Assurance Intern Review

I really enjoyed the internship as I met some incredible people, everyone was very friendly and helpful. I got the chance to get involved with different areas of the business and there was people to support me throughout the internship. There was also opportunities to volunteer and do extra curricular activities such as working on the newsletter.

Very much valued. I felt like my work was actually helping and making a difference. I was made to be a part of the team, invited out to socials, and also sat in on team meetings. I was included within group chats and also given regular feedback to improve and develop.

A lot of support was provided by my assigned "buddy" and "career coach" as well as the members on my team whenever I needed help or wanted to ask a question. They also regularly checked up on me and made sure the workload wasn't too much. Every time I was given a task, I would be walked through it with the assignee and encouraged to ask questions when needed.

It was a very good amount of work and I enjoy being busy and having things to do as I learnt a lot about the work that an auditor does which was the point of the internship. I never felt like I needed to be in the office after 6pm (unless I chose to stay). The work is also very flexible as you're given a laptop and can work from anywhere in the office or even from home if it is reasonable.

I was given a lot of responsibility which was amazing because I felt like my work was actually making a difference and impact in the bigger picture. I was trusted with more and more tasks as the team got to know me and my style of work. All the work is double checked, so I never feel too scared to make edits and changes as I know someone will make sure it is right before sending off. There was also quite a bit of client contact which gave me a sense of responsibility to represent the firm.

The skills I developed include; organisation, technical and excel skills, attention to detail, etc. These will help me in the future as I know how the work is done and the systems used, to then make a decision on my career and what I enjoy. Also, in my day-to-day life I will use the technical skills I have developed. The network I have created will also help me stay in touch and reach out whenever I need to.

There is always a lot going on, people are in and out of the office all the time. There was a lot of coffee catch ups and depending on the time of year, if it is not busy season then everyone has more time to chat and be relaxed. There are fruit baskets put out on the floor every week, sometimes books to read and generally a positive modern atmosphere.

The internship was very organised, there are a lot of interns so it is impressive how PwC have made us all feel looked after and cared for by assigning buddies and career coaches as well as allowing us all to meet and become friends as interns. There was a three-day residential training programme which was also very well organised.

Everyone from partners, to senior managers and associates would all take time out of their busy schedules to provide feedback and make sure you know what you're doing. That was very useful and I felt like I was really being invested in rather than ignored and overlooked like a shadower.

The graduate scheme seems to be very respected amongst other employers and PwC take good care of their associates as soon as they join. It opens up a lot of other opportunities by working closely with clients and also the skills developed are of a high standard. There are also many opportunities for development within the firm through promotions and secondments.

The interns all have a group chat and organise lunch meetups, sit on a work table together, and also go out for Friday drinks regularly. This has been very fun as we can ask each other questions easily as also because we are all in the same boat. This relationship built over the six weeks and has become very strong.

The cost of living was quite expensive as I was a 20 minute walk away from the office, which was quite central. London in general is quite pricey, but it was worth it. You just have to organise your finances accordingly and know when to say no to social events.

I don't really go out and enjoy the 'nightlife' as I am more of an evening dinner/morning person. But I know that the other interns went out every other week or so. They really enjoyed it. In terms of other things to do in the evening, London is jam packed with lots and lots to do!

There is quite a bit of time in the evenings to go to the gym, meet up with friends, or do anything else. Work doesn't take up your whole day so you can plan around your busy-ness and enjoy your days. I also got involved with the newsletter within work as an extra activity and some people took a volunteer day for charity.