Virtual Summer Internship Review

Despite the circumstances of working from home, the student recruitment team put together a very insightful and informative week of activities. There were a broad range of webinars about the company, its work processes, and service lines. In addition to this, there were chances to talk in small groups with employees that had recently been through the graduate process. All members of EY were very friendly and always eager to answer any questions you had.

I felt throughout the week respected and valued, as if I were employee there myself. This was felt not only from the student recruitment, but any member of the firm that I came in contact with. I would say this created an atmosphere which put the interns at ease and allowed us to ask questions without the fear of coming across unknowledgeable. It's clear that EY as a company cares deeply about its people at all levels.

Throughout the week there were regular check-ins with the student recruitment team, and time to ask questions. Given the nature of the week, generally, there was little need for much support or guidance since it was mostly online talks and webinars. However, we did complete a group case study task throughout the week and each group was allocated a mentor to help guide the team through the project. I would say that guidance mostly took the form of ample opportunities to ask questions.

The Microsoft Teams live events were incredibly useful for learning about professional skills. While some of the techniques could be applied to studying at university, I would say they are probably more applicable in a work situation. The interns were able to learn about presentation skill and time management, but also mindfulness and health. All the speakers were very well informed on the topics and I learnt a number of skills I hope to take forward when I begin work.

There was a timetable for everyday, and the activities were split between Microsoft Teams calls, and Microsoft Teams live events. The student recruitment team had clearly put a lot of effort into the organisation of the week and used the technology available very efficiently. The transition between activities were as smooth as they could be. I would have given a 10, but unfortunately every now and then, the technology would let us down, causing some disruption.

There was a motivated and eager atmosphere among the interns. I think most of us were grateful that the internship was not cancelled, and so were very excited to experience working for EY and the what the work entails. Motivation and interactiveness was encouraged through tools such as Mentimeter, and engaging activities you could do at home, for example meditation in the mindfulness session. I would not say I was bored at any point since the days were full of activities.

While difficult to do virtually, there was extensive effort to make sure we took away useful and applicable skills from the week. This included talks from the learning and development team from EY, and covered the topics of presenting, time management, managing stress, and mindfulness. Given the nature of the role, there was no technical training at this stage, but we experienced some of the background research a graduate would have to do on client work.

I would say this is probably the most important thing I took away from the week; an insight into being a graduate at EY. Most the sessions were geared towards introducing the interns to company itself, but also into the service line you were allocated to. One of the most useful activities I found was talking to a 'buddy' who had recently gone through the process. This was a relaxed conversation which allowed us, as interns, to ask questions openly about working for EY.

The week was extremely helpful in understanding EY's culture. What stood out for me was the care and time they devote to their own people. Having heard from multiple speakers, from graduates to senior managers, all commented about how the teaming and collective nature of the firm builds a very positive working environment. This was on top of being informed on how EY people are looked after health wise, including resources for both physical and mental health.

This was obviously a lot more difficult because the internship was remote rather than in person. However, all the EY employees that gave presentations or had conversations with the interns actively encouraged us to ask questions over the Microsoft Teams call, or to email them at a later time if we had further questions. I have connected with multiple employees on LinkedIn, and been able to ask others for resources, such as presentations slides, via email.

This was probably the most disappointing side of the week, but obviously, it could not be helped. Since the internship was done from home, the majority activities were completed individually. There was a team project which we worked on throughout the week, and it was great to meet the other interns through that. Yet, it would have been nice to get to know the others in a social setting rather than solely a work setting. However, this is not the fault of EY at all, but rather the current COVID-19 climate.

There were multiple talks on what EY employees can get involved in outside of work. Firstly, there was a brilliant talk giving details on the networks available at EY, and this linked with their encouraging efforts to promote and see real change in diversity and inclusion within their own business. There was also a talk on how employees can get involved in volunteering. The EY Foundation offered multiple ways in which employees could help, such as mentoring, giving talks, and fundraising.