Summer Vacation Scheme - Corporate Tax Review

Very much enjoyed working for Deloitte. The office had a great atmosphere and got involved with lots of different aspects of their work.

I felt very welcome within the Corporate Tax team. Everyone was very helpful and were always available to answer any questions that I had. I could see from feedback and meetings that the work that I was completing was helpful for members of the team and I felt appreciated for the work that I did.

Each of the Summer Vacation Scheme (SVS) people were assigned a 'buddy' that was either in their first or second year with the firm. This was good as many of them also did the SVS themselves and knew what it was like. The scheme in each department then has a 'champion' who makes sure that everything is going well and arranged extra tasks for us (such as talks from people across different parts of the tax department). All other members were also very helpful and supportive, answering any questions that we had and got us involved in their work wherever possible.

Most days I would be very busy with several tasks to be getting on with. These would be a wide variety of things from research, sitting in on meetings and calls, writing and checking reports and spreadsheets, as well as many other things. However, there were short periods of time where there wasn't a great deal on my plate. This wouldn't usually last long though, as numerous people that I had asked for work from would often come back to me at similar times and then I would be very busy again!

I always felt like the work that I was doing was valued by the rest of the team. I could see the work being taken to more senior levels than where it was coming from, which was good to see.

The skills that I developed as part of my time at Deloitte will definitely assist me with a future career within professional services. The importance of client relationships and communication with them and the rest of team both within the Reading office, across the UK and across the rest of the world were evident. This along with the business knowledge gained would be my biggest developments.

There was a very professional but positive and sociable atmosphere within the office. Everyone worked very hard but would always be willing to help me out with any work or chat about their time within the company. Everyone was very friendly and sociable.

The initial application process wasn't the best but from the first day in the office onwards, it was very organised. The 'buddy' and 'champion' system worked very well and I never felt out of the loop with what was going on.

On the Sunday before the placement began, all SVS people had to go to Solihull for 'induction' days. This was the Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. It involved networking with the other people from across the country and service lines before talks from several members of the company, from SVS alumni to partners, We were also given some help towards the final partner interview that would take place at the end of the summer. There was an IT induction on the morning of the first day in the office, and then a brief office introduction. This included an overview of what type of work is done within corporate tax and where we fit into the process.

Future employment prospects are good. All SVS are offered the opportunity to have a partner interview at the end of the scheme for a position within the graduate scheme. There was the opportunity to change office and service line if requested. However, this would result in having to complete the first interview again, followed by the partner interview if successful.

There was a good group of people in the team that got us involved in different social activities. We were taken for lunch with different parts of the team on several occasions. We were also asked to join the rest of the team to Newbury races for an after-work social, which was a great way to get to know more people and see them in a different light to the office. We also had a leavers drinks on the final day for our 'champion' who was going to New York for a years secondment. We were not directly connected to other SVS students but we were able to meet up with them during lunch periods regularly.

I can't talk much about the cost of living as I was staying with my partner but socialising was reasonably priced for an area close to London.

Only went on one night out in Reading but it was busy and enjoyable.

I played cricket for the office team one afternoon which was really fun as I hadn't played for years! It wasn't taken too seriously and I had the opportunity to interact with other member of the office. They also have other sports teams and social events.