Expanding my professional horizons - Wan Xinyu, Management Consulting intern

(Image: Picture of Wan Xinyu in a meeting room at Mazars in Singapore office)

Wan Xinyu, 25, is a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Business and Finance graduate who recently spent 3 months as a Management Consulting intern at Mazars in Singapore.

As an ambitious person who is always up for a challenge, Xinyu came into the internship with a strong desire to learn and expand his horizons.

1. What drew you to the Mazars internship program?

After completing my degree, I was considering my options to spend the summer vacation productively before starting my postgraduate studies at the Singapore Management University.

I had a few months to myself until the Master of IT (Business Analytics) program commences in August, and an internship seemed like the perfect way to explore my career interest before taking the next step in my professional journey.

It was an easy decision to join Mazars. During the interview process, I absolutely enjoyed the interactions with the interviewer, who subsequently became my manager. The way he presented himself, as well as the opportunities available for the role, made me chose Mazars as a place to intern.

The HR personnel who reached out to me was also very friendly and responsive to my queries.

2. How was your internship experience like at Mazars?

As a Management Consulting intern, it’s very exciting to assist on real client cases. The clients come from various industries and sectors, so every project that I am exposed to is unique. Every day is a new adventure and there is certainly a lot to learn throughout my internship journey. While it can be challenging at times, the knowledge and industry exposure that I have acquired through the internship is invaluable.

The colleagues here are welcoming and friendly, and it is easy to make friends beyond my own business unit. Mazars also hosts fun social events. For instance, there are busking sessions where we can take a break from work and socialise with colleagues from other service lines.

3. What is it like to have a hybrid internship?

There is a three-days in-office requirement, and I can work from home for the remaining two days, which offers great convenience. However, I personally prefer to come in four days a week for a more conducive work environment.

4. What are some of the memorable things that you learned during your internship?

The value of networking! I learned a lot about the work culture in a corporate setting and how people actively network beyond their own business unit. One of my intern friends even reached out to a Partner for a one-to-one lunch session which I found fascinating.

Ultimately, thinking beyond the mindset of a student and having a pair of curious eyes will help you to discover many interesting things around the workplace.

5. Some key takeaways from your internship that you think would be helpful for new interns.

Be prepared to drop your student mentality or the way you work in school, because working is definitely a different ballpark than what we’re used to.

When faced with a problem at work, you should ask for help so that your seniors can guide you. When you think you are stressed out, voice it out to your manager and see how the team can adjust the pace for you. It is okay to be slow as an intern, take your time to learn from mistakes and progress accordingly.

Expect a continuous inflow of new projects for your internship. This is different from school where you know the number of projects beforehand, and you can plan out your schedule accordingly.

While it may be slightly overwhelming at first, just do your best and raise your concerns if you have to. Your team members are there to help. At the end of the day, the learning outcome may surprise you and the growth that you experienced can make a difference in every aspect of your life.

6. Did the internship meet your expectations, and would you consider another internship?

Definitely! In fact, my time here offered a lot of insights into the consulting industry. I have now gained a clearer picture of what to expect from the profession which I find useful in helping me decide my future career path.

In terms of another internship, I would say I am open to all opportunities. I firmly believe that an internship offers a place for you to explore your career interest and experiment with trial and error before you officially enter the corporate world.

Therefore, if an opportunity comes at the right time and it aligns with my career goal, I will give it a shot!

For internships opportunities at Mazars in Singapore, please refer to this link.