Insights from the New Kid on the Block

Truth be told, being the new kid on the block is always a bit of an adventure: unknown territory, new rules & regulations to abide, strangers to befriend with along your path.  It’s a whole new world, a whole new dynamism to get used to.  

Interning in one of the Big Four (audit firms), PwC, I knew beforehand that I would be dealing with professionals in their fields. Having previously worked as a sales person during my summer holidays for the past three years, the changing pace of working in an office was quite striking. If you’ve asked me after my first day work which one I preferred, my response would have been ‘Salesperson, of course!’ without a second thought. I felt home(/job)sick: missing the quick pace, the constant need to be alert, and most of all the interaction with the people. The latter was the hardest to get use to:  the silence. It’s the kind of silence you only find in posh areas and top workplaces (because obviously everyone is too busy working on their laptop, to chit-chat).   

But now, if you asked me which one I preferred, my answer would be different. I guess the transition period from one environment to another is always the hardest. The whole new process of being “the new kid on the block” and being outside my comfort zone, has inevitably built my apprehension.  

As a future PR practitioner, I knew from those first few days that I needed to work more on my capability to adapt to new environment quickly. Even though I am known for having quite an extrovert personality, working in the PR field requires that you connect with people around you, much quicker than the average person. There is no time for shyness or for individualism. The latter I have learnt by noting a synchronicity among my mentors. The Marketing & Communications  department comprises of only two individuals who work on anything ranging from marketing matters, internal communication, media relations to event management. You would say, how could only two people handle so much especially for a hotshot company like PwC? And this is when you discover the whole power of teamwork.  

From the short time I’ve been there, the thing I’ve been appreciating most is this team spirit which is always present, found even in the other departments of company. I get to value even more the importance of working in team and seeking help from others. Without any surprise, I found that one of the three key values promoted by PwC is teamwork. 

I look forward to learn more about what make a person shines in his job. I want to know about the little things that will make a big difference in one’s job. But in the meantime, I bid you farewell fellow interns as I have to wake up early tomorrow morning for work. My bed is calling me!

Elizabeth.