A crash course in Consulting and Auditing during my internship at KPMG | Uzair’s Story
KPMG is a worldwide system of independent firms offering review, tax, and advisory services. They are an organization that motivates certainty and enables change in everything. They set themselves apart through their energy and pride, their mastery and interest, their comprehensive culture and their emphasis on building the pioneers of tomorrow. KPMG is an organization which focusses on conveying quality in all that they do and on persistently improving review quality and protecting the autonomy of the people.
What is the selection process for an internship at KPMG?
The selection process for an Internship at KPMG was rather simple and had a single stage of Personal Interview. The questions asked during the interview ranged from the regular "Why KPMG?" to the quirky "Give me a 5-minute presentation about Peanuts”. It was actually fun and tested our imagination and creativity rather than theoretical knowledge.
What did you learn during the internship at KPMG?
KPMG's Summer Associate Programme in Dubai is a highly dynamic program that enables interns to work in multiple departments across the span of their internship. I worked for the first half of my internship in the IGH (Infrastructure, Government, Healthcare) Audit Department. During the second half, I worked in the Advisory department. Throughout the duration of my internship in both departments, I was required to visit client offices on a frequent basis.
During my induction with the firm, the HR Associate remarked, "Intern or Full-time Employee, it doesn't matter one bit. Once you are here, you are KPMG." This inspiring dialogue set the tone for my internship. The work culture kept me on my toes at all times. I was given ample creative freedom in my role. I interacted with clients directly. How to maintain the quality of work while ensuring adherence to deadlines at the same time is one thing I learned. I received a crash course in consulting and auditing and learned how to use online and offline computer tools for the same.
My internship at KPMG was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. I was born and raised in the UAE. Therefore, I had no problems returning back here for a couple of months to attend my internship. I fell in love with the work culture at KPMG Dubai during my internship. I would definitely like to pursue a full-time role at the firm. Starting my career at a reputed consulting firm that stays strong to its roots and values will be highly beneficial for me.
What was the work culture like at KPMG?
A company like KPMG in Dubai boasts of a highly multinational work culture. I interacted with people from over 20 different nationalities and frequently worked in highly diverse teams. KPMG in Dubai also has a comprehensive internship program. It includes a detailed induction session and a plotting system that ensures that you work with a different client every week. The program also takes international interns where students from countries like Argentina, Canada and the UK come down to Dubai for the period of their internship.
I always had this mindset that an office and your job must be a "fun-free" zone. Everyone must remain focused and do their work all the time. Towards the end of my internship, I realized the true meaning of my internship. It was not found in the times that I sat staring at figures on my spreadsheet but in the times I spent interacting with colleagues and clients, the team lunches and the late evenings spent working together. I can proudly say that my previously existing mindset about work has been completely altered!
If I had to pick one particular incident, I'd say that the induction program provided unique insights into what life would be like at the firm. We participated in a set of fun, team-building event. This included making a tower using only paper, scissors, tape and a single hand. The internship as a whole was a riveting and relentless experience.