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Original poster

Is this just too much?

36 replies

Arraminta · 22/11/2024 16:27

Roughly how long a working day is typical for a placement student at one of the Big Four? Is working an 18 hour day for 5 days straight (close to a big sign off) just par for the course? I have no experience of the finance industry at all, so just don't know.

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TizerorFizz · 22/11/2024 20:25

Throwing a sicky was a joke ! I only said look at the placement details as back up info. I know they stress test placement students but I did feel this was extreme.

Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 20:03

MissAmbrosia · 22/11/2024 19:51

God yes - they are brutal! I haven't worked for one of them but engage their services as part of my job and have worked alongside PWC/Accenture/E&Y consultants on many projects. I did a European Shared Financial Services project where 14 - 16 hour days were standard and they ordered in a takeaway every evening as going home was just not acceptable til 9 or 10 at night. On the plus side - they gain SO much experience early on. I remember being explained my job by a 12 year old in glasses with a MacBook and trying not to laugh. My sister and BIL met whilst working at PWC in accountancy roles. It really did set them up for life. My BIL has just retired at 57. Very tough hours for an internship though. I can see why you are concerned.

Thank you. Yes, every day this week food has been delivered to the offices around 10pm and everyone's having to work most of the weekend, too. But they've just been told they can claim back the time as holiday, luckily (whether they actually get to take it is another matter). She plans to sleep all day Sunday.

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MissAmbrosia · 22/11/2024 19:51

God yes - they are brutal! I haven't worked for one of them but engage their services as part of my job and have worked alongside PWC/Accenture/E&Y consultants on many projects. I did a European Shared Financial Services project where 14 - 16 hour days were standard and they ordered in a takeaway every evening as going home was just not acceptable til 9 or 10 at night. On the plus side - they gain SO much experience early on. I remember being explained my job by a 12 year old in glasses with a MacBook and trying not to laugh. My sister and BIL met whilst working at PWC in accountancy roles. It really did set them up for life. My BIL has just retired at 57. Very tough hours for an internship though. I can see why you are concerned.

LiveLaughGoblin · 22/11/2024 19:43

Arraminta · 22/11/2024 19:39

Yes, she accepts that she absolutely needs to power through. She assures me she knew what she was taking on. Obviously faking and taking sick leave hasn't occurred to her, she was raised better than that! She's just had a very lovely email from her manager thanking her for all her hard work and overtime and they want her back on their team when she goes back as a graduate.

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Sounds like she is doing really well! Well done to her 😊

Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 19:39

LiveLaughGoblin · 22/11/2024 19:24

Yes but the jobs (which the placements anre essentially an interview for) are competitive so they’ll be looking for trainees to pitch in - like I said, it’s not for everyone!

If you started quoting your contractual hours and sticking to them you would soon be out of the door I’m afraid (not sure about placements but all permanent contracts have the opt out of the working hours limits!)

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Yes, she accepts that she absolutely needs to power through. She assures me she knew what she was taking on. Obviously faking and taking sick leave hasn't occurred to her, she was raised better than that! She's just had a very lovely email from her manager thanking her for all her hard work and overtime and they want her back on their team when she goes back as a graduate.

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Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 19:34

boxoftoads · 22/11/2024 18:52

Yes, this is fairly normal. I worked out when I started 20 odd years ago I was paid less than the cleaner for an hourly rate!
I slept on a Sunday and rarely saw anyone.
However the experience and the professional qualifications I gained have set me up for life.
Wishing her all the best 💐

Thank you. She's on a very good salary, for a student, but when you work it out hourly it's a pittance! Like you say, it's a very privileged opportunity that she will make the most of.

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AfterEightMints001 · 22/11/2024 19:26

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 19:22

Consider it?? …….

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doing all the hours, the experience alone would be worth its weight in gold

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 19:24

It’s not a trial run at Tesco but a prestigious and rare opportunity.

LiveLaughGoblin · 22/11/2024 19:24

TizerorFizz · 22/11/2024 17:28

@LiveLaughGoblin The DD is on a placement year so those hours are brutal. She’s not a proper trainee. @Arraminta I do think that’s concerning. However I do understand it’s fairly normal in that line of work at that type of employer. Ditto law. The only obvious answer is to look at her placement contract (I’m assuming she’s mid degree) and see what it says about hours, if anything. Or go off ill.

Yes but the jobs (which the placements anre essentially an interview for) are competitive so they’ll be looking for trainees to pitch in - like I said, it’s not for everyone!

If you started quoting your contractual hours and sticking to them you would soon be out of the door I’m afraid (not sure about placements but all permanent contracts have the opt out of the working hours limits!)

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 19:22

AfterEightMints001 · 22/11/2024 19:08

personally if all expenses were covered then id consider it.

Consider it?? …….

boogiewoogie24 · 22/11/2024 19:18

Big four what?

AfterEightMints001 · 22/11/2024 19:08

personally if all expenses were covered then id consider it.

boxoftoads · 22/11/2024 18:52

Yes, this is fairly normal. I worked out when I started 20 odd years ago I was paid less than the cleaner for an hourly rate!
I slept on a Sunday and rarely saw anyone.
However the experience and the professional qualifications I gained have set me up for life.
Wishing her all the best 💐

Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 18:37

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 18:29

Good on your dd op! I really hope she can plough through. They definitely separate the wheat from the chaff early on…. It is not forever and good to be stretched! The rewards are really worth it.

She's powering through and has just expensed a nice take out!

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Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 18:36

TizerorFizz · 22/11/2024 18:20

@Arraminta My DD has friends working at similar companies and in banking. . She laughs that they come up for air occasionally! All friends are seen in a whirlwind and then they go off back to their work bunker. Some of her friends aren’t keen and decided they would take less money and have a (slightly) slower life. DDs boyfriend is an accountant with a Big 4 and is happy though. It is a case of powering through!

Thank you. I've told her that everything she does now will reap seriously big rewards in the long term. She's brightened up now and is about to expense a very nice dinner for herself.

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Barrenfieldoffucks · 22/11/2024 18:30

Yeah, Big 4 is pretty hard work. But worth it long term

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 18:29

Good on your dd op! I really hope she can plough through. They definitely separate the wheat from the chaff early on…. It is not forever and good to be stretched! The rewards are really worth it.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 22/11/2024 18:26

Very normal IMO, and very few paths that lead to that kind of Big Money without insane hours. Ethically and morally it's a bit crap, but it's not going to change anytime soon.

TizerorFizz · 22/11/2024 18:20

@Arraminta My DD has friends working at similar companies and in banking. . She laughs that they come up for air occasionally! All friends are seen in a whirlwind and then they go off back to their work bunker. Some of her friends aren’t keen and decided they would take less money and have a (slightly) slower life. DDs boyfriend is an accountant with a Big 4 and is happy though. It is a case of powering through!

Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 17:53

Letitbe24 · 22/11/2024 17:32

Same here. I did my training at a Big4 firm and yes it was very hard but I now have one of those mythical low stress, flexible, six figure jobs and managed to achieve this in my late 20s. It’s bloody great now I’m married and becoming a mum so I’d definitely encourage her to stick it out. It’s something I’d encourage my own children into if they show an interest as it’s a very good career path, way better then banking or law for career options with a work life balance IMO.

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You've made me feel so much better, thank you. She knows she's very privileged and has been handed an amazing opportunity. I will let her know what you've said and it will hopefully inspire her to get over the finishing line.

In so many ways she is brilliantly taken care of and they're very generous, but they do expect their pound of flesh.

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Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 17:50

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 17:32

14 hours is about the average in my experience. It is hugely competitive and well regarded, she has to grit her teeth. It won’t be forever. She can probably reduce to 12/13 hours a day during quieter weeks/time of the year.

Edited

Thank you. Her mantra is short term pain, long term gain! She's very driven and competent (probably why they selected her) and has been really thriving. I just think the tiredness has finally got to her (still good training for when she has a newborn).

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Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 17:46

TizerorFizz · 22/11/2024 17:28

@LiveLaughGoblin The DD is on a placement year so those hours are brutal. She’s not a proper trainee. @Arraminta I do think that’s concerning. However I do understand it’s fairly normal in that line of work at that type of employer. Ditto law. The only obvious answer is to look at her placement contract (I’m assuming she’s mid degree) and see what it says about hours, if anything. Or go off ill.

Yes, she's still an undergraduate so I was surprised they have loaded her up so heavily within weeks of starting. She seems to have a lot of responsibility for a 20 year old!

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Letitbe24 · 22/11/2024 17:32

LiveLaughGoblin · 22/11/2024 17:19

And yes I now have a flexible 9-5 City job paying well into 6 figures. Rightly or wrongly, Big 4 experience is very highly regarded.

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Same here. I did my training at a Big4 firm and yes it was very hard but I now have one of those mythical low stress, flexible, six figure jobs and managed to achieve this in my late 20s. It’s bloody great now I’m married and becoming a mum so I’d definitely encourage her to stick it out. It’s something I’d encourage my own children into if they show an interest as it’s a very good career path, way better then banking or law for career options with a work life balance IMO.

Artistbythewater · 22/11/2024 17:32

14 hours is about the average in my experience. It is hugely competitive and well regarded, she has to grit her teeth. It won’t be forever. She can probably reduce to 12/13 hours a day during quieter weeks/time of the year.

Original poster
Arraminta · 22/11/2024 17:29

LiveLaughGoblin · 22/11/2024 17:16

I worked there for 6 years and yes these hours are unusual but not unheard of in the run up to a deadline - but in these situations I used to get my breakfast and dinner paid for and a taxi home, and they will often let you have a few more relaxed days once the deadline is past.

You do just have to get through it, especially as a
junior - and it’s not for everyone. On the plus side you get responsibility very early in Big 4 and no amount of work stress can phase me now!

I wouldn’t want to do it now but as a graduate without much cash I appreciated having meals paid for and if you had a good manager/team there was an ‘all in this together’ dynamic that made the hours much less bad than they would seem at face value.

Thank you so much, you've reassured me a lot.

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