International Internship Program: Jonah Atchison has been saved
Life at Deloitte
International Internship Program: Jonah Atchison
Jonah reflects on his time in Australia
July 11, 2019
Deloitte is excited to welcome our 2019 class of summer interns, a diverse group ready to make their mark. Our 2019 International Internship Program participants are currently working side by side with Deloitte professionals, learning about the world of work and gaining experience through meaningful contributions to real projects. They will have the opportunity to expand their network through interactions with fellow interns and connect with Deloitte professionals and leaders throughout the summer during special networking events, conferences, and social events.
Jonah Atchison started his career at Deloitte as an intern in the International Internship Program (IIP) in 2017. Jonah, who now works as a consultant in Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Risk and Financial Advisory practice, shares his experience traveling to Sydney, Australia for his memorable internship with Deloitte Australia.
A love for travel and exploration
I have always loved to travel and experience new places and cultures. I first heard about the IIP through my college recruiter, and I thought it was a fantastic opportunity. I was excited to learn more about my industry and getting to visit another country and network with professionals from around the globe was something I couldn’t pass up.
I applied for the program in January 2017 thinking that I wouldn’t get it because of the sheer volume of applicants to the program, but I’m glad I did. The program was amazing.
I spent the first part of my internship with Deloitte US assisting a local Chicago client. Then, I was flown to Sydney to work in Australia for four weeks in July for Deloitte Australia. Finally, the last week of my internship was back with Deloitte US. One of the most memorable parts of the trip was coordinating fun weekend activities with the other interns. We connected before the trip and created a group chat to plan our adventures for our three weekends in Australia. We went exploring the coast of Sydney, saw the sunrise, and went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
One thing I enjoyed was my daily commute to work. We were staying in an apartment-hotel that wasn’t far from Deloitte Australia’s Sydney office, so most of the interns would walk to work together every day. It was a great opportunity to catch up with each other before we broke off into our separate engagements. The professionals from Deloitte Australia also organized networking events for each of the businesses (tax, audit, and advisory) so that we could get to know one another.
Practical, hands-on learning
During my internship, I was able to get first-hand experience working in an advisory role. Before 2017, I had no public accounting experience, so I went in feeling like a sponge ready to soak up all the knowledge I could. While I was in Australia, part of my role was participating in client meetings and observing the planning process of the engagement. I enjoyed watching the interactions between the manager and the client team. I got to witness a dynamic negotiation and observe my manager’s leadership skills. Those experiences have further influenced my leadership skills, and I draw from them today in my current role while I'm interacting with clients.
Overall, I just felt very thankful to be in the program. Deloitte is so generous, and the organization truly took care of us in terms of making sure we felt supported. Deloitte made sure we had all the resources we needed to be successful during our internship, and that played a critical factor in my decision to accept my full-time job offer. I felt like Deloitte was a place that would allow me to grow and test my strengths as well as holistically support me in whatever capacity I needed.
I would encourage anyone that enjoys traveling and networking with new people to apply for this program. The IIP is one of the best-hidden secrets of Deloitte, and if I could, I would apply again as a second-year consultant.
Learn more
If you are interested in a similar experience to Jonah's, read more about the International Internship program, other previous participants' experiences, and discover more internship opportunities that could be the right fit for you.
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