EY Financial Services Advisory Summer Internship Programme Review

Enjoyed the internship very much. Colleagues were great to work with, the culture of the firm fostered collaboration, and allowed people to ask questions without feeling as if they were being judged. Employees knew how to have fun after the work was done, and after-work chats and drinks were interesting and insightful.

Even as an intern, I was made to feel that my contribution mattered. Regardless of the work I was doing, my manager ensured that I was constantly being challenged, and adding value to the projects. In addition to my manager, my colleagues, and even partners made me feel as if my work was being appreciated.

My manager supported me greatly during the internship, with constant feedback and reminders that I was very much capable of making decisions that I felt were senior for me. In addition, co-workers were always available to give advice on my projects, on the firm, and on other general enquires. Rarely did I feel isolated and unable to get help.

Work fluctuated on a daily basis, but in general I did not feel as if I was being over worked. However, rarely did I have enough time on my hands to be bored; there were plenty of tasks or opportunities to take advantage, such as new assignments, or personal development activities. A couple evenings I left later then I would have liked, but I was not explicitly told I had to stay - I wanted to ensure the work was completed to a satisfactory degree.

During the placement I was given a lot of discretion in regards to the main project I worked on. Often when I went to my manager to ask for her opinion, she told me to do what I believed was most appropriate - and then be able to argue why it was the best option. I was not being constantly monitored, and was given the freedom to get work done in way that best suited my style.

The internship was a great opportunity to see theoretical management concepts and other ideas taught in a university environment in action. Engaging with business issues required the development of practical skills and extra training that students may not necessarily receive in an academic environment. In particular, managing expectations and improving interpersonal skills were key components of my development over the course of the internship. Having returned to university for a final year, this experience has and will continue to help me understand the business and management issues discussed in class. For after graduation, the time spent on the internship was a fantastic test run for having a full-time position.

Collaborative, supportive, and busy. Everyone was friendly and accepting, and I never felt as if anyone was treating me coldly. No one seemed to stressed or worked up - everyone appeared to be coping with the work they had to do, and still have time for chats around the coffee machine. Because all the desks were 'hot-desks', there was plenty of flexibility to move around and engage with different people. Very un-hierarchial.

After the first induction days the internship seemed as if it was very informally / abstractly structured. However, this was really to allow interns the freedom to jump onto opportunities when they saw them, whether they were projects that were especially interesting or insightful, or if they wanted to learn about a specific area of the business. Several interns felt as if they weren't able to find the work they really wanted to do, but the majority appeared happy with structure of the internship.

Following on from the experience I had on the EY Leadership Academy insight week I participated in in 2013, I was expecting the firm to invest in its people. I was not wrong. EY makes sure that every employee is aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and provides ample opportunity for personal development. All the interns were required to seek formalized feedback and complete "Web Based Learnings" in order to improve business and other skills. In particular, the one-on-one counsellor meetings were great for reflection on one's career path and desires.

Following the internship, the majority of the interns were offered a graduate position with the firm, in the department they worked within. I was offered (and I plan on taking) a job, and really look forward to properly jumping onboard with EY in London. Based on my understanding, the firm has plenty of job opportunities in London and other locations around the UK.

Interns tried to go out together at least once a week. Because we were spread out between the Canary Wharf office, the More London Place office, and client-side offices, it was often difficult to organize proper events. However, whenever people were free after work, we all made an effort to meet together for drinks or food, and managed to go out to clubs and others events several times.

Fortunately, I was able to live with my cousin in South London, so the cost of rent wasn't too much. In general, I spent more on food than usual because I was rarely at home - bought lunch at work, and often went out for dinner - but wasn't too too much more than usual. For interns living by themselves in London, or in a flat with other interns, the general cost for accommodation was between £150-£250 pw.

In Canary Wharf, the nightlife wasn't amazing, but that's really because it's not meant for night time events. Canary Wharf is great for after work drinks and food, but not for clubs. Obviously, the rest of London is prime for nightlife, and there were plenty of opportunities to take advantage of elsewhere. Getting around London is easy, and so there are few excuses to not go out (after work).

Yes, EY has several sports teams and other interest-related activities. In addition, London has plenty of things to do outside of work - sight-seeing, festivals, plays and musicals, restaurants, other sports leagues, museums, and opportunities to travel to other places around London and the UK. I spent the majority of my weekends exploring London and socializing with friends in the many restaurants and bars across the city.