Summer Intern in Assurance Review

It was an enjoyable process made especially so by both the employees who were very helpful and welcoming; and the other interns, who were a lot of fun to both work with and socialise with after work. The work/social balance was a good mix, and overall gave a very enlightening introduction to the company and to what working like there would be like.

Having worked in a large team on one client, the members of the team were very helpful in ensuring I understood the work fully, and were always there to answer any questions I had. Though some of the work was quite basic (proof reading, drawing up tables on Excel eg) because it meant the more senior members didn't have to do it, they were generally quite thankful for the help you gave.

I may just have been lucky, but I had a very good Buddy (someone only in the first or second year there to help you out, answer your queries, show you the office etc) compared with other people, whose buddies were less involved with them. She was really helpful in supporting me and showing and explaining how things work at the company, such as the objectives and feedback system, which I wouldn't have understood if she hadn't explained it to me. There is also a People Manager, though she took a less directly involved position, rather mapping my progress from a slight distance, but always ensuring we made some form of contact every fortnight at least.

The first week I wasn't scheduled on any work so sat around trying to look busy, emailing around and hoping someone would give me some work. So that wasn't great. But I was fortunate in that I worked on an away job for two weeks, during which the hours were 8.30-19.00, which sounds long, but it wasn't too bad when you're in a large team. So when there was work to do it was good, but when there wasn't, then I would have to entertain myself with some internship project stuff or training, taking a lot longer than it should. I know that there were some people who were very busy for a bit of it, but then there were also a lot of interns who had very little to do. It may depend on your luck and your line of service. I was in Assurance, and because it was the quiet season, I guess there isn't that much work anyway. Besides, the company wants to break you in gently to what to expect.

A lot more than I expected. With smaller clients, and fewer team members, then I had to go to the client myself quite a lot for information. But usually there would be someone a bit more senior than yourself telling you what you needed from the client, but it was still quite daunting. For the bigger clients, I would usually go with someone more senior. Some of the work I was doing was important, with some issues I came up with contributing directly to the audit, or to work relating to the client. So I guess you are under a bit of pressure to get it right. But having said that, those more senior than you on the whole check your work, so if you do make a mistake then it's not the end of the world.

The skills are irrelevant to my degree pretty much because I don't do Finance and Accounting, but they are helpful for later life. These include becoming competent with Excel, ability to work with people and to work on your own, ability to build relationships with those around you, and to interact with strangers. But most of all, because I got the job (at the start of the internship they said jobs were offered to 95% of interns), I now know a lot about the company, the industry and the day to day workings of what I shall be doing once I leave university.

I was working at More London, which is a newly opened, very nice office. But the clear desk policy, whereby every desk must be clear of papers each night, so nobody technically has their own desk., was a bit strange.

The first three days are a residential at a nice stately home outside London. That was well organised, even if some bits were a bit forced into the I'm still a student, let's get everyone to bond all the time mentality. But then the next two days (the office induction) seemed pretty disorganised, as no-one really knew what was going on. And then I didn't have anything scheduled for the first week, which made me feel like a lost salmon, which wasn't particularly a good introduction to the company.

They paid for all the training at the stately home at the start, and throughout the internship were keen to map your development to make sure you were getting on alright. And once you join PwC they pay for all your training and college fees which you become qualified, so they are keen to invest in you.

Literally got the job, but then once you got on the internship, because there's such a high job offer rate, you've pretty much got it. They also look to hold onto their people, even after you've qualified, encouraging you to broaden your "cycle of experience" within the firm.

Since all other interns pretty much were students, there was a very strong vibe to partner the work scene with a strong social scene, and this was delivered well. But it must be noted that all good social events were organised separately by interns, rather than by PwC, so if no-one wants to organise anything, then chances are nothing will be organised.

It's London, so prices were predictably high. But because we wouldn't work too late on a Friday, we managed to harness some happy hours.

Again, it's London, so the Nightlife generally speaking was good, but expect it to be a bit pricey.

Because the internship is short (6 weeks) and you are only actually working for about 4.5 weeks of that, there is little scope for getting involved in activities in your social group (a breakdown of the office into groups headed under a common manager) at work. But once you join the firm then there is loads of scope for extra-work activities, so that's something to bear in mind. But it is all at the individual's behest. There is encouragement to get involved, but not necessarily compulsion.