There were also many online training courses and virtual classroom courses on topics like Excel, Powerpoint, presentation skills, accounting principles etc. Besides that, there were compulsory online training courses on health & safety, ethical decision making, acting with integrity and diversity & inclusion that were open to all new joiners. Within teams, training courses were also conducted on more specific topics in small groups.

I gained a very good understanding of the day to day life of a graduate here at KPMG through speaking to colleagues and shadowing their work. I had the opportunity to join a few teams that were working on different types of projects. Through conversations I also learnt more about how responsibilities and roles change as employees move up to more senior roles.

Colleagues were friendly, helpful and open in communication. Whenever I had a question or wanted to learn more about a subject, they would happily answer them and offer to send me more information on it or direct me to the correct page. They made an effort to be inclusive such as inviting everyone to coffee runs and lunch.

The internship has shown that consulting and advisory is definitely something I want to do in the future. It affords me the flexibility of trying many different industries out and learning about them, so that I can learn what I like. Exposure to many clients and types of projects also help me develop different crucial business skills.

Yes

There were events organised by the student recruitment team and employee networks where employees from all business areas could attend. Colleagues were proactive in introducing me to other employees at the firm who were always happy to meet and share their experiences with me. The interns also stayed in touch.

Networking and social event opportunities include team lunches and dinners, fitness classes at the gym, drinks in the evening in the offices, volunteering opportunities at the soup kitchen and a boat party to celebrate the end of the internship. Opportunities were impactful, varied and inclusive, allowing teams to forge bonds and employees to meet more people.

Volunteering opportunities

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in KPMG or advisory. The application process allows one to get some insight into working here (especially the assessment centre/Launch Pad) and to decide if it is a right fit. The internship allowed me to experience what it would be like to work here full time, without being too intense.