Explore diverse opportunities in professional services
The world of work is full of amazing opportunities, but have you ever considered the realm of professional services? Forget the stuffy stereotypes – these companies are the strategists, financial whizzes, and problem-solvers that keep businesses thriving.
There are many different types of professional services, each offering unique challenges and opportunities. Here are just a few examples to pique your interest:
Accounting and tax gurus: These wizards ensure businesses stay on top of their finances and that everything is legal and squeaky clean.
Consulting brainiacs: They’re like business detectives, solving problems and helping companies grow by analysing data and crafting winning strategies.
Legal eagles: These sharp minds provide expert advice on contracts, regulations, and anything else that throws a legal curveball at a business.
Marketing masterminds: They’re the storytellers behind the scenes, crafting campaigns that get people excited about a company’s products or services.
Overall, professional services play a crucial role in helping individuals and organisations solve problems, achieve their goals, and navigate complex challenges in their respective fields.
Within professional services, there are some real heavy hitters. Ever heard of PwC, EY, KPMG, and Deloitte? These are the ‘Big 4’ accounting and consulting firms that work with massive companies and governments around the world, tackling huge challenges and making a serious impact.
The great thing for you is that the Big 4 are also military-friendly companies that understand military life. This can make that career transition a little easier if you are trying to start a career in professional services but also have to deal with military life, moving, and family members being deployed from home. So, let’s delve into how to start a career in professional services and some of the available opportunities.
Careers opportunities at PWC
Feeling lost in the job search jungle? At PwC, they know finding the right opportunity can feel overwhelming, but they make it a breeze. Whether you’re fascinated by finance, energised by tech, or crave a career in consulting, PwC has a diverse range of roles waiting for someone with your spark.
Here’s the deal: all they ask is that you have enthusiasm and a hunger to learn. Because with that kind of drive, your career journey at PwC has no ceiling. Imagine yourself tackling real-world challenges, collaborating with brilliant minds, and making a lasting impact on businesses across the globe. Sounds pretty epic, right?
So, ditch the generic job search and dive into a world of professional services. You can learn more about early career programmes at PwC here.
These include:
school leaver roles
graduate programmes
flying start degree programmes (combining university with on-the-job learning)
various internships and placements.
Meet the faces behind the hustle!
They say it’s the people who make the difference, and at PwC, they couldn’t agree more. The team is the lifeblood of everything they do. But forget stuffy bios and corporate jargon – they want you to see what it’s REALLY like to work with them.
They have employees telling their stories in their own words. Dive into their journeys: the career wins, the unexpected twists, and how our business is constantly evolving (think ‘business parkour’!). You’ll also see how technology is weaved into everything PWC does, making work exciting and impactful.
So get ready to meet some truly unique individuals who make up the incredible team at PwC. Because, let’s face it, our differences make us awesome!
You can read all stories from school and college leavers who discuss what working at PwC means to them online here.
Top tips for starting your career in professional services
We spoke to Cathy Baxter, head of student recruitment at PwC, to get her top tips on how to begin a career in professional services:
Self-assessment: Before you start an application, think about what you can offer. Consider all of your experience and skills (from your studies, hobbies, and other extra-curricular activities). What are your strengths, and what do you enjoy doing? By identifying the skills you have and the skills you want to improve, you will be able to match yourself against what companies are looking for.
Research: The effort you put in now will pay off in your application and future stages of the process. Research the different roles, the type of work you might do, and whether you’re suited. The PwC Career Uncovered Tool is a great help for this.
You may also want to research the profession – what would the career path look like? Is there a professional qualification? Would there be travel involved?
And the organisation – what type of work do they do? What are their values? Who are their clients?
Use and build your networks – is there anyone that you can speak to about their job and what it entails? Consider what resources you have that you can use, e.g. careers advisor at your school, college, or university, as well as virtual events run by organisations.
Time: Take time to prepare in advance of making your application and consider what each stage of the selection process involves. Check to see if there’s a deadline to submit your application and action any further tasks. Make sure you give yourself enough time to complete these. Some employers will recruit on a first-come, first-served basis or close roles when they receive enough applications, so it’s important to think about making your application as early as you can to avoid disappointment.
Free resources to launch your professional services journey
PwC has a strong focus on helping young people with the application process and as such, has developed this employability hub. It’s a place where you can find useful virtual tools to support the development of key employability skills, such as interactive e-learns to help prepare for the application process.
FutureLearn: Explore free online courses on accounting, finance, and business: www.futurelearn.com.
The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians): Discover free resources and qualifications to kickstart your accounting career: www.aat.org.uk/qualifications-and-courses/accounting.
Remember, becoming a pro in professional services takes time and dedication. But with the right resources and a thirst for knowledge, you can be well on your way to a rewarding career helping businesses reach their full potential.