Why did you choose to apply to The PSC?

Benny: I thought the world of consulting sounded interesting but wanted to work for a company with a more positive social impact. Working exclusively in the public sector, The PSC felt like an opportunity for me to learn a huge amount and spend my summer helping to improve people's lives.

Thomas: I have been very interested in public sector consulting for a while now since it combines the amazing skills you can learn in consulting and the fascinating projects in the public sector. The PSC gives you this opportunity which is why I wanted to join them.

Harvey: An internship at The PSC seemed like a rare opportunity to learn skills in management consulting whilst also contributing towards positive social change. Having a parent who works in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for the NHS has demonstrated to me just how important it is that those providing public services are empowered to support people the best they can. Reading about the company’s work showed me that The PSC works to achieve exactly this, so I applied!

David: Mainly because of the work that the PSC does. From my master's studies, I was interested in trying to tackle social issues in healthcare- an issue that the PSC frequently tries to address through its projects. So doing this internship would allow me to not only have a positive impact on people's lives, but also provide me with an insight into consulting generally.

Matthew: Growing up in Brussels, the heart of the EU, I've always been really interested in public service and government. I really just stumbled across The PSC but I quickly realised that it was exactly what I had been looking for, as it gives you the chance to really make a difference to public services, while also getting the excitement of always working on different and challenging projects. 

What was the recruitment process like?

If you like the sound of the above, we asked our interns to share their experience of the recruitment process so that you can know what to expect:

Harvey: The recruitment process was challenging, but also extremely interesting. Following a written application and a problem-solving test, I had a total of five brief interviews. Within four of these, I worked through a case study, developing my approach for finding solutions to a problem that the interviewer had previously worked on during their time at the company. This was great, because it provided a clear insight into what consultants work on here, and after the interview I could ask questions about how the problem was solved. The interviews were an exciting challenge intellectually and I learnt lots from the process. 

Thomas: I found the recruitment process to be very aware of potential bias and active consideration was given to making sure all candidates have equal chances of receiving an offer. Instead of the usual cv and cover letter, we initially had to answer individual questions that were all assessed by different employees and sit a test that examined both technical and more abstract/verbal skills. Moving on to the interviews, the cases were fascinating examples of the real work employees at The PSC do. So the interviews also help you decide whether public sector consulting is for you.

Matthew: The recruitment process was unlike anything I had ever done previously, but it really was an incredible learning experience. Starting with some questions that looked to understand your desire to work in supporting public services and then a numerical test, it culminated in a final round of three interviews, two which were based on case studies, and one data analysis test. Fast paced and intense, these interviews were not only intellectually challenging and fun, but also prepared me really well for what to expect day to day at The PSC.

Benny: The recruitment process was tough, there were lots of interviews without many gaps in between. But at every stage, I was thinking to myself 'even if you get eliminated here you will have learned so much about how to apply for things and it will have been a really positive experience.' The people doing the interviews all seemed very friendly and the case studies they talked through left a big impression on me. My best tip is to do as much research on the company as possible, read about some of the cases they have worked on and maybe even try to get a sense of which projects your interviewers have been involved with.

Find out more about how to apply to our internship programme: https://thepsc.co.uk/page/how-to-apply