Joining Crowe as a consulting intern has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college years. As a member of the UCD Ladies Hockey Club, I was intrigued by Crowe ever since they became our sponsor in 2022. I had the pleasure of working with Ricky and Shannon through a committee role last year, which gave me an opportunity to learn more about the company and the work that they do. When I reached out to them about the prospect of completing an internship at Crowe, they were exceptionally helpful and supportive. I shared my strengths and interests with them, which ultimately landed me as an intern in the consulting department!
My first week was filled with lots of exciting introductions and training sessions. The consulting team were incredibly welcoming and supportive. I was quickly informed on what projects I would be working on and was given tasks for the week. It was great to learn that even from week one, I would be contributing to projects, whilst also learning the ropes of the career and the company.
One of the most exciting parts of the internship was the variety of projects I got to work on. From strategic planning to internal portfolio developments, each project offered a different insight into the consulting profession. Participating in many projects provided me with exposure to the various specialist sectors covered by the consulting team at Crowe. From government/public sector to healthcare to not-for- profit, each offered unique learnings. I also had the opportunity to sit in on various client meetings which gave me a better understanding of the collaborative nature of the work that consultants do. I additionally got the chance to conduct background research for various tenders which gave me a better grasp of this challenging process. Before I started as an intern, I didn’t even know what a tender was so there was lots of room for learning here!
An important takeaway from my internship was learning how flexible consultants must be within projects. Clients’ priorities can often shift, or they can simply change their mind on project objectives, so adaptability is key! I was also surprised with the creative element that is often needed when developing specific strategies and subsequently needed when writing tenders. I learned that creative thinking is crucial to differentiate from competitors.
Overall, it has been an invaluable experience interning at Crowe. I am grateful for all the key learnings that I will carry with me throughout my career. I will greatly miss the people (and the tea breaks!). A special thank you to Hugh, Shannon and Mark who supported and mentored me throughout my internship – especially Shannon who should be promoted to Partner!