Tax Intern Review

My placement at BDO was without doubt the best thing I could have done before my 4th year at uni. It made me realise what I wanted to do and I also knew going into 4th year that as long as I got a specific grade I had a job at the end of it. It really took away any added stress of trying to find a job whilst going through 4th year. Additionally, the placement at BDO was really insightful, I actually participated in work that I would do as a grad and I was always kept busy by my colleagues. Additionally, I also got to go on numerous trips paid for by BDO including a trip to London for the annual football tournament. The internship was not only a good professional role but also was a great way to socialise.

I felt very valued by my colleagues and they someone was always on hand to make sure I had work to do but also to ensure that I was getting on okay. I got to work on client jobs that I would work on as grad and even got taken to client visits to see what that entailed. All the colleagues were lovely and we even kept in touch after I left the internship to see how I was getting on and helped with my dissertation also by allowing me to interview them.

BDO provide support throughout the whole experience from the first week introduction right through to the final day and beyond. Everyone made sure that I was getting on okay and no one was ever to busy to find work for me or to help me with a piece of work. I had a counselling manager who helped me before my partner interview and ensured i was prepared for it. Colleagues were also good at giving detailed feedback.

Admittedly, some weeks I was kept going with works while others I wasn't too busy but I was never feeling as if I had nothing to do. As mentioned, if I didn't have any work suitable for me to do, others would allow me to sit in on their calls/meetings or show me how to do something else to ensure i was always kept going. Although I wasn't overly busy i was never bored in the office.

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly i was given responsibility and working on client jobs by myself. At first it felt quite daunting but after a while I enjoyed being left to try and do tasks on my own. With friends being at alternative firms for internships I did not go in expecting to do real work, rather expecting to do more admin jobs such as printing and scanning but that could not have been further from the truth.

The skills I developed really helped me in my 4th year at uni as I gained a deeper understanding of accounting which is what I was studying. Additionally, BDO actually helped me with my dissertation by allowing me to interview staff about my dissertation project. Even the partner at my office offered to be involved, showing that no one was ever too bust at BDO to help. Not only just professionally but also personally the internship gave me more confidence and self-assurance from socialising with different people and forcing me to be independent by travelling for work on my own.

The atmosphere in the office was always a nice and friendly atmosphere, especially on a Friday. As mentioned previously, all the staff were very friendly and the always eager to help. However, as common in every offices there are very busy periods were the office is really quite quiet and everyone is simply at their desks trying to get as much done as possible. However this is just at busy periods, apart from that the office is a relaxing and chatty atmosphere

It was very well organised. However, I panicked initially as i was due to start in just over a week and still hadn't heard any news but i got an email just before a week to go and it informed me i would be going down to Birmingham for the week. The first week was hands down the best week, we went go-karting, pizza making, to pub quizzes- all paid for by BDO. It was very well organised and best way to meet fellow interns

As mentioned, I travelled for training, social activities and clients with the firm paying for it all. I would suggest that during the internship the firm really invested in us all by doing this. Also, simply by the colleagues and managers in the office ensuring I was trained and comfortable with what I was doing- that was also investing a lot of time and effort into the interns. Overall, i would say the firm really invested in the interns personal training and development.

Future job prospects are very appealing. At the end of the internship i was given a partner interview and then told over the summer if you got the job or not. From my experience most people from the internship were offered the job at the end. It is a very competitive market so really important to get an internship and in my opinion could not get a better internship than that with BDO. What appeals to most about BDO future employment is that it is a big firm with big clients but also offers a good work life balance.

The first week were taken down to London to train and meet our fellow interns. This was a great trip and the best way to start off the internship as it instantly made you feel more comfortable getting to know everyone. At the end of our internship we got taken to London and met up with our fellow interns again and we had to present a corporate social responsibility idea that the firm could adopt. We worked on this over the course of our internship and had to collaborate with other interns which also aided the social scene. On top of this, we also got taken to a ping pong bar to celebrate the end of our internships and it was a great way to end.

Personally, I went to my local office so i stayed at home and didn't feel much difference in costs of living/socialising. If anything it was better since I was receiving a full time salary.

Again, I worked in my local area but the nightlife is pretty good here anyway. I also got to go on a few work nights out which were always very good as well.

Yes, plenty of opportunities. I went down to London for BDO's annual football tournament between offices and this was a great way to meet up with my fellow interns again but also to meet people from different offices. Again, BDO paid for the travel and accommodation so i was not out of pocket. It was a great experience and a really good social event. Additionally, we also went for Friday drinks most Fridays after work which was nice to talk to colleagues in a social atmosphere