Your graduate career path

Supporting your professional development

From onboarding to graduation or qualification, PwC provides a clear career path for all graduates with full support for both your personal and professional development. And our commitment to our graduates is validated externally, with PwC Ireland named Graduate Employer of the Year 2022 in addition to several other GradIreland awards. We take pride in our graduate programme, and work hard to ensure your success at all stages of your career at PwC.

What you can expect

Our graduate programme is the ideal launchpad for your career and your progress is our priority. We are committed to helping you achieve your potential and will support you, personally and professionally, every step of the way.

Onboarding

Once you accept your offer to join PwC, you will have access to our ‘Look Inside’ pre-hire community, which will help you learn about PwC before you join. From your first day, you will be supported with a firm-wide induction programme, technical training, social events, team introductions and guided tours of your new workplace. Your onboarding experience will set you up for success.

Year 1

From day one, you will gain valuable experience working with clients and enjoy direct access to senior executives. We will support you in obtaining your professional qualifications with exam tutorials, mentoring and paid study leave. We also support your development with a dedicated buddy, a coach and an extensive peer network. Your buddy—a colleague one year your senior in the company—will be there to answer any questions and share their first-hand knowledge and experience.

Year 2

In your second year, you will strengthen your people management skills as you begin to coach others and build your own team. You will deepen your client experience and industry knowledge, and be able to deliver more sophisticated solutions to clients. You will both give and receive ongoing feedback to help improve your own performance and that of your team. Your personal network will expand as you make connections across our global network, and you will continue to receive our full support as you study for your professional qualifications.

Year 3

As you deepen your industry insight, you can expect to lead teams, deliver training and collaborate with your global peers. There are secondment opportunities globally and with your clients. In addition to obtaining your professional qualifications, you will also take part in conversations about advancing your career as you progress through the firm.

Your journey continues

As you progress towards manager level, you will enhance your professional and technical skills in our Business Academy. You will have the opportunity to decide where your unique abilities can add the most value and choose between different industries, service lines and international locations. Our global network is yours to leverage, and you will be encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunities of working with us.

Professional qualifications

Passing your professional exams is a pivotal step on your career path, and everyone at PwC will support you on this journey. We have a dedicated Learning and Development team, who will help you every step of the way. Information sessions will give you a clear picture of what to expect in your exams, and you will learn from colleagues who have completed the same exams and achieved excellent results. Mock exams will ensure that you become familiar with the exam structure, and professional lecturers will provide comprehensive revision sessions. With our combination of in-house and external exam support, you will be in a strong position to achieve a first-rate result.

Exam success

Every year, PwC’s professional qualification pass rates are higher than the national average and this is a testament to the quality of exam support we provide to our people. We are always proud to see PwC staff among the top-placing candidates. For example, PwC graduates have secured the Chartered Accountants Ireland Ulster Society Diamond Jubilee Award and Gold Medal and first, second and third place in the Irish Tax Institute exams with an overall pass rate of 81%—far in excess of the national average of 62%.

Secondment opportunities

The worldwide PwC network has the same dedication to your development as we do. So when you join us, you will have access to our vast global network which spans 152 countries. Gaining international experience is invaluable, and we encourage and support our people to explore secondment opportunities abroad.

Feedback and coaching

At PwC, we know that consistent, constructive feedback is essential for your development. Regular feedback and performance conversations as well as day-to-day coaching will help you track your progress and steer your career in the direction you want it to go, and we will always support you as you build on your strengths or tackle areas for improvement.

The PwC Professional

The PwC Professional is our global leadership development framework. It exists to support your development and career progression, outlining the capabilities needed to thrive as a purpose-led and values-driven leader at every level. There are five key attributes—whole leadership, business acumen, technical and digital, global and inclusive, and relationships. Within each attribute, the framework outlines capabilities that become increasingly relevant as you progress through your career.