Barbara Chen: Day in the Life During My Internship
Day in the Life During My Internship
In the summer of 2024, I interned at PwC in their Cyber Risk & Reg – Health Industries, Business Processes Consulting practice in Los Angeles. Working during the busy season gave me a firsthand look at what consulting life is like, and I learned invaluable skills along the way. Here’s a snapshot of a typical day:
7:00 AM: Start the Day Right
I began my mornings early, waking up at 7:00 AM to get ready for the day. Since California's mandatory lunch break makes the workday stretch from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, I aimed to leave my apartment by 8:00 AM. My 20-minute bus ride into downtown gave me time to mentally prepare for the day ahead.
8:25 AM: Getting Settled
By 8:25 AM, I arrived at the office, opened my laptop, and checked my emails and Microsoft Teams messages. This helped me catch up on any updates I might’ve missed and set my agenda for the day. I communicated regularly with my managers, keeping them informed about my tasks and bandwidth—one of the most valuable skills I practiced throughout the internship.
9:30 AM: Diving Into Work
After catching up on communications, I started my core tasks. As part of my role, I tested controls for SOX compliance, using tools like Alteryx to build workflows, reviewing financial documents, and pulling client data into Excel. It was challenging work, but it taught me critical technical skills that are essential in consulting.
10:30 AM: Meetings and Check-ins
Most mornings, I had a meeting with my client team to check on project progress. Sometimes I also met with my relationship team to discuss my internship experience. These meetings were essential for getting feedback and staying aligned with my team’s goals.
12:00 PM: Lunch Break
At noon, my fellow interns and I would grab lunch from one of the many restaurants just a short walk from the office. We'd bring our food back to the 12th-floor break room, where we could eat with a view of downtown LA.
12:30 PM: Back to Work
After lunch, it was time to get back to tasks—whether it was finishing up work, catching up on emails, or finalizing reports. The afternoon was always a mix of focused work and catching up on communications.
4:45 PM: Final Check-In
Around 4:45 PM, I would check in with my managers to update them on what I had accomplished that day. I also made sure to ask if there were any urgent tasks left to tackle before wrapping up.
5:10 PM: Heading Home
By 5:10 PM, I’d walk to the bus stop and head home, where I’d cook dinner and unwind. If I didn’t forget to log my hours during the day, I’d typically do so in the evening before heading to bed around midnight, ready for the next day.
My time at PwC taught me so much about consulting and gave me the chance to experience life in Los Angeles. It was a rewarding summer, both professionally and personally!