Business Insight Week Intern Review

The role (Business Insight Week) was split into a few core areas. On the first day, all those participating in the Business Insight Week across the UK came together in a base office (Birmingham in this case). Here, we had our introductions, conducted some business exercises to learn more about professional services, we were informed about the days ahead, and given laptops to take home with us and work with over the days ahead. The folowwing three days (Tuesday to Thursday) involved meeting my buddy/mentor, who i'd be shadowing and working with over these days. For me, I was given a buddy in the Audit department, and I worked with him at a client site (AT&T) in Redditch. I worked on excel documents mainly, and for me work varied, and wasn't very complex, since a lot of the work available is higher level audit work, and I couldn't be given that. I know that some other students were more occupied than me in the office, but that's perhaps there are more admin tasks available since more people are present in the office. But I really enjoyed the days, and got a feel for the working culture, along with the varied entry routes of people working there, and ACA exams, and what it takes to be a qualified accountant. These things are simply not available from speaking to Graduate Recruitment alone. The final day was an assessment day back at the office, with the other candidates (5 of us in total on the Insight Week). We started with a practice group exercise, which was not very complex and eased us into everything. Then we went onto a paper based numerical test, then a paper based verbal test, then (Part 1) a paper based multiple choice In-Tray (Part 2) a paper based written reply to an In-Tray. And finally a group exercise which was harder than the practice one, and involved some simple numbers. The afternoon on the final day was rounded off with us getting PwC hoodies, and giving presentations of our experience, al in all a rather relaxed finish. I should be getting a reply of how I performed in a week or two after the programme.

Absolutely, firstly I learned about Microsoft Excel a bit more, because there's so much to learn with that and it's an Accountants lifeline. This was also my first assessment centre, so it really helps for the future, whereby if I go to another assessment day/centre i'll be a lot more calmed and ready.

I think the programme was invaluable, because I got to experience the day to day job of of someone in Audit. I was informed truthfully about many aspects of the job, and I really got an understanding of the ways in which I can enter the profession, should I wish to.

My buddy was just amazing, I travelled to work with him daily to the client site on his car, and we just built a brilliant bond. The team at the client site were also great, and they made me feel valued. Meanwhile, the recruitment team also really looked after us with welcome packs at the start and trusting us with brand new (£1800) laptops.

In the welcome pack there was a plan for what our daily activities should involve. Along with that there were a list of things we could do if we weren't occupied with a task with our buddies, as well as a small intro on the assessment day, and what kind of things to expect for the days to come. We also received documents which provided step by step guides on IT/Compliance training, and making a PwC Spark Profile (their internal facebook).

We didn't have a training provider as such. However we did have an initial process of verification with Randstad which was very tedious and involved providing endless lists of documents. Randstad were helpful, but the load required was just too much for a week long experience.

For support my buddy/mentor was always available and a grad recruitment team contact also. Support was therefore always at hand, and I never felt like there was something I was stuck with and couldn't overcome. This did make the programme seem more like a fun and interactive learning experience than anything else.

I was paid £7.45 an hour being in a Non-London location (they were paid £8.45), and we were all paid based on a 37.5 hour week. Since I lived in Birmingham, and conducted the programme there, and the fact that I travelled with my buddy to the client site, meant I had to pay minimal travel costs, food costs, and nothing else. This is great as normal week long programmes aren't paid!

I personally didn't get involved in anything as it was so short term. However graduates get to be involved in charity based activities (like the Prince's Trust mentoring scheme), and then they also have social's yearly, and lunches with each other. Whilst I was there, the employees on my team were preparing to go on a clay-pigeon shooting day.

Yes

The process will really stand you in good stead. Firstly as the application process is longer than usual (Online app, psychometric tests, and then a telephone interview). But then also the thorough coverage you achieve of the work life, and the experience of the assessment day, which you will nearly never be able to go through being in Year 12! Do well on the assessment day and you may be offered an interview for the higher apprenticeship (school leaver) scheme!

Being interested in the degree programme, PwC should allow being offered an interview for the flying-start scheme with this programme. Also, I had 3 straight days in Audit, yet I was told I could possibly shadow elsewhere on Thursday should I wish. My buddy got back to me on Wednesday and said it wasn't possible in my preffered area (consulting). We should be contacted before, so that if we wish to pursue shadowing in a diffferent area, it can be sorted earlier. Lastly, rather than three straight days in one area, the programme should have one day in Tax, one in Audit, and then one in Consulting/Deals, just so that we are able to achieve that holistic insight!