Intern Review

I really enjoyed the internship experience, I thought it was very well done considering the move to an online experience. I enjoyed that we got to meet people from ares of the UK that we would not have got to meet if the internship was in the office and make lots of connections. I thought the day was broken up really well with learning and interactivity and comfort breaks so we were not worn out by the end of the day.

It was a shame we did not get the chance to work on some value added projects as it was not possible with the length of time and with the internship being online however, the group work that was did allowed us to connect everyday and work as a team to give contributions so I definitely felt valued. EY tried very hard to make this week valuable to us and they work they put in and the fact that the week wasn't cancelled like other internships made me feel like they really valued taking interns on this summer.

We received lots of support throughout the week, we were encouraged to ask lots of questions at each session. If we had any difficulties with technology or connecting with the programme there was always someone ready and available to help. In regards to our group work, we were given a lot of information to digest and left to get on with it without much help so it was difficult to get started however, we were then provided with a mentor to guide us.

I have learnt a lot this week not only about tax but also about health, presentation skills and time management. Skills that will be helpful in the work place. Before starting the internship I did not know much about what a career in tax would involve but now I feel confident in understanding the roles of the different sub service lines. I have learnt tips I will take away to help manage my time and stress going back to university.

I think the virtual experience was extremely well structured, you can really tell just how much effort everyone has put into making the week a success. I felt that no session was too long or too short and everything ran smoothly and as planned, speakers were prepared and began on time and sessions didn't tend to run over their allocated time so we knew what to expect everyday. Ample breaks were also built into the day.

The atmosphere was generally very positive throughout the virtual experience. From the comments and feedback you could tell everyone had a good time. All the people, interns as well as EY employees were very friendly and easy to talk to. I felt like everyone was very positive towards each other and really gave the impression that we wanted to see each other succeed. I don't have anything negative to say about the experience, it was very useful and insightful.

I think the firm really invested in everyone. The internship had to be moved online due to the global pandemic so instead of being in a group of 6 interns we were put together with the whole of the UK, around 50 people. Unfortunately we were not able to be trained in the office so it was not personal but I felt EY gave us the best insight to the company possible, in light of the changes in circumstances.

I think the virtual experience fully outlined what it would be like to have a full time role within the firm. We were exposed to all the different sub service lines in the firm, given lots of information and were able to ask any questions we had. We were not only exposed to the technical side of things but also other aspects of company life such as social groups and other opportunities offered within the firm.

The virtual experience really helped me to understand the company culture. I knew a bit about the company beforehand and knew already that the company is very people based and really cares about their employees health and well being. Through out the week we listened to talks on the company's diversity and inclusiveness programme which outlined the company's values and gave us a real feel for the culture within the company and all the individual things you can get involved in.

It was very helpful. I learnt that this career route is very challenging but also very rewarding and the work you put in you will get out. Therefore, it is something I can definitely see myself becoming a part of and working towards. The content through out the week was very thorough and in depth, I left the week without any additional questions burning in my head. I feel confident that I know know what to expect going into this career.

For the work that we did through out the week I felt that we were adequately reimbursed. We were not tasked with any value added or client work we spent the week learning and taking part in group projects so the fact that were paid at all was very generous. It was disappointing that we were supposed to be there for four weeks but the internship was cut short to one week due to the pandemic.

Yes, we had plenty of opportunities to network and meet other employees of the firm. Every day we had an hour long question and answer session with a different sub service line, getting to know the people we would potentially be working with. We were also given mentors and buddies to assist us in our task and to ask any questions to people who were in the same situation as us and who could give us the best advice.

The networking and social opportunities were all done on Microsoft teams in a group with EY employees and interns. They were great with all of the EY representatives encouraging and answering questions. We were also given the chance to network with people on LinkedIn which was very useful. I found them very insightful and useful and got all the relevant information needed from the people involved. I would feel comfortable entering this office after having had an online experience with the internship.

We were told about the wide variety of social groups and organisations that EY offers including various religious groups, women's groups, minority groups, pride events, charities and volunteering. There is also opportunities to further your education as well as opportunities to travel with the company. The company is always open to new ideas and hearing what their employees have to contribute to making a job at EY more than a place to come and work but a place to improve yourself.

I would for sure recommend this virtual experience to a friend. This was the company's first attempt at creating a virtual internship and they did an amazing job. In light of the current circumstances the company has shown they can adapt to the changing world and are highly invested in their interns and student recruitment opportunities. I thought it was very worthwhile and would tell anyone considering a career in business to apply to increase their learning and experience.