Associate, Forensic Technology Review

The placement year working at Deloitte in the Forensic Technology team was the most valuable experience thus far in my career. It saw me work on a project overseas and even got to travel abroad at the weekend. The exposure to clients on a daily basis was intense but also very rewarding. The colleagues I worked with have become good friends.

I felt highly valued and was considered a part of the graduate scheme, rather than an industrial placement student. This was demonstrated by doing the same work as graduates and included in all team events. The colleagues made during my placement year even extended so far as going on a weekend break together, having dinners out and catching up with them during University.

Not only were the team welcoming and humble, but they also had a genuine interest in my career progression within the firm. This is exemplified by having multiple pillars of support available (a mentor, coach and business lead). Contact with our mentors was extremely useful in order to progress at a level comfortable to us but also with enough pace to have our progression measured.

It was a great balance which allowed for rapid learning but also the chance to have a considerable work-life balance. Inevitably, there were quieter days than others; however, there was always the opportunity to voluntarily get involved with other tasks in addition to daily tasks. Late finishes only occurred due to busy client deadlines and these were compensated by later starts the following day. Working beyond 7pm only occurred a couple of times and was typically self induced.

We were given a huge amount of responsibility throughout the placement and the same amount as graduates which meant we had to work at a fast pace. We had exposure to clients daily and would be required to assist them in a timely and efficient manner. Given our level, the responsibility given could not have been greater.

The organisation skills developed have proven very useful in terms of prioritising tasks during University and being able to work effectively under pressure. The ability to self-motivate has been useful since rejoining University. Training in Excel and interpersonal skills will be useful throughout my career. I also developed some coding knowledge which will be useful for my dissertation.

The office atmosphere was focussed and offered a productive yet also friendly work environment. There were multiple working areas of varying uses, such as large team tables, individual call booths and quick touch-down points. The hot-desking policy worked very effectively as it ensured confidentiality and the chance to be able to mix up your working environment.

The internship was very well organised as we were given an HR contact to approach with any questions we had before starting. In addition, we were given 'buddies' prior to joining to ask any questions to in relation to the placement and working life. Throughout the year, there were multiple touch points with our coaches and business leads in order to track our progress and focus on career progression.

The company invested a lot in graduate training. Initially, there was a 3 day overnight workshop to meet the entire Financial Advisory department and learn about what each role within the service line will entail. Following this, there was a 2 week bootcamp which deep-dived further into specifics of the role and methods and processes used on a daily basis. Throughout the year there were talks on external topics to aid our development.

Future employment prospects are very appealing. Career progression seems rapid within the Forensic Technology service line. I look forward to returning to the firm after University. In this respect, the placement year has been a great opportunity to find a career I may not have considered at the beginning of my degree.

The social scene was great and there were often team events and departmental events out of the office. There would typically be weekly drinks after work which were a great chance to relax after the week and meet people within other teams. The placement students were fully integrated with the graduates and more senior members of the team at social events.

I lived at home out of London during the first 6 months of the placement because I was aware of the high cost of living within London. I commuted from home to work which was a 1.5 hour commute each way- challenging but worth saving some money for University life.

There were multiple bars and pubs around the office due to its central location. It was easily connected which meant getting home after work was easy. Lots of bars were tailored to graduates which meant we could socialise with graduates from other firms. It was definitely good to be so central.

There were lots of opportunities to get involved with other activities. I was part of the women's network which led events throughout the year with all grade of the firm. There were many sporting societies which held weekly matches and a central communications page where you could find out about other activities.