Summer Intern Review

The environment was great. Everyone had a brilliant work ethic, everyone was very friendly, and the client meetings were great- especially the free food!

At first it was quite difficult to gain the respect and trust of full time employees. But as time went on, particularly after I submitted my first valuation report, the partners and senior managers started to pass more work on to me and I could see my ideas being relayed to clients.

I had never studied any finance before as I am a mathematics undergraduate. I now feel as if I could answer most accounting, valuation, and business modelling related questions as I was taught SO much over the internship. The partner in charge of my team actually stayed in late nights and came in on weekends to help me understand the work I had been doing during the week! That was certainly not expected, and I appreciated all the help. Also, the junior consultants made me feel comfortable enough to ask them 'silly' questions I would have hesitated to ask the partner or senior managers.

I have to say I was overworked quite a bit. I didn't mind it at all, because I was only there for 10 weeks and thought I'd make the most of it. My working hours were quite long- I found myself working at least 12 hours on average (including a one hour lunch break of course!).

Towards the start I was working mainly on other interns' projects, and subsequently for various managers. However, that changed dramatically. I was actually 'assigned' two interns! They worked on a valuation project with/for me, in the sense that I would give them their daily/weekly tasks and they would report directly to me. It was an amazing leadership experience, and I certainly learned a lot from it.

I gained a lot of finance knowledge which are now quite helpful as I am taking an accounting module in my third year, and applying to MSc. Finance programs.

It was incredible. Everyone was so friendly, and I met a lot of people attending my university and familiar faces in general (some from the PwC and Deloitte interviews!). The general atmosphere became so casual and fun after the partners and senior managers left the office. Ties off, food out, paper balls flying across the room: all in all, a school classroom when the teacher isn't around.

I'd have to say this was the one aspect I wasn't entirely impressed with. I found myself having to figure out who to report to on various tasks and where to get things from (like stationary, ID badges etc.). Also, we weren't giving a parking space and no allowance for parking was given so it was difficult to commute!

Apart from an induction session at the start of the internship which covered basic MS Office skills, we weren't put through any training programs. Although I don't think any further training outside of EY (i.e. anything that would have cost them anything) was required given the amount of help we got during our internship from full time employees. With regards to investing time into the interns, EY invested a lot. Partners would work extra hours to ensure we fully understood the work we were doing, and we all appreciated it a lot.

I have been offered a job for when I graduate in June 2013. I'm not too sure whether I will be accepting it as my priorities are in completing a masters degree first, but it is certainly worth considering- especially given the financial part of the offer!

I met up with colleagues nearly every night after work and on weekends. It was fantastic, and I still keep in touch with all my colleagues.

Not too bad at all, we were paid a stipend at the start of the internship to get us going. I just lived in the place I had been living before, so I had no 'additional' rent costs.

Excellent. Lots to do nearby, and most people I worked with would go to various clubs in any case.

There would be a weekly 5-a-side inter-department football 'tournament' which was a great way to meet people in other departments.