Management Consulting Summer Intern Review

This was a great internship which offered me a well-rounded insight into a career I initially knew very little about. I was able to learn about the day-to-day life of a Management Consultant and was kept engaged and occupied from start to finish. Over the course of the experience I have been able to broaden my network both within my peer group and with more experienced colleagues.

It was refreshing to be treated as a valued member of the team on my project. All too often, interns can be treated like temporary staff and end up 'shadowing' others in the office. However, at PwC, I felt that I had a very active role within my team and contributed to key deliverables

Everyone that I met over the course of my internship made themselves available for support, should I have needed it. During my first two weeks, my colleagues took time to explain concepts to me in as much detail as I required, which in turn helped to add value to my contribution on the project.

I experienced a varied workload over the course of my internship which I feel reflected that of a graduate consultant. As we approached a key deadline, I felt my workload increase and I had to complete tasks in a more pressurised environment. Once the deadline had passed however, my workload decreased and I was able to recollect my thoughts and prepare for my next tasks.

The level of responsibility I was given increased as my skills developed. As I learned new things and became more comfortable with what I was doing, I was trusted to take on more responsibility and ultimately take an active role in preparing client-facing materials. In this sense, I was treated less like an intern and more like a junior consultant.

At the closing of this internship, I feel significantly more prepared for a graduate career. This kind of experience in the workplace provides a fantastic head-start and I feel I would settle in to full-time employment more quickly should I return to PwC or, in fact, any other firm. The skills I have picked up this summer will no doubt support my final year at university, especially in terms of time management and quality of content.

PwC operates a very flexible working arrangement which is tailored to the needs of the team and/or the individual. Collaboration was one of the key themes in my office, with the sharing of successes, problems and targets actively encouraged. There was also a good measure of light-hearted conversation which helped to maintain morale and break up the day.

The assessment process was engaging and intuitive and I appreciated a more immersive style of aptitude testing than I had experienced at other firms. However, wait times for feedback were sometimes long, so applicants could have been kept better-informed throughout the process. At the start of the internship, the induction was a fantastic way to meet other interns and was one of the highlights of my time with PwC.

I was treated as a junior consultant and the training I received reflected that. Dedicated training sessions during my induction meant that I was aware of key themes and principles before I started project work. Personal development is an integral part of the PwC culture and I felt the importance of this as I was encouraged to set and work towards achieving goals, even as an intern.

I started my internship feeling very unsure about whether this would be the career for me, since it is considerably different from my course at university. At its closing, I feel more compelled to join PwC as a graduate. The internship is arguably the best way to start work at the firm full-time, not least because I have been able to build a network of people I could return to work with in the future.

The culture at PwC is second to none. A variety of social events were organised on a regular basis, which helped me to get to know my colleagues and improve the strength of the team on my project. The induction event with all other interns in my intake was a great start to my experience and I felt that recruitment staff went the extra mile to ensure that we felt welcomed and settled in.

I was able to stay in student halls in a city centre location, close to both the train station and office. However, this was researched and booked without assistance from the firm. The cost of living and socialising was reasonable overall and was helped by the fact that many of my team were also staying away from home during the week.

There is a wide range of bars, clubs and restaurants throughout the city and many opportunities to socialise. My team often made use of some of these amenities within the area that the project was taking place, and the office 'Social Club' would organise after work events on some Friday evenings.

PwC encourages its employees to pursue hobbies, interests and volunteering opportunities outside of work. 'Non-negotiables' mean that employees can set aside time for any out-of-work commitments and there are communities within the firm which represent sports teams, events and other causes. I could sense PwC's flexibility and trust in its employees to strike a good work/life balance.