Management Consultancy Intern Review

Working at PwC in the Leeds office for 8 weeks in consulting was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The work was varied and the internship was well put together. The 3 days training at the beginning down in Staverton was really enjoyable meeting all the other interns, and I spent a few days in London here and there on wider internship days. Working on client site gave me a great insight into PwC consulting services, and I was extra lucky as I tended to stay in the hotel with the team 3 nights a week so that I could be closer to the client.

I felt very valued by colleagues, quickly making strong friendships with the team around me. Colleagues took a real interest in both myself and the internship scheme, always providing me with assistance when needed.

I was allocated a people manager on my first day in Leeds, and he was always there if I needed help or advice on any issues. We met regularly to discuss my progres and he was proactive in supporting me with any objectives I had.

Generally I was pretty busy each day, but this varies depending on the projects you are put on and the type of work you are able to carry out. My first project was largely based around note taking in workshops, so could be quiet at time, but my second project was busy and meant there was always jobs to be done. Sometime I had to work in the evenings to get jobs done, but this is just part of life in consulting.

Again, this varied depending on the project. On my first project I had very little responsibilty, just taking notes and doing the odd job here and there, but on my second project I was much more involved in putting together presentations, interviewing clients and working on deliverables. In the office I was valued and given responsibility to run a morning huddle (team meeting).

My technical skills (powerpoint, excel) are something I definitely need to improve on, and I was able to develop these throughout the internship. I have better understanding of using these programmes for when I go back to uni and beyond, and my time discipline and ability to form relationships are skills that will be used continually looking ahead.

Due to being away on client site 4 days a week, I was only in the office on Fridays most of the time. In consultancy most people are always out of the office so it was often deserted apart from a few interns and directors/partners during the week, but on Fridays there were more people in and there was a great buzz around. Everyone was really friendly and we would often have a beer on a Friday afternoon when people were finishing for the week. There were a few workshops/talks on a few fridays during the 8 weeks and everyone came together to find out more about PwC services for these, often with a free lunch provided. The atmosphere was always relaxed, and we were never short of a bit of 'Friday banter'.

Couldn't fault the organsiation of the internship! The train at the start was well run, most people were quickly allocate a project to work on (I was continually on client sites for the full internship) and the intern events ran throughout the placement, both in Leeds and down in London, were again well run and great fun to attend.

The firm invested a lot in me. The recruitment process is obviously a long and challenging one so they invest a lot of time and effort there, and then the 3 days training at the beginning of the internship was interesting and generally useful. It would of been nice to receive some more technical training during the 8 weeks, but people manager meetings were really useful and were a chance to make sure I was getting the most out of the the internship and the firm in general.

I got offered a job

The social side began from day at the training down in Staverton, making friends with other interns over a few drinks. In Leeds, the interns always went out for a meal on the Friday after work when we were all back in the office after a week on client site. When away on client work, I was put uo in hotels and the team would always go out for meals together, have a few drinks and do fun things such as go to the cinema or go bowling. Even managed a night out in Newcastle!

I lived at home so didnt have to pay for accommodation costs during the internship. Leeds is generally pretty cheap so Friday meals out were a good price. On client sites in the North East I was able to expense evening meals and drinks up to a certain amount which made the internship a pretty cost effective experience overall!

Leeds has a really good night life, but I was barely ever there so only went out on the final night! Managed a night out in Newcastle when away on project too which was obviously pretty decent.

Not really, a few Leeds consulting meals took place and when on projects we went to do a few different activities in the evening, but there were no opportunities to join PwC sports teams etc during the internship.