Analyst - Consulting Review

My placement experience was very enjoyable whether I was working internally at the Deloitte office, on client site or even socially with team members and other colleagues. The complete experience as a placement student and mixing with graduates was very fun, despite the continuous challenges and pressure I experienced. At times now back at university, I wish I was working with Deloitte.

Colleagues do not view placement students as students, nor does anyone view anyone based on their grade. This was very surprising and actually allowed me to pursue a range of opportunities that I perceived to be above my grade. I often worked with Partners, who treated all equal and ensured all including myself felt valued and our contributions were beneficial.

I was given a dedicated coach, who helped me advance onto different projects and who oversaw my entire placement experience. However, other colleagues, I regarded as mentors were also very supportive and helped me to get the most out of placement year. This support was not just professional but also personal.

I was as busy as I wanted to be in simple terms. This ultimately stemmed from the opportunities I grasped. Personally, I was very busy whether with client project work, development work on the side for the business or even supporting on bids and proposals. I found this helped time go quicker and reassured myself I was actually enjoying the work.

I was given a surprisingly large amount of responsibility across a range of opportunities. The highlight was being responsible to consolidate various partners and directors deliverables for a highly reputable client in just the first month of starting. I witnessed Deloitte entrusting its colleagues to perform at the highest level despite rank or grade and in turn experience exceptional results.

Over and above other skills I developed, the two critical skills I personally developed in a professional setting was time management and communication. Firstly, managing my time across various opportunities will completely benefit me in the final year of university, managing 8 different modules as well as a dissertation and other social commitments. Additionally, with improved communication, group work presentations will become seamless and I now feel advanced working in a professional group and ensuring the team comes together collaboratively.

The general atmosphere was happy and upbeat most of the time. Of course, there were times around important deadlines when people were more stressed and independent but the atmosphere never felt intimidating, only inviting. With flexible working from anywhere, it felt creative and seemed people really working at Deloitte, even on a Monday morning.

The structure was very organised and seemed to be set-up very well to continue with the career path if successful. It allowed for opportunities in various areas across the service area you were working in and ensured you had experience on client site, as well as internally with a range of staff. My confidence in the structure was an important factor as to why I will be returning post-study.

Although there were no qualifications in my placement year compared to being a graduate within consulting, the personal training on the job far exceeded my expectations. The amount of effort and support into teaching and developing colleagues was very high and definitely proved to me that Deloitte valued their colleagues and that they invest even in placement students at arguably the lowest grade level.

Future prospects are very high with a strong career path from analyst to partner. The versatility of switching roles later down the line is also very valuable and comforted me when debating whether to return. Rewards are also improving and the positive direction of the company reassures me that the firm intends to remain sustainable.