Summer Intern Review

Given the post pandemic environment, the internship was a hybrid between working from home and at the Canary Wharf office. The role was highly flexible - we usually logged onto teams at 9 and finish at 5 but by no means was this always the case. If we finished our tasks early and there was no further work to be completed we could log off early and similarly if there was a few more tasks to complete we would stay an extra half hour or so.

I think this varies across teams. In some teams there are a few associates which allows the intern to have more responsibility given to them by seniors. Irrespectively, you definitely can get a lot of responsibility if you are proactive and fully engaged with the work of the client which will help you get a better understanding of what the division does. The tasks set are all directly relevant to the client so the involvement in the project is high. In turn, the work completed is meaningful.

Given the collaborative feel at the firm my communication skills have undoubtedly improved. There are lots of opportunities to network with professionals across the division from associates to breakfast opportunities with partners that allow you to get a holistic feel about the company. In terms of technical skills, I was using Excel quite often for necessary calculations related to clients' half-year financial statements as well as when inputting data. There is also a training program for all interns that teaches us how to be an effective leader and the importance of a coaching culture, all of which helps in future employability by developing soft skills.

The support received on the internship was very good. Teams here recognise the fact that we are university students from different disciplines and do not assume prior knowledge. Simultaneously, they did get me to think about the tasks so I could reach my own solutions as opposed to be given answers directly. I believe this fine balance allowed me to be guided well but also challenged. Overall, the attitude towards support was highly positive in the two teams I was on for the internship.

The culture was inclusive and supportive. At the start of the internship I was welcomed very well by all members of my team from associates to the manager. The internship also has a lot of opportunities to network with fellow interns even those that are not in the same division, particularly at the start where the first two days were focused on this which I felt help me settle in very well. There are also opportunities to get involved with charity/ voluntary initiatives with the EY Foundation and through the CSR day.

Overall I enjoyed the internship. With a good, proactive attitude there are plenty of opportunities to develop not only technically but also through the various networking and social events available across the five weeks. This, coupled with the employability training program gives you the opportunity to also develop your soft skills which I think is very unique. My experience met my expectations and I definitely want to go back to the firm in the near future.

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