Trainee Review

On a standard day, I spend most of my time at university studying for my degree in Computer Science (Uni of Leeds). This is your usual degree, coursework, revision, lectures etc... which I enjoy and makes me feel like a normal uni student. Along with this there are occasional events at the office, including networking and talks from people from a range of areas of the business, which allows us to get a good idea of the variety of departments we will have the chance to work in and experience. Lastly, during the summers and a full 3yr in industry, we work in the office full time, which is a usual 9 - 5 job and is a great chance to see what a real working environment is like.

I've learnt and developed a lot already during my first year on this apprenticeship. My teamwork and communication skills have grown massively, both from interacting with people at university and doing group work there, and talking to people at PwC and getting an idea of what they do. I also think I have grown a lot regarding my programming due to my university course this yea, and I feel much more confident working in (in a variety of roles) and leading teams now.

I love my programme. I feel it is the perfect mix of work and university which prepares me for the world both academically by teaching me skills I can put into practice and also in a working sense which prepares me for the transition into a real working environment. The work experience on offer at such a large organisation is undeniably fantastic, and I can't wait to work at PwC this summer due to the variety of projects available which sound very interesting and engaging.

The programme itself is very well organised, as we have constant communication and help from PwC if needed. The university course itself is in certain regards quite unorganised, however it is very varied. Some modules are excellently organised, they have fabulous resources, however other modules are poorly managed and take a long time to receive feedback and work. However, I don't think this is reflective of the programme, more just of the university course itself and is very different depending on which module you look at.

Regarding PwC, we are always in touch. We have been assigned buddies who check up on us and make sure we always have someone with experience to talk to if we have any questions. We also have meetings with the programme manager 3 times a year along with our tutors at university, which give us a chance to air any issues or questions we may have. I always feel welcome to talk to PwC if I have problems and feel aptly supported from them, especially regarding the work placement as they're extremely helpful with any questions we have.

We have a tutor at university who is always on hand to support us or available if we have any issues with the course. Mine is extremely handy, if I have anything to say about how the course is ran then she always follows them up and gives me an answer which makes me feel well valued. We have weekly meetings which I look forward to, and has become more of a mentor than just a member of staff.

My degree that I am working towards teaches me not just technical skills, but also softer skills that can be applied to working at PwC and with clients. My technical skills will help me on projects where I can apply principles and ideas I have learnt about, while group work will help me communicate better and work better in a team which will make me offer a better service to the people I work with.

We regularly have social events at the office which we are invited too, some of which we have the chance to get involved with in the planning ourselves. At university, we (like a normal student) can join societies and clubs which allow us to meet new people which I love as it gives me the chance to try our lots of new experiences! Lastly, we frequently have networking events with PwC which allow us to meet people we will be working with and people from around the office.

Yes

They're a great employer who give you amazing opportunities to work across a variety of projects around the country and even the world, and an unparalleled chance to grow as an individual. They make you feel valued and like you matter with some great support. They are a young firm which give you lots of chances to meet new people and try new experiences, and especially on this course a great chance to live the uni life while still getting a head start in the world of work!

Be yourself! The interviewers want to get the best out of you, so don't worry about any little slip ups as they will look past them and more at you as a whole. Try to discuss experiences and use the STAR method when talking about them, and enjoy it!