Forensics Technology Business Placement Review

As a forensics technology business placement student, my role involves using the programming and software knowledge learnt on the job (e.g. SQL, Alteryx) to help manage client data and to prevent any instances of electronic and economic crime. On a day to day basis I worked on projects which involved conducting investigations for clients on specific situations. I also worked on helping colleagues to create tools with the capability of detecting instances of fraud.

I have learnt and developed many new skills. In terms of technical skills, I now have better proficiency using different programming software. Being in a working environment has increased my interpersonal skills, which enables me to be more communicative. My confidence in speaking and presenting to others has also increased, which means that my leadership skills have also benefited from my time working. Another notable skill is time management which I have improved on given the high volume of tasks that I had to complete.

I enjoyed my placement at PwC to a great extent. Having the opportunity to work for such a prestigious company was a great experience, from the highly professional facilities to the excellent staff members you meet, there was much to be pleased with. As an intern, I felt valued as a colleague and I was provided with a multitude of opportunities to develop my skills. This will certainly benefit me in my degree studies and future career path.

I would say the internship was organised to a great degree. One aspect of it is that as a placement student, PwC try to maximise the experience and skills you gain through different opportunities. In a way, I felt as though I was given more responsibility in the work environment. The induction training helped me to better understand the nature of the work I would be doing. The teams I became part of had a good hierarchical structure and there always available support from managers and supervisors so the structuring was excellent.

I was given a lot of guidance by management and supervisors. Managers would help me in the best way they could, given their busy schedules, and any thing I required extra help with I simply had to ask. Alongside this, my career coach would regularly follow up with me to find out whether I was satisfied with the work I was doing (which included any need for support that I had). Others were conscious that as a placement student I probably required more support.

When working towards my qualifications, I receive a good amount of support from my training provider (who is my placement scheme manager). They are always available if I require any help, meaning they are very accessible and provide resources should I have need of using them. The general attitude of my training provider towards supporting me was genuine and they were always willing to provide guidance for any issues I faced, although not many issues were faced at PwC.

I feel as though what I had been learning did benefit to some extent however I did apply for a role which was not directly related to my field. Due to this, the most useful form of skills that I could transition to my role were soft skills. For instance, having good interpersonal skills by liaising with colleagues or greater confidence in providing presentations in meetings (which also shows good leadership skills). Some tasks made use of my expertise in engineering so I was able to put theory into practice, not to a great extent however.

There were many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. For instance, there was a weekly football match in the department that you could participate in. The teams would change on a weekly basis. During my induction week, we actually did some farming work as part of PwC's initiative to improve our environment. Other than this, there were different groups to be a part of (similar to societies at university) such as the Christian network. Teams also hold social events which others can join, there is an annual Christmas party that is held.

Yes

One reason is that I felt very valued by colleagues in all forms of work, my opinion was treated as equal to others of higher grades than myself (where necessary). My voice was always heard. What made me feel more valued was the responsibility of work I was given, as my responsibilities increased I felt as though I was more valued since the work I would do was important. Another reason was that he office had a wonderful atmosphere, everyone was kind and easy to approach. There was also an element of seriousness to the work environment as well since meetings and discussions were carried out in the office at any time. Overall, PwC allow you to feel at ease in their offices and this is a great opportunity to personally develop your skills at such a prestigious company.

Firstly, I would advise on thoroughly reading up on the company in order to better understand the company values and how PwC are working to advance as a professional services company. In addition, I would advise practising on psychometric tests, online interviews and assessment centres since the application process involves them. During the assessment centre it is vital to always be a part of the group discussions and show that you are proactive to solve the given problems.