The value of an undergraduate internship cannot be over emphasized. It broadens your horizon, deepens your connections and keys you into a state of mind that most graduates struggle to transition into after their studies. Getting a good grade is just the first step; the corporate world is another ball game entirely.

I was fortunate to have the unique experience of interning at 2 of the big 4 accounting firms over my summer internship period. Once I commenced my 3rd year at the university in September, I started applying aggressively for an internship position. I did some permutations and figured that if I applied for 20 internships, at least 5 would come through.

I wrote my first online assessment test for a reputable bank, however before I finished the second section, I received a notification that I had failed. I was distraught and my confidence shaken, but not for long. I sat down to strategize and asked myself a few questions: What was I doing wrong? How could I improve? Etc. I persevered and kept on applying but the rejection letters kept rolling in. My permutations seemed not so accurate anymore, but then something changed.

Early March, I got a mail from KPMG Nigeria to write an assessment test and that marked the beginning of a new chapter. I eventually passed the assessment and the subsequent interview. As I awaited the offer letter from KPMG, another offer letter rolled in. My aggression was eventually paying off and I began the countdown to my resumption date.

The 1st of June was a special day. I woke up bright and early to beat Lagos traffic and arrived for my first day of work in good spirits. First impressions right? Well, KPMG did a great job with first impressions, from its magnificent tower to its cultured people; it was a beauty to behold. The internship proved to be everything I imagined and more. I stepped into the induction room with over 100 bright eyed interns like myself and interactions with them was definitely inspiring. During my internship, I learnt the importance of teamwork and collaboration and served as a team lead on two separate projects. At the end of the internship, we were treated to a pleasurable outing at a lovely resort.

Soon after, I started another internship programme at PwC Nigeria, an experience that stretched me to new limits. I can liken the experience to being thrown into the deep end of a sea along with a life raft and tools to make a sail. The challenge would be to successfully build a boat and sail to the shore within a definite time frame. The internship was a 10 week intensive programme that intimated us with the practice of consulting and enabled us develop key competencies along the way. Our technical and leadership skills, business acumen, global awareness as well as ability to leverage on relationships were put to test. The experience presented a unique opportunity to learn, make mistakes and re-learn in a high pressure environment. The pressure allowed us to test our limits, discover our strengths, develop them and curb our weaknesses. Being in an environment with the best and brightest across the country, knowing your strengths and projecting them is key to being a star, however, it takes a lot more to be a superstar.

I was a part of a team of 6 interns from different universities comprising both undergraduates and graduates. Initially, the learning curve was painfully steep; we were racing against tight deadlines with deliverables due every week. However, with ample support and immediate feedback from team leads and senior management, our hard work began to pay off. We all began to demonstrate core competencies and imbibe the values of our organization. We even began to update our nomenclature with firm catch phrases like ‘this bit’ and ‘I can tell you this for free’. We developed a strong bond and the true meaning of team spirit became more evident.

At the end we made a final presentation to some of the firm’s partners and had a lover dinner outing with our line of service partner on the final day. It was a great experience to be able to get up close and personal with a great role model.

I now fully appreciate what teamwork, leadership, excellence and relationships mean and represent beyond mere words typed on my resume. Teamwork is recognizing that you are just as strong as your weakest link, and so you should build up your team so that there are no weak links. It is about situational leadership, allowing the person with the relevant core competency for a situation lead. Leadership is not just doing for others, but teaching them how to do, being responsible for how well they grow so that with or without you being there, they soar. Excellence is being a superstar, shining in the midst of brilliant minds. Having great interpersonal relationships is being able to manage the peculiarities of different personalities effectively by learning how each person likes being related with and giving them that exactly.

Beyond these values, applying yourself, thinking through and having a clear thought process is crucial. My values have been strengthened, I am more aware of myself, my purpose and my strengths. I am energized and ready to push myself even further, develop myself beyond my academics, add value in everything I do and have an amazing year.

https://www./my-internship-experience-journey-self-realisation-ore-onabowale?trk=prof-post
https://ng.linkedin.com/in/ore-onabowale-78a2aaa3

k

ok

Nice one

Pay didn't appear at all in the entire write up, u mean u were not given a dime despite the scrutiny and screening u weren't through? Forget d fact that u still an undergraduate, u cant go through this kinda stress and expect to get experience as d sole benefit.
Experience I agree is very essential but money is very important.
Teamwork without money is no work abeg, who teamwork epp

Ok.
Op u didn't write how much dey paid?

My values have been strengthened, I am more aware of myself, my purpose and my strengths. I am energized and ready to push myself even further, develop myself beyond my academics, add value in everything I do and have an amazing year.........(That's awesome).......nice diction......"words on marble"

I have always been depressed and lethargic in school due to some issues but ever since I went on I.T at LASUCOM, Ikeja and returned, I have become more confident, resilient and buoyant.

Even my friends and lecturers noticed this.
Internship is the second best thing to happen to me.
-First being Jesus.

nice wan


morning guys

its always like that till u graduate and and the Nigerian economy as well as its fraustratimg unemployment punches the determination out of you

bulakos:
My values have been strengthened, I am more aware of myself, my purpose and my strengths. I am energized and ready to push myself even further, develop myself beyond my academics, add value in everything I do and have an amazing year.........(That's awesome).......nice diction......"words on marble"

Sha be forming experience and ability, no dread hunger..

Founded my own company after my Internship in the US, never looked back since then.

TroubleMaker47:
Ok.
Op u didn't write how much dey paid?

You must not be necessarily paid for an intern position.

What one should care about can be perks: lunch, joining staff bus, using company's facilities(WiFi).

Congratulations to the individual. Seems the Big4 are Barcelona and Arsenal in the Nigerian corporate sphere.

@ OP,

I am glad you had a good time @ KPMG. Here at KPMG, we value excellence, teamwork and dedications. You need to have a passion for the job you are doing to be able to excel. In the words of Aristotle, "Pleasure in the work puts perfection in the job".

Thanks again for the good reviews, see you after you graduate.

Cheers!!

That's gracious to hear. I'm currently in search of where i would do my one year internship programme, i hope my story becomes more enthralling than yours.

see ow this one is hyping PWC and kpmg. don't allow the fine faces and cool work environment fool you.that's how they deceive people every 6 months 85% if people you find there are contract staff. they call them interns,they will pay u 35k and you will work pass Hillary clinton. What you have learnt should be put onto practice immediately for your own benefit. I just hope its their ideology that inspired you and not work environment.

Badgers14:
@ OP,

I am glad you had a good time @ KPMG. Here at KPMG, we value excellence, teamwork and dedications. You need to have a passion for the job you are doing to be able to excel. In the words of Aristotle, "Pleasure in the work puts perfection in the job".

Thanks again for the good reviews, see you after you graduate.

Cheers!!

lol
why are you deceiving him.@ see you after you graduate?? like there is a job readily available. isn't it that internship slavery ish that you guys still adhere to or has the brand changed.?

Great write up
More power 2 ur elbow
Wit d mind set u have, u'll do gr8 exploits
Cheers

hmmm, internships are great.. when you are actually being made useful technically, some companies however, use you for labour and menial jobs.

okay

Woww...Congrats dear

Just hope i get to work at Pwc one day

Gerrard59:


You must not be necessarily paid for an intern position.

What one should care about can be perks: lunch, joining staff bus, using company's facilities(WiFi).

Congratulations to the individual. Seems the Big4 are Barcelona and Arsenal in the Nigerian corporate sphere.

Arsenal?

Mmmmmm mr pay

heykims:
Pay didn't appear at all in the entire write up, u mean u were not given a dime despite the scrutiny and screening u weren't through? Forget d fact that u still an undergraduate, u cant go through this kinda stress and expect to get experience as d sole benefit.
Experience I agree is very essential but money is very important.
Teamwork without money is no work abeg, who teamwork epp

I applied for the last KPMG internship, I was invited and informed to send my transcript but I was unable to send it due to my school palava. I hope to work with them after graduating, I have always loved anything I read about the firm and their employees. KPMG my dream place of work

Justdulla:
see ow this one is hyping PWC and kpmg. don't allow the fine faces and cool work environment fool you.that's how they deceive people every 6 months 85% if people you find there are contract staff. they call them interns,they will pay u 35k and you will work pass Hillary clinton. What you have learnt should be put onto practice immediately for your own benefit. I just hope its their ideology that inspired you and not work environment.

You must be a mischief-seeker. All KPMG professionals are full times staff. Only few admins are contract and I don't think they make up to 10% of the workforce of over 1,000. Also, most of labour turnover is actually voluntary in pursuit of better opportunities. Don't mislead people

well written piece, bravo.

Ok

Beyond these values, applying yourself, thinking through and having a clear thought process is crucial. My values have been strengthened, I am more aware of myself, my purpose and my strengths. I am energized and ready to push myself even further, develop myself beyond my academics, add value in everything I do and have an amazing year.

Those are very key learnings.