Tech Risk Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship at PwC. PwC is a people-oriented firm, and it was clear they take pride in, and care of, its staff. For example, as an intern you can take advantage of flexible working schedules among other perks. Further, this makes for an inviting workplace culture whereby you can ask anybody anything, which allowed me to make the most of my six weeks. There was so much to get involved in under Tech Risk, with many interesting clients and engagements to work on.

PwC are great at empowering employees at all levels. One feature of PwC that is not celebrated enough is the feedback you receive during your time working with the company. PwC actively encourage every employee to seek feedback from colleagues. The feedback can really boost your mood and makes you feel appreciated. There is also a further platform which allows achievements to be broadcast and rewarded.

PwC offers a huge amount of support to staff at all levels. As an intern, I had both a buddy and a career coach. My buddy was able to answer all my ‘silly’ questions, whereas my career coach had regular check ins with me to check I was happy with the work I was doing, as well as to go through feedback with me and discuss my progress. In addition, for each job I was resourced to, there was always someone I could ask for support and guidance.

Interns at PwC are not left to just make coffees. From day one, I was given responsibilities and tasks to complete on engagements. I was able to take ownership of my work and I could see a tangible contribution to the projects I worked on. I was never left twiddling my thumbs, since both my buddy and resourcing found me work if I was quiet. Further, PwC have plenty of training courses available to keep you busy if there’s ever any down time. For me, PwC offered the perfect work-life balance.

The responsibility I was given during my internship varied from project to project (as one would expect!). Some days I would be taking meeting minutes, others I was working on reports. Each experience had its benefits and I learnt a lot from both observing and by doing. I think PwC offered the perfect balance of responsibility, as I never felt like I was thrown in the deep end, nor did I feel I was being spoon-fed.

My internship at PwC gave me the chance to apply and build on the theory I had learnt at university to a real world business. Further, the things I have learnt at PwC during my internship will make me more mindful during my final year at university, as when I learn new things I can better reflect on what that means for a real world company.

I was based in the Leeds office, and the people there are lovely. PwC have a team spirit and you never feel as though you are working in isolation as your work always contributes to a bigger project. The workspace is largely made up of big tables, which is much nicer than traditional office desks. Plus, since you can sit in a new place every day you can constantly meet new people. PwC offices also offer cool perks such as fruit baskets each morning, and a drinks trolley on a Friday!

The whole six week internship was executed seamlessly. The induction was well planned (despite their being over 200 attendees) and offered tailored training depending on the line of service you were entering. In the workplace, you were treated as a permanent employee, with the same access to systems to enable better integration into the workplace.

As an internship you receive three days residential training at the beginning. This offers an overview of what your job role will involve and the basics you need to know. During the internship, you have access to online training courses covering every topic you could think of. Further, from speaking to other employees, it is clear PwC invest heavily in training and development as you progress in the company.

Leeds is an amazing city to live in, with lots of things going on. Whilst it may not be the cheapest city across the country, it is definitely a lot cheaper than London, meaning you can afford to do a lot more and really experience what the city has to offer.

Leeds is great for a night out, with endless places to get some drinks.

During my internship, many things were happening I could get involved with. These ranged from lunches or drinks, to a team building day. The latter allowed me the opportunity to take part in a high ropes course and a yoga class. The offices also organise things like sports days and football leagues.