ADD ADVICE TO FAVVictoria, one-year placement at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Name: Victoria
Degree: Accounting and Financial Management, University of Loughborough (third year)
Duration of work experience: One-year placement
Employer: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)
Department: Banking and Capital Markets
1. What did you do to get this work-experience opportunity?
The placement year is a compulsory element of my degree, so the first thing I needed to do was research companies I was interested in and decide which ones to apply to.
The recruitment process for placements at PwC is identical to the graduate process: an online application form, then an interview with a manager and finally an assessment day.
The application form consisted of several questions requesting examples of a wide variety of skills and competencies. During the first interview I was asked about these in more detail and there was a focus on my commercial awareness and research into PwC. The assessment day consisted of two psychometric tests (numerical and diagrammatic), an interview with a partner and a group assessment.
2. What sort of projects did you work on?
Throughout my placement year I have been treated no differently to the graduate employees. I have split my time between client work and studying towards the first half of my ACA professional qualification.
PwC places significant emphasis on developing soft skills, not just studying for the ACA. I have attended several courses and programmes to develop my wider professional skills. There is a huge array of projects to get involved in, from community affairs schemes to skills development courses.
‘I have attended several courses and programmes to develop my wider professional skills.’
3. How much were you able to contribute?
I was able to contribute a lot this year! The courses involve group participation, the college sessions (although highly time pressured) welcome discussion at appropriate moments and the client work of course requires your input.
I was amazed at the level of responsibility given to first-year employees although there are always people on hand to support you. If you show you are keen you can gain a lot of independence and ownership of your work at an early stage. This is a brilliant way to learn quickly, and it makes you feel like a really valued member of the team.
4. What did you enjoy the most?
I really enjoyed the client work; I feel that this is where I learned the most and was able to really see what becoming an auditor would be like. It was very rewarding to be given work to complete independently and to see myself progress throughout the year.
PwC’s appraisal system means that you get feedback from your superior after each client engagement. This is an excellent way to see what areas you need to work on and where you are doing well; it helps boost your confidence and your learning curve simultaneously.
5. What did you enjoy the least?
Throughout the year you attend college to study for the ACA professional exams. While this is not unpleasant, the exams at the end of it can be; you have to work hard and study intensively for a few weeks before them.
‘Each piece of client work provides you with various opportunities to develop new skills.’
6. What is the most important thing you learned?
I have learned many things this year; the top three are:
- to embrace the learning opportunities given to you; each piece of client work provides you with various opportunities to develop new skills
- to work hard from the start of college and stay clam under the pressure
- to build upon your professional scepticism right from the start of your experience.
7. Has your choice of career changed as a result of your period of work experience?
No. I have been fortunate enough to be offered the rest of my training contract after I graduate and will return to PwC next year. I think that this experience has been such a positive one that even if I had not been offered this contract by PwC I would still pursue a career in accountancy.
